n00b question/didn't know where to post

[Big Mon]

How do you tell if a pedal is analog vs. digital? Specifically,modulation type gizmos.

[McSpunckle]

You can't really tell just by sound (which is why it doesn't matter) in some cases, sooo

Open it up. Get the numbers off the chips. If it's a phaser, it'll have OP amps in it. If it's a flanger, chorus, etc, it'll have BBDs in them. MN3007 and numbers like that.

Just get the numbers off the chips and google them. Or ask here.

If it has a bunch of huge, surface mount chips, it's probably digital. If it has something like the PT2399, it's delay section is digital, but the circuit is mostly analogue. (The DE-7 is that way, but uses a few different chips for the delay)

[bob the r0bot]

google

[Scruffie]

If it's Pre 90s Digital was a big thing so it'll probably admit to it on the front of the pedal, Pre 80s then you're basically guaranteed it's analog besides the odd rarity.

Now, Analog is something to brag about so effects companies will usually tell you if it's analog, 'All analog Circuit Path' doesn't necessarily mean it's actually completely analog, but your input remains unchanged and isn't processed.

If a Delay, Flanger, Chorus is Analog it will probably say it uses Vintage BBD chips, that's something else they like to tell you about, although getting technical, even BBDs aren't really completely analog, but there as analog as you'll get in delay based effects.

Best thing to do is read into the description on the makers site, also sometimes it'll be in the name of the pedal and sometimes it just plain has to be digital Loopers, Delays over 2 Seconds, Things like Complex Harmonizers & Polyphonic Octave Pedals but then some things that should be Analog, aren't.

Oh also alotta pedals start with the D Prefix to tell you e.g. BOSS DD-20 is of course, Digital Delay - 20.

[Big Mon]

Thanks,guys! And,I know Boss,DIGI-tech,etc. are digital. But I was thinking along the lines of like,80's DOD pedals.

[McSpunckle]

Not all Boss and Digitech are digital. The distortions are generally analogue (with exceptions), and for Boss, the older modulation and delay stuff is analogue. (You probably knew that)

DOD is -generally- analogue. All the flangers were. The delay pedals, I think could go either way, but I think the digital ones actually say digital. Phasers are usually analog, unless they do weird step sequences and stuff.

Newer DOD pedals, I have no idea. Especially the chorus pedals and such.

[Jero]

But I was thinking along the lines of like,80's DOD pedals.

The ones I've seen that looked interesting were They made a cool analog echo/delay, and then a funkier digital one I believe.

[Big Mon]

But I was thinking along the lines of like,80's DOD pedals.

The ones I've seen that looked interesting were They made a cool analog echo/delay, and then a funkier digital one I believe.

so like,the fx65 Stereo Chorus is?

[McSpunckle]

Found a gut shot of the FX65... it's analog.

http://www.pedalarea.com/images/dod_fx65_04.jpg

[Jero]

Yea, those are analog (fx65)

[Big Mon]

yay! I may be winning one on ebay and cheap,too!