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Review: Strymon El Capistan plugin and Strymon DIG plugin
Strymon presents two new plugins for delay fans. Check out the review of the Strymon El Capistan plugin and the Strymon DIG plugin. Not only for guitarists.
The new Strymon El Capistan plugin and the Strymon DIG plugin have been created to make the hearts of delay fans around the world beat faster.
As most delay lovers will know, the sound of the Strymon DIG is based on two different digital rack delays, while the El Capistan emulates the sounds of tape delays. The range extends from single-head to multi-head tape echo. The two classic pedals are now also available as digital plugins, which makes recording in the (home) studio much easier. In the past, Strymon was able to impress with a software version of the Deco and the Big Sky and now we want to take a closer look at these new plugins.
Strymon El Capistan plugin
Visually, the design of the Strymon El Capistan plugin is really well done and if you already know the hardware effect pedal, you will immediately feel familiar with it. In the upper part of the user interface, the input and output of the virtual effects device can be set – visually displayed by an LED meter. By increasing the input, you can get a slight saturation if desired. But you can also create a very clean sound. Three silver icons on the right side make the configuration pretty easy. The eye symbol switches between a constantly displayed potentiometer with a range from 0 to 255, a display when you mouse over it, or it hides these settings completely. The question mark activates the user manual. The respective function is briefly described when you mouse over it.
The wheel icon leads to a submenu that, in addition to the software version and a tab for support information, also shows the operating system and CPU used, as well as the sample rate and the plugin settings. It is practical that the information can simply be copied to the clipboard if there is a technical problem. Like the eye symbol, the “Settings” tab switches the display of the set values. The display size of the plugin can also be set here. You can choose between a small, medium, large and very large view. So no one needs to bother with reading glasses here.
The color of the Strymon El Capistan plugin matches the elegant gray-black of the pedal finish and the white lettering of the hardware model can also be found here. Even the 9 virtual potentiometers correspond to the pedal and look very attractive.
There are three different tape echo machines to choose from and the design in the upper area of the user interface changes accordingly.
Strymon El Capistan plugin: The “Single Moving” delay
The “Single Moving” delay uses a single tape head and the delay time is set by moving the virtual tape head or by adjusting the time potentiometer, which is labeled “Tape Distance” here. This tape machine is sonically based on the Echoplex, and two different tape speeds can be set by using the buttons “Normal” and “Fast”. “Fast” not only bisects the delay time, but also changes the sound of the delays. The faster tape run creates a slightly clearer, fresher and more trebly sound. With “Normal Speed”, a few tape artefacts can be added, especially with longer delay times, which makes the sound very organic and three-dimensional.
The maximum delay time in “Single Moving” mode ranges from 25 ms in “Fast Speed” mode and 50 ms in “Normal Speed” mode, up to 750 ms (“Fast Speed”) or 1500 ms (“Normal Speed”). All delay variants are possible, from a subtle slapback to a subtly mixed delay to thicken the sound to long and dark delays. The repeats have a wonderful dark character with longer delay times and short delay times create percussive and brighter delays. With “Wow & Flutter” and “Tape Crincle” natural modulations that sound really authentic can be added as well.
The “Single Fixed” delay of the Strymon El Capistan plugin
In the “Single Fixed” delay, you can switch between the three virtual tape heads by using a three-way switch. Depending on the tape head selected, this is of course presented visually in a very appealing way. The delay time of the three tape heads can be set from 75 ms, 225 ms and 300 ms to 375 ms, 1125 ms and 1500 ms. Each tape head offers a slightly different sound. The time potentiometer is not called “Tape Distance” here, but “Tape Speed”. So if you change the tape speed while playing, you get the start and stop sounds that are familiar from tape echoes, which you can easily integrate into your own songs. In this delay mode, I like to play with the tape bias to create a bit of dirt and reduced headroom. You can almost feel the vintage device. The guys from Strymon did a really great job.
The “Multi Fixed” delay of the delay plugin
The third delay can be used to activate several tape heads by selecting them either with the “Heads” selector switch or by clicking on the tape heads. There are the combinations 1 + 2, 2 + 3, 1 + 3 and 1 + 2 + 3. The speed is again set by using “Tape Speed” and the delay time of the individual tape heads can be set from 60 ms, 120 ms and 180 ms up to 300 ms, 600 ms and 900 ms. This allows you to create beautiful patterns with longer delay times and washed-out repeats with short delay times. Like a space echo, this multi-mode sounds very spatial and with a little additional reverb you can float away with the sound. With these three modes you have all the relevant tape delays covered.
El Capistan Digital Delay plugin: Tempo
The delay time can either be set freely by using the potentiometer, or of course it can also be synchronized or tapped by using the tap button. So if you like it very strict, you will be just as satisfied as if you are a fan of somewhat freer and more organic delays. In “Sync Mode” you can select the note values. If certain subdivisions are not possible due to the selected BPM because they would exceed the maximum delay time, they are highlighted in red.
The setting options of the El Capistan plugin
The lower part of the user interface is identical for all three tape echoes. There are 8 potentiometers to adjust the sound of the delay, or rather the quality of the tape and device. The options are called “Wow & Flutter”, “Tape Crincle”, “Low End Contour”, “Tape Age” and “Tape Bias”. These controls are used to fine-tune the basic sound and enrich it with random wow and flutter, crumpled tape, clipped bass, an older tape and a tape bias that is set too high (which can lead to slight distortion).
So everything is possible here, from a perfect tape machine with a fresh tape to a worn-out device with an ancient tape. The modulation naturally also depends on the tape speed, i.e. the delay time. The sound can wobble a lot, sound darker and the headroom can be limited. These controls are very sensitive.
There is also, of course, the “Repeats” potentiometer, as well as a “Mix” potentiometer and a potentiometer for the “Spring Reverb”.
The Strymon Spring Reverb is legendary in my opinion and gives the tape echo sound a wonderful breadth. It is very nice that the “Repeats” potentiometer has two small buttons, which can be used to deactivate the repeats if the echo gets out of hand and becomes too wild, and an infinity button, which turns the delay into a tape loop that can be played continuously. The sound of the loop changes over time due to the modulation settings. “Spring” and “Mix” have an additional lock button that can be used to determine the current setting so that it is not accidentally changed.
Strymon DIG plugin
The interface and the handling of the The Strymon DIG plugin is almost similar to the El Capistan plugin, but the color scheme changed from black to pink.
The Strymon DIG is known to be the digital counterpart to the El Capistan and is dedicated to the sound of the digital rack delays of the 80s through to the modern digital delay sound. The three delay types “24/96”, “ADM” and “12 Bit” can be set using a virtual button.
In addition, the DIG, which combines two delays that can be configured in series, in parallel or as a ping pong delay. The basic sound can be adjusted by using the global controls for “Modulation”, “Tone” and “Dry Level”.
The two integrated delays are constructed in the same way and each provides a “Time” control for the delay time, which ranges from 20 ms to 1600 ms. In addition, there is the option of setting the tempo via tap tempo, sync or freely using a potentiometer. And you get a large display that shows the delay time in milliseconds or subdivisions, as well as a control for “Repeats” and “Level”.
So far it is quite easy to handle, but offers a lot of possibilities. You can use different delay times, which can either be set freely or synchronized with each other. With a different number of repeats, different volume ratios and individual routing, many other possibilities arise. Of course, the rhythmic delays of U2 and other stadium bands immediately come to mind here. With a little modulation, the signal becomes even more vivid and via the “Tone” potentiometer the delay can be integrated perfectly into the mix.
While the “24/96” reproduces the modern digital delay in high resolution and sounds the most neutral, “ADM” and “12 Bit” have a very nice grainy character and sound really vivid and three-dimensional. The Strymon DIG plugin really reproduces all the digital delay sounds you need and in great quality. I’m a big fan of the DIG and I particularly like the sound of the “ADM”. But the “12 Bit” delay, which has a slightly crisper attack, also sounds wonderfully. A real asset to any DAW.
Both Strymon plugins naturally have some very good factory presets that are great as a starting point for your own sounds. But experimenting yourself is of course much more fun. And they are not only for guitarists. They are also perfect for piano sounds and synth!
Strymon El Capistan plugin and DIG plugin: system requirements
Both the Strymon El Capistan plugin and the Strymon DIG plugin are available for MacOS (Monterey 12.7 / Intel®Core i5 or Apple M1) and Windows (Win10 / Intel®Core i5 processor or AMD multi-core processor) in AAX, VST3 and AU (MacOS only) formats. The computer should have at least 8 GB RAM. You also need an iLok account to activate the plugins. The price of the plugins is $79 for the standalone version and $99 for the Strymon Echo bundle version, which is actually an absolute no-brainer.
Conclusion
Years ago, Strymon effect pedals raised the standard of delay pedals to a new level and DAW users can finally enjoy using the El Capistan and the DIG without having to laboriously integrate hardware effects into the setup. The sound of both, the Strymon El Capistan plugin and the Strymon DIG plugin is absolutely brilliant and the two plugins cover all the sounds of digital delays and tape echoes. An absolute recommendation for fans of plugins. They are very easy to use, they are visually very appealing and sound great.
Strymon El Capistan Plugin Demo-Video
(Deutsch) Strymon El Capistan Plugin Demo-Video. Check out the brilliant sounds of the new plugin for your DAW.
The new Strymon El Capistan plugin is a pleasure for everyone who loves the El Capistan delay pedal and simplifies using the brilliant sounds in a DAW.
Immerse yourself in sounds in the “Single Fixed”, “Single Moving” and “Multi Fixed” modes. The setting options are extremely extensive and I am sure that everyone will find the right tape echo sound for themselves. This plugin is not only for guitarists. It is are also perfect for piano sounds and synth!
Check out the full review here.
Available on www.strymon.net/el-capistan-Plugin
Strymon DIG Plugin Demo-Video
Check out the demo video of the Strymon DIG plugin and read the complete review on DelayDude.de.
The Strymon DIG is known to be the digital counterpart to the El Capistan and is dedicated to the sound of the digital rack delays of the 80s through to the modern digital delay sound.
While the “24/96” reproduces the modern digital delay in high resolution and sounds the most neutral, “ADM” and “12 Bit” have a very nice grainy character and sound really vivid and three-dimensional.
This plugin is not only for guitarists. It is also perfect for piano sounds and synth!
Check out the full review here.
Available on www.strymon.net/dig-plugin.
Chase Bliss Onward – a sonic paradise in a pedal
The Chase Bliss Onward is a very special kind of glitch and ambient effects pedal. It was presented for the first time at this year’s Superbooth and the idea and sounds immediately appealed to me.
An absolute recommendation for fans of unusual glitch and freeze sounds. The Onward is more than the sum of the two effects. The interaction and the crazy error effects work differently depending on the sample size and always deliver new sounds. With the numerous hidden features, the effect pedal can be perfectly adapted to your own playing.
Check out the complete review here.
Review: Chase Bliss Onward, effect pedal
The Chase Bliss Onward is a very special kind of glitch and ambient effects pedal. It was presented for the first time at this year’s Superbooth and the idea and sounds immediately appealed to me.
The Onward was developed together with Tom Majeski, who previously developed effects as Cooper FX and has now become part of the Chase Bliss team. The Onward is the product of this cooperation and is roughly based on the Cooper FX Outward. Continue reading “Review: Chase Bliss Onward, effect pedal”
Workshop: SOMA Pulsar-23 with the guitar
The SOMA Pulsar-23 can also process external signals and so I asked myself whether and, if so, how you can combine a guitar with the semi-modular drum synthesizer. Continue reading “Workshop: SOMA Pulsar-23 with the guitar”
SOMA Pulsar-23 (screw) with a Guitar
In this video we use the screws version of the SOMA Pulsar-23 to find out how guitarists can use this wonderful device for their needs.
In the first sound file, I selected the BPF delay and controlled the feedback via a CV touch plate. This allows you to set accents and drive the delay into oscillation.
In the second sound example, I use the LFO to create the modulation that modulates the delay time. Since I connected the LFO to another CV plate, I can switch from a light chorus effect to a vibrato with the touch of a finger. At the same time, I play with the feedback part. Continue reading “SOMA Pulsar-23 (screw) with a Guitar”
(Deutsch) Aktuelle DelayDude-Tests und Artikel bei AMAZONA.de – Juni 2024
(Deutsch) Aktuelle DelayDude-Tests und Artikel bei AMAZONA.de – Mai 2024
Team DelayDude at SUPERBOOTH 2024
The SUPERBOOTH in Berlin is a highlight for the DelayDude team every year and so in 2024 we won’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the great days from May 16th to 18th at the FEZ in Wuhlheide.
We have already conducted some exciting interviews for AMAZONA and will also report on the SUPERBOOTH itself.
(Deutsch) Aktuelle DelayDude-Tests und Artikel bei AMAZONA.de – April 2024
(Deutsch) Aktuelle DelayDude-Tests und Artikel bei AMAZONA.de – März 2024
(Deutsch) Aktuelle DelayDude-Tests und Artikel bei AMAZONA.de Januar/Februar 2024
Power for the gear: myVolts helps with advice and action
It’s no secret that I think many of the products offered by myVolts are great and I really enjoy using them. I recently came across the free “Power my Gear” editor on the website of Caroline and Luke. This is a really great tool that I would definitely like to recommend to you. Continue reading “Power for the gear: myVolts helps with advice and action”
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