Authentic Vintage Tape Delay Emulation with Added Customization

The Lem Echo Music plugin recreates the nostalgic tones of the vintage Italian tape delay effect from Lem. Martinic’s authentic emulation simulates the classic sound of three playheads on one strip of tape, with all the wonderful wow, flutter, and degradation of the original.

History

In the late ’60s and throughout the ’70s, pairing an electric organ with a tape echo unit was common. Organists like Lenny Dee modified their organs, adding a tape delay for an extra dimension. The LEM Echo Music, for instance, allowed organists to send their bass tone to a dedicated output, providing precise EQ and delay control.

Martinic Lem Echo Music emulates the vintage tape delay unit’s classic sound. The effect involves recording on a single reel of tape moving past magnetic playheads at different positions, playing back multiple copies of the original signal.

The playhead positions and delay times are fixed, not syncing to a DAW’s tempo. Recreated imperfections like wow, flutter, and degradation add uniqueness. Additional plugin features include tape saturation, stereo mode with pan controls, and reverb—enhancements not present in the original.

Features

• Same tape delay as in Elka Panther plug-in
• 3 playheads at 80 ms, 210 ms, and 330 ms
• 7 delay tap combinations
• Total tape loop length 9.5 s
• Authentic wow and flutter
• Wet mix and feedback controls
• 2-channel mixer with bass/treble tone controls
• Vintage VU meter

Advanced Features

• Tape age control
• Same reverb as in Elka Panther plug-in
• Stereo mode with pan controls
• Master volume control