DD-3 anomaly

[trlkvsky]

Playing through my DD-3 earlier today, I noticed something weird. When I play certain high notes - approximately starting from high E (it varies) - and depending on intensity of attack, the repeat is particularly distorted, sounding almost like a bitcrush effect... Anyone have this problem or know how to fix it? It's not that bad (and can actually be cool I find), but still I'd prefer the sound to be as crisp and clean as possible. Thanks.

[formisano]

Which DD-3 do you have?

 

http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/articles/DD3.htm

[Seth Carmody]

Sounds like my old Ibanez DML10II when powered by nearly dead 9v battery, except it was every note. The first repeat would be distorted and bitcrushed.

[trlkvsky]

 

Which DD-3 do you have? http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/articles/DD3.htm

 

 

Version 2b

[Brian Marshall]

yep it does that... nothing you can do with out killing high end response

[trlkvsky]

yep it does that... nothing you can do with out killing high end response

 

So this is typical of DD-3 version 2b?

I've had it for a while, but hadn't used it in a good 5 years...

[formisano]

 

Version 2b

 

 

Mine, too, but I don't think I have had this problem. Are you using it before or after the gain? Is it in the loop, or out front?

[trlkvsky]

 

Mine, too, but I don't think I have had this problem. Are you using it before or after the gain? Is it in the loop, or out front?

 

 

In the loop.

[bleepedybloops]

I get that bitcrush effect with mine too, but only when i pick extra hard on the 20th fret on the high e string through my bridge 'bucker through my whammy up 2 octaves into the DD-3 and only the repeats are crushed.

 

Seriously thats the only time I can make it do that I have tried to get it other ways but thats the only consistent way.

[trlkvsky]

 

I get that bitcrush effect with mine too, but only when i pick extra hard on the 20th fret on the high e string through my bridge 'bucker through my whammy up 2 octaves into the DD-3 and only the repeats are crushed. Seriously thats the only time I can make it do that I have tried to get it other ways but thats the only consistent way.

 

 

I get it on the D of the 10th fret especially.

 

So, I just tried running the DD-3 in front instead of in the loop and voil

[Brian Marshall]

So this is typical of DD-3 version 2b? I've had it for a while, but hadn't used it in a good 5 years...

 

i think it's typical of all the DD3's and the DD2. AFAIK the circuit board changed, but the actual delay chip, and most of the circuit stayed the same.

 

the DD3 has pretty crappy specs compared to the technology available today. I'm not sure if boss publishes a bit depth, but the sample rate changes as you turn the delay time knob.

 

The DD3 was designed similar to analog delays. Still uses a compader chip which can cause artifacts, and uses a multipole filter for clock noise. with long delay times, and higer notes you start to run in to bandwidth issues, and wierd little phase shifts from the filtering. I think that is what probably causes it.

[Brian Marshall]

 

I get it on the D of the 10th fret especially.   So, I just tried running the DD-3 in front instead of in the loop and voil

[bleepedybloops]

 

i think it's typical of all the DD3's and the DD2. AFAIK the circuit board changed, but the actual delay chip, and most of the circuit stayed the same. the DD3 has pretty crappy specs compared to the technology available today. I'm not sure if boss publishes a bit depth, but the sample rate changes as you turn the delay time knob. The DD3 was designed similar to analog delays. Still uses a compader chip which can cause artifacts, and uses a multipole filter for clock noise. with long delay times, and higer notes you start to run in to bandwidth issues, and wierd little phase shifts from the filtering. I think that is what probably causes it.

 

 

In my case its not a phase shift at all.

It sounds like

rrrrrriiiiiiiinnnnnngggggg ..... htphppht.......hphpthpt

[formisano]

 

...AFAIK the circuit board changed, but the actual delay chip, and most of the circuit stayed the same..... ....The DD3 was designed similar to analog delays....

 

 

You're right on the 2nd part, but wrong on the first part.

 

The DD-3 was designed like an analog delay. As a matter of fact, everything in the pedal is analog, except for the part that actually produces the delay.

 

But on the first part of what you said, No. At some point in its life, the DD-3 was completely redesigned, and was based on a totally new delay chip.

 

To the OP, there's nothing wrong with your pedal; your effects loop just uses a pretty hot signal (probably intended for line-level rack effects). You're just overloading the delay. Boss pedals (like most any other pedal), are designed to work with guitar-level signals. Some are more successful than others at handling higher level signals, but I would blame the effects loop. Some amp manuafacturers give you a switch to change the effects loop from +4db (line level) to -10db (for guitar level effects). Others have knobs for send level and return level to give the same functionality.

[Brian Marshall]

 

You're right on the 2nd part, but wrong on the first part. The DD-3 was designed like an analog delay. As a matter of fact, everything in the pedal is analog, except for the part that actually produces the delay. But on the first part of what you said, No. At some point in its life, the DD-3 was completely redesigned, and was based on a totally new delay chip. To the OP, there's nothing wrong with your pedal; your effects loop just uses a pretty hot signal (probably intended for line-level rack effects). You're just overloading the delay. Boss pedals (like most any other pedal), are designed to work with guitar-level signals. Some are more successful than others at handling higher level signals, but I would blame the effects loop. Some amp manuafacturers give you a switch to change the effects loop from +4db (line level) to -10db (for guitar level effects). Others have knobs for send level and return level to give the same functionality.

 

 

thanks for setting me straight on that. I think i read something on analogmans page a few years ago, along with a few posts on arons forum. The DD3 doesnt get talked about much. I own one, and it's probably the only pedal i have had for this long that i still use on a regular basis... and it's one of the few that i havent taken apart.

[dangerous dan]

 

Mine, too, but I don't think I have had this problem. Are you using it before or after the gain? Is it in the loop, or out front?

 

 

Ver2 B again for me, never notcied thsi problem I use if after dirt pedals and before the amp, never noticed this problem.

[danut]

I used to have the same problem, only on the clean stuff, nothing wrong on the crunchy, higher gain parts. I'm using my Keeley DD-3 after my Tech 21 preamp, so it's like using it in an FX loop:

 

 

 

 

I found out that adding a bit of compression and clean boosting with the pedals in front of the preamp, together with backing off the level of the preamp solves the problem.

[KEB]

I had a DD-3 for many years, and I remember getting similar artifacts when, yes, the pedal was overloaded with a line-level signal (either running my SansAmp full-bore into it or a keyboard's output.) As danut stated, just backing off the levels helped.

 

Kinda miss that pedal actually, and I've been thinking of getting a new one. I like the design philosophy behind it: simple, no useless warp/crap modes, doesn't A/D-D/A the dry signal.