Are analog distortion pedals the best?

[wickenspoet]

It might sound silly, but I don't really know what analog means. But I've heard some say that analog distortion pedals are better than digital ones?

Is there any truth to this and why?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

No.

Digital means that basically a computer takes care of the sound processing. A computer is essentially gazillions of transistors/opamps, which is what are used in analogue pedals.

Some people do say that there is a slight fizz especially in the top end of digital pedals. So far I agree. Some analogue units can have the exact same problem.

Digital does allow you more tone shaping usually, in a smaller box. It's just the next evolution.

Try whatever you want and make up your own mind You may be surprised.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

A lot of people prefer analog effects because they're warmer (some say more "organic") than digital. Typically analog effects seem to mold with tube amps better than digital (YMMV).

 

[millsart]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

"best" is a totally subjective term, especially when it comes to something like distortion. What defines good distortion ?

Is it a nice EVH "brown sound" ?

Or is it a crushing Trent Reznor digital nightmare ?

That just represents two ends of the spectrum mind you.


Point is, for everyone who doesn't like a digital distrotion, theres someone who wants a very digital distortion.


Just have to trust your ears at the end of the day

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

A lot of people prefer analog effects because they're warmer (some say more "organic") than digital. Typically analog effects seem to mold with tube amps better than digital (YMMV).

+1 analog pedals are best with tube amps, IMO

what i've noticed, and i'm not an expert by any means, is that it seems to work like this:

tube amps -> analog pedals
hybrid amps -> digital pedals
solid state amps -> tube pedals

to me, hybrid amps tend to sound better with digital pedals like the gt-8 or pod xt. they seem to warm up the tone a bit and sound very smooth or crunchy. tube pedals seem to warm up the tone of solid state amps.

this is just what i've come to accept in my experience. i don't know a whole lot about how the actual circuits work internally, but i know what it sounds like. this is my general rule.

 

[wahwah]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

The main problem with digital pedals and effects is that in order to be processed digitally, they must undergo a conversion from analog to digital and then back to analog, known as AD/DA conversion. AD/DA converters divide the original signal into a series of samples at a specific bit depth, and it is at this point that the original analog signal gets messed with. To make this conversion give the illusion of seemlessness requires very high quality AD/DA converters, which you will not find (yet) in a stomp box. Instead, you will find cheap and often very cheesy converters in stomp boxes, and the end result can be heard as a kind of clinical "coldness," which can dramatically affect the signal in a negative way to the experienced ear. The original (analog) signal loses its integrity through the AD/DA conversion process, and this loss of integrity can be experienced as a loss of "warmth" or the "organic" nature of the signal.

To those who have grown up with cheap digital converters in their equipment, they may not be aware of the distinction, but the simplest test is to remove the digital equipment with its cheap converters from the signal chain and experience the pure analog signal direct into a tube amp or through purely analog effects. If you cannot hear or feel the difference, then you will be able to happily use these digital devices, but if you can, you will generally find the analog signal chain a far more pleasing experience.



Cheers..........................wahwah

 

[J Moose]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

What WahWah said...

Guitars are 'analog' instruments... (most) amplifiers are analog... as humans, we're entirely analog...

Digital distortion feels pretty bad to play IMO. I can't really stand the Line 6 amps or any of the various plug-ins.

But, if you're after some unorganic tone like Ministry or whatever, sure... anything goes. But even the most extreme of metalheads seem to prefer analog distortion, either from tubes or from chips.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

dunno- Behringer, some Boss pedals (Metal Zone, etc) are analog and sound terrible. Digitech has made some bad ones in the past too (made up for it with their Bad Monkey pedal).
There is a fair share of bad digital pedals too. Best thing is, use your ears and if you like it, who cares what technology makes it sound that way.

 

[barbarianbrute]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

dunno- Behringer, some Boss pedals (Metal Zone, etc) are analog and sound terrible. Digitech has made some bad ones in the past too (made up for it with their Bad Monkey pedal).
There is a fair share of bad digital pedals too. Best thing is, use your ears and if you like it, who cares what technology makes it sound that way.

-1 the metal zone is a great pedal. i heard a really good guitar player at GC playing through a fender supersonic and his tone was superb. so i asked him what pedal effects he was using and he showed me how he was using the metal zone. man was i shocked to hear that metal zone sound like that, so i was sold on it immediately. as luck would have it, they had one used but in pristine condition for only $39, so i bought it right then. great pedal.

now if you were to say the metal core, i would believe you. i don't care for that one.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

It might sound silly, but I don't really know what analog means. But I've heard some say that analog distortion pedals are better than digital ones?

Is there any truth to this and why?

I got an idea for you, think of as many tone that you dig as possible and list them here, and see how many of those were pure analog paths. :22:

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

I got an idea for you, think of as many tone that you dig as possible and list them here, and see how many of those were pure analog paths. :22:

Sorry to spoil the ending, but I'm gonna go ahead and point out that the answer is "next to none"

 

[J Moose]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

dunno- Behringer, some Boss pedals (Metal Zone, etc) are analog and sound terrible. Digitech has made some bad ones in the past too

Hmmm... Behringer, Digikrap & the Metal Zone...

Nothing like setting the bar high.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

Sorry to spoil the ending, but I'm gonna go ahead and point out that the answer is "next to none"

What I meant how many were made up from analog boxes.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

Reverse the question.

What are the best OD/Dist pedals in the world? (Insert high end pedals here)

Are they analog or digital? Yes, they're analog, so the answer to your question is YES.

 

[wahwah]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

Sorry to spoil the ending, but I'm gonna go ahead and point out that the answer is "next to none"

Really? Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Paul Kossoff, Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmour, Peter Green, BB King, SRV, Angus Young, Brian May. There's some classic tones. No digital. All analog. Go ahead and point out how you justify your answer as "next to none."



Cheers..........................wahwah

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

Really? Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Paul Kossoff, Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmour, Peter Green, BB King, SRV, Angus Young, Brian May. There's some classic tones. No digital. All analog. Go ahead and point out how you justify your answer as "next to none."



Cheers..........................wahwah

:biglaugh: awesome list, so glad non of those people indorse bad monkey ... yet :smoker:

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

Reverse the question.

What are the best OD/Dist pedals in the world? (Insert high end pedals here)

Are they analog or digital? Yes, they're analog, so the answer to your question is YES.

Question answered right there. I can't name a single truly world-class OD/Dist pedal that is digital in any way. They are all analog. Jonesey is usually very spot on with his tone advice. I trust him right up there with Lew and Christian and it's paid off in spades for me with killer scores on the Vox Valvetronix amps and the Chubtone pickups. Jonesey knows tone. :bowdown:

 

[guitarded]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

An analog signal is what comes out of your guitar pickups, in the form of a voltage value. An all analog pedal will take that signal and change it as desired with electronic components, and the modified output voltage is sent to your amp.

When you use a digital pedal, your analog signal is converted to a series of numbers which are either ones or zeros (binary). A digital signal processor will then a apply a mathematical process to those numbers until the desired output is achieved. The modified numbers are than converted back to an analog voltage.

What separates a good digital pedal is the quality of the components that convert the analog voltage to a number and then back to an analog voltage. Information is always lost in the conversion in both directions, which one of the reasons people perceive analog as a better way to go. There are other factors as well, such as the speed of the digital signal processor (DSP) and the qulaity of the software process.

There also also a good number of stereo purists that believe music CD's make audio recording sound harsh and artificial.

I am one of the lucky ones...... As my hearing is so shot none of this matters to me much at all, but I do have to rely on others to help dial in my guitar tone a bit more these days

It might sound silly, but I don't really know what analog means. But I've heard some say that analog distortion pedals are better than digital ones?

Is there any truth to this and why?

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

Some of the best sounding guitar tone and effects came before the digital age... for me, I just don't trust microchips to do their job or LCD screens to tell you the correct info or either one to truly mimic what they're supposed to. I've had a lot of digital gear just kind of die on me. Its cheaper to make, easier to sell. Why do you think people are still using old Leslie cabs for its infamous rotary effect in live shows and recording? Because it sounds the best, is the most reliable, and what you put in is what you get out- there's no guesswork as to whether not it sounds the way it should. Analog all the way! I'd rather pay a little more and turn some knobs for quality than save some bucks and have to enter everything into an LCD screen.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Are analog distortion pedals the best?

Why do you think people are still using old Leslie cabs for its infamous rotary effect in live shows and recording? Because it sounds the best, is the most reliable, and what you put in is what you get out- there's no guesswork as to whether not it sounds the way it should.

I dunno about the 'reliable' bit hehehehehe...

Nothing like having to rebuild a Leslie 40 minutes before a show because it's stuck at one speed or one of the rotorhorns get's frozen...

:yell: