Softube Echoes review: Vintage Vibe and Modern Flexibility

If you're in the market for a delay plugin that combines the best of vintage analogue warmth with modern features, Softube Echoes could be exactly what you're looking for…

When it comes to delay plugins, Softube’s Echoes stands out as a versatile and high-quality tool that bridges the gap between vintage analogue warmth and modern flexibility.

This delay plugin offers a range of delay algorithms - from tape delay to bucket-brigade devices (BBD) - allowing you to create everything from subtle echoes to more dramatic, spaced-out effects. Whether you're crafting ambient soundscapes or adding warmth to vocals, Echoes Delay is built to shine in both creative and technical contexts.

Key Features

Echoes delivers classic delay sounds with a modern, sleek interface. With its powerful modulation section, you can control everything from subtle chorus-like movements to more intense modulation, suiting it to pretty much any musical project: ambient to electronic, pop, rock, and beyond. The delay algorithms are smooth and responsive, creating warm, vintage delays that genuinely evoke the feel of analogue hardware while offering that precision and flexibility that only a software plugin can give you.

As well as the delay modes, Echoes includes built-in modulation controls, allowing you to add depth and dimension to your repeats. Whether you're looking for a smooth, analogue tape delay vibe or the gritty, lo-fi charm of BBD delays, Echoes offers a highly customisable and exciting sound palette.

Performance

One of the standout features of Echoes is its interface. The plugin is designed for fast, intuitive control, allowing you to quickly dial in your desired sound without getting bogged down in menus; and despite the depth of its features, the user-friendly layout makes it easy for both beginners and advanced users to get the most out of the plugin.

What’s also nice - and not often the case with smart, great-sounding FX plugins - is the CPU usage was minimal even when using multiple instances across a busy session. This makes it a fantastic choice for users working in large projects or under tight deadlines.

As I’ve come to expect from Softube after being an early adopter of the manufacturer’s Console 1 system and associated plugins, the sound quality is impeccable: you’ll get rich, organic repeats that won’t overload your system or make you compromise on quality.

And this kind of sets this plugin apart, in a way. There are a few delays that have been go-tos of mine over the last couple of years, some are more ‘tools’ than beautiful sounding products, but this plugin is both: Echoes excels at providing a natural warmth, especially in the lower frequencies, making it perfect for everything from subtle background delays to full-on rhythmic echoes, and it doesn’t just provide standard delay effects; it enhances your sound with its vintage-style warmth, making it ideal for mixing and sound design.

In The Mix

If I’m working on vocals, it’s often the high mids and the highs where I need a delay to shine - and Echoes really shines in the higher frequencies. There is an impressive clarity and definition retained, even at higher feedback settings or longer delay times, which isn’t always the case in traditional delay plugins; and the result is a delay that’s not only rich but transparent and detailed, making it a great tool for clean, musical delays that won’t muddle your mix.

Echoes also features sophisticated modulation controls that let you dial in everything from gentle pitch fluctuations to more dramatic, chorus-like effects. I can’t remember ever adding chorus ‘to’ a delay as such, but I did here: having the ability to shape the tone of the repeats adds extra creativity and depth, so you can create dynamic delays that evolve over time, literally.

The Verdict

In conclusion, Softube Echoes is a powerful delay plugin that delivers a fantastic range of vintage-inspired delay sounds while offering modern features that can enhance workflow and creativity. 

Whether you're adding warm analogue delays to a vocal track, creating atmospheric delays for a cinematic score, or experimenting with more complex modulation, this plugin provides the sound design flexibility you need, making it an excellent choice for both professionals and beginners alike. It’s a tool that not only meets your technical needs but also inspires creative exploration. And it’s a lot of fun.

Check out Headliner's other Softube reviews here.