Delays: Analog vs Digital, what do you think?

JammerMatt

JammerMatt

New member
In considering buying a delay pedal, I've been coming across digital and analog delays. What's the diff? What do you prefer? And why?

Thanks
 
Analog repetitions deteriorate and that gives a warm, thick tone. Digital echos are more like the original sound, giving a cleaner repetition.

I like analog for thickness/doubling that you get from a quick slap back. I like digital for long delays and sampling.
 
Digital for me..I like long delays, from 400ms up to 3 mins....I like to hear exactly what I played come back to me so no one can tell which sound is live.
 
I prefer analog tape echoes. I have two Roland space echoes and a new Hiwatt Custom Tape Echo (has up to 2 seconds of analog tape delay!!!) However, I do like the Chandler digital echo. It has a tone switch and modulation that enables it to closely emulate the soft tone and wow and flutter of a tape delay.
 
I'd love to have analog delays, but they usually only do one thing
and have no tap tempo, which is mandatory for me.
I'd love to have the new Fulltone Tape Echo, or SIB, or Badcat.

However, the Line 6 green delay works great for what I need.
I've got 3 great sounds programmed, and the tap tempo
allows me to use them in real time. I think of Edge everytime
I step on it.
 
If you want a good low cost and pretty versatile delay then I'd recommend the Boss DD-3

It still sounds reasonably natural - doesn't introduce too much sheen compared to some other digital pedals I've heard
 
Jonny R said:
If you want a good low cost and pretty versatile delay then I'd recommend the Boss DD-3

It still sounds reasonably natural - doesn't introduce too much sheen compared to some other digital pedals I've heard
Click to expand...

yeah, I've been following this model on e-bay. Going used for around 50-70 bux. Not bad probably.
 
I use a Boss stereo Digital Delay (the little blue pedal DD-3?) ...it's got the robot voice and slightly compressed and sterile tone of ALL Digital effects, but it works very well for the money and I can use it to drive two amps in stereo...always a nice effect, and as long as I don't over use it and keep it low enough to just add ambience it's just fine.

Eric Johnson is using the Electro Harmonix Memory Man...analog. If EJ likes it that's reason enough to check one out.

My old Echoplex is my favorite echo but it's hissy and doesn't fit on my pedal board. Smooth, warm, inspiring tone tho...tone that just sounds "right", familiar and fun!

My favorite reverb is not the stand alone Fender Reverb Unit but the spring reverb built into 60's blackface Fenders like the Super Reverb and Deluxe Reverb...that, to me, is the best reverb I've ever used and the reason everything else sounds sterile by comparism.

Lew
 
My Roland Space echo and the new Hiwatt Custom Echo have a voltage controlled input allowing you to change the delay time on the fly. Not exactly tap tempo, but it's cool to use a volume pedal or expression pedal to change the delay times in the middle of a tune - and preserve my all analog tone. Yeah... I guess I'm an analog/tube snob all the way.
 
I had a Maxon AD9 and now have a Boss DD3. The Maxon is good but did not have enough delay features for me. It is ver limited but the tone is so beautiful. The DD3, well this is my second one, this is where I started and where I end. DD3 is a keeper.
 
what about the boss dd-6? built in tap tempo

i imagine like every other update boss has made lately it's a dd-3 with more features which would be cool with me. i love more features:)
 
Analog is great if you don't need an extremely long delay time. I have a Maxon AD-900 that I picked up on Ebay a while back at a great price. Analog delay is more natural sounding than most digital pedals. Some of the digital stuff is decent, but a lot of it sounds to computerized to me. But unless you want to spend in excess of $200, you won't be able to find an analog delay with a maximum delay time greater than 300 ms.

Ryan
 
Does anyone own the Line 6 rackmount delay or modulator?

I'd really like to compare the stombox version to those in an FX
loop. I have a feeling I'd prefer the stombox modulator,
but those delays might sound even better after the preamp section, in an FX loop. Just curious.
 
rspst14 said:
Analog is great if you don't need an extremely long delay time. I have a Maxon AD-900 that I picked up on Ebay a while back at a great price. Analog delay is more natural sounding than most digital pedals. Some of the digital stuff is decent, but a lot of it sounds to computerized to me. But unless you want to spend in excess of $200, you won't be able to find an analog delay with a maximum delay time greater than 300 ms.

Ryan
Click to expand...

You should check out the Roland DC30 echo. It's analog and bucket brigate chips that can cover up to 1.2 seconds. I've owned two or three over the years and for the money you cant beat them for pure analog. Its a small box (about half the size of a Space Echo) that's laid out much like the Space Echo controls and features. You can find them for WELL UNDER $200 on Ebay. In fact, the one I still own, I picked up for $55 on Ebay. They are a real find. If you spot one, it's worth checking out for the few bucks the're going for.
 
why do artists mostly uses those TC. ELECTRONIC stuffs,
but not BOSS DD's ? besides that i know that gilbert and satriani uses DD's :/
 
The BOSS DD-5 is one of the coolest delay pedals ever made. I use it with my Acoustic Rig to get the Tim Reynolds vibe. It is anything but vintage - nonetheless, it is very cool.

I've not played the DD-6, but it sounds pretty neat if it has built in Tap Tempo.
 
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