opted out of a tap tempo option precisely
because the pedal gives you such excellent
control over the rate and other parameters—
these controls are both sensitive and effective.
Kicking on the modulation switch and
setting the warble knob to about 9 o’clock
gives an already sweet tape-echo sound a
gorgeous, watery character. For most players, the randomized modulation will work
best at low settings, which best approximate
the irregularities of vintage tape units (and
where the pitch-shifting effects are more
subtle). But the effect is no less effective at
high settings, where the Alien Echo delivers
some of its most otherworldly sounds. At
these settings, the Alien Echo will quickly
launch into bizarre, infinite-oscillating noise
territory, especially with the delay and time
knob cranked. Rolling back the knobs in
these moments provides other surprises,
especially when you twist the two simultaneously. From piercing, crumbly vocal
effects to the thunderous sound of your
ship getting sucked into a black hole, the
combinations are delightfully random and
amazingly analog-like.
The Verdict
J. Rockett has a found a sweet spot in the
delay world with the Alien Echo—a bal-
ance between features and digital flexibility
with a more straightforward analog-style
layout that will work great for real-world
gigging players. Though it doesn’t dig as
deep into certain nuances of delay (other
digital echo simulations offer more tape-
wear sound control, for instance), this
compact box gives you a lot of variation
in tone with an extremely high level of
musicality. The pedal’s transparency is
superb whether you’re deep into modulated
delay effects or negotiating fuzzy or high-
gain delay situations. And even though it’s
capable of very analog-like randomness at
radical settings, the Alien Echo’s very pre-
dictable performance and control in more
conventional settings enable you to make
changes on the fly at a gig—without wor-
rying about your signal oscillating wildly
out of time or into crazed, feedback zones.
From players in professional settings with
diverse, old-school delay needs to noise-
chemists looking for a serious vehicle to
help encounter new compositional fron-
tiers, the Alien Echo is capable of giving
you one hell of a ride.
RATINGS
Pros: Warm musicality. compact and versatile.
easily controllable
J. Rockett Audio Designs Alien Echo, $229 street, rockettpedals.com
Cons: Lack of tap tempo
Tones
Ease of Use
Build
Value
henman
guitars
www.henmanguitars.com
