The Catalinbread Echorec multi-head delay pedal recreates the rhythmic movement and swirling repeat patterns of the vintage Binson Echorec while expanding the concept for a modern pedalboard. Finished in Catalinbread's stealthy Blackout Series enclosure, its digital engine models four playback heads and makes all 12 head combinations available through the Program Select control. Meanwhile, Swell, Mix and Tone provide direct control over feedback, wet/dry balance and repeat character. A broad 40–1,000ms delay range moves from compact slapback to spacious multi-tap echoes, and selectable true-bypass or buffered trails operation adds flexibility within the black all-metal enclosure.

Twelve Programs Explore Four-Head Rhythmic Delay

The Echorec Blackout organizes its four virtual playback heads into 12 selectable programs, including rhythmic combinations that were not practical on the original mechanical unit. Adjusting Delay Time changes the spacing across the active heads, allowing the same program to produce tight pulsing echoes or wider, more dramatic sequences. Turning the control in real time also creates pitch-shifting, speeding-up and slowing-down effects for experimental transitions.

Swell, Mix and Tone Shape the Repeat Character

Swell controls feedback, moving from a single pass of the active heads to the dense circular repeats associated with the Echorec sound. Mix ranges from fully dry to 100% wet for conventional pedalboard use, parallel routing or multi-amp setups. The tilt-style Tone control stays relatively neutral near noon, darkens and thickens the repeats counter-clockwise or brightens their attack clockwise.

Selectable Trails and Internal Controls Expand the Setup

An internal switch selects true bypass or buffered trails operation, allowing existing repeats and self-oscillation to continue after bypass when trails mode is active. Internal trimmers adjust modulation depth and preamp gain, with the gain set to unity at the factory but capable of providing additional boost. Made in the USA, the Catalinbread Echorec Blackout Series edition runs on a center-negative 9–18V DC supply, draws 60mA and requires a supply rated for at least 70mA; battery operation is not supported.