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DrakeSequation
Bronze Member
USA
105 Posts |
 Posted - 01/18/2009 : 21:38:07
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I have a DD-7 and like it. Many people on this board have high opinions of the DD-3. That BOSS has kept making the DD-3 for so long, even after 'updated' DD-x models have been released says something positive about the DD-3.
The DD-3 offers digital delay up to 800ms and infinate repeat on the "HOLD' mode. On paper at least, the DD-7 offers everything available on the DD-3 (less the infinate repeat), plus TONS more.
My question is this: Why buy a DD-3 instead of a DD-7? What makes the DD-3 'better'. This is a legitimate inquiry and I am not knocking the DD-3 at all.
Looking to hear from people like Laurie that own both, like both, but prefer the DD-3. Why is that?
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verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2009 : 22:16:44
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I would say warmer repeats, and simplicity. The earliest DD-3 is identical to the DD-2 (only the name and price changed), and is considered among the best of all digital delays.
Is it the 12bit goodness that gives it a more rounded or analogue feel?
Is it even 12bit?? Is the newer DD-3 24bit? |
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archimedes
Silver Member
United Kingdom
191 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2009 : 22:27:23
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My understanding regarding the DD-3 (and I could be wrong) is that it keeps the guitar signal analogue, passes it pretty much straight through and adds the digital repeats to it, so that there is minimal, if any impact upon tone, certainly sounds that way to me. Also the echo itself is quite lo-fi (but not badly so) and not too toppy so it sounds a little more like an analogue delay.
It is my undertanding that all the later pedals digitise everything that comes out which for some people is undesirable. I certainly prefer an all analogue signal path to the amp having owned a few digital items which did things to my sound that I didn't like, The PW-10 was one culprit. |
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bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2009 : 22:39:44
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Most of the time I use delay, the DD-3 will do the job just fine. Sure, the DD-7 could do the same job and more but it's often good to have a pedal that doesn't have a lot of functionality that you don't use. A mode knob with 8 settings can be confusing if al you want is a a bit of delay in the sub-second range.
Still, it's the DD-7 that's on my pedal board  |
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MullyFX
Gold Member
Germany
753 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2009 : 22:47:16
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quote:
Originally posted by archimedes
My understanding regarding the DD-3 (and I could be wrong) is that it keeps the guitar signal analogue, passes it pretty much straight through and adds the digital repeats to it, so that there is minimal, if any impact upon tone, certainly sounds that way to me. Also the echo itself is quite lo-fi (but not badly so) and not too toppy so it sounds a little more like an analogue delay.
It is my undertanding that all the later pedals digitise everything that comes out which for some people is undesirable. I certainly prefer an all analogue signal path to the amp having owned a few digital items which did things to my sound that I didn't like, The PW-10 was one culprit.
if that really is the case than I'm interested in a DD-3
can anybody confirm this??? |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2009 : 23:05:07
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| i prefer my gear to be very simple and just keep great tone.I mean the dd7 is just turning knobs like the dd3, but the dd3 has less to offer and sounds a bit warmer to me. i have the dd3 in my board.800ms is more then enough for me.the analog function of the dd7 does not seem to be very warm to me at all |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 00:54:32
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quote:
Originally posted by MullyFX
quote:
Originally posted by archimedes
My understanding regarding the DD-3 (and I could be wrong) is that it keeps the guitar signal analogue, passes it pretty much straight through and adds the digital repeats to it, so that there is minimal, if any impact upon tone, certainly sounds that way to me. Also the echo itself is quite lo-fi (but not badly so) and not too toppy so it sounds a little more like an analogue delay.
It is my undertanding that all the later pedals digitise everything that comes out which for some people is undesirable. I certainly prefer an all analogue signal path to the amp having owned a few digital items which did things to my sound that I didn't like, The PW-10 was one culprit.
if that really is the case than I'm interested in a DD-3
can anybody confirm this???
I've heard/read about this as well i'm sure Dr Bob,Laurie etc could confirm this for you but it's my understanding this is the case..not to go too much off topic but i use two DD-3's on my board and the older one i bought back in '96 sounds a litle bit more 'analogue' or slightly darker on the repeats...
i think the question to ask is what do you really want/need out of a delay pedal..if it's just a few repeats on a solo or to add a bit of ambience the DD-3 is your man..i run one on around 375ms and the other around 750ms sometimes i run one into another for ambience instead of reverb....setting them without a tap tempo function for the Floyd or U2 stuff can be tricky but i've been using them for so long i have it off by memory on a gig....very easy to use pedal in a live situation...it's getting the drummer to play in time to the echo is the problem...... ......... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 01/19/2009 00:56:37 |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 12:01:50
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I do not have a DD-3 but a DD-2, and we all know here that they are the same eh? [Different versions of DD-3] My guess is that even later versions of the DD-3 will still sound quite close to the DD-2.
To get back to people who made comments about the digital/analogue question: A simple way to find out how analogue the DD-3 is, is to change the timesetting while you hear your repeats. On analogue pedals you will get pitchbending.
The pitchbending can also be obtained from the PS-2, which is digital and does have more features.
I use delays quite often, feel that most of the DD range sound pretty much the same, also feel that all the other pedals which offer delay such as RV3, PS2, PS3 ect. all share good delaysounds.
Nevertheless, the sound of the DD-2 is unique. It does have more character. Tried to cut down on pedals I want to use on stage and thought the RV3 may be good since you get reverb and delay in one pedal. However the delaysound is quite different.
I think for firsttime users all the pedals which offer delay may sound kind of similar, but once you get into tone and tweaking it seems that there is more going on.
DD-5 also sounds warmer than the DD-6. The reverse sound on the DD-5 is analogue, you can do the bendingtrick, DD-6 will not give you that sound.
DD-7? Have not tried it yet, do feel I have no need for a delay which offers all the different kind of Boss delays. May be nice from a collectors point of view, but not for the moment though. |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 17:41:21
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I do not need all those tons more that I'll never use anyway.
I like onetrick ponies, instead of versatility.
Better one good sound in a box, then 20 so-so.
Plus the fact, that less is more, the less there is, the less that breaks.
Because we all know Murphy's law: "If it can break, it will". |
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Rich_S
Silver Member
USA
219 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 18:51:06
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I too, have a DD-3, and can't imagine needing more. Years ago, I have two of them - one for long echos and one for slapback. When I re-created my old pedalboard a few years ago, the slapback duties were taken on by a Rocktron Short Timer which does the job well and was dirt cheap (like, 25 bucks cheap).
Mark me down for another vote for simplicity and durability over tweakability. If fact, I'd be happy if the DD-3 was a three-knobber. Just set it to 800ms all the time, and do away with the switch.
Not only is the DD-3's dry signal path analog, but its feedback path is also analog. The digital portion simple creates one repeat and converts it back to analog. That signal is then mixed back into the input to make multiple repeats. This is why it's so easy to mod a DD-3 to make the repeats less bright - just bleed treble off the analog feedback signal. The -2 and -5 are the same way.
I don't really know how the DD-7 works, but so much Boss stuff it going to COSM these days, I'll assume it is, too. Whether the dry path is analog, who knows? But I'm sure the delay and feedback are digital. My objection to digital stomp boxes is when the whole guitar signal gets digitized, so there is no analog dry path. It works ok for a single stompbox, but what about a string of them? Back and forth A/D, D/A - it's got to mess up the tone. COSM is fine in a big multi-effects box - change it once to digital, process the heck out of it, and process it back. But in the stompbox world, give me analog, although I'll forgive the DD-3 (and the Short Timer, for that matter) its digital delay, because its a side path, parallel to the analog dry signal. |
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silvertone6120
Gold Member
USA
609 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 23:01:50
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I currently only have one DD-3, and it's a Keeley-modded box, modded to sound more analog, so I probably shouldn't comment. That and the fact that I use a DM-2 on gigs. But the DD-3 has been around since 1986(1984 if you count the original DD-2) because it is a simple hardworking workhorse of a delay unit! It has just enough bells and whistles to make it more current/modern, but not so much as to get confusing on the fly(ie onstage) like the DD-5/6/7(I'm saying this although I don't own any of these, just by reading opinions posted here). For a simple slapback(which is mostly what I'd use it for) it's simply unbeatable.
...and Rich S, I just wanted to say your avatar literally threw me back to my childhood! Thank you! |
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Rich_S
Silver Member
USA
219 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 23:09:07
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Tra-la-laa, lala-la-laa!
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starr36
Platinum Member
Canada
1172 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 04:02:38
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yeahoo, the DD-2 gives you pitch-bending fun - if the DD7 does that, nobody will everknow you have gone post Y2K digital with the 7 over the 2.
the 7 will give you way way more bank for your buck. Somebody famous in these parts says "Its the DD-7 that's on my pedal board"... listen to him! |
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nion
Silver Member
USA
164 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 04:14:00
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quote:
Originally posted by FRANZONI
it's getting the drummer to play in time to the echo is the problem...............
It doesn't matter what delay I'm using... my drummer will NEVER play to the pedal! He listens briefly, gets a tempo and then expects me to follow it... which subsequently wreaks havoc when I'm on a loop or delay w/o tap tempo!
+1 on that
PS: Sorry to chime-in off topic. I don't even own a Boss delay pedal  |
Edited by - nion on 01/20/2009 04:17:45 |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 05:43:05
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| Actually, its the drummer & his beat to which the band members should play. Ever wonder why its usually the drummer who records to a click-track? If the rhythm isn't consistent, then everyone else is going to stray off time. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 11:25:08
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quote:
Originally posted by DeFrag
Actually, its the drummer & his beat to which the band members should play. Ever wonder why its usually the drummer who records to a click-track? If the rhythm isn't consistent, then everyone else is going to stray off time.
the echo can act as a click track..listen to Pink Floyd on run like hell where gilmour brings it in with the delay at the start setting up the tempo for the song..all of early U2's stuff (a lot still is) is based around Edges delay...thats why i suppose the tap tempo function of the later model DD range is a plus....i might keep an eye out for a DD-5 ..Rich_S reckons it's analogue path is the same as the DD-3's plus it has the stereo out ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PEDAL.... ARE YOU LISTENING BOSS....!!..... ..... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 01/20/2009 11:25:32 |
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Topic |
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DD-3 vs. DD-7 (What am I missing?)
