The Donner Embark 01 Echo Delay is a compact delay pedal from Donner, offering warm, vintage-style echo tones in a simple, easy-to-use design. It is part of Donner's budget-friendly Embark Series, aimed at beginners or players seeking an affordable delay option1. For a player, it covers the classic delay ground: set the repeat length, how many repeats you hear, and how loud they sit behind your dry signal.
Controls
The pedal keeps things to the three controls that shape any classic delay effect1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Delay time | Sets the length of the repeats, up to approximately 600 ms |
| Feedback | Sets how many times the echo repeats |
| Echo level | Sets how loud the repeats are relative to your dry signal |
Analog or digital?
Donner's product information lists the circuit type as analog1, while Guitar World's coverage of the Embark Series describes the 01 ECH as a DSP-based delay: "The DSP-based delay, 01 ECH, offers up to 600ms delay time and tap-tempo functionality"2. Both give the roughly 600 ms maximum delay time and the vintage-style echo character, so the practical difference for a player is mainly in how the repeats decay.
Power and bypass
The Embark 01 runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 35mA1. That is a modest draw, well within what a standard pedalboard power supply handles. Its true bypass circuitry is designed to preserve your original tone when the effect is off1, so it can sit on a board without loading down your signal in bypass.
The pedal's metal enclosure is described as durable for frequent use1. No battery option is mentioned in the product information, so plan on a 9V DC supply.
Where it sits in Donner's delay range
Donner makes a number of delay pedals across its range, and the Embark 01 is the entry point of the Embark Series1. Players comparing options within the brand may also come across the Donner Yellow Fall, the Donner Echo Square, the Donner Revecho and the Donner Alpha FX, or browse the wider delay pedal category.
Videos
Donner Music
Steven Kambach Reviews
Chris Benton
Questions
Is the Donner Embark 01 Echo Delay true bypass?
Yes. Donner's product information states the Embark 01 Echo Delay uses true bypass circuitry, which is designed to preserve your original tone when the effect is switched off. That matters on a pedalboard where the pedal sits between your guitar and amp even when it is not being used, since a non-true-bypass pedal can colour the signal in bypass mode.
How long can the Embark 01 delay time go?
The Embark 01 Echo Delay offers up to approximately 600 ms of delay time, according to the product information. That covers classic echo and slapback territory rather than long, ambient repeats, and the delay time control lets you set the repeat length anywhere within that range.
What power supply does the Embark 01 need?
The Embark 01 Echo Delay runs on 9V DC with a center negative plug, the standard pedal power arrangement. It draws 35mA. A standard isolated pedal power supply or daisy chain output rated for at least that current will run it.
Is the Donner Embark 01 analog or digital?
Donner's product information lists the circuit type as analog, while Guitar World's coverage of the Embark Series describes the 01 ECH as a DSP-based, digital delay. Both give the roughly 600 ms maximum delay time and the vintage-style echo character, so the practical difference for a player is mainly in how the repeats decay.
How much current does the Embark 01 draw?
The Embark 01 Echo Delay draws 35mA at 9V DC, center negative, according to the product specifications. That is a modest draw by pedal standards, so it fits comfortably within the capacity of most standard pedalboard power supplies.
Sources (2)
- Embark 01 Echo Delay by Donner, RockBoard (rockboard.de), 2026
- Is Donner's $29 Embark series changing the ultra-cheap pedal game?, Guitar World, 2025-01-15
