The Ekko 616 MkII Dark Delay is an analog delay pedal from Malekko Heavy Industry, a maker whose pedals sit in the wider world of delay pedals. Pedal of the Day's product page identifies it as the Ekko 616 MkII Dark Analog Delay guitar effects pedal1, and the site's reviewer Mike B called it an analog delay pedal in his 2015 review2. What sets it apart from a straightforward delay is the modulation section built into the repeats, which lets you darken, wobble and twist the echoes to taste.
The controls
The pedal's main controls cover the delay itself and the modulation applied to the repeats:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Time | Sets the delay time, maxing out at 650ms23 |
| Mod | Mixes in the level of modulation affecting the delays, from minor and subtle to raging flutter and twist2 |
| Depth | Controls the intensity of the modulation2 |
| Speed | Measures how fast the modulation comes across2 |
| T/B push button | Selects between the pedal being true bypass or a buffer23 |
There is also an internal pot, which adjusts the overall gain output, allowing for even more customization to fit your setup2. That means opening the pedal up to set the level, so it is worth knowing about before mounting it on a crowded board.
The Mod, Depth and Speed knobs work together: Mod decides how much modulation is mixed into the repeats, Depth sets how strong that modulation is, and Speed sets its rate. Backed off, the modulation stays subtle; pushed up, the reviewer described it as raging flutter and twist2.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal twice, in 2015 and again in 2017 with a new video demo added to a republished version of the written review32. Mike B's verdict in 2015:
Pedal of the Day took a favorable view of the pedal when it was new, summing up its impression this way23:
"this is a cool way to start"
Pedal of the Day, review of the Ekko 616 MkII Dark2
The 2017 review was warmer about the concept than about the panel's readability3:
Pedal of the Day returned to the Dark version in 2017 and again came away positive, describing it as "this is a cool way to start" for players getting into darker-sounding delays32. The review is one of the few published takes on the MkII Dark specifically, and it is worth reading alongside the earlier coverage of the original 616 Dark2.
That last point is worth noting for anyone considering the pedal: the control labels sit on a deep, glossy black background, and the reviewer found them tricky to decipher3.
Videos
Malekko HeavyIndustry
Dennis Kayzer
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Ekko 616 MkII Dark Delay analog or digital?
It is an analog delay. Pedal of the Day's product page identifies it as the Ekko 616 MkII Dark Analog Delay, and the site's 2017 review describes it as a brooding analog delay. Analog delays process the repeated signal in the analog domain, which is why the repeats on this pedal darken as they repeat rather than staying identical to the original note.
Can the Ekko 616 MkII Dark Delay run true bypass?
Yes, and it can also run buffered. A T/B push button on the pedal selects between the pedal being true bypass or a buffer, so you can choose whichever suits the rest of your board. Players with long cable runs sometimes prefer the buffered setting, while others keep it true bypass.
What is the maximum delay time?
The Time knob sets the delay time and maxes out at 650ms, according to Pedal of the Day's reviews of the pedal. That covers everything from short slapback-style repeats to longer, spacious echoes, though it is shorter than many digital delays can reach.
What does the internal pot on the Ekko 616 MkII Dark do?
The internal pot adjusts the overall gain output of the pedal. Pedal of the Day's reviewer noted that it allows for even more customization to fit your setup, which is useful for matching the pedal's output level to an amp or to the other pedals on a board without touching the external controls.
Sources (3)
- Malekko Heavy Industries Ekko 616 MKII Dark Analog Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2015-01-26
- Malekko Heavy Industries Ekko 616 MkII Dark Analog Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2015-02-10
- Malekko Heavy Industry Ekko 616 MkII Dark Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2017-07-10
