1980’s Analogue Pedals or not !

[Bassman 100]

How do 1980’s individual Boss Pedals compare with today’s individual Boss Pedals in performance and sound quality ?

Were the original pedals better in any way ?

Were the original pedals analogue and todays digital ?

Or are they always analogue or digital ?

Are only multi boards considered digital and individual pedals analogue?

[bongomania]

In the earliest days of effects, from the mid '60s to the early '70s, it was all analog. The first commercial digital fx box was made in '73. Ever since then it's been a mix- any given manufacturer may have some analog and/or some digital fx in their mix. Boss makes both, in individual form. Generally speaking multi's are digital, but even then there are some odd exceptions where two to four analog effects were packed in one large housing.

"Digital" means it has a tiny computer inside and it converts your audio into data before processing, and then converts it back into analog for your audio signal.

"Analog" means your signal does not pass through any A/D D/A converters.

To make matters more confusing, some fx use both- e.g. a digital delay with an analog filter on it, or an analog overdrive with digital parameter controls.

Sometimes the older ones are better, but sometimes that's all hype. Be wary of hype, but then recognize that some things really were made better early on.

[RCCollins]

www.bossarea.com has plenty of info about which are analog or digital, which versions came first, etc.

[Bassman 100]

Hi Thanks for your reply. My dog's face is so like yours it's unbelievable. However mine is a solid black cocker spaniel! I'll send it on some day.

Would you (or anyone out there) have a listing of which BOSS pedals are totally analogue past & present?

[Bassman 100]

RC Collins,
You got there before me LOL. Thanks.

[niftydog]

Originally Posted by Bassman 100

How do 1980’s individual Boss Pedals compare with today’s individual Boss Pedals in performance and sound quality ?

Were the original pedals better in any way ?

Depends on who you ask and what pedals you're talking about. Some Boss pedals have hardly changed at all since the 80's. Others have been totally redesigned, some old analogue ones have become digital. Some people are happy to trade subtle sound quality differences for more features. Others could care less about the new features and long for the "old sound." It's pointless to attempt to say definitively whether they are better or worse - the only opinion that matters is your own.

Old pedals are sometimes thought of as having superior sound, but again, this is COMPLETELY subjective and non-specific. It's also partly because people get sentimentally attached to objects from their past and can't ever consider a new product - even if it's clearly superior. People have an innate ability to justify anything they believe in - see The Bible for more on this subject.

Originally Posted by Bassman 100

Were the original pedals analogue and todays digital ?

Are only multi boards considered digital and individual pedals analogue?

No, that's not always the case.

Multi's are usually digital because it offers far, far greater flexibility and features in a much, much smaller package than an equivalent analogue device. It is also cheaper to produce and much more reliable.

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by Bassman 100

Would you (or anyone out there) have a listing of which BOSS pedals are totally analogue past & present?

You know that site RCCollins linked to?

Go there.

And IMO, I wouldn't really worry about whether something is digital or analog. Use your ears, not your eyes, when judging pedals. Some of my favorite digital pedals sound warmer and do cooler things than their analog competitors. Digital isn't inherently bad. But as there are plenty of poorly made or awful sounding analog pedals, you can expect to see a some pieces of junk on the digital side of things, too.