Meazzi Echo Unit Technical Summary

Reproduced by kind permission of Paul Rossiter

of TVS Speciality Products

 

Please note that the timings and amplitudes of the heads quoted here are nominal values only and there is evidence that they varied (sometimes considerably) from these nominal values. This could have been due to varying friction of the heads against the drum/tape and head (mis-) alignment. For example, actual echo timings can vary by a few mSec from one position in a track to another with even wider variations from tune to tune. More dramatically, the last echo from the Echomatic 2 appears around 350 mSec on some tracks and well above 360 mSec on others (of course, there could also have been two different machines?). With regard to levels, Charlie Hall has also commented: Some of these units had presets inside that were not intended to be changed by the user. Dick Denney told me he was often called to the studio to make corrections to these settings, so either someone was messing with them or they went off spec on their own! This could explain why there are a number of variations, especially from the Echomatic 1.
 
 

Meazzi Echomatic 1

Model J:

6 replay heads unequally spaced around a drum with a magnetic coating. 

Factory levels of the heads preset:1 strongest, 6 weakest, though the echo levels exhibited on most recordings differ from these simple settings.

 

 Model F:

 5 replay heads unequally spaced around a drum with a magnetic coating. Factory levels of heads preset:1 strongest, 5 weakest, though the echo levels exhibited on most recordings differ from these simple settings. Possibly variable speed.

 

Switching used by Shadows: generally used in Position B nominally with heads 1, 4 and 5, though sometimes with head 5 substituted for head 4 and sometimes with 4 heads enabled (occasionally including head 2). The feedback (if used) was taken from head 3, 4 or 5.

Meazzi Echomatic 2

4 replay heads, unequally spaced around a drum with a magnetic coating, levels of heads 1, 2 & 3 adjustable in relation to head 4: Head 3 level lower than heads 1 & 2, though the echo levels exhibited on most recordings differ from these simple settings.

*Note: levels of heads 1-3 collectively adjustable downwards relative to head 4. Feedback from head 4: adjustable

Meazzi Echomatic Tape

  Echomatic PA 306:

 Magnetic tape unit with 6 replay heads unevenly spaced, 4 switchable options and fixed relative levels.

Head	Delay (mSec)	Relative level (dB)	Switch option*
1	76	0	Halo
2	154	0	Halo
3	228	-2	Halo
4	300	-2	Halo
5	400	-4	Repeat
6	800	-4	Echo

Note: also has an internal 4 position plug that allows other variations.

However, the tape speed can vary up or down by a couple of percent with different tape tensions (i.e. length of tape loop)

Feedback from one of last 3 heads, depending upon switching option. Variable feedback level by internal control.

These units are often modified to give delays closer to those of the Meazzi drum units.

 

Acknowledgements:

I would particularly like to thank Charlie Hall (EFTP) who has generously shared much of his valuable knowledge via web chat sites and in personal communications. I would also like to thank the many other contributors to the Shadows chat sites who have helped build to this body of knowledge, particularly John Campbell, Alan Jackson, George Geddes, Alan McKillop, Justin Daish, StuartD, Bill Bowley and Didier. If I have left others off this list please let me know and I will be happy to add their names.

Also, if you have any corrections or additional material you would like me to add, please let me know.

Paul Rossiter

November 2009.