Echo Cat
One of the best tape echos perfectly replicated as an audio plugin.
Retaining the original sound and offering modern features like ducking, M/S and tempo sync.
Echo Cat is all what we ever wanted a tape echo to be.
Based on a classic
Invented in 1958 by Charlie Watkins*, the Copicat* delay was an instant hit. Featured in countless albums from the 60s and 70s and used by great bands like The Shadows and Pink Floyd. Primarily designed for guitar, it's now a sought after piece of equipment in studios around the world.
Echo Cat brings back the sound and behaviour of the original unit with authentic tape simulation and three playback heads. With added extra features that any modern delay plugin should have. These include M/S processing, tempo sync delay times, filters on the feedback path, varispeed, modulation and ducking.
Why you'll love Echo Cat
Drive the input to get that crushed tape sound. Push the sustain up to 100% to get that typical self-oscillation. Vintage sound with modern control.
Authentic sound
We've meticulously modelled the sound of the original unit by analysing a high number of signals through Copicat*.
Tape simulation
Echo Cat features our high-end tape model that responds, behaves and sounds like tape. That's its core feature.
Modern features
Tempo sync, ducking the full stereo or only the mid channel, pro presets, filters, stereo widener, M/S...
-
“I've had a much beloved Copicat* for 20 years. Echo Cat sounds the same but with much more control. It's insane!”Dave Eringa
The Who, Manic Street Preachers -
“There are very few tape delay plug-ins that actually sound like a real box with real tape, and not another plug-in simulation. The vibes run deep on Echo Cat, and I am addicted!”Greg Wells
Adele, Katy Perry -
“Echo Cat is a phenomenally accurate reconstruction of one of my favourite pieces of gear with all the vibe and sonics of the original and the added benefits of modern detailed control. It’s been in every mix I’ve worked on since I got it. Love it!”Rod Jones
Idlewild, Post Electric Studios -
“I thought I didn't need another delay plugin, but the Echo Cat has found its way into my Useful Plugins list. It does subtlety well, but it does noisy and characterful even better (just like the hardware). The depth of control on this thing is insane.”Dom Morley
Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson -
“What makes any delay stand out from the pack and make me want to use it is if it imparts a noticeable character and voice of its own. And that’s where Echo Cat shines. As soon as I instantiate it, it makes me smile.”William Wittman
Grammy Award-winning producer -
“In my honest opinion, it's the first time that a tape echo plugin sounds as good as my hardware ones.”Antonio Escobar
John Legend
-
Main
Main
In the main section you can see a representation of the original Copicat* with the record and erase heads, and the three playback heads. You can also see the tape loop that spins continuously.
On the top you have the navigation tabs and on the bottom you can see the commonly most used parameters.
-
Heads
Heads
Each head can be controlled in great detail. You can either have it time synced to the tempo of your host or you can set the time freely in milliseconds. With volume, pan and LP/HP filters for each head.
On the left you can see that there are three LED indicators which show you if there is signal on the selected head.
-
Tape
Tape
Control the sound of the tape loop. Includes mono/stereo hiss, artifacts (or cat-ifacts) containing wow and flutter for recreating the fluctuations on the tape speed, tape age with asperity noise and erasures, and signal loss which is random high frequency compression.
The "Loop Gap" parameter mimics the tape loop joint, where the tape is physically looped.
-
Motor
Motor
In the "Motor" section you can find control over HUM (low frequency noise produced by electric current). There was a Copicat* model in the 70s that featured Varispeed, with which you could control the speed of the motor at will.
With Echo Cat you can also modulate the Varispeed amount using a LFO.
-
Master
Master
Lower the volume of the wet signal when the dry signal is present using Ducking and don't let the delay signal get in the way of the main signal. Apply filters outside the feedback loop. Control the mid and side volumes separately.
Make Echo Cat mono, stereo or fake stereo with a 5ms delay only in the right channel.
Audio demos
Demos by Xavi Gano and Torley
- - Analog Analect - Minimal-esque dance elements, where you can hear where I used ramping up of Sustain for transitions.
- - Chillaxologie - Lots of Echo Cat for a dreamy, relaxed vibe.
- - Echo Pianos - Echo Cat really shines on this, to fill in and add depth during the spaces in-between!
- - Elastic Reflections - Starts with 8 bars dry-ish, then Echo Cat kicks in. Repeated figure which gets additional layers.
- - Listen for Trails - Sequencer burbling with Echo Cat, then drums kick in. I use some dub-style on the snares and such later on.
- - Cloning Kittens - Centered on the dance floor, Echo Cat helps this production with warbly transition effects.
Watch in action
-
“This is one plugin that isn't just as good as the real thing, but way way better.”
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
Sam Inglis
Sound on Sound magazine — Read full review
Customer reviews
Get Echo Cat now!
Get the authentic sound of the first tape echo delay unit. With simple authorisation and download.
Start using it in seconds.
Changelog
-
Click to unveil
- # Version 1.0.2 – 28 / 07 / 2022
- - Added: Native Apple Silicon support.
- - Improved: bugs fixes and optimisations.
- - Removed: OpenGL is unsupported.
- # Version 1.0.1 – 20 / 10 / 2020
- – Improved: Plugin is now 2x faster.
- – Added: Mix and HQ parameters are locked.
- – Added: new presets.
- # Version 1.0.0 – 14 / 10 / 2020
- – Initial release.
Copy protection
No iLok or challenge response needed for registering Echo Cat.
You will receive a serial number at the time of the purchase. That's all you need.
System requirements
macOS
- 10.9 or higher.
- Intel and Apple Silicon are natively supported.
- 64-bit DAW and OS.
Windows
- 7, 8 or 10.
- 64-bit DAW and OS.