Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Crazy Tube Circuits Unveils the Smart Compact TI:ME Machine - an innovative take on those Highly Musical 1970's Early Digital Delay Rack Units
Key Points
Crazy Tube Circuits’ Smart Compact TI:ME is a digital delay inspired by mid‑to‑late‑70s rack units such as the MXR Model 113, Deltalab DL‑4, AMS DMX 15‑80S and Deltalab DL‑2; the MXR 113 was used by David Gilmour, Brian May, Frank Zappa, Roger Waters, Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius.
It has six controls — Mix (Dry/Wet), Feedback/Repeats, M/Sec (130–720ms), Tone (Dark→Bright), Tap Divisions (.8th/Quarter/Triplets), Modulation (Rate/Intensity) — plus a Tap/Hold footswitch (Tap tempo; Hold = maximum feedback/self‑oscillation).
Sound is described as warmer, rawer, more textured/glitched than modern digital delays. Mono In/Out; 9–12V DC (‑), 84mA at 9V. Each unit is hand‑lacquered in textured copper and one of a kind. Available from the Crazy Tube Circuits webstore, priced at €189. For electrical safety or repairs, consult a qualified tech.
There’s been something of a deluge of tape-style delay pedals recently, so it’s refreshing to see a different variety on the scene - inspired by the mid-to-late-70’s Earliest of Digital Delay Rack Units. Based on devices like the MXR Model 113, Deltalab DL-4, AMS DMX 15-80S, and Deltalab DL-2 - as pictured flanking the TI:ME in the above visual.
The MXR Model 113 found significant popularity with a number of the virtuoso players active in the 70’s including of course Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Brian May, Frank Zappa, Roger Waters, Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius.
Those early delay rack units had a very distinct texture, nuance and musicality - which is quite removed from the more sterile tones of many of the most recent digital delays. These repeats are slightly rawer and warmer, and more glitched out than the pristine modern digital delays - and give your delay tones a really distinctive edge.
The TI:ME has 6 controls - Mix : Dry/Wet Blend, Feedback/Repeats, M/Sec : Delay Time 130ms to 720ms, Tone: Dark > Bright, Tap Divisions : .8th/Quarter/Triplets, Modulation : Rate/Intensity, Tap/Hold Fooswitch : Tap Tempo for short presses, and Hold for maximum feedback and self-oscillation.
You don’t have to worry about multiple modes here - but simply the pattern and style of repeats. This is a beautifully elegant delay - which is incredibly easy to deploy for maximum musical impact.
The Tones here are quite distinct from other typical digital delays - and are generally significantly warmer, and far more textured and nuanced. Delay aficionados should really love this new variety and will be able to get the very best out of it.
It’s obviously Mono In/Out - so not ideal for my own use or similar stereo rigs - but perfect for pretty much all other scenarios. Power supply is 9-12V DC [-] with a current draw of 84mA at 9V. The TI:ME is available right now from the Crazy Tube Circuits Webstore, priced at €189. Each TI:ME unit is hand lacquered with a textured copper colour finish and each is one of a kind!
Demos
