• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Delay pedal --- Analog vs Digital

8

83_Silberpfeil

Aug 15, 2011
432
218
#1
Looking to add a delay pedal to my set up. Wondering about Analog vs Digital.

Looking for some seasoned veterans here to school me on the two.

My current set up is a Yamaha BB1200S (active) into a EHX Clone Theory (original 80's chorus pedal) then into an Ashdown 5-15 combo.

I try to emulate Peter Hook's New Order sound.

Thanks!
 
#4
I don't have a lot of stock in the analog/digital debate. As already mentioned, it really depends on how you want your repeats to sound. If you want them to be super clean, you'll likely have to go digital. Otherwise, surf around for the sound you're looking for. I, too, like my repeats to degrade, but I love the sound of my Caroline Kilobyte, which is in fact digital. It adds modulation and gain to the repeats, or you can turn those parameters off and get perfectly clean repeats.

No idea what Hook would have used for delay, but you certainly have the gear for a nice Hook setup. Cheers.
 
#5
Digital delays can degrade the repeats as well. Nothing wrong with analog, but a digital delay will be more flexible, and unlike some other effects there's little or no downside to going digital.

I was mistaken, it appears that Hooky did use a Yamaha analog delay for a bit at the end of Joy Division, but he switched to digital delay (Korg or Roland) not long afterwards. It's not a big part of his sound, though, so just about any decent delay should work.
 
#7
There is a place for either because they both have a unique character. I have both in my rig.

Analog when I ant to sound warm, subtle, flexible, and have the repeats gently fade away.

Digital when I want something crisp, dead-on time, rhythmic, and attention grabbing.

If New Order is what you are aiming for then go digital, there wasn't much subtle his delay sounds and timing in new wave/electronic is vital.
 
#8
Thanks to all who chimed in with your valuable personal experiences and knowledge.

It does sound like the Digital path is what I should explore next --- I'll look into Roland or Korg as HellBoy has mentioned.

I know the core effect that makes Hooky's sound is the EHX Clone Theory --- and I have that already. Now, I'm just trying to refine it --- with a bit of delay; 80 ms based on some research I've done.

Thanks again to all!!!!

Cheers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: zapped777
#9
Another tid bit to add... if you want the repeats to continue after you've disengaged the pedal you'll need to go digital. An analog delay will kill the repeats immediately. Some like this when you get a big feedback sound and then just kill it abruptly. Others like to have them echoing as they turn it off so it's smoother from the affected tone to the unaffected.

As many have said regarding tone of the repeats, depends on your taste.
 
#10
83_Silberpfeil said:
Thanks to all who chimed in with your valuable personal experiences and knowledge.

It does sound like the Digital path is what I should explore next --- I'll look into Roland or Korg as HellBoy has mentioned.

I know the core effect that makes Hooky's sound is the EHX Clone Theory --- and I have that already. Now, I'm just trying to refine it --- with a bit of delay; 80 ms based on some research I've done.

Thanks again to all!!!!

Cheers.
Click to expand...
HookHook
 
#11
Depending on your current rig /bass (overtly bright or ultra dark?) and what your final tonal goal is (Hook's New Order daze) may dictate the delay path you take.

A Pt2339 chipped delay is digital, but can get analogue-like dark repeats depending on how it was built up (longer delay times will be more dark n dirty, shorter can yield cleaner repeats)...


Or so I've read...
 
#13
I much prefer analog. I like degrading, slighter grittier repeats.

Get a Moog MF-delay. Best analog delay out there for the money. Amazingly close to the MF-104 that run in the thousands

Admittedly- digital emulations of analog are getting better and better and better. The tape delay on my H9 is pretty damn impressive.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: blindrabbit
#14
bludog said:
Another tid bit to add... if you want the repeats to continue after you've disengaged the pedal you'll need to go digital. An analog delay will kill the repeats immediately. Some like this when you get a big feedback sound and then just kill it abruptly. Others like to have them echoing as they turn it off so it's smoother from the affected tone to the unaffected.

As many have said regarding tone of the repeats, depends on your taste.
Click to expand...

I don't think this is true. I have have two analog delays that do trails. Moog MF-104 and the Way Huge SupaPuss
 
  • Like
Reactions: karla684 and blindrabbit
#16
Mosfed said:
I don't think this is true. I have have two analog delays that do trails. Moog MF-104 and the Way Huge SupaPuss
Click to expand...

Really? I had no idea. All the analog delays I have every used do not, but that's only a small handful. Good know.

Although, because I didn't know that I started checking out the Strymon delays and they pretty much do it for me now. The El Cap is particularly good.
 
#17
bludog said:
Really? I had no idea. All the analog delays I have every used do not, but that's only a small handful. Good know.

Although, because I didn't know that I started checking out the Strymon delays and they pretty much do it for me now. The El Cap is particularly good.
Click to expand...

I would love an El Cap. And yeah their analog emulations are shaging amazing. It's amazing how complicated the Op's question has gotten in recent years. Before that, the delineations were kinda clear. Now - a really high quality digital delay like the Strymons or the Eventide H9 etc can come damn damn damn close to being completely indistinguishable from quality analog delays on the right mode.

No way your audience could tell the difference - that much is for sure.

I still stand by the MF-delay by Moog. Man they can be found really cheap and they are just amazing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blindrabbit
#19
My favorites out of the delays I've owned are the line 6 m5 and the tc flashback. Both are digital, cost effective, and both do a lot of different types of delay. The tape delay on the tc flashback is nice, I really like the modulated digital delay in the m5. But I will say if you want a true analog delay check out the mxr Carbon copy, the modulation in it really makes it stand out among analog delays IMO. Some delays are great for certain tones. For example if you want a Justin Chancelor or Tool type of delay go boss all the way. So try to get an ideal of which type of delay you like and then if you want to spend more for a pedal that's great at that particular sound go for it. I always recommend folks try the m5 not as the end solution, but it'll definetly point you in the right direction on getting the perfect pedal for many different types of effects.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back