The T-Rex Replica stereo delay pedal is a delay with stereo inputs and outputs, a dedicated tap tempo footswitch, and MIDI control, including MIDI clock sync. It is the stereo version of the Replica, a delay Sweetwater has called "the legendary t-rex replica delay" in its demo of the pedal1. Delicious Audio described the announcement of the new stereo version as Sweetwater's endorsement of a flagship delay returning2.
Signal path: digital delay, analog direct and feedback
The Replica is a hybrid design. Don Carr, demonstrating the pedal for Sweetwater, explains that "the delay signal of the replica is digital but the direct signal and feedback circuit are analog"1. For a player, that means the dry signal stays in the analog domain while the repeats are processed digitally, and the feedback loop that generates successive repeats is analog as well.
The bypass is also worth noting. Rather than a hardwired true bypass switch, "bypass mode uses an fet circuit to keep the impedance consistent throughout the rest of the rig"1. An FET (field-effect transistor) bypass keeps the pedal's input impedance from changing when it is switched off, which matters on a board where pedals before and after it expect a consistent load.
Vintage and Modern modes
The headline feature of the new Replica is a mode switch. Don Carr calls it "the biggest difference in the new replica," selecting between Vintage and Modern characters1.
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Vintage | Repeats go into self-oscillation; recalls the original Replica, where repeats pass through a compressor expander circuit that T-Rex says makes the sound smooth and dynamic1 |
| Modern | Repeats trail off cleanly; Delicious Audio describes it as "a more pristine delay" with clear repeats and a more open sound12 |
In practice, Vintage mode suits players who want the runaway, self-oscillating repeats of the original pedal, while Modern mode keeps tails tidy at higher delay levels12.
Controls and MIDI
The pedal's controls include a delay level knob labeled Echo, alongside the mode switch and the two footswitches1.
- Tap Tempo footswitch: sets the delay time by tapping1
- Bypass footswitch: engages and disengages the effect1
- Echo knob: sets the delay level1
- Mode switch: selects Vintage or Modern1
- MIDI: receives MIDI clock info; bypass and tap tempo can also be sent via MIDI1
Delicious Audio sums up the stereo version's feature set as a "TRUE STEREO TAP-DELAY" with "MIDI compatibility, MIDI-clock and, of course, Tap Tempo"2.
What reviewers said
Don Carr, in Sweetwater's demo, highlighted the pedal's level flexibility: "i really like the flexibility of the fact that you've got so many level controls you've got an input level that drives t"1. Delicious Audio, covering the announcement, treated the new stereo Replica as a sign that the company was back on players' radar, calling Sweetwater's announcement of the new version of its flagship delay an endorsement in itself2.
Where it sits in T-Rex's delay range
T-Rex's delay lineup includes several related pedals: the original T-Rex Replica, the compact T-Rex Replay Box Stereo Delay, the T-Rex Reptile 2, and the tape-style T-Rex Replicator family. For more on the effect type itself, see the site's guide to Delay Pedals.
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Questions
Is the T-Rex Replica analog or digital?
It is a hybrid. In the T-Rex Replica stereo delay, the delay signal itself is digital, but the direct signal and the feedback circuit are analog, as Don Carr explains in Sweetwater's demo of the pedal. That combination keeps the dry path and the repeats' feedback loop in the analog domain while the delay line is processed digitally.
Does the T-Rex Replica have tap tempo?
Yes. The pedal has a dedicated tap tempo footswitch alongside the bypass footswitch. It can also receive MIDI clock information, and both tap tempo and bypass can be controlled over MIDI, so you can sync delay times from a MIDI controller or keep the footswitches for hands-on control.
Does the T-Rex Replica work in stereo?
Yes. The Replica is stereo in and out, and the stereo version is described by Delicious Audio as a true stereo tap-delay. That means a stereo instrument signal or a stereo effects loop can pass through the pedal with delay applied to both channels.
What is the difference between Vintage and Modern mode on the Replica?
A mode switch selects between the two. In Vintage mode, the repeats go into self-oscillation, recalling the original Replica, where the repeats pass through a compressor expander circuit that T-Rex says makes the sound smooth and dynamic. In Modern mode, the repeats trail off cleanly, and Delicious Audio describes Modern mode as delivering a more pristine delay with clear repeats and a more open sound.
Can you control the T-Rex Replica over MIDI?
Yes. The pedal receives MIDI clock information, and you can both bypass it and trigger tap tempo via MIDI. Delicious Audio also notes that the new Replica offers MIDI compatibility and MIDI-clock, alongside its Tap Tempo footswitch.
Is the T-Rex Replica true bypass?
Not in the mechanical sense. Its bypass mode uses an FET circuit, which Don Carr explains keeps the impedance consistent throughout the rest of the rig, rather than a hardwired true bypass switch.
Sources (2)
- T-Rex Replica Stereo Delay Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2022-06-20
- Pedal Update: T-Rex Replica Stereo Delay, Delicious Audio, 2022-10-18
