The IK Multimedia X-Time, sold as the AmpliTube X-TIME, is a multi-mode true-stereo delay pedal that packs 16 delay algorithms into one box, running from vintage tape echo emulations to clean digital repeats1. It is part of IK Multimedia's AmpliTube X-Gear series, a line of stompboxes whose sounds are powered by the algorithms of the company's AmpliTube 5 software, and the pedal combines that analog-style hardware with direct software integration2.
Where most delay pedals give you one or two repeat flavors, the X-Time tries to cover the whole territory: Delicious Audio called it "a multi-mode, do-it-all kind of delay reminiscent of releases by Strymon and Eventide, but with a twist no other modern delay workstation can boast," that twist being the software-hardware integration2.
The 16 delay algorithms
The X-Time's 16 modes span the delay categories most players reach for. Delicious Audio lists them as VTG-TAPE, MOD-TAPE, ANALOG, DIGITAL, PING-PONG, PATTERN, DUAL, REVERSE, REV-PONG, SWELL, DUCK, HARM, DIRTY, SLAPBACK and ARTIC2.
Grouped by what they do:
- Tape and vintage: VTG-TAPE and MOD-TAPE cover tape echo sounds, with the modulated version adding the wobble of a worn tape path.
- Analog and digital: ANALOG and DIGITAL give the two classic repeat characters, darker bucket-brigade-style repeats versus clean, hi-fi ones.
- Stereo and patterned: PING-PONG bounces repeats between channels, PATTERN and DUAL run structured or dual delay lines, and REV-PONG combines reverse and ping-pong behavior.
- Dynamic and shaped: SWELL fades repeats in, DUCK pulls the delay back while you play, and SLAPBACK serves short single repeats.
- Pitched and textured: HARM adds harmonized repeats, DIRTY dirties them up, and ARTIC covers articulation-style effects2.
IK Multimedia describes the set as "16 high-end delays from tape echoes to pristine digital effects"1.
Controls and display
Eight knobs handle navigation of all the essential parameters, and one of them can be assigned to custom control, so you can put your most-used function on a physical control2. A high-contrast LED display with large retro-style fonts keeps the current settings readable on a dark stage, indoors or out2.
Connections: USB, MIDI, expression and stereo routing
The connection set is where the X-Time separates itself from a standard delay pedal2.
| Connection | What it does |
|---|---|
| Stereo inputs and outputs | True stereo in and out for wet/dry and ping-pong routing1 |
| USB | Preset management and use as a recording interface2 |
| MIDI | Full implementation, including control over AmpliTube 5 and compatible DAWs2 |
| Expression input | Adds control over any parameter you choose2 |
The USB port does double duty: it manages presets and turns the pedal into a USB audio interface, so you can record with it directly. Routing options let you send the wet or dry signal to your DAW, which is useful for printing delay on a track while keeping a clean copy2. The expression pedal input can be mapped to any parameter, and the full MIDI implementation extends to controlling AmpliTube 5 itself2.
On the computer side, IK Multimedia lists system requirements of an Intel Core i5 or equivalent, 8 GB RAM, Windows 10 64-bit or newer, 3 GB disk space and an ASIO-compatible sound card, with VST 3 and AAX plug-in formats1.
Sound quality and build
The DSP runs through ultra-low-noise 24-bit/192 kHz converters, with a frequency response of 5 Hz to 24 kHz and 112 dB of dynamic range, which Delicious Audio credits with quiet operation at any gain setting2. The dry signal stays analog from input to output, and the bypass is selectable between true and soft, so you can choose a hard-wired bypass or keep the buffer in the chain2. The whole thing sits in a road-worthy anodized aluminum chassis, designed and made in Italy2.
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio reviewed the X-Time at launch in March 2022 and framed it against the premium delay competition2:
"a multi-mode, do-it-all kind of delay reminiscent of releases by Strymon and Eventide, but with a twist no other modern delay workstation on the market can boast"
That twist is the AmpliTube 5 integration: the pedal's algorithms come from the same codebase as the AmpliTube plug-in, so sounds dialed in on the pedal can connect to the software world in a way a standalone delay cannot2.
Videos
ikmultimedia
ikmultimedia
ikmultimedia
News
Questions
Does the IK Multimedia X-Time work as a USB audio interface?
Yes. The X-Time's USB port handles preset management and lets the pedal work as a recording interface, so you can route its wet or dry signal straight into a DAW. IK Multimedia lists USB audio interface and preset management among the pedal's core features.
How many presets does the X-Time store?
The X-Time ships with 50 factory presets and holds 300 storable presets in total. That gives you room to save settings for each of the 16 delay algorithms and recall them from the pedal's high-contrast LED display.
Is the X-Time true bypass?
It offers selectable true or soft bypass, so you choose between a hard-wired true bypass signal path when the pedal is off and a buffered soft bypass that keeps DSP processing active. IK Multimedia and Delicious Audio both list this as a user-selectable option.
Does the X-Time have a pure analog dry path?
Yes. The pedal is a digital DSP design, but the dry portion of the signal stays in the analog domain rather than being converted. Delicious Audio describes it as having a pure analog dry path alongside its digital delay algorithms.
Can I connect an expression pedal to the X-Time?
Yes. The X-Time has a dedicated expression pedal input, and you can assign it to control any parameter you choose, such as delay time or mix. It also has a full MIDI implementation for external control, including control over AmpliTube 5.
Where is the X-Time made?
The X-Time is designed and made in Italy. IK Multimedia states this on its product page, and Delicious Audio repeats the claim, adding that the build is intended for a lifetime of playing and gigging.
Sources (3)
- AmpliTube X-TIME, IK Multimedia
- IK Multimedia X-Time Multi-Mode Stereo Delay, Delicious Audio, 2022-03-09
- AmpliTube X-SPACE, IK Multimedia
