Erica Synths Echolocator Firmware 1.04 Adds Frequency Shifter

TL;DR: Erica Synths has released firmware 1.04 for their Echolocator desktop delay, adding a frequency shifter mode alongside the existing pitch shifter for the shimmer effect. This free update continues the company’s impressive commitment to evolving their FX hardware, following the dub delay mode and dotted sync ratios introduced in version 1.03.

• Firmware 1.04 introduces a new frequency shifter mode for the shimmer effect, selectable via the effects menu.
• The update is free and available now from the Erica Synths website.
• Previous firmware 1.03 added a dub delay mode (AUX send behavior) and dotted sync ratios (1/32 to 1/1D) for MIDI clock.
• Echolocator hardware still costs 490€ / $599 and ships with 100 presets, preset morphing, and stereo I/O.

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What Is the Echolocator?

Erica Synths’ Echolocator is the second desktop FX unit born from the collaboration with Dutch plugin developer 112dB. Following the Nightverb reverb and the Steampipe physical modeling synth, this stereo delay processor feels like the logical next step for the partnership. The Latvian company handles the hardware design — a sleek aluminum case with 12 knobs — while 112dB provides the algorithms.

At its core, the Echolocator emulates tape delay, with an optional BBD (bucket brigade) “dirty mode” for grittier repeats. You get controls for time (4 ms to 4 seconds), feedback, dry/wet mix, a ping-pong knob, and a built-in filter with cutoff, resonance, and modulation speed/depth. The shimmer effect — the headline feature — allows pitch shifting from -12 to +12 semitones, with two modes (A/B) for how the shifted signal blends with the original. A room reverb can be added to sweeten the tails.

Preset management is a highlight: 100 slots (30 factory, 70 user) with morphing times from 0.1 to 10 seconds. A freeze function captures the audio buffer. All parameters are MIDI-controllable, and presets can be exported via USB. It’s a thoughtful package for anyone who wants hands-on delay sculpting without opening a DAW.

Firmware 1.04: Frequency Shifter Mode

The latest update, firmware 1.04, adds a frequency shifter mode to the shimmer section. In the effects menu, you can now toggle between the original pitch shifter and the new frequency shifter. For the uninitiated: a pitch shifter changes the pitch of the signal while preserving the harmonic structure, whereas a frequency shifter shifts every frequency by a fixed amount — resulting in more metallic, ring-mod-like, or even alien textures.

This is a significant addition because it transforms the Echolocator from a relatively polite shimmer delay into something capable of true sonic mayhem. The frequency shifter pairs beautifully with the feedback control and the filter, allowing for atonal, shifting soundscapes that can either sit subtly in a mix or dominate a performance. It’s the kind of update that makes you wonder why it wasn’t there from day one — but we’re glad it’s here now.

As with all Echolocator firmware updates, version 1.04 is free and available from the Erica Synths website. Installation is straightforward via USB.

What Came Before: Firmware 1.03 Dub Delay and Dotted Sync

Before the frequency shifter dropped, firmware 1.03 (released late last year) brought two major features. First, a dub delay mode that turns the dry/wet control into an AUX send behavior — essential for dub and reggae producers who want to send only the effect to a separate channel. Enabling it is as simple as setting DUB to ON in the EFFECT settings menu.

Second, dotted sync ratios were added for MIDI clock synchronization. The new ratios cover the full range from 1/32 to 1/1D, including triplets and dotted values. For anyone using the Echolocator in a sequenced setup, this makes rhythmic delay timing far more flexible. You can also change the MIDI out channel in the settings — a small but welcome quality-of-life improvement.

Together, these updates show that Erica Synths is treating the Echolocator as a living platform, not a one-and-done product. That’s rare in the hardware world and worth applauding.

Hardware Overview and Design

The Echolocator’s hardware is clean and tactile. Twelve knobs are arranged in three logical sections: filter controls on the left, delay parameters in the center, and shimmer/reverb on the right. The big TIME knob is satisfyingly chunky. The aluminum case feels premium, and the stereo I/O uses 6.3mm jacks — no compromise there.

Connectivity includes stereo input and output, 5-pin MIDI in and thru, a USB port for data and firmware updates, and a power switch. No mini-jacks, no wall warts with weird barrel connectors — just solid, professional connections. It’s desktop-friendly without being toy-like.

One omission I noted in my first hands-on: there’s no distortion or saturation circuit. The dirty mode (BBD emulation) adds some grit, but it’s not the same as a dedicated overdrive. Given how well the frequency shifter and feedback interact, a distortion stage would have made this a true mangler. Still, the core sound is rich and the morphing presets are genuinely fun to play with.

Market Context and Who It’s For

At 490€ / $599, the Echolocator sits in the premium desktop FX bracket — competing with units like the Strymon Timeline, Eventide H9 Max, and Empress Effects Echosystem. But where those boxes lean heavily on menu diving and tiny screens, the Echolocator offers pure knob-per-function control. It’s for the person who hates scrolling through pages of parameters to tweak a filter cutoff.

The addition of the frequency shifter makes it even more appealing for experimental and ambient musicians. If you’re into sound design — whether for modular, guitar, or synths — the Echolocator now covers both classic delay textures and weirder, more unstable territories. The dub delay mode also makes it a serious tool for producers working in dub, reggae, or any genre that relies on send effects.

It’s not for everyone. If you need pristine, clean digital delays with multiple modulation types and looper functions, look elsewhere. But if you want a characterful, hands-on delay that rewards experimentation and keeps getting better with free updates, the Echolocator is hard to beat.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to see if a frequency-shifted delay sounds as chaotic with my third espresso as I imagine. Spoiler: it does. — The Editor