Strymon Volante Magnetic Echo Machine Pedal

Volante is a stereo multi-head magnetic echo machine designed to capture the character, response, and imperfections of classic drum, tape, and reel-to-reel echo systems. Three selectable magnetic media types—drum, tape, and studio—cover everything from warm, saturated vintage repeats to cleaner, full-bandwidth studio echo, while dedicated controls for Mechanics, Wear, Low Cut, and Record Level let you shape the age, fidelity, and saturation of the virtual echo machine.

Four playback heads sit at the center of Volante’s design, with independent control over playback level, feedback assignment, and stereo panning for each head. The Spacing control continuously moves between Even, Triplet, Golden Ratio, and Silver Ratio head arrangements, making it easy to create traditional multi-head patterns, dense rhythmic echoes, or spacious ambient textures. A three-position Speed switch changes both the delay range and the fidelity of the magnetic system, with half, normal, and double-speed operation.

Volante also includes an independent vintage-style spring reverb and a Sound on Sound looping mode designed around the behavior of magnetic recording systems. Loops can gradually evolve and degrade, run in reverse, pause with a mechanical tape-stop effect, change speed and pitch, or be held with Infinite Repeats. Eight presets are accessible directly from the pedal, while MIDI expands preset storage to 300 locations and provides control over virtually every parameter.

An analog Class A JFET input stage allows the Record Level control to move from clean reproduction into warm magnetic-style saturation. The dry signal remains completely analog for zero-latency operation, while 24-bit/96kHz converters, 32-bit floating-point processing, and SHARC DSP handle the echo and reverb processing. Stereo inputs and outputs, instrument/line level operation, expression control, USB, full-size MIDI In/Out, and selectable True Bypass or Analog Buffered Bypass make Volante equally at home on a pedalboard or integrated into a larger MIDI or studio setup.

Features:

• Three magnetic echo types: Drum, Tape, and Studio
• Four individually controllable playback heads
• Independent playback level, feedback assignment, and stereo panning for each head
• Variable head spacing with Even, Triplet, Golden Ratio, and Silver Ratio settings
• Dedicated Mechanics, Wear, Low Cut, and Record Level controls
• Analog Class A JFET input preamp
• Magnetic-style record head saturation
• Three operating speeds: Half, Normal, and Double
• Independent vintage-style spring reverb
• Sound on Sound looping mode
• Reverse, Pause, Splice, and Infinite Repeat functions
• Eight presets accessible directly from the pedal
• 300 preset locations via MIDI
• Full MIDI control through 5-pin DIN, USB, and compatible 1/4" MIDI connection
• Expression pedal support
• Instrument / Line input level switch
• Completely analog dry path
• Stereo input and output
• True Bypass or Analog Buffered Bypass
• Designed and built in the USA

Specifications:

• Effect Type: Multi-Head Magnetic Echo / Delay / Reverb / Sound on Sound Looper
• Echo Types: Drum / Tape / Studio
• Playback Heads: 4
• Delay Range, Half Speed: 400ms–4 seconds
• Delay Range, Normal Speed: 200ms–2 seconds
• Delay Range, Double Speed: 100ms–1 second
• Presets: 8 onboard / 300 via MIDI
• Inputs: High-impedance stereo
• Outputs: Stereo
• Input Impedance: 1MΩ
• Output Impedance: 100Ω
• Frequency Response: 20Hz–20kHz
• A/D & D/A Conversion: 24-bit / 96kHz
• Processing: 32-bit floating point
• DSP: Analog Devices SHARC
• Bypass: True Bypass or Analog Buffered Bypass
• MIDI: 5-pin MIDI In/Out, USB, and compatible EXP-jack MIDI
• Power Requirements: Maximum 9V DC, center-negative, 300mA minimum
• Power Supply: Not included
• Dimensions: 4.5" deep × 7" wide × 2.4" tall
• Chassis: Anodized olive green aluminum
• Country of Manufacture: USA