Best analog emulation on a digital delay pedal?

I'm going to have to say the new UAFX Starlight is probably the best-sounding, now. The sound quality of these new UAFX pedals is astounding.

 

Haven't done an extensive comparison but the tape emulation on the Nemesis is pretty darned good.

 

I usually find the tape, chamber slap, or wire style DSP emulation more convincing than BBDs for me.

The Strymon Timeline does a pretty good job on them to me, but if that's what I'm looking for primarily I've got several smaller, less complex, less expensive, & slightly more sonically pleasing options that are actually analog. I've never tried their Brigadier but I'd assume it would be at least as close as the Timeline for me.

 

Came here to post the UA as they look and sound bananas.

A DD20 is still pretty incredible and have stood the test of time, IMO. Lots of really wonderful delay sounds, including analog and tape, and my favorite, the modulated delay. Also, has tap tempo, room for four presets, and looping. Lots of tweakability and they can be had for really reasonably prices now.

 

Source Audio Collider / Nemesis

 

Look at DoD Rubberneck.

What is it specifically you are looking for? Do you have a budget?

There are some analog delays out there in the $100-200 range. Also look used to save some money.

HUNGRY ROBOT PEDALS THE MOBY DICK V1

 

I haven’t tried any expensive digital delays to bring to the table but I was very impressed with how close the Line 6 Helix did when trying to replicate the analog craziness that I can coax out of my MXR Carbon Copy.

Lots of digital delays can cop the sound of analog well enough but they fall down when trying to replicate how they react when pushed into self oscillation.

 

I’d say they *are* “slightly” affordable. $400, in comparison to the Boss DD-500 or Strymon Timeline is a reasonable price, given the quality.

I was just saying over at TGP that, in the grand scheme of things, $1200 for the trio of UAFX pedals isn’t that much more money, in the context of a $10K rig: $2K each for two guitars (or basses), two amps, and a pedalboard, plus cables and accessories. For bass, or if you played a mono guitar rig, you could get away with dropping one amp, so $8K.

For someone gigging regularly, spending $2K per instrument, $2K per amp, and $2K on a pedalboard is just the price of pro level gear in the 2020s.

But, the alternatives to the UAFX trio are what? $200 a piece? So, the difference in price is $7400 v. $8000? How much does that really matter, in the long run?

 

I imagine that there are a number of pedals that will be recommended.

Here's one more:

Wampler Faux Tape Echo v2.

It really took a lot to displace the Boss DM-2 from my pedal board but the Wampler was up to the challenge. It does everything the DM-2 does and a whole lot more. Very organic repeats, the ability to dial in as little or as much modulation as you like, tap tempo, subdivisions and crazy good self-oscillation. Also, it's a really clean and solid build and made in the US.

I play boring old, regular electric guitar too and I'm considering getting a second Wampler for that pedal board too. It's really impressive.

 

Check out the EHX Canyon. The Deluxe Memory Man and Tape modes sound great. $150 and it has other modes and features that sound great, too.

 

The Diamond Memory Lane Jr is a beautiful sounding delay, and sounds really similar to the Memory Man. Love the easy to use tap tempo, and has a fun pitch modulation setting

 

Strymon El Capistan

 

LOVE my Strymon Volante! It can stay pretty clean on the studio (reel to reel) mode with plenty of dirty, warbly weirdness on tap with the drum (binson) and tape (echorec) modes.

 

I have a DOD Rubberneck, and it sounds wonderful. But it’s not an emulation, it’s an analog delay.

 

here's a a little trick.. Danelectro Dan echo.. and a ibanez echo em-5 echo machine.. or use cheap analog delay into a looper.. or digital delay..

 

hardwire delay/looper has some great sounds (tape, analog, and lofi) would be up your alley. the looper is not nearly as useful as a dd7 but i keep picking up the dl8 when i find em cheap because the delay sounds are so fantastic

 

Another vote for the Strymon El Capistan. I also like the Wampler Faux Tape Echo in a smaller, more reasonably priced box.

 

I've gotten some nice "analog" sounds out of my old Boss RE-20 Space Echo.

Here it is with an Alesis Micron synth going into a CopilotFX Android Ring Mod being fed into the RE-20, often overloading the Delay in a cool way, adding to the lo-fi vibe.