BINSON Echorec EC3 In perfect working conditions ready to play.

Effect: magnetic disk echo. Controls: recording volume, output volume, tones, halo length, four delay times: 33 ms, 66 ms, 99 ms, 132 ms, echo, multiple repetition, halo. Container: wooden and metal cabinet with case available separately. Supply Power supply: mains.

BINSON ECHOREC EC3

The name Echorec will be very familiar to many readers, it is in fact an abbreviation that distinguishes a long series of equipment that has met, and meets, a big favor from the public. Among the various models available we would try the EC 3, because, due to its characteristics, "medium", it seemed to be able to be more "palatable" for most of the public.

STRUCTURE

The fundamental element of this device is the characteristic metal drum magnetic recorder, used to obtain the delay of the audio signal, necessary for the realization of the echo and reverberation effects. The drum, on which the recording and reading is carried out, has a diameter of about 12 cm and is moved, by means of an idle rubber pulley, by an electric motor with vertical axis. The system of heads is arranged around the lateral surface of the drum (1 recording, 4 reproduction, 1 cancellation) and a pair of buckskin pressers kept in contact with the drum by means of a foil spring system. Also for the heads, the resting pressure on the metal surface was obtained by using a suspension on leaf springs.

Binson Echorec - Head

For a longer life of the heads and the drum, on the external surface of the latter it is necessary to renew from time to time a veil of oil which, maintained and limited by the leather pressers, also performs a detergent function. The type of head suspension also allows adjustment of the azimuth, albeit not very easily. It must be said that, given the not large amplitude of the frequency response band, with particular reference to the high frequencies part, unless gross misalignments, there should be no particular changes in the response, within a fairly wide range of positions azimuth. To avoid any misunderstanding, we clarify that the frequency response of an echo equipment (as far as the delay circuit is concerned, of course!) Does not necessarily have to be very extensive; in fact the effect of the echo is not equally pleasant on all frequency bands. For example, the echo applied to a deep bass would only give rise to an unnecessary and annoying rumble, while, on very high frequencies, only major problems of increasing background noise, of the possibility of triggering with positive practical effects, would arise with great ease not entirely "paying". The quality of the realization requires, of course, the determination of the right balance between the direct signal (which must of course be returned absolutely unchanged) and the right width of the response band of the delayed signal. In the case of Echorec, this balance seems to be sufficiently achieved, even if we are certainly not dealing with a recording room instrument. Very important, from this point of view, it would seem there the signal / noise ratio increase, always one of the points "dolens" of this type of equipment.

CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS

On the front panel, for which, incidentally, we would have appreciated a greater "stylistic" commitment, the input selectors are arranged that allow you to send, or not, the signal present on the three different inputs to the delay circuit or to leave it pass unaffected. There is also a recording level control and the relative pointer indicator instrument (no illuminated), A potentiometer for adjusting the level of the repetitions only (the level of the direct signal is regulated by the recording potentiometer), one for tone adjustment and one for the reverb length (attenuation of the repetition bar) Two rows of buttons allow to connect the playback heads to both the echo bar than to that of repetition, in order to obtain a wide variety of effects depending on the combinations set on the keyboard. On the right the two "Swell" and "Repetition" buttons: The first one simultaneously sends all the reproduction heads out and activates the repetition bar; the second activates only the repeat bar.By disengaging both buttons, only the echo bar remains inserted. The three inputs and three outputs controlled by the input selector are available on the rear panel, all equipped with a jack connection. A "pedal" input is made with the same type of connector for remote insertion or exclusion of the effect. There is also an input / output, usable with the use of a "stereo" jack, for the "in / out" connection to the echo bar of a mixer. Also on the back is the connector for connection to the light network and an additional voltage output for powering any other equipment.