Difference between Analog vs Digital Delay

  • Thread starter Thread starter cyndicate
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Analog should sound less hi fi alittle warmer not so sterile. I have a Deluxe Mem Man
 
Warmer sounding is what I always thought but not as many options and the time factor is shorter.
 
One is Analog, the other is Digital. :thumbsup:
















Just kidding, That was too easy. My understanding is that the digital units take the signal and convert it to a digital stream (think computers, i.c. chips), perform their function and then convert the signal back to analog. Analog units use old style technology (caps, resisters, transisters, etc). Digital is supposed to keep the signal pure sounding (sterile) with no side effects. Anolog will usually lose some of the high end definition and have natural compression.
 
Whats a good delay pedal you guys would recommend? I just want one for some slight delay on leads.
 
Core9":72adc said:
One is Analog, the other is Digital. :thumbsup:
















Just kidding, That was too easy. My understanding is that the digital units take the signal and convert it to a digital stream (think computers, i.c. chips), perform their function and then convert the signal back to analog. Analog units use old style technology (caps, resisters, transisters, etc). Digital is supposed to keep the signal pure sounding (sterile) with no side effects. Anolog will usually lose some of the high end definition and have natural compression.
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Yup, the use of analog componets to create the delay vs surface mounted chips and algorhythms.


That said I say the Eventide Time Factor if you have the cash :thumbsup:
 
Is there one better than the other? Or is it based on application
 
One is not better than the other, they are just different.

If you want long delay times over 1 second than your only option is digital delay, you can also get reverse delay and some other cool stuff like slapback on the digital units and they are often cheaper than the analog delays.

The analog delays are mostly 600ms or less, with a few at 900ms. They are more organic sounding.

For just a little delay on leads I would get an Ibanez AD-9, Maxon AD-9, or Maxon AD-80. they all have a Bucket brigade chip (these have been going up in price and drive the cost up). They will only do about 300ms, but that is more than enough for adding delay to solos.

I have a Maxon AD-80 and Akai headrush (digital). both are great. I used to have a Deluxe memory man, but it is a big pedal, I didn't like the bypass, and its not a delay I would recommend for your application, even though it is a nice sounding unique analog delay at a reasonable price....
 
Cyndicate, go to your local GC or Sam Ash and try out the various delay pedals they have. If you don't have a preference as to either analog or digital afterwards then, get a digital one as they normally cost less. You can also look at the $100 all in one gizmos like the Zoom G2 multieffects pedal. I like the delay from it and it does everything else too.
 
Robotechnology":30817 said:
Cyndicate, go to your local GC or Sam Ash and try out the various delay pedals they have. If you don't have a preference as to either analog or digital afterwards then, get a digital one as they normally cost less. You can also look at the $100 all in one gizmos like the Zoom G2 multieffects pedal. I like the delay from it and it does everything else too.
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$3000 Bakers you should be using a Eventide H8000 and not some junk stomp box :lol: :LOL: :D
 
Besides the sound differences... They perform totally different if you run it in front of an amp. I believe it was Ratter I had this conversation with, but we discussed which delays sounded best in front of an amp (like if you're running an old Marshall like us). We pretty much agreed it went Tape > Analog > Digital.

Now some of the digital delays still sound pretty damn good in front of an amp, a Boss DD-3 being one of them. Im using a MIJ Ibanez AD-9 now and it sounds so warm and organic. When Im running the Superbass clean, its like Gilmour at my finger tips. Click on the fuzz, and its Eric Johnson infinite sustain time. :yes:
 
is there any rule for setting the amount of ms to delay?
 
cyndicate":8cf4c said:
is there any rule for setting the amount of ms to delay?
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Not really, its all about what sounds good to your ears. Of course, on something like an analog delay with only 300 ms (like my Ad-9), I just turn it up all the way because its basically only slap back at that point.
 
another differance between analogue and Digital delay, is the frequency response, Analoge delays usually crap out around 8K, whilst digital usually conforms to RIAA standard 20Hz-20Khz. Also, older digital units that use 12 and 16 bit sample resolution tend to sound really cold and sterile. --This can actually be good for some stuff.

In the past, I've owned a dark green MXR unit that ran off of 120ac, as well as an old blue DOD that ran off of a pair of 9v batteries. --The DOD sounded nicer than the MXR.

If you want the best that both have to offer though, forego the stompboxes and save up for a Tape Echo.
 
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