MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe

The MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe (model M292) is an analog delay pedal from MXR, released in 2017 as an expanded version of the company's Carbon Copy Analog Delay¹. Like the original, it is built on all-analog bucket-brigade technology, the classic circuit approach in which the signal is passed along a chain of capacitor stages to create the repeats². Where the original Carbon Copy tops out at 600ms, the Deluxe stretches delay time to 40ms to 1200ms³⁴.

What the Deluxe adds over the green original is the feature set players most asked for: tap tempo with four subdivisions, programmable presets, a Bright voicing switch, modulation controls moved from internal trim pots to the outside of the pedal, and a line/instrument level switch so it can live in an amp's effects loop⁵. MXR's Brian Cahill described the pedal as starting from "the great all analog bucket-brigade technology" of the original and building from there².

What it does to your sound

Analog bucket-brigade delays are known for repeats that darken and soften as they decay rather than staying crisp like digital delays. Delicious Audio describes the Deluxe's sound as "warm, organic," the quality that made the original what it calls the bestselling analog delay in the world⁵. The delayed signal rolls off below 200 Hz at the -3 dB point, which is part of why the repeats sit behind your dry tone instead of fighting it³.

The modulation section adds a chorus-like movement to the repeats. On the original Carbon Copy this was controlled by two internal trim pots for width and rate; on the Deluxe the controls are exposed, so you can dial the modulation in from the top of the pedal⁷.

The controls and switches

The Deluxe keeps the original's core control set of Regen (number of repeats), Mix, Delay and Mod, and adds the switching that gives the pedal its name⁸. From the M292 manual:

The four tap subdivisions are dotted 8ths, 8ths, triplets and 16ths³. The EXP jack allows external control of various functions: an external tap switch can act as a tap tempo control, toggle between the A and B preset configurations, or control the Bright, Tap Div or Mod buttons when programmed at power-up³.

Inside the pedal are two internal trim pots. One makes the output 100% wet (Dry Kill), and the other changes the impedance from instrument to line level, which Delicious Audio notes makes the pedal work better with synths and as an outboard mixing effect⁷.

Power and connections

The Carbon Copy Deluxe is powered by a 9-volt battery, a Dunlop ECB003 9-volt adapter, or the DC Brick and Iso-Brick power supplies, with the adapter and supplies sold separately³. Like the original M169, it runs on both AC and battery power, unlike the Carbon Copy Mini, which is powered only via a 9-volt DC adapter¹⁴.

Connections are an input, an output, and the EXP jack for external control of certain parameters⁵. A Line Level/Instrument Level switch inside the pedal allows it to be used either in front of the amp or in the FX loop⁵. The bypass is True Hardwire, so the dry signal passes through untouched when the effect is off³.

How it differs from the original Carbon Copy

The original Carbon Copy (M169) delivers up to 600ms of analog delay with modulation controlled by internal trim pots⁴. The Deluxe doubles the delay time to 1.2 seconds and moves the modulation controls outside⁷⁵. Gearnews summed up the relationship when the Deluxe launched: "MXR's new Carbon Copy Deluxe Delay pedal offers you double the fun of their regular Carbon Copy model"¹⁰.

The Bright switch is the other big difference. It engages the vibrant articulation of the Carbon Copy Bright Delay circuit, a voicing MXR introduced in 2015 for players who found the original too dark¹¹. Where the original's echoes are dark and mellow, the Bright's repeats are more defined, with a more distinct vocal quality and enhanced frequency range¹². With the switch off, the Deluxe gives you the original's darker tone; with it on, you get the accentuated mids and slight gain in the delays that Cahill described in MXR's demo².

A quick side-by-side:

MXR has since rounded out the family with the Carbon Copy Mini (M299), making three Carbon Copy delays on offer as of 2019¹.

What reviewers said

Reviewers have generally framed the Deluxe as the original with the missing features added. Pedal of the Day wrote that "the Carbon Copy Deluxe takes the original and makes it better," calling tap tempo "probably the main thing everyone wanted that was missing about the original"¹³. Guitar World's Paul Riario noted the footswitches for Tap-Beat and Effect, with the orange LED above the Tap-Beat flashing the tempo⁹.

Delicious Audio's verdict in its best analog delay pedals guide was positive with two caveats⁷:

In MXR's Sweetwater demo, Brian Cahill walked through the pedal's features, including the tap tempo and the Bright voicing²:

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