The Pigtronix Echolution Tap Tempo Analog Delay is a delay pedal with built-in modulation, built on what its maker calls a unique analog/digital hybrid architecture. It offers 12 seconds of delay time, a click-less tap tempo switch, true stereo outputs, and a modulation section with chorus and tremolo that has its own on/off footswitch. Sound design is by David Koltai, with circuit design by Howard Davis1.
Controls and how it works
The Echolution pairs its delay engine with a modulation section covering chorus and tremolo. The LFO Speed knob controls the rate of both sections, and a separate on/off footswitch turns the modulated delay on and off independently, which the reviewer at Pedal of the Day noted gives "a greater amount of control for when and where you want the modulated delay"1.
A three-way toggle selects the delay range for the modulated signal:
| Toggle position | Delay range |
|---|---|
| Short | 10ms to 120ms |
| Medium | 100ms to 1.2sec |
| Long | 1sec to 12sec |
The Blend knob controls how much of the delayed signal comes through your amp, and the reviewer called it "great, as always" for dialing in exactly how much repeat you hear1. He also counted the Blend, Feedback, Drive and Hi-Cut controls as very important functionally to your sound, adding that "Drive is a favorite of mine"1.
The pedal's five toggles shape the multi-tap patterns, and a PHI switch introduces and realigns those five toggles to the Golden Ratio, giving the tap patterns their spacing1.
Modes: Trails, Reverse and Loop
Three modes extend the pedal beyond a straight delay:
- Trails: lets the repeats fade naturally when you turn the pedal off, rather than cutting them dead1
- Reverse: plays the repeats backwards, which the reviewer called "always fun to play around with"1
- Loop: makes your repeats trail off for infinity, holding a delay phrase indefinitely1
Stereo, tap tempo and expression
The Echolution has true stereo outputs and can be run in stereo between two separate amps, so the repeats can be spread across two amplifiers1. The tap tempo switch operates silently, with no click through the signal, something the reviewer said he loved right away1. An optional expression pedal can be connected through the 1/4" jack on the left side of the pedal for hands-free control1.
The Echolution runs on 15V DC, and a Pigtronix 15VDC power supply is included in the box1.
Where it sits in the Echolution family
This first version of the Echolution was later followed by the Pigtronix Echolution 2 and its larger siblings, the Echolution 2 Deluxe, Echolution 2 Filter Pro and Echolution 2 Ultra Pro, and then by the Echolution 3. Pigtronix has since released other analog delays, including the Emanator and the Constellator Modulated Analog Delay23. For more on the effect type, see the site's Delay Pedals page.
What reviewers said
Reviewers of this first version of the Echolution Tap Tempo Analog Delay with Modulation singled out its tone-shaping controls, finding that the Blend, Feedback, Drive and Hi-Cut knobs are very important functionally to your sound, with the Drive knob singled out as a favorite: "Drive is a favorite of mine"1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Dennis Kayzer
Questions
Does the Pigtronix Echolution Tap Tempo Analog Delay come with a power supply?
Yes. The pedal runs on 15V DC and ships with a Pigtronix 15VDC power supply included. Because it uses a 15V supply rather than the 9V that most pedals run on, it will not share a standard daisy chain with the rest of a board, so plan to use the supplied adapter or a dedicated 15V outlet on an isolated power supply.
Is the Echolution a true stereo delay?
Yes. The Echolution has true stereo outputs and can be run in stereo between two separate amps, which lets the repeats spread across a wide stage. Players running a mono rig can simply use one output and the pedal works as a single-channel delay.
Can I use an expression pedal with the Echolution?
Yes. The Echolution can be controlled by an optional expression pedal plugged into the 1/4-inch jack on the left side of the pedal. The expression pedal is not included, so you will need to supply your own.
What does the PHI switch do?
The PHI switch introduces and realigns the pedal's five toggles to the Golden Ratio, a proportional relationship used in design and nature. In practice it gives the multi-tap delay patterns a musically spaced, non-uniform character rather than evenly timed repeats.
How long can the delay time go?
The Echolution boasts 12 seconds of delay time. A three-way toggle selects from Short (10ms to 120ms), Medium (100ms to 1.2sec) and Long (1sec to 12sec) delay ranges, so the pedal covers everything from tight slapback to long ambient repeats.
Sources (3)
- Pigtronix Echolution Tap Tempo Analog Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2014-11-13
- New Pedal: Pigtronix Emanator Analog Delay, Delicious Audio, 2022-05-09
- Pigtronix Echolution 3 Multi-Tap Stereo Delay, Delicious Audio, 2023-06-19
