Pigtronix PHI Echolution Delay/Modulation Guitar Effects Pedal

Here is another pedal I wanted to look into from our original ‘Best delay pedal available today?‘ post. The delay pedal is the Pigtronix PHI Echolution Delay/Modulation Guitar Effects Pedal, and it’s pretty mind blowing. The level of options, configurations this pedal offers is incredible. It’ll definitely take some time to find what works for you, or to get that particular delay sound you’re looking for, but it definitely will have it in there. The 6 part multi-tap toggle switches definitely caught my eye, and you can  see where things can get pretty wild.

Here is the official factory description of the pedal:

The Pigtronix Echolution achieves the warmth and ambient saturation of the finest analog echo devices while offering the versatility and features found in high-end digital delays. The Echolution’s independent tap tempo and modulation delay modes allow the musician to switch between different delay sounds on the fly. The Echolution has a maximum delay time of 20 seconds and a minimum delay time of 10ms. Designed in conjunction with effects guru Howard “Mick” Davis, the Echolution is a fusion of cutting edge analog and digital circuit design. Made in New York, USA!

The Modulation delay operates over 3 distinct time ranges, providing easy access to a huge array of delay-based effects.

The short setting (10ms-120ms) provides stereo chorus and rockabilly slapback sounds. The medium setting (100ms-1.2 sec) covers classic echo territory with incredibly lush modulation and rich analog sound. The long setting (1 sec-12 sec) allows for sound on sound, looping, and reverse playback as well as rhythmic multi-tap patterns and pitch bending madness.

Multi-tap toggle switches introduce any combination of 5 additional echoes at musical fractions of the master delay time. The values of these fractions are based on quarter notes and triplets. Engaging the (PHI) switch realigns all of these fractions to values based on the Golden Ratio. The Golden Ratio creates a spiral rhythm that is found throughout the universe. It is observed in the shapes of galaxies, sea shells, DNA, the Egyptian Pyramids as well as in the work of many great visual artists and musicians.

Chorus (pitch) and tremolo (amplitude) modulation of the delay signal are controlled by a single analog LFO. Independent depth controls allow both types of modulation to be blended for rotary speaker sounds and other space age effects. An Expression pedal input for changing the delay time gives the musician even further control of the Echolution’s time and pitch bending capabilities. Thoughtful features include a stereo blend control that mixes the pure analog input signal with the echo signal, a Trails switch that allows echoes to fade gradually after the effect is bypassed and an input Drive control, which can push the echoes into massive saturation. True stereo outputs provide breathtaking 3D sound when used with two amps or direct into a mixer.

The Echolution contains a Loop feature that freezes the content of the delay line and repeats the captured audio. When the loop function is engaged, all of the modulation and multi-tap functions remain active, allowing you to warp and manipulate the sample beyond all recognition and then back again to its original sonic form. The Echolution can also operate its delay line in Reverse for backward sounds that are truly psychedelic. This is old school delay style “hold” looping.

Reverse and Loop Functions are both switchable via a 2-button TRS remote switch.

The key to the remarkably F.A.T. sound of the Echolution is a pair of Howard Davis’s proprietary non-linear filters, which reside at the input and output of our 24-bit digital delay line. This circuitry provides both the low-pass filtering characteristic of analog delays as well as the compression and soft clipping, even-order harmonic distortion that makes tube, tape and 15 volt BBD delays so responsive and pleasing to the ears.

A variable hi-cut filter gives continuous control of the LPF cutoff frequency. Runaway Self-Oscillation can be achieved by cranking up the Feedback control. Once a sample is looped, it can be manipulated and warped by changing the delay time and multi tap settings.

I found this video demo by ProGuitarShopDemos on the Pigtronix PHI Echolution Delay

For quality and options… you need to pay a price. This pedal is no exception. You can currently pick up the Pigtronix PHI Echolution Delay/Modulation pedal for $479.00 at Musician’s Friend. If you’re looking for a high quality delay pedal with plenty of options, this could be the one you’re looking for.

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