The official forum for all things Joe Bonamassa, guitars and blues music
You are not logged in. Please login or register.
Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → Analog vs Digital Delay
Hi all, sorry I haven't been on for a while, my dumb computer's been acting up. Basically, I need a new delay pedal, and I was wondering what the exact difference in sound was between analog and digital. I was looking at either the MXR Carbon Copy or the DD3. I know the DD3 is cheaper, but I'm willing to for over the extra dough for a nice analog pedal. Can someone help me with this? Thanks.
It all depends on the sound you are after really. You really have to listen for the repeats to hear the difference. I've owned and played everything from the Boss DD-3, Boss DD-6, EH Memory Man, Line 6 DL4, MXR Carbon Copy, etc... The digital delays to some sound "sterile" because they are VERY CLEAN and simply repeat the note(s) played with little to no coloration. Tape delays have the most coloration to my ears with a lot of warmth, warble, and even distortion to the repeats. An analog delay sits nicely between the two with a little warmness to the repeats but also relatively clean. The DD-3 is more "analog" sounding than a lot of digital delays, the Line 6 DL4 gives you good representations of tape/analog/digital echos, and the MXR or Ibanez AD-9s give you that classic warm tone. Keep in mind that most digital delays are more flexable and have longer delay times. That was a minor gripe about my old Memory Man. It sounded incredible but I wish it had longer delays and didn't distort as easily. Good luck!
I use both a digital and an analog delay on my pedalboard. To me the biggest difference is the warmness the analog delay has (as previous poster pointed out) and that the repeats on the analog delay more easily gets distorted. If you do use a lot of gain, either through pedals or from the amp, it is possibly easier to use a digital delay for "cleaner" results. Many analog delays today offer pretty long delay time (up to 1000ms), and a few even tap tempo if that is desired.
If I were on the market for a new delay, I would look at the new Seymour Duncan Deja Vu which seems like quite an offering.
Tap is not that important, I like to set delays back in the mix so they're not too obtrusive and compliment the reverb. Well if you guys had to recommend one analog and one digital, which ones would you recommend? Of course I'll try everything else out though.
Everyone on here will suggest the DD-3 for digital.
I've never used analogue so can't comment. But the DD-3 is fantastic!
Drinking was the worst delay I ever had.
Drinking was the worst delay I ever had.
Not mine, but surely one of the worst reverbs.
To Infinity And Beyond We Rock, "Mr. Scot, Energize"!
Rocket
"Well, if you can find a Chandler SDE I'd HIGHLY RECOMMEND it!
Digital, but has the sound of an Echoplex Tape Delay. Truly warm and fat, with "it". Very nice stuff.
Also, in the Analog camp, there's the Mad Professor Deep Blue, the Retro-Sonic, and the Freakshow FX Delays. All of these are very nice. Top of the line stuff, tone-wise.
Digital? Well, the new Digitech Hardwire sounds pretty good! And the Nova Delay is a good pick for LOTS of options.
After using a few different boss delays over the years, from the DD-2 up to the DD-6, I finally decided I was happy with the DD-5 until I heard the Carbon Copy.
I bought mine about 8 months ago and don't miss the boss pedals at all.
It has the clarity of a digital delay without the sterility factor that you hear from some of the boss pedals. It's warm like an analog should be but is clearer than any analog pedal I've tried and handles overdrive pedals easily without breaking up.
I think it's a matter of personal taste and what works for one person might not work for another but the carbon copy stays on my board.
I use a Dr. Scientist reverb pedal at times depending on the amp and the CC also works very well with the reverb pedal.
Tap is not that important, I like to set delays back in the mix so they're not too obtrusive and compliment the reverb. Well if you guys had to recommend one analog and one digital, which ones would you recommend? Of course I'll try everything else out though.
Analog:I recommend the Maxon AD-999...nice warm and dark delay. It also does everything from slap-back to almost a 1 second delay.
I use a T-Rex Replica. Great-sounding delay with a "brown" setting.
Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → Analog vs Digital Delay
Powered by PunBB, supported by Informer Technologies, Inc.
Currently installed 2 official extensions. Copyright © 2003–2009 PunBB.