Analog Man ARDX20 Dual Analog Delay

For my needs, this really is the perfect delay pedal. It offers loads of flexibility and features that are not found in your average analog delay. It's really easy to dial in a great tone and the ability to control the delay time and level with an expression pedal is so sweet.

For version two it would be great to see etched labels for the on/off and channel buttons. They are not labeled, so I'll add my own. You would think it would be easy to remember which button controls each feature, but in the heat of performance, it can be easy to forget.

Tone is very subjective, so my comments are only related to how I feel about the pedal. My suggestion is that you grab one to check the tone for yourself. For me, the tone is absolutely perfect. It is the ideal mix of old-school analog warmth with a nice clarity to the repeats (NOTE: clarity does not mean cold).

I set one channel for a quick slap and the other for a longer delay. I'm using a Roland expression pedal to control the delay level, which impacts both channels. For me, this is a great feature because there have been times where I would like to raise or lower the delay volume during a song. The ARDX20 really works well in this way.

You could also use the expression pedal to control the delay time of the 2nd delay channel but instead of adding another expression pedal to my board, I'm using one of those knobs from optionknob.com. They work well for changing effects settings during performance.

Let's recap here: analog delay,monster tone, real-time control over delay output/volume and the ability to tweak delay times on the fly. Nice.

This pedal is built like a brick. A backup isn't necessary, but now I'm thinking that I might need another one. Yeah, that's the ticket. Then I can have four channel of delay!

It's also important to note that this pedal works perfectly with a 9 volt battery. Last year I purchased a very popular, current mass production analog delay that was supposed to work with a 9 volt battery but it failed miserably. The pedal output was so low that you could barely hear the delay. I tried several pedals and they all suffered from the same problem. The ARDX20 sounds the same regardless of the power source and a battery will last for 30 hours. I only use this pedal and an wah, so it's great to be able to run a pedalboard without the need for any power adapters.

Mike/Analogman is the best. He is quick to respond to emails and he stands by his products. I can't ask for more.

This is a great delay pedal. The day I received the pedal I played for 5 hours straight. I haven't done that since I was 16 years old (which is about 25 years ago). For me, that is the mark of a great pedal. It integrates perfectly into my rig and it inspires me to play.

If you're looking for a great analog delay, you should try this pedal. The mix of great tone and added tweakability really does put it in a class of its own.

This excellent little delay is great. Two Channels, and each of the knobs does as it says and is easy to get a great delay sound.
However, I found that on the feedback, (IMHO) it oscillates a little too early in the dial. But that is all.

I'm using this delay at the end of a chain: Guitar (Either a Fender Thinline, or Epiphone LesP with vintage style pickups) to a Fulltone OCD- Hermida Nu Valve, Hermida Zendrive- Seymour Duncan Shapeshifter then this delay- Hermida Reverb- to a Super Champ.
This is a quiet delay with some pretty clear repeats. The repeats decay as Analog should, but its still very crisp and clear. It 'feels' like this delay has a ton more headroom than my Boss DD20. The delay plays very open and warm.
The only complaint is the repeats are a bit too clear for my taste-- need more dirt/modulation on them. But still its wonderful.

Its by Analogman yada yada yada, nuclear war, yada yada..
if it dies, I know Analog Mike will fix it. Great company and products!

Mike has always returned my emails within 12 hours. Very helpful and friendly throughout the process. Always responds with courtesy and help even when I wasn't a serious buyer. Good man. Not my first purchase with him, nor will it be my last.

I try not to give perfect 10s.... its just not cool. Nothing is perfect. This delay almost is, but is a bit lacking right now.
In the future Analogman is developing an external jack system for presets, controls, tap-tempo etc....
As soon as this delay gets tap-tempo, then I bet I would rate this a 10 overall.
Remember, this is a simply dual delay- nothing more. I cannot wait to stomp it on the fly and get some dotted 8ths or something!

Simple to use. Right footswitch toggles between bypass/engage, left footswitch toggles between two delay settings. There are six knobs -- three for each delay setting. Knobs are for delay time (up to 600ms), feedback (repeats), and level (delay mix). 9v AC jack on the top of the pedal; 9v battery compartment underneath. There is an effects loop jacks on the top of the pedal, as well as a delay time expression pedal jack that allows you to control the delay time with an external pedal. I am told by Analog Man that additional "preset" boxes and a tap tempo box w/modulation are in the works and will also operate via the expression pedal jack (very cool!!).

Sound quality is superb. I've gone through several delay units over the past decade, including the EHDMM, the Line 6 DL4, and the Retro-Sonic Analog Delay. While those delay units are all intended for slightly different applications (and thus a true comparison would not necessarily be on point), I like the ARDX20 better. Unlike other analog delay units, the repeats are both lush and clear at the same time. Also, the dynamic response is excellent; bass tones come through sounding bassy, trebles are shiny/shimmery without being icy, etc. Like any other analog delay, the delayed signal is somewhat darker in color. Finally, this pedal is noiseless.

I'm not going to go through my entire setup, but let's just say the ARDX20 is among friends.

I have no reason to believe there are any reliability issues with this pedal. Even if there were, I know Analog Man is incredibly responsive to such things. The enclosure on the ARDX20 is really sturdy. The footswitches/knobs/other components are all top notch.

Analog Man is great when it comes to customer support. I've had him build pedals for me in the past and I've never been disappointed.

Overall this is an easy 10 for me, especially in light of the forthcoming tap tempo/modulation add-on box. I was looking for a true-bypass analog delay with tap tempo that wasn't outrageously expensive and had a relatively small footprint. The ARDX20 easily fit the bill. I just hope that Analog Man gets that tap tempo box out soon:)

The ADRX20 delay is simple to use. There are a few unique features to the pedal, so you'll have to quickly read the one page instruction sheet. You have a couple of different options for controlling delay time and/or delay volume and you can also patch an effects pedal into the ADRX20's effects loop. Here's the scoop on each function:
1. You can use a Roland EV5 pedal to control the delay time of one channel. This enables you to set one channel for a quick slap and the delay of the second channel can be changed using the EV5 (which is not included). This function works perfectly and I am blown away by this functionality in an analog delay.
2. You can also use the Roland EV5 to control the volume of BOTH CHANNELS. This is were it gets really fun. You set the delay volume of each channel with the knobs on the ARDX20 and then you use the EV5 to change the volume without bending over. The really cool part is that the EV5 works within the "parameter" of the volume that you set on the delay pedal (kind of a weird word to use for an analog delay, but you get the drift). So, if you set the delay volume on the pedal to 12 noon, when you max out the volume range on the EV5, it will not go beyond the volume level set on the delay. WAY COOL!
3. You can use a Y cable to patch an effect into the pedal's effects loop. This is great for all of you delay users who like modulation. YOU get to pick the modulation that you like. The effect only applies to the delayed notes. Lots of tonal possibilities here.

Tone is subjective, so I can only describe my opinions, which have been formed after years of buying, using and selling way too many delay pedals.
The tone of the ARDX20 is not dark or too bright. It really has been voiced to perfection. It has all of the analog "warmth" that you would expect, but it also has amazing clarity - not cold, CLEAR. The repeats decay so perfectly and what amazes me the most is how the pedal integrates with my rig. It doesn't change the tone, there are not volume increases or reductions when the pedal is engaged and the repeats sit beautifully in the mix. On the day that I received the pedal, I literally could not stop playing. I had the day off and I played it for about 5 hours. That, to me, is the mark of a great pedal. It inspired me to play! BUT, don't take my word for it. Try one for yourself. It really is the best sounding delay I have ever used, but my "head tone" might be different from yours.

It's an Analog Man pedal. Mike's stuff is built to last and the custom enclosure that he designed for the delay is built to take years of abuse.

As it says on the Analog Man site, Mike will bend over backwards for his customers but he won't bend over forward. Fair enough and pretty funny. I've purchased a few Analog Man pedals in the past 5 years, and each time I've been pleased with the speedy delivery and friendly communication. Mike knows that there are many "boutique" pedal companies out there, and he earns my business every time.

I use this pedal in a very simple rig: Gibson ES335 into a Teese RMC3 wah into various Blackheart amps (yes, they too are awesome). It is the perfect addition to my rig and I can honestly say that this is the delay pedal that I've been searching for. The great sound combined with the robust features really do put it in a class of its own. Try one for yourself to see if it scratches your delay "itch".

First of all... i do not give perfect 10s across the board. AnalogMike comes very close though.
This delay is easy to work. 2 delays: 3 knobs: Delay Time, Feedback, and Level for each side. The two sides are easy to work. There are 2 switches, one is bypass and the other changes between the two different delays.
As for ease of use, I found the feedback does oscillate a little easier than I would want, so it does take a little movement. My unit oscillates about the 2 o'clock dial setting. It does take a bit of work to get your sound down, but it is a very lush sound.

I like how 'deep' and 'real' this delay sounds. I was expecting a bit more analog decay that it has, but the sound quality is smooth. In comparison to a DD20 setting (smooth, modulation and analog) this dual delay has a 'feel' that I'm not getting with the DD20. There is also greater headroom (so it feels--- that possible on a delay). There is a definite "breathy" quality to the signal. I guess thats the definition between digital and analog. Also my original signal sounds like it is affected very little- my true guitar sound comes out. Not much color, even through the analog decay of the repeats. I am very impressed.

Its an AnalogMike item. Yada yada... something about Boss pedals attacking tanks... but Mike is great guy with a great company. I do not see this delay failing on me, nor do I think I need a backup.
I do know that if it does, Mike will make it right.

Mike always responds to my emails w/in 24 hours and has had a quick turn around of mods within a day. I consider him one of the best.

I play mostly modern Praise and Worship (Hillsong, Phil Wickham, etc...) and jam some bluesy/folky rock (originally from Nashville). This really helps "open up" my sound into what I want to do with it... with very little compression or added sound. I worked hard for my clean tone, and lightly overdriven tone. This doesn't affect it at all.

As of the present, I will use my DD20 more- just for the tap tempo/dotted 8th more than anything else. Thats the only thing keeping this down. (That said, by Winter 2009 the tap tempo and various expression ports should be ready to completely modify this pedal to your needs. There is no feature to add cost, if you don't want it, you don't have to buy it! Buy only what you want)
Once the tap tempo comes out, then this pedal will be utilized the way i need it to be, and this rating will be higher.