Recording - December 2020 - 10

REVIEW: Echo Fix
EF-X2 Tape Echo
In use

The EF-X2 is equally at home in balanced, line, and instrument-level signal
paths-no need for any external impedance-matching devices (reampers,
take note). Even in a studio send/return
scenario, utilizing the preamp-equipped
Hi-Z input can add delicious, driven lo-fi
delay effects to your tracks.
In my sessions, the EF-X2 has made
its warm, luscious tape-based presence
known on hi-hat, snare, drum machine,
shakers, guitars, electric piano, synths
and vocals, performing everything from
simple Brian Setzer slap-back and John
Lennon vocal-style echo, to mutatable
trailing rhythmic repeats.
The EF-X2 is also a sound designer's
dream, where you can lose yourself in
deep, glurpy, layered explorations as
you play the controls in real time.
The onboard spring reverb is simple,
splashy, and nicely on the warmer side,
and the digital reverb is a cool bonus.
While usable, the chorus was just OK;
I'd probably stick to a pedal or plugin.

Sound

The EF-X2 is a mechanical tape machine-there is tape hiss, and if the lid
is open, mechanical noise. This is the nature of the beast. Having said that, the
EF-X2 is as clean and pristine as real tape
echo gets. It's a mono device, but here's
a cool trick: print two 100% wet passes of the same track and hard pan them
in stereo with the source running up the
center; this is a classic method for getting
some of the most lush, natural-sounding
chorusing effects in existence.

Old vs. New

Our copy editor Mike Scheibinger owns
a well-maintained Roland RE-201, and we
spent a day comparing the two (see the
sidebar). The comparison taught me that
the controls and thresholds of the EF-X2 are
quite a bit more sensitive than the vintage
RE-201, nicely making this a 'small movements yield big results' kind of device.

Care and feeding

You will need to familiarize yourself
with the care and feeding of a tape echo.
10 RECORDING December 2020

Echo Fix includes cleaning solution, swabs, and
two replacement tapes
with the unit.

Conclusion

The EF-X2 exudes wow
factor! It has a great vintage vibe, without the
hassles that a 40+ yearold unit can bring. I've
long lusted after a real tape echo, and
the Echo Fix EF-X2 may have just turned
my lust to love.

Thoughts from
the guitarist...
With the unfortunate recent passing of
Eddie Van Halen, my mind was drawn
way back to when I first started playing
guitar-around the time 'Eruption' came
out, with its silky-sounding Univox cassette-driven tape delays doing their thing
in Eddie's early signature sound. I had
one, and that's how I fell in love with tape
echo. I've had a Roland RE-201 in my
studio for years, and nothing compares
for delivering lush chorusing effects. Mine
has a bit of unpredictable, magical, janky
wow and flutter-it's old, but if I remember correctly, even new units back in the
day started taking on that jittery behavior
quickly, especially when you spilled a
beer on it. The Echo Fix FX2 is probably
far tighter fresh out the box than any RE201 ever was (but I'd advise against pouring a beer on it to loosen it up). The build
quality and sonic stability on display here

Price: $1950
More from: echofix.com

are palpable. Where the RE-201 shines
on chorusing effects, the FX2 shines on
holding together extraordinarily long delay tails (on tape!) and making them fade
gently into the forever like a dying star going into white dwarf mode light years from
home. I have an ear for static electronic
music with an organic feel, and the supple
radiance of FX2 delay tails shimmering
as they hang in space makes them music
compositions in and of themselves-good
art is made easily with gear like this. The
feedback control is fussy, but this is due to
the wide range it covers. Since this thing is
built like a tank, no problem cranking the
dub and feedback effects. The sound on
sound switch extends the unit into distances that the RE-201 could never venture.
The spring reverb appears to be made for
guitar and sounds better than its grandpa.
Being able to power the motor down is a
blessing. Guitarists: this is a pedalboard
in a box-and it's a real tape echo for
days. Echo Fix FX2 is a total win. -MS

http://www.echofix.com

Recording - December 2020

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