Analog vs. Digital Boss CE-5

[kokoshmusun]

I never really started with the intention of building an all-analog board, but so far, the few things I have are all analog. I'm interested in getting a Boss CE-5 chorus but it's hard to find the analog version. They were produced up to October 2001 as far as I know, then the circuit was changed to digital. There are a bunch of 2nd hand digital ones around, but I've never seen the analog.

So first of all, regarding the analog obsession, is there a REAL downside to including a single digital pedal in an otherwise analog setup?

Second, more specifically, is there a REAL (audible, etc.) difference between the analog and digital versions of CE-5? Would you recommend I just go ahead and get the digital version or are there very good reasons to either try to find the analog CE-5 or just get another analog chorus?

I'm not wedded to the CE-5, but I figure it gets a lot of praise around here and want to try it (also, it's pretty cheap 2nd hand where I live).

[recnsci]

Originally Posted by kokoshmusun

So first of all, regarding the analog obsession, is there a REAL downside to including a single digital pedal in an otherwise analog setup?

I don't have first hand experience with either verson, but based on schematic in this particular case it shouldn't make much of a difference. "Digital" version is not of modern DSP variety, it simply has BBD replaced with DDL. So Dry path is same (and analog), filtering is analog, it has simple delay line with clock frequency modulation, just like with BBDs (BBD is not pure analog device in usuall meaning of that word, it is sampling device after all). Older verson could have a bit more dirt and noise, but beside that newer version should be pretty much the same (even tweakable under the hood, just like bunch of analog pedals). In particular, it shouldn't impose typical digital artefacts compared to BBD version.

[kokoshmusun]

Thanks for the explanation, looks like I can go ahead and buy one of the "digital" ones. cheers.