Educate me on delays (I'm getting a DD-3)

[abnerfm]

Hi guys. I'm a newbie on delay. Although I already had a Carbon Copy, I didn't keep it for a long time, and I couldn't use it in more than one song I recorded (actually a demo).

Now I'm getting a Boss DD-3 on a trade; as I like a lot of blues and rock and roll roots, I don't know how to use it properly (I guess there wasn't a lot of use of it at those days), so I need some advice here.

Other thing that intrigues me is that I read it's very similar to the DD-2 (that seems to become "higly sought after" because of Eric Johnson is using one)... is that true? What are the differences? Thanks in advance.

Abner

[Jesus freak]

I use my DD-3 for tight "slap-back" delay, or sometimes even tighter like a reverb. but it can get it U2 territory as well (longer delay). its not the most versatile, but i wouldn't get rid of mine

[MRCHILL4]

I use my DD-3 for tight "slap-back" delay, or sometimes even tighter like a reverb. but it can get it U2 territory as well (longer delay). its not the most versatile, but i wouldn't get rid of mine

Dd3 is cool , but since getting the el cap I really love the modulation . And the el cap can get tight sounds too . Dd3 can't get el cap sounds.

[sanhozay]

i have a dd-2 and it's a fantastic delay. takes a little more time to line things up because of no tap or dotted eight switch or readout but it's clearly one of the delays that set a benchmark for compact digital delay that is still valid, after all these years. i have a dm-2 on the board as well, and the warmth of analog is difficult to simulate with the dd-2, however it is far more useful for other things and having both is easily rationalized. for roots playing i'm surprised you didn't connect with the carbon copy.

[abnerfm]

I use my DD-3 for tight "slap-back" delay, or sometimes even tighter like a reverbHow to set it like a "reverb"?

[abnerfm]

for roots playing i'm surprised you didn't connect with the carbon copyActually I had to sell it (not that I didn't like it... anyway I didn't manage to use it much at the time).

[Jesus freak]

Reverb type sound from a DD-3 goes like this,

Effect level- 9 o'clock
Feedback- 11 o'clock
Delay time- 11 o'clock
Mode- 200ms

you can move each knob a little to fine tune it. also the feedback and delay time are more like 10:30 o'clock if ya know what i mean

[nrandall85]

I had a DD-3, which was great.... then I sent it in to Analog Man for the Hi-Cut Mod and it was fantastic. Literally all it does is attenuate some of the brightness in the repeats, and gives the pedal a much warmer sound. I unfortunately had to sell mine to get some other gear, but I would pick up another one in a heartbeat.

[Cream]

If you play blues and "rock and roll roots" definitely set the delay time very tight to simulate room reverb. Great sound especially on tweeds.

[plan-x]

Monty Allums hi cut 3 way toggle gives 2 hi cut options. Very cool mod. I rarely use the stock setting.

[abnerfm]

DD-3 arrived today. It doesn't work with my Voodoo Lab Pedal Power:omg

Boss website says it needs 65mA... the Pedal Power provides 80mA... I don't get it. BTW, it works with a battery.

[Jesus freak]

HUM? that funny cause last night when i hooked mine up to double check the "reverb" settings mine wouldnt come on!! i unhooked everything, plugged it back in an it did!
i was using a 1spot. it should work for ya, make sure the input on the pedal is not rusty ive had a few used boss to be rusty when i got em

[abnerfm]

it should work for ya, make sure the input on the pedal is not rusty ive had a few used boss to be rusty when i got emIn fact, I thought the pedal was broken, so, I asked the seller to replace it, and so he did... nothing. Both the DD-3's didn't work with the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power. BTW, mine is the older model, which provides only 80mA per output. What makes me wonder is that Boss website says the pedal needs 65mA. It works with a battery although. It seems the Pedal Power cannot feed this pedal, and I get sick with the idea of getting another power supply.

[mach90]

and the delays hammer batteries like no-ones business.

[JRBain]

Other thing that intrigues me is that I read it's very similar to the DD-2 (that seems to become "higly sought after" because of Eric Johnson is using one)... is that true? What are the differences? Thanks in advance.

Abner

The truth of this is that the DD-3 was originally the same as the DD-2. This was prior to Boss's economy drive, when they moved production out of Japan and changed the circuit of the DD-3 (these events didn't exactly coincide).

Many MIJ DD-3s are DD-2 spec (more likely the older they are, presumably), but the way to tell is if it has the so-called magic 'big chip'. No electronics knowledge required (I have none!) - It really is just that - A big chip, spanning the entire width of the circuit board. It is the much-coveted delay chip that causes the mojo.

It is, incidentally, my favourite delay, and the only one that I use. I intend to buy another at some point. I absolutely love the sound.

I don't think Eric Johnson has a lot to do with the popularity though - So far as I am aware he only started using them recently. Probably the most notable user of the DD-2 is David Gilmour, I would think, even if his are modded by Pete Cornish and/or turned into TESs.

The excellent Stinkfoot/Andreas wrote an excellent article on this; below.

http://stinkfoot.se/archives/516

[abnerfm]

Thank you all for the posts. Anyone else having problem while trying to power the DD-3 with the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power?

[abnerfm]

The excellent Stinkfoot/Andreas wrote an excellent article on this:
http://stinkfoot.se/archives/516

:huhWTF!?!?!?!?!:bow

The DD-3 is a 12-bit digital delay with analog feedback and mixing stage. What this means is that everything in the pedal is analog, except the part that produces the actual delay. The analog signal is split, and a portion of it is sent to the delay chip (the rest ends up at the output stage, where it is joined with the delay signal).

[JRBain]

Thank you all for the posts. Anyone else having problem while trying to power the DD-3 with the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power?

I don't use a PP2+, but I can't see any reason why you should have a problem - It sounds like your pedal has an issue, to me...

:huhWTF!?!?!?!?!:bow

The DD-3 is a 12-bit digital delay with analog feedback and mixing stage. What this means is that everything in the pedal is analog, except the part that produces the actual delay. The analog signal is split, and a portion of it is sent to the delay chip (the rest ends up at the output stage, where it is joined with the delay signal).

Quite. It's not what a lot of people think it is. If you want ultra pristine repeats, it's far from the best choice.

[mboersma]

the only thing you need to know about delay....Sell your soul and buy a Timeline.

[stratmaniac]

I use the same older PP (max 80 mA) as the original poster, and my big chip DD3 works fine. Oddly enough, I've got a Hardwire Chorus that hates one particular power outlet, but works fine on all the others.

[bsuite]

DD-3 arrived today. It doesn't work with my Voodoo Lab Pedal Power:omg

Boss website says it needs 65mA... the Pedal Power provides 80mA... I don't get it. BTW, it works with a battery.

Should work, 65ma is what your pedal will draw. 80ma is what your PP is capable of, i believe.

[abnerfm]

Should work, 65ma is what your pedal will draw. 80ma is what your PP is capable of, i believeI just can't understand... this is the second DD-3 that doesn't work with my Voodoo Lab... in fact, I thought the first one was defective, so I asked the seller to replace it, and so he did. The first one was Made In Taiwan, this second was Made In Japan, and both don't work with my Voodoo Lab. I'm thinking about daisy-chaining my Holy Grail power supply, which provides 500mA.

[stratmaniac]

I just can't understand... this is the second DD-3 that doesn't work with my Voodoo Lab... in fact, I thought the first one was defective, so I asked the seller to replace it, and so he did. The first one was Made In Taiwan, this second was Made In Japan, and both don't work with my Voodoo Lab. I'm thinking about daisy-chaining my Holy Grail power supply, which provides 500mA.
Did you try the obvious stuff (that's sometimes not so obvious)? Like trying different power outlets, different cables etc? If it worked with a battery, your pedal is operating fine. And if the power jack on the pedal was bad, it's unlikely that a second pedal would have the same problem. And if your Pedal Power is working with your other effects, it's likely operating fine too.

Did you try changing the dip switch setting on the outlet you were using?

[weese77]

I just can't understand... this is the second DD-3 that doesn't work with my Voodoo Lab... in fact, I thought the first one was defective, so I asked the seller to replace it, and so he did. The first one was Made In Taiwan, this second was Made In Japan, and both don't work with my Voodoo Lab. I'm thinking about daisy-chaining my Holy Grail power supply, which provides 500mA.

Some of the older boss pedals are setup for 12v input (ACA vs PSA, check the sticker by the jack). You can flip the dipswitch on whatever the right output number for your voodoo unit to fix your issue if that's the case. I had to do that to power a MIJ HM-2 with my bbe unit.

[abnerfm]

Did you try the obvious stuff (that's sometimes not so obvious)? Like trying different power outletsTried today with 4 different outlets (including Holy Grail's supply), it worked with the cheaper one! I wish I know why!

[abnerfm]

Did you try changing the dip switch setting... ?Wouldn't it harm the pedal???

[abnerfm]

Some of the older boss pedals are setup for 12v input (ACA vs PSA, check the sticker by the jack)I can't, it's erased:huh

[abnerfm]

Tried with the 12V setting on the Pedal Power... IT WORKS!:bonk