Description

Vintage Vibe Machine.
Plug in, play a note or chord, and you feel it: All the warm, saturated, distinctive qualities and subtle nuances of vintage tape echo combine to instantly create an unmistakable atmosphere.

Everything from classic slapback echoes to psychedelic space explorations have stunning richness and depth, responding to each note and knob turn in a musically inspiring way.

Turn up the repeats for organic delay feedback with just the right amount of grit. Dial in some spring reverb to further enhance the sense of space. Effortlessly create multi-layered ambient soundscapes with the tape-style sound on sound looper.

Transform your pedalboard into the inspiration machine it was meant to be.

Magnetic Monster.
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.

Echo Through Eternity.

Classic single-note slapback. Rhythmic multi-head delays. Ambient, washed-out echoes that dissolve into waves of noise. El Capistan’s three different tape machines provide a huge variety of vintage delay sounds, offering unique functionality depending on what the Mode switch is set to.

The fixed tape head machine creates a classic delay effect with tape speed controlled via the Time knob. The Mode switch selects between three playback heads, each a specific distance from the record head for a specific delay interval. Choose between: (A) short delay with 1/16 note tap tempo, (B) medium delay with dotted 1/8 note tap tempo, and (C) long delay with 1/4 note tap tempo. 

The multi tape head machine has the same three playback heads as the fixed version, but simultaneously uses two of the three playback heads to create rhythmic delays that groove with one another. The Mode switch selects which two playback heads are active: (A) Heads 1 and 2 are active.(B) Heads 2 and 3 are active. (C) Heads 1 and 3 are active. The Time knob adjusts tape speed.

The single tape head machine changes things up by running the tape at a fixed speed while the Time knob sets the delay time by adjusting the position of a sliding record head. This tape machine also features a sound on sound looper. The Mode switch offers the following options: (A) Tape motor runs at double speed for higher fidelity with shorter delay times. (B) Tape motor runs at normal speed for lower fidelity with longer delay times. (C) Sound on Sound mode for tape-style looping with instant tape splice, bulk erase, and two tape speeds.

Take Control.

A full suite of traditional delay controls make El Capistan a practical addition to any board. 

Set your preferred delay time using the dedicated Time knob, and dial in everything from snappy slapback delays to long, spacious echoes. Need to dial it on the fly? Use the dedicated Tap switch to lock in to your desired tempo without needing to turn a single knob.

Use the Mix knob to make your delayed signal as subtle or noticeable as you need. From fully dry to fully wet, and everything in between. 

El Capistan’s Repeats knob lets you select just the right amount of repeats — from a single echo for double-tracking delays, to runaway oscillation madness at its upper settings. 

Need Some Space?

Like certain echo machines of yesteryear, El Capistan features a finely-tuned spring reverb to add another dimension to your echoes.

Use it to add subtle space and dimension to your delays at lower settings, or turn things up a notch for big, splashy waves of old-school spring reverb.

Just want reverb? Turn the Mix knob to minimum to hear only your reverberated signal.

Add A Little Movement.

El Capistan captures the nuances of the dozens of moving parts that contributed to the sound of classic tape echoes.

A dedicated Wow & Flutter knob adjusts the amount of mechanically related tape speed fluctuations.

From the crisp delays of a fully cleaned and serviced machine, to the warbly, pitch modulated echoes of a road worn piece of gear — El Capistan gives you all the vibe and none of the maintenance.

Better With Age.

The goal with El Capistan was to offer the most authentic tape echo experience in a modern, compact form factor. A component of that was replicating the tonal effects that the tape medium itself can have on your signal depending on the age and condition of the tape itself, as well as taking into account the significant effect of the bias setting of the tape machine.

A dedicated Tape Age knob lets you decide whether you want the full bandwidth of brand new, glossy tape — or the warm top end of older well-used tape. 

As a part of keeping things simple up-front, we added secondary functions for added control over the tape crinkle and tape machine bias. 

The Tape Crinkle secondary function controls the amount and severity of tape irregularities, including friction, creases, splices and contaminants. Go from smooth and well-cared for tape, all the way to tape that’s been chewed and mangled. Just like the real thing, Tape Crinkle characteristics track accordingly to tape speed.

While not a characteristic of the tape itself, how much bias signal is added to the tape’s audio signal can make huge tonal differences. By adjusting the Tape Bias secondary function, you can get high-headroom, extra clean, crisp echoes at lower settings, or crunchy, saturated echoes with higher bias levels. Higher bias settings also limit the echo volume, which can be useful at very high Repeats settings when you want to create high feedback and self-oscillation effects while still keeping output level under control. For “optimal” bias, set the knob at approximately 9 o’clock.

Round Things Out.

El Capistan’s Low End Contour secondary function gives you an extra layer of tonal control by shaping the low frequency content of the echo repeats. 

At the far left of the control, you get extended low frequency bandwidth for full, deep repeats.

As you turn the Low End Contour knob clockwise, low frequencies are gradually filtered from the repeats, giving you the ability to create extremely high-passed echoes at the far end of the knob’s range.

Over And Over Again.

Just like one of our favorite moving head tape echo machines, El Capistan gives you a Sound on Sound mode, but with some cool new features. 

When you enter Sound On Sound mode (Single Tape Head, Mode C), the machine is already recording, just like a traditional tape echo machine. We go several steps further by giving you instant tape splice and bulk erase functions. It’s like having a built-in tape-style looper! 

To set the length of your tape, press Tap once to set your splice ‘in’ point, and press Tap again to set your splice ‘out’ point. All of the tone shaping knobs are active and affect your loop as it plays back and re-records. Press Tap a third time to completely erase the tape. You get 20 seconds of tape at slow speed, 10 seconds at fast speed.

Limitless Possibilities.

Our new generation of El Capistan features full MIDI implementation, allowing you to 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. 

Remotely bypass or engage the pedal, sync delay BPM changes along with your tracks, automate knob adjustments, recall unique presets for each song on your setlist — the possibilities with MIDI are limitless.

Choose Your Bypass Mode.

El Capistan lets you choose electromechanical relay switched true bypass for a 100% untouched, unprocessed signal when the pedal is bypassed (this is the default setting), or you can opt for our premium quality buffered bypass that conditions your signal to preserve its integrity by preventing the high end roll-off that can happen due to longer cable runs.

Analog Touch.

Uncompromised dynamics and feel. Exceptional touch sensitivity and responsiveness. El Capistan feels just as good as it sounds, thanks to a high impedance ultra-low noise discrete Class A JFET preamp input.

Turn Up The Volume.

We all need a lift every once in a while. El Capistan features a +/-3dB boost/cut secondary function that lets you add a little extra “oomph” when you engage the pedal — or dial things back a bit if you need a more subtle delay without changing your Mix control. 

Moving In Stereo.

No need to make compromises when it comes to signal routing or pedal placement — El Capistan features full stereo in/out capabilities. 

A single TRS input jack allows El Capistan to keep its compact form factor while giving you the option to use a stereo input signal. A dedicated rear panel Input switch allows you to easily set El Capistan for operation with a stereo (TRS) or mono (standard TS) input source. Low impedance dual TS output jacks let you use El Capistan as a stereo effect.

On Another Level.

Pedals aren’t just for guitarists. El Capistan’s adjustable input signal level makes it a versatile tool for endless applications from the studio to the stage. 

By setting El Capistan to line level input mode, you get 10dB of added headroom, allowing you to use El Capistan with bass guitars with active pickups, synthesizers, keyboards, effects loops, and more.

Power To The Pedal.

Significant developments in mobile phones and computers have led to an evolution in technology that now allows our pedals to perform more simultaneous processes with less power draw than ever before.

That means more processing power for every sonic nuance with less power consumption on your pedal board.

ns, 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

Other

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
Dimensions:
4.5” deep x 4” wide x 1.75” tall
11.4 cm deep x 10.2 cm wide x 4.4 cm tall
Designed and built in the USA

Bananas At Large Inc

Bananas At Large Inc

Call
Strymon
Brand New
9 Years
$379
Bananas At Large Inc
Bananas at Large
415-457-7600
San Rafael, CA
2:17 PM
Monday - Saturday (11:00am - 6pm PST) Sunday (11am - 3pm PST)

We accept major credit and debit cards - Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. We also accept Paypal. Please contact us for Western Union. Orders must be approved by our authorization process. This includes validation of the shipping address with the issuing bank.

About Shipping and Delivery We utilize legitimate bonded and licensed shipping carriers only (UPS, Fed Ex, USPS etc). We are not the shipping company and therefore cannot be held responsible for faults that lay with the shipping company. By placing orders with us you agree to be present to receive packages sent to you. Bananas cannot be held responsible for lost packages once they are logged as delivered by the shipping company. Once a package is logged as delivered by the shipping company the customer is responsible for any issues related to the delivery of the package at that point. Packaging and Shipping Information Due to conditions beyond our control (weather, shipper's handling etc.) some boxes that products originally come in cannot be re-used to ship out to customers. In those rare cases we will remove and inspect all items and repackage them in acceptable boxing to make it safe to you. All items are still considered brand new, under full warranty and fall under our same guarantees. Note: Bananas recycles unused boxes when possible.

Online Returns: In order to return a product, Request a Return Authorization Number (RA Number). To request a Return Authorization Number (RA Number), please email info@bananas.com with your full name, order number, item that you are returning, and what type of return you would like us to process - either exchange for the same item, exchange for another item, or return for refund. In addition, if you can include the reason for your return, and any other comments, that would be appreciated. Once we process your RA request, we will send you a Return Authorization Number, and instructions on how to return the item. Return and Customer Satisfaction Policy: Any item (other than as noted below) purchased from Bananas at Large online store may be returned, within 45 days of the shipment date, for a full refund of the purchase price minus shipping costs, or for exchange or credit. Rather than make you click elsewhere for the 'small print', here it is in not-so-small print: The following items may not be returned: Consumable items such as (but not limited to) strings, picks, drum sticks, drum heads, phono cartridges and replacement speakers. Any item that is worn on the body or is blown into, such as (but not limited to) earplugs, wind controllers or harmonicas Computer software, items that can be copied and copyrighted material such as (but not limited to) books, videos and CD's Installed items such as (but not limited to) guitar pickups, drum heads, headphone parts and other installed parts If you agree to back order or special order a product, you agree that order may not be canceled unless approved by Bananas. Special orders already in transit either from manufacturer or Bananas cannot be canceled. Special order items may be returned if defective for exchange. You will be notified what items qualify as special order status. *In-store sales, please see posted Return Policies Other Things You Need to Know about Online Returns Shipping and/or handling charges are not refundable. It is your responsibility to pay return shipping and to fully insure the unit(s) you are returning. Also, it is your responsibility to cover shipping charges for sending the item to you. If you are quoted free shipping and return the item, you will be required to cover the actual shipping costs incurred by your order. Items that are returned must be in the original packaging, with all accessories and paperwork included in the original shipment, such as owner's manual(s) and warranty card. Items must be free from signs of use or wear, and both warranty card and manual(s) must not have any writing in them. If your order was shipped to you in outer packaging it must be returned in that packaging as well as the inner box or boxes. Returned items that do not arrive in the condition described above are subject to a $25 repackaging charge, plus the cost of replacing missing, soiled, worn or marked-on items. Obvious signs of use that reduce the value of a returned unit will be subject to additional charges based on how much we need to mark down the unit to make it sellable.