Delay shootout: DMM XO vs RE-201 vs Carbon Copy Bright

[culturejam]

Below is a (badly played) demo I recorded into a looper and played through three delays: DMM XO, RE-201 Space Echo, and a Carbon Copy Bright.

Take a listen and see if you can tell which is which. I think the CC Bright is the easiest to pick out, but that might just be me.

Details: The DMM is a 4x MN3008 model, but I subbed in a MN3005 in one of the slots. The 201 was recently overhauled by me: new tape, demagnatized heads, lubed pinch roller, cleaned all over, new tape guide bearing. I tried to get similar modulation parameters, feedback amounts, and delay times on all three. It was not easy, and I didn't not fully succeed, but some of that is owing to the different nature of each.

Signal path: ASAT Classic (neck pickup) > JamMan Solo > delay > Yamaha THR-10c > GarageBand. No post processing whatsoever, just export at 256KBps MP3.

Can't get the soundlcoud embed to work just now (I think they killed the old flash player), so here's the direct link:
https://soundcloud.com/effdub/delay-sho ... opy-bright

[resincum]

I haven't played either, but based on clips I've heard... Carbon Copy Bright > Deluxe Memory Man XO > RE-201?

[DRodriguez]

Only played a space echo, but I'm gonna go DMM XO >Carbon Copy Bright > RE-201

[Tristan]

Carbon Copy Bright -> DMM XO -> RE-201

[culturejam]

Well, since only a select few with impeccable taste have responded...


The order is: Carbon Copy Bright, DMM, RE-201

The CC is easy to differentiate. But I think it's a great sound that in most cases is "good enough" as a tape approximation. It's bright like a new tape RE-201, but you can definitely hear the BBDs.

The DMM is close enough, to me, that it's the "best" one of the bunch considering tone vs price, portability, and maintenance.

Really wish I still had an El Capistan to compare with the 201. Might have to see if I can borrow one for another clip.

[D.o.S.]

DMM sounded the best.

Totally slept on this thread because I don't need a delay pedal. These games are always fun as hell though.

[resincum]

fuck yes! I don't feel like a pleb. lots of good things being said about the dmm xo lately, I thought it sounded nice in that clip.

[culturejam]

Overall, I actually like the RE-201 the best. I think grit of the preamp is great, and the way the repeats degrade (not at all at first and then more progressively) is fucking awesome. Modulation is my fav too, but it's not something you can control and it's variable from unit to unit.

But as I said, the DMM is pretty close, it's a lot cheaper, and it's way easier to carry around. Also, no maintenance.

[DRodriguez]

I firmly believe that the 201 sounds so great because of what's wrong with it. That one is easy to call because you can hear the fluctuations in tape speed so naturally. Also, the preamp is lovely.

[culturejam]

^^ Yeah, the mechanical variances are what makes it unique and very hard to duplicate with just electronics. It's a neat piece of gear. If you have the means, I highly recommend you pick one up.


Another thing I love about the 201 is the tone stack. I had both High and Low set near noon for the demo. But it's easy to do boomy bass-heavy repeats or thin almost ghost-like repeats with tons of high end (and very little hiss).

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

lol the space echo i got would be prettay prettay pretttttaaaaay easy to recognize in the shootout. super warble. sounds great. i love everything about it.

[misterstomach]

good thread. they all sounded good in their own way, but this sure makes me wish i could own a space echo some day. sounded killer. makes me feel warm and happy about my dmm as well.