The TC Electronic Flashback 2 X4 is a large-format delay and looper pedal from TC Electronic, an updated version of the popular Flashback X41. It packs 10 delay types, six TonePrint slots and a 40-second looper with undo into one box, driven by three pressure-sensitive MASH footswitches2. MusicRadar's reviewer summed up the package as "10 delay types, including TC's shimmery Crystal mode, six TonePrint slots, and a 40-second looper with undo, plus three pressure-sensitive MASH footswitches"2.
It is a digital delay, a "4X version" of TC's flagship Flashback 2 digital delay, built for players who want the smaller pedal's sounds with preset switching, a looper and more footswitch control underfoot3.
A multi-delay with looper and pressure-sensitive footswitches
The Flashback 2 X4 runs in two modes, Delay and Looper, and its four footswitches change jobs depending on which mode you are in. In Delay mode, the three main switches call up presets and the fourth is a dedicated tap tempo; in Looper mode the same switches become Record, Play/Pause, Play Once and Undo/Redo5. The pedal's large footprint is what makes the dedicated tap tempo switch possible, and that switch doubles as the Undo/Redo trigger when looping3.
The three main footswitches are MASH switches, TC's pressure-sensitive design carried over from the Flashback 28. On That Pedal Show, the hosts described the idea plainly:
"they came out with these mash switches which is basically an expression pedal in the foot switch itself"9
Each footswitch holds a delay preset and the ability to control three parameters at once by varying foot pressure on the switch6. Pressing hard can speed the delay up, pressing gradually slows it down, and the MASH function can be assigned to other parameters such as feedback level9. Guitar World's coverage described it as working like an expression pedal: the amount of pressure placed on the MASH footswitch determines the intensity of modulation1.
Presets, TonePrints and the 40-second looper
The pedal holds six presets: three on the footswitches in Bank 1, and three more reached through the Bank 1/2 switch5. On That Pedal Show, the hosts explained the layout as "six locations to store sounds", with bank two reached by a quick press that turns the switch lights green9. USB access lets you store more presets beyond the six on the pedal's face5.
Six TonePrint slots sit alongside the presets2. TonePrint is TC's system of artist-designed and custom effect settings that you beam into a pedal, and the Flashback line has a deep library behind it: a TonePrint by Josh Smith is included with the Flashback 2 X4, and he used it for a sound on the demo9.
The looper gives you 40 seconds of loop time, with the three delay switches and the tap tempo switch turning into Record, Play/Pause, Play Once and Undo/Redo functions5. A Subdivision knob offers 11 tempo settings for the delay6.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Three MASH footswitches | Call up presets in Delay mode; Record, Play/Pause, Play Once in Looper mode; respond to foot pressure for expression control65 |
| Tap Tempo footswitch | Sets delay time in Delay mode; Undo/Redo in Looper mode35 |
| Bank 1/2 switch | Reaches the second set of three preset slots5 |
| Subdivision knob | 11 tempo subdivision settings6 |
| Kill Dry switch (rear) | On/Off, passes wet-only signal7 |
| Bypass toggle | Chooses true bypass or buffered bypass7 |
Power and connections: stereo, MIDI and expression
The Flashback 2 X4 has stereo ins and outs, an expression pedal input and MIDI input71. The stereo capabilities open up wide soundscapes, as Pedal of the Day's reviewer put it, creating "vast, wide open soundscapes"5. MIDI functionality and USB access round out the connections, along with 11 subdivision settings5.
A Kill Dry On/Off switch sits on the rear panel, and you can toggle between buffered and true-bypass mode7. Kill dry passes only the wet effect signal, which suits parallel and stereo rigs where you do not want the dry signal doubled.
The pedal's footprint is large. On That Pedal Show the hosts noted it "takes the space of four flashbacks", which they defended as the price of having four footswitches9. Plan board space accordingly.
From the Flashback X4 to the Flashback 2 X4
The original Flashback X4 Delay and Looper launched in September 2012 as TC's update to the popular Flashback delay and looper10. It brought TonePrint technology, a dozen-plus delay types, a 40-second looper, three presets, four TonePrint slots, a dedicated tap tempo, and an expression pedal input, with true bypass and optional buffered bypass1011. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as adding "a dedicated tap tempo, three presets, additional delay voices and TonePrint slots, and an enhanced, and much more capable" looper compared with the compact Flashback11.
The Flashback 2 X4 arrived in 2019 as the update6. What changed:
- MASH footswitches: the pressure-sensitive switches from the Flashback 2 replace the standard stomp switches8
- New delay styles: Crystal, Analog and Tape are new to this model4
- More presets: six preset slots instead of the X4's three510
- Crystal mode: lush shimmers inspired by the polyphonic octave algorithm from TC's SUB 'N' UP Octaver1
- Dual delay: TC says the dual delay algorithm lets you indulge in "Gilmore-esque soundscapes"7
The delay engines include a reverse delay and a modulated delay, but no drum delay9. TC's own description of the pedal is a flagship delay pedal expanded with three MASH switches, new Crystal, Analog and Tape delays, and six delay presets4.
The Flashback 2 X4 also has siblings worth knowing. The Hall of Fame 2 X4 reverb is its counterpart in TC's reverb line, and the Alter Ego X4 Vintage Echo is a vintage-echo take built on the original X4's feature set1213.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day called it "one of the most option-filled mega delay pedals we've ever come across", praising the looper, the stereo capabilities and the MIDI and USB access5. On That Pedal Show, the hosts judged the TonePrint sounds great and the MASH switch idea brilliant, with one host reacting to the pressure control by saying "I saw that and I thought man you guys are brilliant"9. MusicRadar's reviewer of the line found the X4 format "a very easy pedal to set up and use, and very reasonably priced (especially in relation to the original Flashback)"14.
On That Pedal Show, Mick and Daniel demonstrated the pedal in tape mode and worked through the MASH pressure control, the bank switching and the Josh Smith TonePrint9:
Videos
TC Electronic
Chords Of Orion
Mike Hermans
Questions
How do MASH footswitches work?
A MASH footswitch is an expression pedal built into the footswitch itself. How hard you press it controls a parameter in real time, like an expression pedal would. On the Flashback 2 X4, pressing hard can speed the delay up and pressing gradually slows it down, and the MASH function can be reassigned to other parameters such as feedback level.
How many presets does the Flashback 2 X4 hold?
Six. Each of the three delay footswitches holds a preset, and a Bank 1/2 switch reaches a second set of three, giving six locations to store sounds in total. USB access lets you store more presets beyond what the pedal holds on its face.
Is the Flashback 2 X4 true bypass?
Yes, with a choice. You can toggle the pedal between true bypass and buffered bypass mode, so it works either in a true-bypass board or as a buffered unit in a longer signal chain.
What delay types are on the Flashback 2 X4?
Ten delay types, including TC's Crystal mode, a shimmery delay inspired by the polyphonic octave algorithm from the SUB 'N' UP Octaver, plus new Analog and Tape styles, a reverse delay and a modulated delay. There is no drum delay. Six TonePrint slots add artist and custom delay sounds.
What is the difference between the Flashback X4 and Flashback 2 X4?
The Flashback 2 X4 is the 2019 update of the Flashback X4. It carries over the MASH pressure-sensitive footswitch technology from the Flashback 2, adds new Crystal, Analog and Tape delay styles, and doubles the presets from three to six. The original X4 had 16 delay types and four TonePrint slots.
Does the Flashback 2 X4 have a kill dry switch?
Yes. A Kill Dry On/Off switch sits on the rear panel. With kill dry engaged the pedal passes only the wet effect signal, which is useful in parallel or stereo rigs where you do not want the dry signal doubled.
Sources (14)
- TC Electronic expands Flashback line with new 2 X4 delay pedal, Guitar.com, 2019-07-30
- Strymon TimeLine MX review, MusicRadar, 2026-10-07
- TC Electronic Flashback 2 X4 Delay, Delicious Audio, 2019-07-26
- FLASHBACK 2 X4 DELAY, TC Electronic
- TC Electronic Flashback 2 X4 Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2020-02-11
- TC Electronic Expands Flashback 2 x4 Delay with MASH Technology, New Presets, Guitar World, 2019-07-26
- TC Electronic Flashback 2 X4 Delay pedal: Now with MASH and TonePrint, gearnews.com, 2019-07-26
- TC Electronic brings its MASH footswitch tech to the Flashback 2 X4 Delay pedal, MusicRadar, 2019-07-26
- Boss MD-200, Stone Deaf PDF-1X, GCP Comfortably Plum, TC Flashback II x4, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2019-11-05
- TC Electronic launches Flashback X4, MusicRadar, 2012-09-21
- TC Electronic Flashback X4 Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2013-02-04
- TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 X4 Reverb - Pedal of the Day, Pedal of the Day, 2020-03-10
- TC Electronic Announce Alter Ego X4 Vintage Echo, Guitar Interactive Magazine
- TC Electronic Flashback X4 review, MusicRadar, 2012-11-14
