Analog or Digital?

[dlenaghan]

Just to stir the pot: do you prefer analog or digital when it comes to effects? I ask having recently gotten my first moogerfooger, the FreqBox, and loving the holy analog crap out of it, but being equally taken with my totally digital EHX Hog. Obviously reality sometimes lies in the nuances, but let's have it out! Not to be unfriendly, but to share experiences of successful/unsuccessful digital or analog effects (in your opinion, because some of those characteristic weaknesses turn out to be just the sort of quirk someone else adores) in your present effects chain or previous effects chain.

[WhiteNinja]

Depends on the effects. I love analog Overdrive/Distortion/Fuzz, as well as Delay and Reverb. Digital Delays are pretty good too, but that's a matter of preference. I prefer the sound of an Analog Delay.

I don't like digital overdrive/distortion/fuzz... they just sound too sterile and harsh imo.

All in all, I'd go analog if I can.

[Kwesi]

No preference whatsoever. I play whatever sounds good. Digital or analog, if it sounds good, I like it.

Also, digital ≠ clean and predictable. You ever play a WMD Geiger Counter, lol?

[dlenaghan]

Any particular loves/hates as far as pedals go, Kwesi? I love my analog delay, but I need a digital delay after it to do what I want with that tone, and I need the digital clarity to preserve the grit of the analog chip. (The Flashback you recommended is working out very well, thanks!) I have noticed a HUGE difference in the character of the filters on the Hog and the moogerfooger, though - not one better or worse necessarily, but simply very, very different. Tried analog octavers, still tempted by an EBS one, but got burned on the MXR so I don't know if I want to risk it again. Sometimes tracking is as important as tone...

[Kwesi]

Hmmm, I love everything on my board, so there's that . Only pedal that really had me wanting to tear my hair out was the WMD Geiger Counter (surprise, surprise). The thing has, literally, a hundred something different setting and I swear to bob every other setting had some kind of ring modulation and I can't stand that stuff. For noise making or soundscapes? Fine. For music? Absolutely not.

As far as octavers, every single one is different. You'll hear as much difference between the MXR and EBS and you would between an Aguilar Octamizer and a Line 6 M9. Digital octavers do have the edge in tracking but I've never had a tracking issue with either. I currently have one of each on my board (Line 6 M9, MXR BOD). I usually use the BOD because it gives me the sound I like best.

[BassPenguin22]

Definitely celery

[Jay2U]

It all comes down to quality and applied knowledge. An analogue effect needs quality components and a well designed lay-out, in order not to add noise and/or hum. It is very complicated to achieve exactly what you want with analogue components only. Many analogue effects just are the way they are because of the limited possibilities within an affordable price range.
A digital approach also asks for good quality analogue components. The signal has to be cranked up before digital processing takes place. After the digital stage, all digital clicks and ticks have to be filtered out and a good quality buffer amplifier has to feed the signal into the cable. The processing itself should have the highest sample rate available, in order not to hear the sampling frequency. The skills and knowledge of the programmer(s) do the rest.
In the end our ears should judge between analogue or digital for a certain effect.

[dlenaghan]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Also, digital ≠ clean and predictable. You ever play a WMD Geiger Counter, lol?

Ha! Got me there. By "clean and predictable" I mostly meant that you can find the same settings again more easily. An analogue delay w/out a tap tempo might be mighty hard to zone in on a rate of repeat, even if you've taped marks on the pedal face, like I generally see with most gigging bands around here. Multiply that by the number of musicians in the band, multiplied by the number of times the settings need to be changed...

But that's another reason I love analog. I loves me some chaos in a box.

[rob_thebassman]

prefer the warmth of good old analog

[jimmy rocket]

I use what sounds good and what gets the job done. While I generally prefer well designed analog circuits (Heck I prefer well designed tube circuits) I recently went from a Maxon AD9 pro delay to a Hardwire DL8 and haven't looked back.

The DL8 sounds as good as any analog delay I've ever used and it gives me more options and increased functionality.

[paganjack]

It really depends on the effect. For distortion/OD, analog all the way. For delay, mostly analog but a nice clean digital delay has its place too.
Actually, the only digital thing I have right now is a delay and a reverb. Huh, guess I'm more analog than I thought.

[metaball]

some of my favourite pieces of gear have combined the 2. (OTO Biscuit, Ensoniq ESQ1)
i still prefer analog for most modulation fx. digital has many perks you can't achieve with analog when it comes to things like verbs & delays. i tend to prefer analog distortions on most things. whatever works for the song.

[caeman]

I freely mix both as the need demands. Artificially limiting one's self is kinda stupid. Use the right tool for the right job.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by caeman

I freely mix both as the need demands. Artificially limiting one's self is kinda stupid. Use the right tool for the right job.

Shazam, folks.

[DeltaPhoenix]

I mostly use analog but do have a digital multi that I use for modulation mostly (Yamaha MagicStomp). I agree with analog for OD/distortion/fuzz. I tried SA MWBD pro, it was alright but I sold it pretty quick.

[totallyfrozen]

Originally Posted by dlenaghan

Just to stir the pot: do you prefer analog or digital when it comes to effects?

Yes.

[RickenBoogie]

me too

[CopperheadLXXIX]

I used to be a bit of an analog purist, but that was only because my limited knowledge of digital effects came from crappy "all in one" floor processors. Since I've discovered companies like Eventide, Strymon & Source Audio, I've realized digital pedals can sound like well--ANYTHING. They can be warm, gritty, "tubey", or whatever other adjective is hip this week with bass players--It's just a matter of finding the right pedal for the job and that is well made--just like when getting analog pedals.

[FaithNoMan]

I prefer analog for my preamp/overdrive.

After that I don't care, as long as it sounds good.

[Eric!]

carrots