Analog vs. Digital Delay
Phil Frank
Can someone please explain the basic differences between analog and digital
delays? I am new to effects, just purchased an RP-100 to help weed out what
I like and don't like - then I may buy individual pedals suiting my taste.
With this unit, I can't really determine any significant difference between
the two. The third delay option, ping pong, seems the best because it
introduces a stereo effect to the delay.
Thanks!
Regards,
Phil Frank
Gary
analong delay either. "They" swear that an analog delay is warmer, but I sure
cant tell the difference, at least in my guitar effects chain. I really believe
much of it is hype. The current in trend is analog, so people will say analog
sounds better when they really cant tell the difference. I use an older Ibanez
digital delay with (shudder) an LCD display and push buttons. Hype, Hype, Fad,
Hype, Fad.
Greg
called that. I have both analog (Boss DM-2, DM-3) and digital delay pedals
(Boss DD-3, DSD-2, & rack unit)...they are quite different. Analog delays are
older technology, and reproduce an echo signal that is a bit distorted and not
as "sterile," and offer usually no more than 300 ms delay time. Digital delays
are generally cleaner and crisper, and offer huge delay times.
Greg
Snapper
about it or distortion and it doesn't sound as 'fake' as a digital.
"Gary" <gwfa...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:39F8955E...@earthlink.net...
Stu
> Yeah Phil, I cant really tell the difference between a digital delay and an
> analong delay either. "They" swear that an analog delay is warmer, but I sure
> cant tell the difference, at least in my guitar effects chain. I really believe
> much of it is hype. The current in trend is analog, so people will say analog
> sounds better when they really cant tell the difference. I use an older Ibanez
> digital delay with (shudder) an LCD display and push buttons. Hype, Hype, Fad,
> Hype, Fad.
Not hype, there is a difference. The digital repeats the sound
exactly. The analog has less high end on the repeats and the result
is a tone that blends with the original sound in a different way.
I like them both. I don't think it's a trend, rather analog delays
are harder to find and therefore more in demand. A digital delay
can sound too in your face and harsh, and an analog can
sound outdated and cheesy, depending on what music
they are used with. I use an AD-9 and a DD-3 in my rig
and like them both, the analog for short delays and the digital
for longer ones. The unit you have may have a simulation
of an analog delay, but it could still be digital. If you want
to hear the difference, get 2 delay stomp boxes, one digital
and one analog, turn the speed to about 100 ms (real short)
with a couple of repeats and the level about half way up, then
go back and forth from one to the other playing the same
riff, you will hear the difference very quickly.
Stu
MvH
> Tis true, people can tell the difference, analog has a bit of fuzziness
> about it or distortion and it doesn't sound as 'fake' as a digital.
Fake ??? I got a DigiTech GSP2101 and when I loop my delay
you can't tell if I'm playing or if it's the delay. Crystal clear, exact
copy of the original. So no "fake".....
But maybe (cheap) pedals with poor AD/DA converters sound
fake.
I also own a Watkins Copy Cat, which is analog and works
on three tubes. It gives your sound without delay a nice
warm valve feel to it, but the delay it self is quite limited. Lot
of highs and (deep) lows are rolled off resulting in a poor copy
of the original. If I want such a sound I could well create it
with the GSP2101's digital delay by adding an EQ infront
or after it.
Another deference between analog and most digital
pedals is when you play and change the TIME. With
analog delay this results in either a slower or faster
version of what was played which transposes the
notes either up or down. Can be fun to do it. With
(most) digital delays this would result in some weird
responses......
Gary
beginning to think I suffer from some hearing loss. I listen to folks talk about the
differences in this amp, that amp, this pedal, that pedal, I honestly can't tell the
difference. Sure, I can tell the difference between a Crate (Blech) and a Marshall,
or between a Marshal clean sound (Blech) and a Fender clean sound, but not between a
Japanese and a Tawianese Boss pedal.. Do you think the non-player, listening populous
would notice the difference in a digital vice analog delay, or would they simply react
on a more subconscious level?
Snapper
fancy stuff so my experience has always been with second hand or crap
equipment, especially in the cheap stuff you can tell the difference between
analog and digital.
"MvH" <M...@vanhelden.demon.nl> wrote in message
news:972731934.9078....@news.demon.nl...
Kate Ebneter
>
> Truly, the only difference I can tell is the length of delay available. SeriouslyI am
> beginning to think I suffer from some hearing loss. I listen to folks talk about the
> differences in this amp, that amp, this pedal, that pedal, I honestly can't tell the
> difference. Sure, I can tell the difference between a Crate (Blech) and a Marshall,
> or between a Marshal clean sound (Blech) and a Fender clean sound, but not between a
> Japanese and a Tawianese Boss pedal..
Well, THAT would probably be because there _is_ no difference between a
Taiwanese and a Japanese Boss pedal...
The differences between analog and digital delays are pretty subtle. They do
exist, and if you do blind A/B tests you can begin to hear them. Mostly it has
to do with signal degradation in analog delays that does not (theoretically)
exist in digital ones; in cheaper digital delays, there _is_ signal degradation
in the repeats but it is digitization noise and it sounds different than what
you get in analog delays. Tape delays, of course, are another beast entirely
and have their own characteristics.
> Do you think the non-player, listening populous
> would notice the difference in a digital vice analog delay, or would they simply react
> on a more subconscious level?
The non-player probably won't notice much difference or react at all.
Kate Ebneter
Collector of Noise Toys
TV
please take your two CE2 chorus pedals; japn. and tai. get your favorite les
paul w/buckers in the middle position. Set a class A amp up half way and dig
into a big swing, first position D chord. A/b both of these like this then
tell me you still hear no difference! kick on your ts9 with gain at 1 oclock
and tone at 11 oclock, as well.... Ah yes, japan is still daniel-son's
ichiban!.... :)
slight variations in the blue paint may sway you either way! :)
peace,
TV
--
THE WIRED TURTLE
www.ikilledrock.com/wiredturtle/home.html
"Kate Ebneter" <ebn...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:39FB85F1...@ix.netcom.com...
Analog Mike
>please take your two CE2 chorus pedals; japn. and tai. get your favorite les
>paul w/buckers in the middle position. Set a class A amp up half way and dig
>into a big swing, first position D chord. A/b both of these like this then
>tell me you still hear no difference! kick on your ts9 with gain at 1 oclock
>and tone at 11 oclock, as well.... Ah yes, japan is still daniel-son's
>ichiban!.... :)
>slight variations in the blue paint may sway you either way! :)
Wax on, Wax off, Miyagi san.
Regards, mike ~^v^~ aNaLoG.MaN ~^v^~
Mike "at" analogman dot com http://www.analogman.com
Check out my effects Forum: http://www.delphi.com/guitar
Snapper
"Analog Mike" <analo...@aol.comfortable> wrote in message
news:20001031111429...@ng-cr1.aol.com...