MUCH more experimentation and exploration is required, but this is definitely a winner in the synth category. Like owning 2 Apple products, these 2 are made for each other and optimized for each other and you can tell. While I get the echoes of having them separate (I've got a Xerograph Deluxe too), there's a certain magic about them being together too.
When I first saw the 2 ins/outs, I felt a little gipped that I wasn't even saving on the cable between the two, but they are wired together if you don't use the jacks which is actually a SUPER cool option and I'm destined to explore fuzz in that fx loop. While this is hands down the most badass looking pedal I own, it isn't all that practical. Using them separate with the footswitches positioned as they are is a near impossibility without planned workarounds. The workarounds aren't bad, but they are workarounds. If you set the synth and env switches the opposite of what you like them to be set at, you can just step on either w the bypass at the same time. Those are also the easiest to turn on/off if you have them on the wrong setting. It's pretty badass stepping on both bypasses to get that full synth sound too, but it really depends on how you plan to use it. If you want to cherry pick your stomp selectors, I had great success tilting my foot and hitting it more on the side, almost like I'm playing hacky sack so not too awkward, but less than ideal.
If you can get beyond the usability, the sound is pretty much cream of the crop. The combo of the 2 effects is what every synth pedal wishes to be. It still feels like it is coming from a bass and has that touch sensitivity, but sounds so authentic. My one gripe about most synth pedals is the digital-ness of them. Your sound is just converted to a digital signal and then it can be processed to sound like pretty much anything, but that's so artificial. This is that ooey gooey real stuff. I don't know if these are analog / digital, but they have that analog vibe...if that makes any sense.
I'd be curious to side-by-side the Dubterrograph against the XD and DubT to see if there are any advantages to the big box vs the individual pieces, since from a design perspective...there seems to be some sacrifices with this setup. From a sonic perspective, this one crushes all. I'm a Future Impact guy for my synth sounds on my main board as I'm all in on the MIDI train, but if you are a knob twister who doesn't like apps and having to learn synthesis, this behemoth of a pedal, the Dubterrograph...this is the ONE.
