ThePedalGuy Presents the Hotone Binary Eko Delay Pedal

In this video, we take an in-depth look at the Binary Eko delay pedal from Hotone. This pedal includes 17 various delays from slapback echoes to dreamy sweep filter delays, to out of this world ambient ping pong delays.

Chapter Bookmarks
Tour the EKO 2:03
Tap Tempo 8:08
Delay #1 & #2 11:28
Delay #3 12:30
Delay #4 14:02
Delay #5 14:58
Delay #6 16:02
Delay #7 18:07
Delay #8 18:56
Delay #9 20:40
Delay #10 22:24
Delay #11 23:34
Delay #12 27:01
Delay #13 28:27
Delay #14 30:51
Delay #15 33:10
Delay #16 34:43
Delay #17 37:10

Here's the info about the Eko pedal from the Hotone website.
Grown out of next-generation XTOMP technology, the Hotone Binary Series lets loose versatile pro-level effects in compact cases. Based on the same modeling/original effect library that amazed XTOMP users worldwide, Binary Series are dedicated to gather a bunch of high quality effects in a box with more affordable, competitive price. They feature compact casing, dual-footswitch design, versatile inputs/outputs and bright, clear OLED display, which blur the line between “classic pedals” and multi-effects.

At the core of all Binary Series pedals, a powerful dual-DSP platform and CDCM (Comprehensive Dynamic Circuit Modeling) modeling system ensure a realistic playing experience. The CDCM system is built on an extremely complex dynamic variation matrix, able to realistically express every detailed change that occurs during the operational process of actual circuitry: Everything is ALIVE and performs like its original.

The Binary Eko is a delay effects pedal with stereo I/O and expression pedal support for delivering authentic classic, as well as a new and inspiring Hotone original delay sounds. 17 high-quality delay effects types include analog, digital, tape, dual, ping pong, filtered, modulated, slap back and more.

Features:

✪ Compact, easy-to-use dual-footswitch delay effects pedal
✪ Advanced CDCM modeling system ensures realistic playing experience
✪ Dual DSP-powered platform ensures high sound quality
✪ 24-bit A/D/A conversion, up to 110dB S/N ratio
✪ 17 high-quality delay effects, including CDCM-based classics and Hotone originals
✪ Variable maximum delay time ranging from 1000–4000ms
✪ Tap Tempo function
✪ Stereo I/Os
✪ EXP jack for expression pedal control
✪ USB jack for firmware upgrading and loading/managing effects via free Mac/PC software
✪ 10 presets (5 presets x 2 banks)
✪ OLED screen with clear display
✪ Pure Analog Buffered Bypass switching with flat frequency response
✪ Five translucent knobs with LEDs

Subscribe Button and Notification Bell by Adrienne Elle

You'll find it today at ThePedalGuy

#dontgetpedalbored

[mrmanch]

Thanks for that. I use delay a lot in my sound and you have demonstrated the Eko has more than covered the bases. Of course you can nit-pick about any piece of gear, but as you have shown, it is very comprehensive. I checked out your presentation (which is right on the mark), as I have one in the post. You have saved me a huge amount of manual reading time, so thank you for all the work you've done.
Cheers.

[MrThomstark]

The Hotone Binary Eko pedal has much to recommend it for musicians who want a flaxible delay unit for a relatively modest outlay. It offers 17 different 24-bit delay/reverb digital models, including a couple of bucket-brigade-style "analog" delays (digitally modeled, in the Binary Eko's case), which offer two different takes on the familiar '80's ambience (I like the "dark" version best), a straight-up digital delay, aclassic tape echo (think the Roland Space Echo), and tube echo (Maestro Echoplex-like) models plus, lo-fi delay and assorted reverb models. Each has controls for mix and feedback (repeats), plus two other parameters (what those parameters affect varies from model to model).

It features tap-tempo and on/off buttons that double as bank select (there are 2 banks of 5 patches each) and patch select stomps (press both buttons to switch banks, cycle through patches by monentarily pressing the button you use to input tap tempo. Each of the 10 presents is fully editable (using the five knobs along the top of the unit), and any present can be saved to any slot. So, it's a lot of pedal for not a lot of money - although the mix and feedback knobs too often have a surprisingly limited useful range.

The Binary Eko will accept a mono or stereo input (via a TRS 1/4" jack), and it has stereo 1/4" output jack (with the typical L out for mono applications). There's also an expression pedal 1/4" input jack that can be configured to control various parameters on a global basis.

The Binary Eko REQUIRES a 9-volt (300-milliwatt) external power supply, which is not included.

The bad news is that Hotone's parent company is Chinese, and (probably due to Chinese law) all the actual support materials - PDF manual, firmware images, and Windows/Mac-based patch editor/librarian - are hosted on a server physically located in China. That server has been downfor most of a month now (it does not respond to pings, so it's physically offline), and, because the entire country is on vacation for Chinese New Year, nothing has been done to fix that, so I literally couldn't get the editor or latest firmware. Nor was the USA-based eBay seller any help (although, after the second time I complained, they cancelled the sale, refunded my payment, and let me keep the unit, so there's that).

So, the Binary Eko is a nice piece of tech, with a few annoying quirks (which is why I wanted the firmware upgrade) at an attractive price. I bought mine for 50% off, which was a virtual steal.

Just don't plan on getting any tech support, if you buy one ...

[teacher]

So sweet....dual echo, dual delay ...good

[dimitrisblane]

Hey mate
Thanks for the clear vid
Can you tap the tempo while the delay is off?

Thanks

[olivierrossi]

Great vid ! the best one on the Eko all over the net. Just one think you d'ont speak : for the use in a amp effects loops :
Have the Binary Eko a Kill-Dry feature that removes the dry signal path, for use with parallel effects loops ?
Thank you

[oldasrocks]

Do any of the delays go 100% wet on the mix knob? I know the little Tape Eko did--

[organjoe]

Nice demo. Rather see a basic run through of presets and basic operation first, before a deep dive.
But very thorough job - Thanks;

[ipandaface_]

Can I put a tap tempo into the expression input so that way I can the preset button only for switching presets?

[armandobarrera]

When you store a preset, is also save the subdivision? A want a preset only for Dotted Eight Tape Eco ...

[shckltnebay]

Does it preserve your stereo signal when bypassed?

[xaviervonbuchwald]

can i control the Mix and Feedback with the exp pedal ?

[michaeljoseph]

What's the song in the background? It's stuck in my head.

[mattgilbert]

Least impressive of all the Binary series pedals. I've owned most of those Maxon delays (still use the AD9) and they sound nothing like that. No modulation and *very* dark. Tbh each delay sounded quite similar, with a few exceptions.
No tap-in?

[franklyspeakingfreely]

Is there a way to get more than one sound? Yes, power on to about half an hour.

[oscarpalaciosbustamante]

"practice safe delay"? Pfff.. let the robot self oscillate, man!!

[Guilhermefreitas]

Is it save presets wit different subdivisions??

[mrbaiser]

This wasn't programmed by musicians!
- "press and hold to enter tap tempo mode" is not practical on stage, when you want to re-set the tempo within a song.
- no option to quickly toggle back and forth between two presets. You want A1 for all the verses of a song and A2 for all the choruses? Not possible here.
- sound quality doesn't impress me. The sounds are quite similar and not really close to the originals. Modulation sounds lame...

Line6 Echo Park had better sound and way better implementation of tap tempo (with just one switch) back in 2004.