MXR Carbon Copy Mini

The MXR Carbon Copy Mini (M299) is a compact analog delay pedal from MXR, first released in 2019. It packs the bucket-brigade circuit of the full-size Carbon Copy into an MXR mini housing, keeping the same 20 ms to 600 ms delay range and the same modulation section, and adds a Bright switch the original never had¹². MXR describes it as delivering "organic analog warmth, shimmery modulation, and ease of use" in the smaller box¹.

Where a digital delay samples and replays your signal, a bucket-brigade device (BBD) passes it along a chain of capacitor stages, one step at a time. That analog path is what gives the Carbon Copy family its character: MXR says the Mini's default mode yields "the dark, mellow wash that made the Carbon Copy Analog Delay famous"¹. Guitar World's reviewer found the circuit "nearly identical to its Carbon Copy big brother"³.

What it does: bucket-brigade analog delay

The Mini is an all-analog delay. MusicRadar's editors describe it as "a fully-fledged delay pedal with a tiny footprint" built around "an all-analog signal path and bucket brigade delay circuit"⁸. The repeats are the dark, warm kind associated with BBD circuits and vintage tape echo rather than the clean, exact copies of a digital delay.

On top of the basic delay there is a modulation section, the same one as the original Carbon Copy¹. MXR says it can add "everything from tape echo warble to shimmery, liquefied chorusing to your repeats"¹. Delicious Audio calls the result "a classic tape-style echo" in a mini format⁹.

The controls, including the Bright switch and internal trims

The Mini keeps the Carbon Copy's three-knob layout and adds two switches. Everything is on the surface except the modulation trimmers⁸¹⁰⁹.

The Bright switch is the Mini's own contribution. MXR says it delivers "increased presence and distinctively vocal repeats," and it is voiced to dial in the tones of the Carbon Copy Bright¹⁴. It sits on the side of the housing rather than the top, which Sweetwater's demo team pointed out is deliberate: "it's on the side so you're not gonna switch it accidentally during the gig"¹¹. Guitar World's blues-pedal guide called the classic/bright switching the ability to have "effectively two pedals in one"¹².

The modulation itself is adjusted internally. The manual says to remove the bottom plate and set the width and speed trimmers with a 3 mm slotted screwdriver². There are no external modulation knobs; the Mod switch simply engages the section as trimmed.

Power and connections

The Mini runs on 9 volts DC supplied by a Dunlop ECB003 adapter or a DC Brick, Iso-Brick or Mini Iso-Brick power supply, none of which are included¹². Current draw is 26 mA².

Connections are a single input and output, and the bypass is True Hardwire, so the pedal is out of the signal path when disengaged². Guitar World's reviewer confirmed the CC Mini is true bypass³.

History and versions

The original Carbon Copy Analog Delay (M169) came first, with up to 600 ms of analog delay and internally adjustable modulation¹³¹⁴. The Carbon Copy Bright followed in 2015 with a brighter voicing¹⁵. The Carbon Copy Deluxe expanded the format with 1200 ms of delay, a bright switch and external modulation controls¹⁶. When the Mini arrived in 2019, Dunlop noted it made "three Carbon Copy Delays currently on offer"⁶.

The Mini surfaced on Jim Dunlop's website in April 2019 before its details were announced, with MusicRadar reporting that it "looks to include everything guitar players loved about the original" plus the bright switch⁴. Pete Thorn, demoing the pedal, credited its designer: "Mr. Jeorge Trips is a talented dude, he's the designer of this pedal"¹⁷. The housing carries the same green-sparkle finish and rugged footswitch as the family, in the smaller MXR mini box³.

What reviewers said

Guitar World's Paul Riario reviewed the Mini in November 2019 at a $149.99 street price, calling it "a sonic beast of an analog delay" and "unparalleled if you need to nail wide slapback echo or sail on cascading waves of wet delay"³. Delicious Audio's roundups praised it as "a classic tape-style echo with 600 ms of delay and a handy Bright switch"⁹, and Guitar World's blues guide listed "great analog delay tones that sit really well in a mix" among its strengths¹².

Sweetwater's demo video covers both voicings and the modulation, with one presenter noting he runs a short slapback with the Bright feature on, which "accentuates the mids on the returns"¹¹.

Click to load

Pete Thorn's demo walks through the pedal's sounds and its place in the Carbon Copy line¹⁷.

Click to load

Videos

Click to load

Questions