$0.00 (inc GST) (0 items)
You currently have 0 products in your cart
Updating
Subtotal (inc GST)
Charges
Discounts
-
Freight
No Charge
Requires Quote
Total (inc GST)
Including GST
Discounts (inc GST)
-
Giftcard Total
Net Owing
Checkout
Dealer Finder
Find a Service Agent
1800 251 367

Strymon

Vintage Oil Can Echo

Product Code: SN-OLIVERA

Brand
Strymon
RRP $499.00
 

Locate a Dealer Near You

 
Restock ETA
On Order With Supplier, ETA To Be Confirmed
Quantity In Cart:  
Unit of Measure
EACH

 
Unspecified
Technical Specifications
Brands Strymon
  • Details
  • Downloads
  • Where to Buy
  • Ordering

A Well Oiled Machine

Turn the clock back to a time when audio effects were still uncharted territory, and experience the vintage syrupy warble of a true oil can echo. 

From dark and modulated repeats to sustaining textures that approach the sound of classic spring reverb tanks, Olivera is the first pedal emulation that truly captures the mechanical yet wildly organic nature of these oddball machines, bringing funky inspiration to anything you run through it.

Different By Design

The first oil can echoes were made by the Tel-Rey company in 1959, achieving the repeats by writing a static charge to a small rotating disk inside a can, using oil as a lubricating dielectric. This novel approach yields very different sounds than what you would hear from a tape machine, and the results instantly transport the listener to a darker and murkier place that positively oozes vibe.

The sheer number of variables in the design made authentic emulation challenging, requiring a ton of research and a brand new algorithm to get to the realism that we set out to achieve. We feel confident that Olivera captures the true soul of the original units, from the dark repeats with unique rhythmic and decay characteristics to the unreal thick modulation that changes and morphs as the audio does. No other type of delay can do what an oil can does, and no other pedal emulation comes close to Olivera.

Vintage Stereo Echo Enhanced With Modern Features

Olivera has a host of powerful features that make it easy to integrate these nostalgic sounds into your modern rig: Discrete stereo operation for independent processing of the left and right stereo inputs. A simplified control set and expression pedal and Multiswitch capability. Delay spillover for preserving repeats when the pedal is switched off. Discrete Class A JFET stereo input preamp for exceptional touch sensitivity and ideal frequency response. MIDI control of patch recall and continuous controller data. Premium components, rugged construction that can take a beating and a USB jack for performing firmware updates or controlling the pedal from your computer.

Olivera makes it easy.

How An Oil Can Echo Works

Vintage oil can echo devices are electromechanical units that write a static charge onto a rotating disk housed in a can partially filled with oil. The oil serves as a lubricant that helps retain the charge on the disk. The resultant delay signal is very band limited, creating a murky sounding echo. But that’s not the only quality that gives the oil can echo its atmospheric magic.

The units have a record head and typically two playback heads, but generally no erase head, allowing some dissipating charge to remain as the can rotates. This contributes to two unique characteristics of these systems.

First, it creates a regenerating repeat even when no feedback (REGEN) is applied from the playback heads. The static charge has its own decay time constant, so there are always “repeats” from the echo at all settings.

Second, it creates an uneven cadence to the echoes, where the first echo occurs based on the distance from the record head to the playback head. But subsequent echoes occur at the rotational speed of the system as the dissipating signal comes back around on the disk. The resultant off-kilter delay cadence is largely responsible for creating the sense of atmosphere without a strong “rhythmic” element.

By adding feedback (REGEN) from the playback heads, and/or combining the output of the two heads, the atmospheric nature of the echoes increases.

Underwater Bicycle

Max Rate and Depth values and a minimum Short Time value create lush modulation. Dry and Wet mixed in Pro Tools.

Crash
Pads

Adding wetness to an already wet sound, tweaks to the Time knob create a feeling of rising and falling. Dry and Wet mixed in Pro Tools.

Dream
Thyme

Both heads and lower modulation create the feeling of a lullaby. Dry and Wet mixed in Pro Tools.

Tacky
Grandma

Here, a warm slapback is created with little modulation, just to add width to the sound. Dry and Wet mixed in Pro Tools.

Features

 

Limitless Possibilites.

Olivera features full MIDI implementation and 300 presets, allowing you to control it remotely via a MIDI controller or Digital Audio Workstation via either the EXP/MIDI jack or USB connection.

Controls & Routing

Use the interactive dots (+) to learn more about Olivera’s knobs, switches, and inputs/outputs.

TIME
For a vintage oil can echo, the delay time is adjusted by changing the rotation speed of the can. TIME adjusts the virtual rotation speed.

Delay time is also determined by the HEADS selection.

MIX
Controls the balance of dry and wet signals from 100% dry at minimum to 100% wet at maximum. A 50/50 mix is achieved at the 3 o’clock position when the DRY SIGNAL (Power Up Mode) is set to its default Digital option.

RATE
Controls the speed of the modulation applied to the echo repeats.

REGEN
Controls the amount of delay signal fed back from the selected head(s) to the input. At minimum, some echoes are still present from residual static charge on the can. At maximum, oscillation and endless repeats will occur.

INTENSITY
Adjusts the depth of the modulation. At minimum, modulation is off.

FOOTSWITCH
Engages and disengages the effect. The RED LED on at the top of the pedal indicates that the effect is engaged.

True Bypass is enabled by default, or Olivera can optionally set to Buffered Bypass.

See full User Manual for additional functions

HEADS
The 3-way toggle switch selects the active play heads for different delay times and patterns:

long: (left) Positioned further from the record head, providing a longer delay time.

short: (middle) Positioned closer to the record head, providing a shorter delay time.

both: (right) Enables both heads for a multi-tap echo pattern.

IN
(TRS jack) High impedance, ultra low-noise, discrete Class A JFET stereo preamp.

OUT
(TRS jack) Low impedance stereo output.

EXP/MIDI
Multifunction communication jack for external control of Olivera's features and functions, including MIDI, expression pedal, and more. See manual for full details.

9V DC
Only use an adapter with the following rating:
- 2.1mm, center-negative
- 9V DC
- 250mA minimum (Adapter sold separately.)

USB
Computer connection for MIDI I/O and firmware updates.

I/O MODE SELECTOR
mono: use with a mono input signal, such as a guitar. Output is mono. Defaults to True Bypass.

mono -> stereo: use with a mono input signal. Output is stereo. Bypass mode is Buffered Bypass.

stereo: use with a stereo input signal. When used with stereo cable connections to the OUT jack, output is true stereo. Bypass mode is Buffered Bypass.

Stereo I/O requires a TRS adapter or cable.

All Strymon products are Designed and Built in the USA.

Product Documents

Need help finding a dealer?

If you have difficulty in finding a dealer please contact us directly. We can help identify the most suitable dealer for your needs.

Ordering from Amber Technology

Logging in

New to Amber Technology?

You can place an order using guest checkout, and we’ll email your order details when we ship.

You can register by following this link. When you register, we will retain your order history and checkout information for future transactions. Registration is quick and free. We’ll never share your registration details outside Amber Technology.

Are you an Amber Technology account customer?

Your user id is the email address that’s recorded for your account. If you don’t know or have forgotten your password, please reset it using this link.

If you need help with any login or site-related issues, please contact us here.

Shipping

Orders placed though the Amber Technology website are despatched from our Sydney warehouse. Orders placed before 1.00pm Sydney time (for items in stock) will generally be shipped on the same day. 

We ship using Startrack Express. We deliver Australia-wide to residential, business and PO box addresses.

Shipping is free for all orders over $275 including GST (effective 1 March 2018). There is a $22 (including GST) shipping and handling charge for all orders under $275 including GST. 

Tracking

Tracking numbers for your order can be found in the order history section of your dashboard. If you have any questions regarding shipping, please contact us.

Warranty

Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.

All items purchased from Amber Technology will be covered under warranty. The duration and terms of this warranty are specified by the manufacturer unless otherwise stated. Warranty information is available on the individual product listings on this site.

Refurbished items will include a 12 month warranty unless otherwise stated.

Please contact us if you have received an item which has been damaged in transit or is otherwise not working correctly when you receive it. Subject to availability, we will arrange for a replacement item to be despatched and for the faulty item to be returned to us. 

Amber Technology maintains a nation-wide network of carefully selected Authorised Service Agents to ensure that you are never far from convenient, expert technical and service support. If your item develops a problem and requires servicing under warranty, please contact your local Authorised Service Agent.

Stock Availability

The availability of stock is communicated via the indicator of each product listing page. "Available" means that reasonable stock is in our warehouse, ready for immediate shipment. "Limited Stock" means that we have only a small number of items in stock. "Out of Stock" means this item is currently unavailable for immediate shipment - orders placed for ‘Out of Stock’ items will be fulfilled as soon as replacement stock arrives.

"Special Order” items are products that are not generally kept in stock in Australia. Lead times for Special Order items vary depending on country of origin, manufacturer’s stock levels, factory production schedules and/or incoming shipment transit times. Please contact us for an estimate as to the likely lead time. Please note that finalized sales for special order items cannot be cancelled.

Refurbished items

If refurbished stock is available, this will be shown on the summary page for the product. If a product listing only allows you to choose refurbished stock, we are not holding new stock and we can no longer obtain new stock.

Refurbished items are always in perfect working order and will include all accessories. Refurbished items are may

  • have a damaged carton
  • have been used for demonstrations
  • have been repaired
  • have minor imperfections that do not impact performance.

Refurbished items include a 12-Month warranty unless otherwise stated.

Technical Support

Please visit the Get Support page to find a service agent, log a service ticket, or ask a technical question about your product.

Returns

Please contact us if you have received an item which has been damaged in transit or is otherwise not working correctly when you receive it. Subject to availability, we will arrange for a replacement item to be despatched and for the faulty item to be returned to us.