Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo Effects Pedal with Spring Reverb MIDI Control and Analog JFET Input

The Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo delivers the sound and behavior of real tape echo machines in a compact, reliable format. Built for musicians who want the feel of tape delay without the hassle of maintaining vintage gear, El Capistan combines powerful digital processing with user-friendly controls to offer deep sound shaping and modern flexibility.

Three Tape Machines in One

El Capistan offers three distinct tape machine types: fixed, multi-head, and single-head. Each type comes with three modes for different playback behaviors. These options provide a wide range of delay styles—from slapback to complex rhythmic patterns—so players can adapt the sound to different musical needs.

Spring Reverb Control

A dedicated Spring knob introduces a reverb signal modeled after vintage spring tanks. This allows users to add depth or create fully reverb-wet tones, offering an easy way to expand the sonic space without needing an extra pedal.

MIDI Integration

The pedal supports full MIDI control via USB-C or the EXP/MIDI jack. Musicians can automate parameters, save and load presets (up to 300), and sync delay time to their DAW or controller, making the pedal useful both live and in studio settings.

Sound on Sound Looper

The single-head mode includes a sound-on-sound looper that functions like a real tape machine. Players can create loops, set splice points, and erase instantly, with up to 20 seconds of recording. Ideal for building layered textures or practicing improvisation.

JFET Analog Input Circuit

A high-impedance Class A JFET input delivers responsive signal handling and touch sensitivity, preserving playing dynamics and tone whether using a guitar, a synth, or other instruments.

Stereo Input and Output

Stereo I/O enables flexible routing, with a mono/stereo input switch and dual TS outputs. This makes it easy to integrate El Capistan into any pedalboard or studio rig, especially for users working in stereo environments.

Adjustable Tape Behavior

Secondary controls include Tape Age, Crinkle, Bias, and Low-End Contour. These give detailed control over how the tape simulation behaves, letting users shape the echo tone to sound clean, worn, or anywhere in between.