Strymon Olivera Vintage Oil Can Echo "Free Shipping in the USA"
Well Oiled Machine
Turn the clock back to a time when audio effects were still uncharted territory, and experience
the vintage syrupy warble of a true oil can echo.
From dark and modulated repeats to sustaining textures that approach the sound of classic
spring reverb tanks, Olivera is the first pedal emulation that truly captures the mechanical yet
wildly organic nature of these oddball machines, bringing funky inspiration to anything you run
through it.
Different By Design
The first oil can echoes were made by the Tel-Rey company in 1959, achieving the repeats
using a small rotating can filled with conductive oil as the dielectric material instead of tape.
This novel approach yields very different sounds than what you would hear from a tape
machine, and the results instantly transport the listener to a darker and murkier place that
positively oozes vibe.
The sheer number of variables in the design made authentic emulation challenging, requiring a
ton of research and a brand new algorithm to get to the realism that we set out to achieve. We
feel confident that Olivera captures the true soul of the original units, from the dark repeats with
unique rhythmic and decay characteristics to the unreal thick modulation that changes and
morphs as the audio does. No other type of delay can do what an oil can does, and no other
pedal emulation comes close to Olivera.
Vintage Stereo Echo Enhanced With Modern Features
Olivera has a host of powerful features that make it easy to integrate these nostalgic sounds
into your modern rig: Discrete stereo operation for independent processing of the left and right
stereo inputs. A simplified control set and expression pedal and Multiswitch capability. Delay
spillover for preserving repeats when the pedal is switched off. Discrete Class A JFET stereo
input preamp for exceptional touch sensitivity and ideal frequency response. MIDI control of
patch recall and continuous controller data. Premium components, rugged construction that
can take a beating and a USB jack for performing firmware updates or controlling the pedal
from your computer. Olivera makes it easy.
Features
MIDI
Olivera features full MIDI implementation and 300 presets, allowing you to control it remotely
via a MIDI controller or Digital Audio Workstation via either the EXP/MIDI jack or USB
connection.True Buffered Bypass
Olivera allows you to choose between electromechanical relay-switched true bypass for fully
untouched and unprocessed signal when the pedal is not turned on (the default behavior), or
our premium buffered bypass, which preserves your signal’s integrity by preventing the loss of
high frequencies that can happen due to long cable runs.
JFET Input
Our discreet Class A JEFT input preamp is one of our secret weapons, providing the ultimate in
dynamics and feel. The preamp circuit prepares the incoming audio to be processed in the
most ideal way possible, optimizing for ultra-low noise operation and a flat frequency response.
Stereo
Olivera features full stereo input and output capabilities, processing incoming stereo signals
independently so that you can confidently place it anywhere you like in your signal chain.
There are three different input/output routing options, which are accessible from the dedicated
switch on the rear panel: Mono In/Mono Out, Mono In/Stereo Out, and Stereo In/Stereo Out.
The dedicated TRS stereo Inputs and Outputs make patching easy too (stereo in and out
requires a TRS cable of some type for each jack).
ARM Processor
We are now using ARM processors in many of our products, which are an evolution in
technology led by mobile devices and laptop computers. These devices offer the ability to
perform more simultaneous processes than ever before, while consuming significantly less
current. This provides more horsepower for emulating every sonic nuance, with less current
draw from your pedalboard’s power supply.
CONTROLS
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(THESE ARE TABS PROBABLY)
Time - The Time knob determines the delay time for the repeats by adjusting the rotational
speed of the oil can. Some vintage units had a fixed speed, but we’ve allowed the rotational
speed to vary between roughly 200ms to 800ms in total delay time, which can be further
modified by the Head selection switch.
Heads Control - Vintage oil can echo units had a single record head and two playback heads.
The playback head’s distance from the record head determined the decay time of the echo,
and you can choose from ‘Short’, ‘Long’ or ‘Both’ with this switch. The ‘Short’ setting selects
the head that is the closest to the Record head for the shortest echo, and the ‘Long’ setting
selects the head that is the furthest away from the Record Head for the longest echo. The‘Both’ setting enables both heads at the same time, giving the repeats a lopsided and complex
scenario.
Mix - This control determines the mix of the wet and dry signal, with a 50/50 mix of wet and
dry occurring at roughly 3 o’clock on the knob.
Rate
-
controls the speed of the modulation
Intensity
-
controls the intensity of the modulation, where the modulation becomes much more
prominent in the audio mix the higher the position of the knob.
Regeneration
-
this control was often labeled “reverb” on vintage units, and it controls the
amount of echo repeats are fed back into the can to be reprocessed. Higher settings of the
knob create a reverberant and atmospheric character, which many would say is one of the
signature elements to the sonic character of an oil can echo.
NOTE: Hold the footswitch while turning the Regeneration knob to adjust the tone of the
repeats. Noon on the knob is the character that we captured from our referenc
