Tags: Vocal effects units

Notes: Classy stuff from the London label's debut collab with one of our favourite synth brands. Classy stereo delay with analogue filtering and creamy valve distortion. Perfect for studio or live use.

Supplier's Notes:
Ninja Tune - an English independent record label based in London and Erica Synths have teamed up to create a custom dub delay effects unit, the Zen Delay.

Features
Controls: delay time, feedback, delay mod (5 presets), tap button, dry/wet, bypass switch, filter cutoff, resonance, drive, input level, filter mode

Inputs
Stereo In: 2x standard jack

MIDI In: standard MIDI socket

CV In: standard jack

Outputs

Stereo Out: 2 x standard jack

Delay times: 1-5000ms with 1/8...x8 of clock/tap rate in beat mode

Inspired by a trip to Berlin's trailblazing music hardware trade show Superbooth, Coldcut's Matt Black and longtime friend Dr Walker (Liquid Sky artist collective / Air Liquide) envisaged the exciting possibilities of a custom hardware effects unit. The result is the creation of the Zen Delay i the first-ever hardware effects unit produced in collaboration with an electronic music label.

Bringing together the best of the digital and analogue worlds, the Zen Delay is a BPM-synced stereo delay line, combining extreme feedback ranges for dub and experimental lo-fi effects with a multi-mode 24 dB synth filter and valve overdrive.

Created and manufactured by Erica Synths, the unit is housed in a metal case with Erica Synths' signature bakelite knobs and a valve circuit for extra analogue warmth. While sonically versatile, it is incredibly easy to use each function has a physical knob that you can play around with without diving into manuals or scrolling through menus on a tiny screen.

Crafted in close collaboration with DJs and producers, the Zen Delay was uniquely developed with both live and studio use in mind and is suitable for many different performance situations, musical styles and instruments. While most delay devices are designed as 'stomp boxes' for guitarists, the device is equally powerful in the hands of electronic music producers, artists and DJs, adding a unique, warm and powerful sonic character to drum machines, loops, vocals, synths, samples or any other source. Even full tracks or a live stereo mix can be enhanced by the combination of analogue and digital circuitry, breathing new life into iPad performances and giving traditional digital synths and drum machines a huge kick.

The Zen Delay is a product of our expertise on vacuum tube designs, our powerful, custom DSP platform and the great sound of our filter ICs made and developed in Latvia. It by far exceeded expectations in terms of how it sounds and feels when played. - Girts Ozolin

The Zen Delay is the analogue delay unit I've been waiting for. Stereo warmth, tone and texture. Perfect for live abusage, and studio madness love it - The Bug

The Zen excels at the sort of extreme dub possibilities Coldcut love. Feed it back! - Matt Black

For years I have dreamed of a state-of-the-art stereo valve dub delay for my MPC that perfectly masters all sound aesthetics from "badass" to "psychedelic hypnotically trashed" and now, have a look! There it is... the Zen Delay! - Dr Walker

Power: 12v (power supply for worldwide use is included)
In/Out levels: 3.2v peak to peak
DAC
114 dB dynamic range

-100dB THD+N

ADC
108 dB dynamic range

-98 dB THD+N

Dimensions: 21 x 15 x 5 cm
Weight: 870g

Notes: Second-generation version of Boss's excellent looper gives you five stereo tracks, four simultaneous effects, hands-on control and full MIDI support. Ideal for live use but also a creative studio tool.

Supplier's Notes:
Looping Magic at Your Fingertips

Packed with inspiring tools for on-the-spot music creation, the RC-505mkII brings next-generation power and flexibility to the world's most popular tabletop looper. Elevate your performances with five stereo tracks and four simultaneous Input FX and Track FX, and soar even further with customizable buttons, expanded I/O, increased mixing control, and other enhancements requested by long-time RC-505 users. Built for free-flowing expression on stage and in the studio, the RC-505mkII is a dream machine for beatboxers, vocalists, multi-instrumentalists, and other fearless looping artists.

More to Love

The RC-505mkII retains everything that made the original so loved and adds a wealth of new features to make the looping experience even more creative and free flowing. The faders provide longer throw for finer adjustments, and they also have a more solid feel under the fingers. And each track now has dedicated FX and Track buttons, making it easier to colour and control your loops in the heat of the moment. Undo/redo has also been enhanced with a Mark Back function that lets you instantly jump back to a previous loop state while performing.

Customize Your Workflow

While the original RC-505 was very customizable, the RC-505mkII takes things to the next level with a vast range of user-configurable controls. You can assign various CTL parameters to the FX and Track buttons and trigger them with a press, hold, or double-click. Pressing the Undo/Redo button reveals a secondary layer, doubling your options. Two external control jacks are also available for connecting footswitches or expression pedals, and each has its own dedicated set of parameters. Crave even more? Then tap into the Assign screens to set up 16 different targets for hardware control and MIDI operation.

More Sonic Colours for Inspired Looping

Sonic variations help make loop performances more compelling, and the RC-505mkII provides a greatly expanded FX palette to colour your sounds during recording and playback. There are 49 Input FX and 53 Track FX types to choose from-including powerful new vocal harmony effects-and you can use up to four in each section at once. Going further, groups of four Input FX and Track FX can be stored in four banks for quick recall, along with toggle or momentary button settings for each type. A step sequence function is also available in some FX to automate parameter changes for dynamic real-time movement.

SPECIFICATIONS

Sampling Frequency: 44.1 kHz
AD/DA Conversion: 32 bits
Processing: 32-bit floating point

Recording/Playback
Number of Tracks: 5
Data Format: WAV (44.1 kHz, 32-bit float, stereo)
Maximum Recording Time: Approx. 1.5 hours (1 track), Approx.13 hours (total of All memories)

Rhythm Type: 200 types or greater
Rhythm Kit: 16 types

Effect:
INPUT FX: 49 types
TRACK FX: 53 types
MASTER FX: 2 types
Memory: 99
Nominal Input Level: MIC 1, 2 INPUT: -40 dBu/INST 1, 2 INPUT: -10 dBu
Maximum Input Level: MIC 1, 2 INPUT: 0 dBu/INST 1, 2 INPUT: +7 dBu/+20 dBu (selectable)
Input Impedance: MIC 1, 2 INPUT: 3k ohms/INST 1, 2 INPUT: 1 M ohms/25 k ohms (selectable)
Nominal Output Level: MAIN OUTPUT: -10 dBu/SUB 1, 2 OUTPUT: -10 dBu
Maximum Output Level: MAIN OUTPUT: +7 dBu/SUB 1, 2 OUTPUT: +7 dBu
Output Impedance: MAIN OUTPUT: 1 k ohm/SUB 1, 2 OUTPUT: 1 k ohm
Recommended Load Impedance: MAIN OUTPUT: 10 k ohms or greater/SUB 1, 2 OUTPUT: 10 k ohms or greater

Controls:
TRACK1--5 REC/PLAY button, TRACK1--5 STOP button, TRACK1--5 TRACK button, TRACK1--5 FX button, ALL START/STOP button, UNDO/REDO button, TAP TEMPO button, RHYTHM START/STOP button, RHYTHM EDIT button, INPUT FX A--D button, INPUT FX EDIT button, TRACK FX A--D button, TRACK FX EDIT button, MENU button, LOOP button, ENTER button, EXIT button, PAGE buttons, 1--4 knobs, OUTPUT LEVEL knob, TRACK1--5 LEVEL Faders

Display:
Graphic LCD (128 x 64 dots, backlit LCD)

Connectors:
MIC IN 1, 2 jack: XLR type (balanced, phantom power: DC 48 V, 10 mA Max
INST IN 1, 2 jacks, MAIN OUT jacks, SUB OUT 1, 2 jacks: 1/4-inch phone type
PHONES jack: Stereo 1/4-inch phone type
CTL1,2/EXP1 jack, CTL3,4/EXP2 jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type
USB port: USB B type
MIDI (IN, OUT) connectors
DC IN jack

Power Supply: AC adaptor
Current Draw: 1.0 A (with phantom power), 0.9 A (without phantom power)
Accessories:

AC adaptor
Owner's Manual
Leaflet "USING THE UNIT SAFELY"

Options (sold separately):
Footswitch: FS-5U
Dual Footswitch: FS-6, FS-7
Expression Pedal: FV-500H, FV-500L, EV-30, Roland EV-5

SIZE AND WEIGHT

Width: 420 mm/16-9/16 inches
Depth: 234 mm/9-1/4 inches
Height: 67 mm/2-11/16 inches
Weight: 1.8 kg/4 lbs