Maplin Echorder E444

The Maplin Echorder is an analogue delay-line system which means it uses digital chips to process the sound in an analogue fashion using the bucket brigade delay line system  (BBD)- not digital sampling as modern echo units do - this is something of a compromise between tape-based systems and fully digital systems but the end product is still echoes of the original signal, though perhaps long delays are not the forte of this type of unit.

There are two inputs impedance matched for -50dB and -20dB to make it easier to use microphones or guitars and keyboards. The output is impedance selectable as -40db,-20dB or 0dB to match to mixers and amplifiers.

The bypass footswitch control is on the front facia along with the controls for the input signal volume,the balance control to change the relative amount of echoes and original signal,the repeat control,which sets the amount of feedback and therefore how long the echoes last,and the delay control which sets time between echoes.

There is a peak level LED which indicates when the input signal is clipping.

Good points: Because there is no tape - this unit will never wear out or need consumables to keep it going,the net effect is useable and the time delay goes from long reverb to discrete echo.

Niggles: The output signal can be rather noisy and the unit I had suffered from scratchy potentiometers which is okay once the volume is set but annoying considering the unit is solid state.

Similar models: It has come to my attention that the Maplin unit may well be a re-branded Melos DE-1.If not, then there is a remarkable similarity.