Akai Professional Head Rush E1

This is a 3 in 1 effect pedal. You get Delay, Tape Echo and a Looper.

The Delay is a very cool sounding effect with delay time of up to 23.8 seconds.
The tape echo allows you to make use of the 4 outputs, so if you have 4 amps or speakers available you can create some very cool stereo effects, and this simulates a 4 head anaolgue tape machine. The delay time in Tape Echo mode is up to 5.9seconds.

The looper is why I bought the pedal and it is very good as a looper. I'll go into this in kore detail below.

You can not sync this effect with your Mac/PC. You do have tap tempo control over the delay/echo time though, which is useful in live and recording situations.

Apart from the 4 outputs, there is also 1 input and a power input (PCU supplied)

UTILIZATION

The unit is big and has dials to control the volume, damp, time (course), time (fine), ratio, feedback.

It is easy to switch between Delay, Tape Echo or Looper, although you need to use your hands for this. You can't use the effects simultaneously.

It's a breeze to use. I don't think I read the manual.


SOUND QUALITY

The Tape Echo is very cool if you can utilize the 4 outputs. The delay is pretty cool too and with 23.8 seconds you can get some crazy sounds going on.

The looper is the reason I bought the pedal and it is probably the best looper I have used. It is very simple to use, the sound quality is great, even with multiple layers of sounds/loops.

I used the looper live with an acoustic guitar, sometimes on its own, sometimes with other effects going into it. The looper performs well live. The sound reproduction is very accurate.



OVERALL OPINION

There are a couple of issues with this pedal that I wish Akai would address on a mark 3 Headrush:

1. Make the loop time longer - 11.9 seconds is not long enough
2. Add an undo/redo function - currently you can delete all but the first loop. This can be a cool effect in a song but a much more useable effect would be to undo and then redo the last recorded loop.
3. Add a second channel.

The Akai Headrush is an old unit now but it still competes with newer models. I think the Ditto X2 Looper gives it a run for it's money - but the Headrush is still selling on Ebay for the same price second hand as it was five or six years ago, so it holds its value, and rightly so.

Nice loop and delay...
It's not rackable, but it's not expensive for what it does.
I now have a workstation, so I couldn't care less about the looper, although I did use it live once!!!

UTILIZATION

Very, very easy, there's no need for a manual ─ it has only 3 controls!

SOUND QUALITY

There are better things out there, but it's OK, the effects remain good all the same.
The delay is very good.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had it for 2 years and made an album with it!!!
I really like the effects, but the loop isn't the easiest if you are not used to it!
I also know a similar Boss from Clement, the violinist in my band
I don't know which one is better, but I'd say the Headrush is.

This Delay has the functions Tap-Delay, Loop and Echo.

UTILIZATION

This pedal does need a bit of getting used to even though the basic delay settings are fairly simple. I would recommend looking into the manual at least - even when akai manuals are amongst the worst...

SOUND QUALITY

Tap-Delay: Clean Delay with a high signal-to-noise ration. I really like that the highs can be damped. The tap is quite precise…of course you still need a precise foot…
Loop: The fast handling of this pedal also becomes apparent in function. The switch quickly adapts to the rhythmic feel.
Echo: The Echo function did not fully convince me. There are other pedals out there that do a much better job.

OVERALL OPINION

Professional device with a lot of useful, modern features.