Boss DD-20 Or Line 6 DL4

[VegaV77]

hi im looking at getting one of these beasts and i wanna know your opinion on either one









Boss DD-20 Or Line 6 DL4?????????

[whoatherechunk]

well um....what exactly are you looking for in a digital delay?

personally ...i'd buy the dl4.

[VegaV77]

i want something feature packed with some crazy sounding delay on the side

[bigchiefbc]

I recently acquired a DD-20 in a trade. I wasn't even sure I wanted it, I was just going to try it out and probably sell it. Well, I messed around with it last night, and man, I have to say, I was impressed. It was a lot more versatile than I was expecting. Now, not all of the modes were good, but by messing with the tone control, it could do a decent analog sim, and the twist mode was really cool. Plus, since I do electronic stuff, I love that I can punch in the delay time in both ms and bpm.

There are bad sides to it. I hate that you still have to do that damn hold-down-for-3-seconds thing to do tap tempo, and the modulation mode was a joke. But I realize that I was wayyyy to dismissive of it before I actually plugged into one. Now, I'm really torn, because I've got a few expensive delay pedals, and I can only justify keeping one of them. But the DD-20 definitely has bang-for-the-buck going for it, and the others will fetch more money on eBay

[Jumbotron]

I like the DD20 a lot (though I moved it to my guitar board since I realized I don't really have a need for delay on bass.

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

There are bad sides to it. I hate that you still have to do that damn hold-down-for-3-seconds thing to do tap tempo, and the modulation mode was a joke.

For what it's worth, there's a very simple solution to the tap tempo issue--just get a pedal with a momentary footswitch (the cheapest way is to get a keyboard pedal from Radio Shaq, which are like $10), and set the pedal so that the right switch changes presets and the external switch does tap tempo. Very, very useful.

[VegaV77]

thanks man


i dont thing i would use the tap tempo too much so its not an issue for me






does anyone have a song sample or can tell me how the twist and just overall insane sounds on both?

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by VegaV77

thanks man


i dont thing i would use the tap tempo too much so its not an issue for me






does anyone have a song sample or can tell me how the twist and just overall insane sounds on both?

I can record some clips of the DD-20 tonight and post them for ya. Any other modes you want other than the twist? Just general oscillation goodness?

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by Jumbotron

I like the DD20 a lot (though I moved it to my guitar board since I realized I don't really have a need for delay on bass.



For what it's worth, there's a very simple solution to the tap tempo issue--just get a pedal with a momentary footswitch (the cheapest way is to get a keyboard pedal from Radio Shaq, which are like $10), and set the pedal so that the right switch changes presets and the external switch does tap tempo. Very, very useful.

Yeah, I know that's an option. i actually already have a momentary switch in my setup for tap tempo on my Bass Murf. Not sure I want to spare the room to put two on my board

[VegaV77]

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

I can record some clips of the DD-20 tonight and post them for ya. Any other modes you want other than the twist? Just general oscillation goodness?

yea just alot of crazy sounds

[excane]

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

I can record some clips of the DD-20 tonight and post them for ya. Any other modes you want other than the twist? Just general oscillation goodness?

I'd love to hear them as well.

[Monotremata]

I love my DL4. Know a few folks that own the DD-20 and their one complaint is the noise and good old Boss tone suckage..

[rasthedoctor]

+1 on the DL4. It's never let me down, though some say it sucks tone...

[B.C.]

Ok, I own the DD-20 and tried the DL-4 on my last gig. Here are the results.

First of all, both are great units. However, the winner is the DD-20 for several reasons.

First, it can do very subtle delay and extreme delay very well. What I mean by this is with the DL-4, the delay can really only be heard when it is on the point of being overwhelming. With the DD-20, you can still hear the effect without it overtaking your sound.

Second, I like the presets much better. Especially the analog setting, while it won't get you what a Carbon copy will get you, but it is a great sounding delay.

Third, the simplicity. You have only a few parameters (the important ones IMHO) that will cover about as many tones as the controls on the DL-4 will get you.

Fourth, there was no volume drop on either, but when turned on the DD-20 *felt* much better. I guess less processed(unless you want it to be, cuz it will do that too).

Feel free to PM me with questions and goodluck with the hunt

[kesslari]

I like the sound of (and the sounds availableo on) the DL4 better.
Granted, I own a DL4, and have only gotten to demo a DD-20 in store.
But if you're willing to accomodate the large size, you get a lot of capability in the DL4.

[newbold]

The DL4 does some things the DD-20 won't recreate well.

That being said, the DD20 sounds better and will be much better if you're playing with other people.

Tap Tempo will be a huge asset even if you don't think you'll use it.

I have made some amazing music with my DL4 and that's not to say it's awful, but it sucks tone DIFFERENTLY than the DL4 will.

While both are great units, the DD-20 will articulate the delay much better than the DL4, making it a far better choice.

Line6 dropped the ball with the DL4, as they could have easily owned the market. Boss is still king.

[VegaV77]

thanks guys

[bassman1185]

What about the Electro-Harmonix Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai? Same price range, a bit more compact than the others, dedicated tap tempo knob...

[asherthemachine]

dl4. dd20 blows so much. so much i cant even put it into words. i want to dump mine... anyways, get the dl4, you will never be disapointed, unless of course it breaks like they are notorious for doing. o well, still worth it

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by VegaV77

yea just alot of crazy sounds

Alright, I whipped something up real quick. Basically just me making noise with the DD-20. Its a long clip, because I was just tweaking the time and tone knobs for a few minutes.

Clip

First I give you 20 seconds of clean repeats, then I use the twist mode a couple times, then I just do some oscillation in normal mode. Then oscillation in reverse mode (which is my favorite), then tape mode

[kgoism]

DL-4. Like other people say, it's subtle, but I actually think it's in a good way.

And it's true bypass.