El Capistan provides three different tape machine types in one pedal, each with three unique modes and extensive control over tape quality, machine health and tone shaping.
Go from the full-range sonic stability of a fresh-from-the-factory echo machine, to the heavily fluctuating sound of a road-worn unit in need of service. Enjoy the full bodied sound of fresh tape, or dial in the dark, gnarled and vibey qualities of worn out tape.
Our meticulously handcrafted dTape™ technology and powerful ARM DSP give you a range of tape experiences that would be unattainable with a single traditional tape machine. Plus you get sound on sound looping, all without the headaches of tape machine maintenance and repair.
Classic Sound, New Features.
Our second generation El Capistan keeps the same rich magnetic tape echo tones from our original and adds significant new features, incorporating technological advancements, hardware improvements and design enhancements to give you additional flexibility, power, and ease of use on stage and in the studio.
MIDI
Full MIDI implementation means you can control just about every switch, knob, and setting remotely by sending MIDI commands from your controller or DAW via El Capistan’s EXP/MIDI jack or USB-C connection.
Delay time can be synchronized via MIDI Clock Sync, and the sync setting can be saved for each preset.
300 MIDI preset locations are available for loading and saving your favorite settings.
Hardware Improvements
A premium analog JFET input circuit ensures superb responsiveness to your playing, and you can select mono or stereo input with the flick of a rear panel switch.
All this, plus a new ARM DSP chip provides more processing power for every sonic nuance, with less energy consumption on your pedalboard.
Spring Reverb
Some classic tape echo machines included small integrated spring reverb tanks tuned for limited bandwidth.
For El Capistan, we captured this vintage vibe while creating a spring reverb algorithm with a gorgeous, gentle character that stands on its own, in addition to enhancing delayed signals.
SPECS
Ins, Outs, and Switches
High impedance ultra low-noise discrete Class A JFET TRS stereo input.
Low impedance independent TS stereo outputs.
Expression pedal input allows the connection of a TRS expression pedal, MiniSwitch, MultiSwitch Plus, or TRS MIDI connection.
USB jack for controlling via MIDI from a computer or for performing firmware updates.
Dedicated tap tempo & On/Off footswitches
Audio Quality
Premium JFET analog front end
Ultra low noise, high performance 24-bit 96kHz A/D and D/A converters provide uncompromising audio quality
520MHz ARM Superscalar processor
32-bit floating point processing
20Hz to 20kHz frequency response
Audio Input Impedance: 1M Ohm
Audio Output Impedance: 100 Ohm
Strong and lightweight anodized dark gray aluminum chassis
9V DC power supply included
Power requirements: maximum 9 volts DC center-negative, with a minimum of 300mA of current