Delay is perhaps the oldest effect in the music industry , and it is one of the only effects that has thrived since its inception . From tapes to transistors , bucket-brigade and digital logic boards , delay has been there to provide space , rhythm , and movement to any and all sound sources . The history of delay on guitars is just as varied and interesting as the history of the effect itself , but for the purposes of this review , I will keep things to the point . The Vick Audio Hypocenter is the latest from the Gilbert , Arizonabased pedal outfit , and uses the Princeton PT2399 , a digital delay chip that is meant to replicate the sound and character of old bucket-brigade analog delays . This delay is incredibly musical , and gives itself well to rhythmic and spatial applications . Does it succeed in creating a new voice in this neverending world of repeats ? Let ’ s find out .
The Hypocenter , while digital in its core , is analog in its feel and response . Like I mentioned above , the PT2399 , while being a digital chip , is created to replicate the lo-fi analog delays of yore . If I could compare this pedal to an existing delay , it would most like be the early versions
of the Boss DM-3 . It ’ s got the darkness and the lo-fi sound of the original Boss units , but a bit more reinedin to allow more musical applications , even at high feedback settings . Many delays will start howling and screeching with the feedback cranked , forcing you to cover your ears and wince in pain . With the Hypocenter , even the highfeedback sounds are very musical , staying at a nice even level while still creating those throaty and hollow feedback overtones .
To truly test the strengths of the Hypocenter , I tried it on a number of sources to see how the repeats respond .
VICK AUDIO
HYPOCENTER DELAY
REVIEW BY YOEL KREISLER STREET PRICE $ 139.00
Delay is perhaps the oldest effect in the music industry , and it is one of the only effects that has thrived since its inception . From tapes to transistors , bucket-brigade and digital logic boards , delay has been there to provide space , rhythm , and movement to any and all sound sources . The history of delay on guitars is just as varied and interesting as the history of the effect itself , but for the purposes of this review , I will keep things to the point . The Vick Audio Hypocenter is the latest from the Gilbert , Arizonabased pedal outfit , and uses the Princeton PT2399 , a digital delay chip that is meant to replicate the sound and character of old bucket-brigade analog delays . This delay is incredibly musical , and gives itself well to rhythmic and spatial applications . Does it succeed in creating a new voice in this neverending world of repeats ? Let ’ s find out .
The Hypocenter , while digital in its core , is analog in its feel and response . Like I mentioned above , the PT2399 , while being a digital chip , is created to replicate the lo-fi analog delays of yore . If I could compare this pedal to an existing delay , it would most like be the early versions
of the Boss DM-3 . It ’ s got the darkness and the lo-fi sound of the original Boss units , but a bit more reinedin to allow more musical applications , even at high feedback settings . Many delays will start howling and screeching with the feedback cranked , forcing you to cover your ears and wince in pain . With the Hypocenter , even the highfeedback sounds are very musical , staying at a nice even level while still creating those throaty and hollow feedback overtones .
To truly test the strengths of the Hypocenter , I tried it on a number of sources to see how the repeats respond .
54 GEAR REVIEW // Vick Audio Hypocenter Delay