GuitarGuy503
New member
My understanding of delays is that analog is better for cleans and digital is better for distortion. Having said that, is that a general thing or is it another matter of personal taste thing?
Let's talk delays....
- Thread starter GuitarGuy503
- Start date
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Let's talk delays....
there is no better. there is only personal preference.
there is no better. there is only personal preference.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: Let's talk delays....
When it comes to delay I usually care more about whether or not it is true bypass (or at least buffered bypass with a decent buffer) and that it has plenty of useful adjustment options. Digital versus analog is definitely more of a personal preference but I can make do with either of them as long as the pedal meets my other criteria.
When it comes to delay I usually care more about whether or not it is true bypass (or at least buffered bypass with a decent buffer) and that it has plenty of useful adjustment options. Digital versus analog is definitely more of a personal preference but I can make do with either of them as long as the pedal meets my other criteria.
Wormhelmet
New member
Re: Let's talk delays....
I like the modeling delays. My X4 will model tape, analog, has nice digital, has reverse and the weirdest feature by far but certainly not new tech is the ability to transfer presets made by others from my iphone speaker held up to my guitar pickup. It emits a high pitched modem type sound for a few seconds and the signal goes through the pickup into the delay and loads a preset. Some famous artistps presets available.
I say its old tech because my old analog EX800 synth used to store and load its 64 patches like that from a cassette player and a 1/4 " instrument cable. Tape would emit high pitched modem like sound and there was the preset patches loaded up.
I like the modeling delays. My X4 will model tape, analog, has nice digital, has reverse and the weirdest feature by far but certainly not new tech is the ability to transfer presets made by others from my iphone speaker held up to my guitar pickup. It emits a high pitched modem type sound for a few seconds and the signal goes through the pickup into the delay and loads a preset. Some famous artistps presets available.
I say its old tech because my old analog EX800 synth used to store and load its 64 patches like that from a cassette player and a 1/4 " instrument cable. Tape would emit high pitched modem like sound and there was the preset patches loaded up.
wahwah
GumbyLoveologist
Re: Let's talk delays....
For many years I was a stickler for analog delays, and my search stopped with the beautiful Maxon AD-900 bucket brigade analog delay. I recently bought a Skreddy Echo, which maintains the analog dry through signal, but its tape echo emulation is digital. It sounds phenomenal. I won't be selling the AD-900, but it's the Skreddy that stays on my board. Obviously my tendencies are toward the warmer and darker ambient delay sound than the ultra clear digital style, but my point is that the lines between analog and digital are now blurred, and the player really only needs ask themselves what specific sound or sounds they are after. These days, either technology is capable of producing beautiful sounding warm delays. For the ultra clear stuff, digital will always have the advantage.
Cheers................................... wahwah
For many years I was a stickler for analog delays, and my search stopped with the beautiful Maxon AD-900 bucket brigade analog delay. I recently bought a Skreddy Echo, which maintains the analog dry through signal, but its tape echo emulation is digital. It sounds phenomenal. I won't be selling the AD-900, but it's the Skreddy that stays on my board. Obviously my tendencies are toward the warmer and darker ambient delay sound than the ultra clear digital style, but my point is that the lines between analog and digital are now blurred, and the player really only needs ask themselves what specific sound or sounds they are after. These days, either technology is capable of producing beautiful sounding warm delays. For the ultra clear stuff, digital will always have the advantage.
Cheers................................... wahwah
Re: Let's talk delays....
Some analog delays are very dark sounding (MXR CC), using a 375-400ms amount of delay time with say 80s metal kinda gain can make your guitar sound lose some clarity when the delay is inline with guitar. Even in the loop its gonna be a bit muddy if theres a lot of gain/distortion being used.
Now there is something "I" find that analog delay sounds really good at, slapback delay effect/120-200ms of delay time.
I find that to be true often but a pristine clean digital delay can work well for cleans whereas a dirty analog delay will add to the distortion with its degrading repeats. Its most noticeable when either of the delay type is placed in front of the amplifier rather than in the amp's fx loop. It may or may not be desirabl to everbody.
Some analog delays are very dark sounding (MXR CC), using a 375-400ms amount of delay time with say 80s metal kinda gain can make your guitar sound lose some clarity when the delay is inline with guitar. Even in the loop its gonna be a bit muddy if theres a lot of gain/distortion being used.
Now there is something "I" find that analog delay sounds really good at, slapback delay effect/120-200ms of delay time.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Let's talk delays....
I run my delays right int the front end of my amps. I prefer Analog BBD, or the new Digital hybrid types, like the Belle Epoch...which I would not gather as partly digital, unless I read it in the manual. It's amazing. That new-ish Roland Space Echo is amazing too.
But, I cannot stand a digital delay that is trying to sound pristine (Boss DD series, e.g.), or digital doing a poor emulation of analog/tape with filters(Mooer Reecho, the modellers). They just don't sound "right" to me.
Just my preference.
I run my delays right int the front end of my amps. I prefer Analog BBD, or the new Digital hybrid types, like the Belle Epoch...which I would not gather as partly digital, unless I read it in the manual. It's amazing. That new-ish Roland Space Echo is amazing too.
But, I cannot stand a digital delay that is trying to sound pristine (Boss DD series, e.g.), or digital doing a poor emulation of analog/tape with filters(Mooer Reecho, the modellers). They just don't sound "right" to me.
Just my preference.
jtougas
New member
Re: Let's talk delays....
Personally, I'd actually swap that around - digital is better for really clean, pristine delays, and analog is better for delays that naturally grit up and decay...
Personally, I'd actually swap that around - digital is better for really clean, pristine delays, and analog is better for delays that naturally grit up and decay...
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Archer250
Well-known member
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Let's talk delays....
That's the point. "Generally" the direction in delay pedals is digital designs cloning those of analogue/tape echo units.
wahwah
GumbyLoveologist
Re: Let's talk delays....
I still have the Retro-Sonic but I haven't used it for a few years. I would be hesitant to let go of anything that used the old style BBD chips. And it's such a beautiful representation of the DM-2 sound, although I still have a couple of those in the 'effects closet' as well. In fact, whenever I open the 'effects closet,' there is a golden beam of light, accompanied by a choir of angels singing a single 'ahhh' chord. I figure it's because there's quite a few grails in there.
Cheers................................... wahwah
I still have the Retro-Sonic but I haven't used it for a few years. I would be hesitant to let go of anything that used the old style BBD chips. And it's such a beautiful representation of the DM-2 sound, although I still have a couple of those in the 'effects closet' as well. In fact, whenever I open the 'effects closet,' there is a golden beam of light, accompanied by a choir of angels singing a single 'ahhh' chord. I figure it's because there's quite a few grails in there.
Cheers................................... wahwah
wahwah
GumbyLoveologist
Re: Let's talk delays....
Exactly right. I never thought I'd say it, but delay and echo is one area where the digital pedal technology has provided some stunning examples of excellent analog emulation. So much so that the old generalisations no longer apply.
Cheers............................... wahwah
Exactly right. I never thought I'd say it, but delay and echo is one area where the digital pedal technology has provided some stunning examples of excellent analog emulation. So much so that the old generalisations no longer apply.
Cheers............................... wahwah
dystrust
New member
Re: Let's talk delays....
My favorite delay is a first revision MIJ Boss DD-3 (same circuit as the DD-2). It's digital, but uses 12-bit converters that sound pretty lo-fi by today's standards. The result is a digital delay that sounds almost analog; not super dark like an MXR CC, but a brighter analog like a Boss DM-3. I run mine in front of my Marshall and it does the Pink Floyd reverb-y sound quite well. My favorite part is that they're still pretty affordable on the used market. I scored the one on my board for $65, now I just want another lol
My favorite delay is a first revision MIJ Boss DD-3 (same circuit as the DD-2). It's digital, but uses 12-bit converters that sound pretty lo-fi by today's standards. The result is a digital delay that sounds almost analog; not super dark like an MXR CC, but a brighter analog like a Boss DM-3. I run mine in front of my Marshall and it does the Pink Floyd reverb-y sound quite well. My favorite part is that they're still pretty affordable on the used market. I scored the one on my board for $65, now I just want another lol
