As a musician, I’m always searching for new delay pedals. I used to worry that I was investing in a pedal that would break or not perform the way I wanted it to.
When I found Boss delay pedals, never turned back. Let’s take a look at one of my favorites: the Boss DD-7 Digital Delay Pedal.
Review
Before I dive into this model, it’s important that I review what it is a delay pedal actually does.
Delay pedals take an audio input signal and then repeat it back as many times and as quickly as you choose.
Delay pedals sound excellent in almost all genres since they create a reverberant echo that will enhance your sound.
In comparison to leading delay pedals like the Boss DD-3, this pedal has more delay time and a modulation mode for some unique effects.
Pros
- Modulation mode
- Durable
- High sound quality
Cons
- Less delay time than large Boss delays
- Expensive
- Fewer delay settings than DD-20 model
Features of Boss DD-7 Digital Delay Pedal
While this pedal isn’t the most affordable on the market, this pedal is actually quite affordable considering the high quality sound it produces.
Like all Boss pedals, the DD-7 is built with durable materials and will be a great fit for musicians who move their gear from place to place a lot.
This pedal also includes up to 40 seconds of sound on sound recording, which will work well for musicians who plan on repeating long passages of sound.
1. Mode Knob
The mode knob on this pedal will allow you to choose between eight different settings, which is very impressive for a pedal of this size.
You’ll be able to choose between four basic time modes: 50 ms, 200 ms, 800 ms, and 3200 ms.
This will give you quite a large range of delay effects. In addition to these settings, you’ll receive a Hold setting, a Modulation setting, an Analog setting, and a Reverse setting.
Many musicians have tried to preserve the warm sound associated with Boss’s earlier models, which is why the analog setting will be so useful for you if you want a vintage sound.
The Modulation setting will be useful for musicians who want to create less traditional delay sounds.
With this mode, you’ll have the opportunity to create chorus style effects that will slightly alter the time and pitch of your signal.
The reverse mode is another great way to produce less traditional effects. This mode will play back your audio signal in reverse order, which will create an obscure effect.
2. Delay Time Knob
The Delay Time knob will allow you to adjust the amount of time that will elapse between each repeat.
The maximum settings of this knob will result in longer periods of time (more reverberant), and the minimum settings of this knob will result in short amounts of time (less reverberant).
3. Feedback
The F. Back knob on this pedal will control how many repeats you hear. The lowest settings on this knob will produce a single repeat, and the highest setting will produce infinite repeats.
Similar to the delay time knob, the lower settings of the feedback knob will work well for creating the illusion of a less reverberant space, as there won’t be many repeats.
On the other hand, the upper settings will create the feeling of an endless space, such as a massive cave.
4. E. Level Knob
This knob will affect level of your output sound. Typically, it’s best to experiment with the other knobs first to create the perfect balance between the time and feedback settings.
After you’ve found the right sound effect, you can increase your presence by turning the level or volume up.
5. Tempo Delay Setting
The Boss Digital Delay DD-7 also includes a tap tempo setting which is useful for musicians who want to quickly set a certain delay time manually without fidgeting with the different knobs.
To take advantage of the tap tempo setting, you can press and hold the pedal for two seconds, and then tap your desired tempo.
Alternatives
Here are some alternative pedals:
1. Boss DD-3 Digital Delay Pedal
This Boss Delay DD3 is a predecessor of the DD-7 pedal and is, therefore, more simplistic in terms of its features.
This pedal has a shorter delay time, and also has fewer delay mode settings. However, many musicians prefer the warm analog sound of this pedal because it produces a vintage rock effect.
Pros
- Warm analog sound
- Durable
- More affordable than DD-7
Cons
- No modulation setting
- Less delay time
- No reverse mode
2. TC Electronic Flashback Mini Delay Pedal
TC Electronic is one of my favorite brands to purchase from because their products are reliable and sound excellent with almost any guitar.
The Flashback Mini will be a better choice for you if you’re looking for a small device to fit on your pedalboard. Keep in mind that typically the smaller the device, the fewer the features.
Pros
- Fits well on pedalboard
- Simple design
- Great sound quality
Cons
- Small knobs
- No modulation feature
- No reverse feature
3. Donner Yellow Fall Vintage Pure Analog Delay Pedal True Bypass
This is a great option for musicians who are on a budget. Users of Donner pedals rave about the high quality sound these pedals produce for such a low price.
Keep in mind that this pedal is much more simple than the DD-7.
Pros
- Affordable
- Good sound quality
- Fits well on pedalboard
Cons
- No modulation effects
- No reverse effects
- Less delay time
Conclusion
Hopefully you found this review of the DD-7 Delay Pedal useful. This model solves the issue of finding a durable pedal that sounds great for a reasonable price.
This is a high-quality, durable, and versatile device that will provide you with endless sound effect opportunities.
