Boss DD-20 Digital Delay

shopped through a lot of choices before getting the DD-20 Giga-Delay. This is the best delay I found without getting way too expensive. I liked the Vox JS-DL but it is not line level for loop useage. This pedal does a lot, it requires reading the manual to understand it properly. I put this pedal through the paces on all manner of tonal sonics from clean repeats to metal, fusion jazz, it is the unit to get. I had one problem I will explain to follow.

This pedal has 11 modes, two are special effects, one is a loop, there are 8 delay/echo modes all musically usefull and tonal. The standard digital is HD and is clean. The colored modes of tape, analog, smooth, dual (two delays together short & long), reverse, all have their uses and the variation of this unit is really musical. You can be serious with it or use it to create really weird (not so much a good player sound effects (see YouTube). I found the unit to be very quiet in my loop. I did have a problem in the loop with volume levels when I switched from clean to tube distortions, I ended up running my Carvin FX-2 unit into the DD-20 and this fixed the issue, also allowing me to feed additional effects into the chain. The sound quality is superb, the FX-20 is a 24 bit processor and helps equalize a unity gain line level even when off. MOST IMPORTANTLY what sets this unit off from the others is a FIVE position ability MEMORY selection AND seamless switching from one to another without any glitch or disruption effect. The "manual' mode holds on/off settings to whatever you have it on that you might enter into the four memory slots, so if you set to a 5th setting it will go to that when you turn it on and then you have 4 more. ALSO the special effect "twist" and "warp" settings work on top of your memory settings, allowing you to wack the sound or infinite hold and return right back to your normal setting. NOTHING ELSE comes close to all these features!!

Boss is high Q stuff, in a lot a years I had a switch go bad on a DS-1 but it was a little screwy from the start. I fixed it myself. The DD-20 is a pro unit with level output options, it's a massive heavy well built pedal, not a toy little box. I would expect no problems pending sane treatment.

No idea.

I went through a lot of delays, this one got the board position. It's a 23 sec echo which is only really useful for looping, another mode it has. Most delay uses are from 20-1200 ms. You can reverb it on a short feedback delay but this is bit of a waste for this delay. I use my Carvin FX-2 for reverb and it does a tremendous 24 bit quality deep, Jeff Beck type reverb when I need it. I use the DD-20 for up to 5 different delay settings and special effects when I am in the mood to loop or make trip noises. Do not listen to others crap on this unit or the really bad videos some do, I am an old school player of 30 some years playing, had it all, done it all, beginner or pro this is the pedal board delay unit. Spend some time getting your settings or using the TAP function and you will not be disappointed.

This thing can sound great without even trying, all the setting are easy to use and very fast to change. There are only 4 presets, but with the tap tempo, I only need 1.

I'm playing out of JEM into a Marshall DSL. This pedal doest color your tone, only adds the echo, which I like. This pedal sounds great, easy to use with tap tempo pedal (HIGHLY recommended). The reason I gave it a 9 is because it has a very slight noise when its turned on, but impossible to hear if your playing. Each setting sounds great, except maybe the twist, it just gets really loud and annoying. The "digital" is perfect, the "tape" sounds magical, the "modulated" sounds wonderful, you can even use it as a subtle chorus if you turn the delay down to 1 ms. The looper is very easy to use, and overdubs are a cinch. You can even use a delay after you start a loop, just use the 1st preset, but if you try and go to 2, the loop stops. This pedal has a vast amount of tempos, including straight eights, quarter, and even whole notes, with a dotted option on each of them. I usually keep it on dotted eighths all the time. The screen is a must if play a bunch of covers with a precise delay time, it tells you the exact number of milliseconds, or BPM if you choose.

No problems yet, Boss pedals are built like a rock, so no worries, will gig with it.

Never needed them.

Overall this is a great pedal, I would reccomend this to anyone of any music style. I play U2ish type of music, this works perfectly to get the Edge's sound. If it were stolen, I prob wouldn't buy a new one, because of the size, I would prob buy a Deja Vu, much smaller and great for my needs, the DD-20 works great and would sound just as good as the Deja Vu, but again, kinda big for someone who doesn't like to carry around a bunch of stuff, but if I had a pedal board, it wouldn't be an issue. If your the kind of person who plays covers a bunch, this is the pedal is for you, it has many options and the screen is a must for entering precise delay times. If you would like to ask any questions about the pedal, feel free to e-mail me, I have way to much free time and wouldn't mind.

for my applications, very easy to use. i have no interest in the "sound-on-sound" setting, the memory slots, or using the dd-20 for live use. i mention this as i imagine these applications would require deeper involvement w/menus and/or accurate & extensive foot-pedal tap-dancing. what do i use the dd-20 for? its "tape", "analog", and "standard" modes. & if you have any prior experience w/a delay pedal or rack, these modes are self-evident on the dd-20. cake.

some might ask why do i purchase a multi-mode delay and then use only a few of the options, especially when those options are the most basic on offer? good question. i must confess that i purchased the dd-20 in conjunction with boss' multi-mode distortion pedal, the od-20, in hopes of nailing down all the sounds i needed w/a simple $400 outlay. long story short: the od-20 was found wanting & sent packing (read: e-bayed), & the more esoteric modes on the dd-20 (twist, warp, pan, dual, pan, smooth, modulate, reverse & the aforementioned SOS)-- some of which i had held high hopes for-- left me cold. but the other three modes (tape, analog, standard) more than made up for it. to my ears: beautiful, spacious sound, especially w/distortion & overdrive in the mix. no--and i mean NO-- extraneous noise. and last & certainly not least, a generously-sized read-out that can be converted to beats-per-minute (hooray!) instead of some meaningless (at least to me) "tempo time". but the main thing is the SOUND. and lest the reader think i'm ignorant of tubes, hand-wiring, analog circuitry, made in america, vintage, boutique, etc etc, blah blah blah... my guitars are 70s gibsons, my amp a 1961 gib ga40, & my other delay units the maxon ad900 & ad999. but just as importantly, i am NOT a gear snob. while there is a reason the above-mentioned terms (tubes, hand-wiring, etc) carry weight in the guitar-playing community, they should not be the end-all be-all. a newly made guitar, a solid-state amp, a japan-made digital effect pedal; it IS possible for these elements to add up to a great sound. and it is from this mind-set which comes this viewpoint: the tape, analog & standard modes on the dd-20 sound great. use your ears, not your eyes.

have owned the dd-20 for approx five years at this point w/no problems whatsoever. granted, as i mentioned earlier, mine sees no live use (which definitely brings about "gear alzheimer's" exponentially more quickly than home studio pampering). nevertheless, anyone who would take issue w/the sturdiness of boss/roland equipment must be the kind of person who melted their plastic toys as a kid for fun. seriously, you have to WANT to destroy the dd-20 to make it go defective. apparently these people do walk among us.

i've always maintained that, except in the most extreme cases, this category is for whining sissies. the older i get, the more strongly i feel. sissies.

i admit it up front: i am not someone who spends all day on the internet, reading or sending missives (i believe it's called, ugh, "blogging"). so i pray thee, spare me the embarrassment of any apparent naivete on my part when i mention my recently coming upon the term "THE HATERS". why do i mention it here? well, i do try to frequent harmony central. for the most part, it's fun. but i have noticed that this site is not only not immune to THE HATERS, it is rife w/them. again, i imagine that any site which solicits contributions from the great unwashed (of which i am also a member) is prone to this development. but back to THE HATERS. poor grammar, poor typing, un-necessary foul language, uses or applications of gear (ESPECIALLY effect pedals) that run counter to commonly-accepted rules of the game, personal attacks on previous post-ers... i could go on. i realize that not every review is going to be rosy, and that hucksters and snake oil salesmen should be taken to task. i also realize that i may look quite the fool, waxing philosophic on a GEAR-REVIEW SITE, especially one that is the domain of guitar players (as petulant, stuck-in-the-past, herd-mentality a sub-set of the human race as you're likely to come across). there, i said it. & i also say this: the dd-20 is a great, great great-sounding pedal. beware THE HATERS.

It is possible to just plug in and play with this pedal. I figured most of it out just by experimenting but I would also recommend reading the manual because some things like the dual delay are a bit tricky. A must do is to buy the external contol pedal(FS-5U) for tap tempo. I use the tap alot and if you don't have the FS-5U you have to hold down the pedal before you tap and that's just annoying.

My setup goes Prs Tremonti SE, Boss TU-2, MXR SupaComp ,Ibanez TS-9,Keeley Dunlop Wah mod, Ernie Ball Volume, Boss DD-20, 5150II Head with Orange 2x12 cab.

I put the DD-20 after the volume because then I can turn the volume down but the delay still carries on.

I mainly use the Analog, Reverse, and Dual setting and it does it for me. I find the reverse isnt as good as others I have heard unless you use two amps in stereo then it really shines

It's a boss and as everyone knows they don't break..I've had this for a year and it hasnt screwed up on me once. I would be hesitant using this with batteries as I'm sure this thing would suck power but I have a pedal pad II power adaptor so I don't have to worry about that.

I've never had to deal with them

I play ambient alternative rock and I guess what you would call hardcore and this suits me just fine. I just wish I could get the reverse perfect without having two amps in stereo. Out of all my pedals this is the one that gets the most used it can create anything from subtle to crazy alien sounds. I LOVE IT

Well, it's pretty easy to use, but if you wanna usw ALL the function it offers, you have to read the manual.
It has 4 different presets, you can edit all the parameters and then save them easily.
You can switch the presets by pressing the right pedal.

I really like the sound and the different effects it has. 10 different delay sound and one looper (23 sec)+endless Overdubs.
The twist, warp and analog delay are awesome, imho.

Typically Boss-quality, robust and durable.
Great!

It's the most versatile delay I've ever seen. All the different sounds are great and specially the 23 sec. Looper.
There is something for everyone in this double pedal!

This pedal is super easy to use. The manual explains how to set up the delays very well. I was really impressed in how simple it is to get started with this pedal. I am greating great tone out of the pedal. The SOS(sound on sound) option is a great plus too. Its a looper that lasts about 23 seconds i believe. Very easyo to record and overdub. The down side is that there is no undo or single loop option.

My setup is a Gibson Les Paul into a Vox AD50 VT Valvetronix. I have no hiss or random noise with the pedal on or off. I was easily able to use the tape delay to recreate the delay used by the edge in where the streets have no name. i'm confident that you can recreate most of the sounds that you want.

I havent had this pedal for long, but Boss is known for good pedals. I first bought a line-6 DL4 and it broke within a week. This pedal has more options, is cheaper and has a five year waranty on it. If you gig, you wont need a backup. This pedal has most delay options you need. It is great and i recommend. More reliable than the DL-4

I have not had to deal with CS.

I play Blues/Jazz/Rock/Cont. Christian music and this pedal does everything i need. I've been playing for 6 years now and this has the best pedal i have ever owned. Since im still in high school, i dont have many effects, but i do have a Boss DS-1, a digitech screamin' blues and a cry baby wah. If someone stole this, i would be mad, then go get a new one. This pedal is great. It blows the DL-4 out of the water. There is no competition. If you are think about this pedal or a DL-4, get the DD-20. It is more reliable, has more options and has percise delay times, is cheaper, and has a better waranty.

It has relatively a lot of different types of delays and knobs. Takes quite a while to get the sound I want.

I'm not particular about delay effects like some geek that only wants a true tape echo for that effect. I think this pedal does an excellent job.

The Tape and Analog effects are very lush, warm an nice. I fall in love with them. If you let them self-oscillate, they just give you amazing tones.

I would like it if the Dual mode offer a longer delay time in the Short mode.

The Reverse is kinda hard to use. You have to get the right timing to get the nice delay sound.

The Modulate gives you a chorus sound in your delay and using the tone knob, you can get a lush and warm sound out of it.

This pedal gives you crazy effects too like Twist. You can totally get an out of control oscillating effect with this.

The Sound On Sound lets you record a loop and lets you play over it and even record over it. Great feature. I just wish they have longer recording time.

The Time knob gives you precise control over the tempo which is very cool.

Built like a tank. No worries using it live without a backup.

Never dealt

This is a very good pedal that gives you tonnes of tones. Of course don't be like those morons that bought this pedal and complain that the different types of delays don't sound like the originals. DUH! It's a modeling effect. It gives you a very close to original tone. If you want more, save up and get the originals. You can definitely get a very nice tone out of it. If stolen I would definitely get another one.

It pretty easy to use without any guidance, and the manual effectively explains anything that you can't figure out. If you're familiar at all with delay, this is easy to use.

I'm using this through a Fender Blues Jr., a Vox AC15, and a Peavey Ranger 212. I usually use a Strat, but I also use a Les Paul and a P-90 equipped SG.

All of the delay modes sound good. It even has a modulation mode that's pretty nice. I use this mostly just for echoes, but it'll do slapback (the tap-tempo footswitch is a great feature) and anything else you want out of a delay. It's also got a sound-on-sound mode where you can record up to 23 seconds, loop it, and practice your soloing. I only needed an echo box, but I chose the DD-20 due to that feature (I was going to buy a delay pedal and a Loop Station, but I figured I could save some money and get all I'll really use out of this one box).

Boss pedals are the best for reliability. I'll probably still be using this pedal when I'm a grandpa.

They're okay.

I've been playing for twelve years, and I'm very lucky to have a lot of nice gear. This is my only dedicated delay unit, and I expect it's the only one I'll ever buy. I like this pedal better than Line 6's comperable model. Everything sounds great, and it has very useable features. If you want delay, this is your box.

If you read the manual you will be getting great sounds in no time.
It may take a little while to figure out the more advanced versions of outputs and pedal assignments.

Sounds are great. What a pallet. I don't know if I would use a couple of the settings but even after owning it for a couple years I still can find new things.

Boss makes solid stuff. I've gigged out many times and never had a problem.

Never had to use them.

I play atmospheric folk as well as improvised experimental and I use this pedal all the time for looping as well as the dealys. It's great to be able to store settings and call them up on the fly. If my effects boxes were stolen, this would be the first to be replaced.

ok it is really easy to use, at the begining i found out pretty much all of the functions alone, but fot the modulate and maybe an other mode i had to look in the guide.

you have to be patien to find the right settings and for it to sound good and be timed but you get used to it quickly.

also the different modes as tap tempo, the different timings (doted eighth notes...) and everything are pretty easy to figure out

again, it is really easy to use but be patient...

i use a les paul and a roland cube 60 (with other boss pedals)

the tap tempo is useful for covering songs easily

SOS - record layers and layers of riffs

WARP - simply holds every note as long as you want

TWIST - makes the noise of a prison siren when pressed

TAPE - has one or two delays at the same tine (very cool for short delays)

ANALOG - very soft delay, very useful

STANDARD - as said, its standard

PAN - useless, you need two amps to play with it, or else it plays back normaly once then takes twice as much time to play back again

Dual - cool, you take your delay (1ms to 23 seconds) and you chose an other from 1ms to 100 ms with the first one

SMOOTH - reverb and delay at the same time

MODULATE - a delay with chorus (very very nice for acoustic)

REVERSE - cool but extremely hard to understand and play with it

delays sounds good with distortion and wah wahs. it is not noisy but put it first in your effects chain

You can get a lot of really really cool sounds is you have the time to turn knobs. turn, turn, turn and turn... besides that i think it gives more than needed for a delay pedal

9 because of reverse

i had it for less then a year... cant tell

i play metal (children of bodom, in flames, necrophagist, metallica, iron maiden etc) and it sounds good with everything, especially acoustic parts :P

i have been playing for 6 years, i have a a strat, a les paul, a classical guitar, im looking forward to get an acoustic one for jamming at camp fires :P i had a couple of marshall amps, begringers, and the cube 30, now i have the cube 60. i use the dd-20, the od-20(distortion/multi effects) and the pw-10 (wah wah, crazy wah wah and multi effects :P) id defenitavely buy it again is it broke or something, it really is the best delay pedal you could possibly find everywhere and for cheap (better then digitech ones)
it is good for improvising in every style, trust me =)

The functionality demands manual reading to exploit the modes available, it is well written and easy to follow though. There are only four writable patches. There are no USB or MIDI connections. I thought this strange considering it's a digital device offering so many FX permutations (This is reflected in the 7/10 score). This rules out any software interface too. It is graced with -20 and +4 dB output options. Sadly there is no facility for expression pedal parameter manipulation.

I use a Cornford Harlequin with a standard LP. Other FX inc Maxon OD9 and JD Wah. This is a very flexible pedal that manages to emulate differing delay effects these are
SOS - sound on sound looping
Twist - a one-trick up/down pitch saturation
Warp - Hold/Oscillation switch
Tape - a convincing copycat emulator, warm with soft decay
Analog - Based on the Boss DM-2, a clear delay with soft decay
Standard -
Dual - fast&slow delays in series
Pan -
Smooth -
Modulate - Mild chorusing can imitate echo-plex if correctly adjusted
Reverse - Not really convincing, delay times can create interesting textures however.
Not true-bypass, but no apparent colouration either. The pedal is quiet. I haven't tried it with anything else in the signal chain yet.
There are fine sounds to be had, if you have the time to read the manual and program for live use!

Only owned it for eight hours

No comment

I have been playing since the eighties. I moderately use overdrive and wah pedal when playing live. I was surprised how close the DD-20 came to emulating my old copycat, there again I haven't it since 1993 when I flogged it for a digital delay, oh well!
The pedal offers more than I'd ever use, still not 100% about have digital in my analog chain either.
Given time and attention unique and interesting effects wait to be discovered.

This pedal is very easy to use with reading the manual even just the once. Since it is a good combination of traditional functions and more modern features, even advanced features are relatively easy to use and it's easy to store and edit the four memory slots. To be honest, I haven't used the Tap function on the right pedal that much but this allows the user to tap in to correct the tempo easily for a specific song. It's easy to get started on this unit and stereo ins and outs make it even more versatile for really big space.

The sound quality of this unit is first class, well, mostly. The reverse effect is disappointing, I mean it reverses the sound for sure but makes an annoying click when set to produce only the reversed signal as it doesn't cut off the initial pick attack. Also disappointing is the "smooth" setting as it is basically supposed to be a delay/reverb combo but I feel that the effect lacks enough reverb to make any substantial difference from the standard digital delay which is also present on this unit. These two criticisms aside, the rest of the sounds available are just plain sexy and wonderful especially the accurate Analogue and Tape (you can even select between one and two tape heads on the Tape mode) which should please the most ardent Durutti Column and U2 fans (like myself) and then some. The unit has a useful delay effects including a Chorus/Delay, Dual (long and short delay for intersting variations on the slapback sound), Warp and Twist settings as well as Sound on Sound and the standard Digital Delay with great scope for the desired sound and the unit allows my pure signal to shine effortlessly in any mode. I play all sorts of music and have been able to find sounds that are appropriate to any song or style with a bit of care, if like me, you like a bit of ambient guitar, this is great.

Only had it for three months or so, no problems so far. The pedal feels well constructed.

I have been playing for around 10 years now and have found this pedal to be one of the best purchases that I've made. This is a great choice for live work or in the studio even as an outboard unit. Gigs and even jamming just isn't as much fun anymore without having this pedal in my board, i've got to like it that much. It's a perfect balance between more complicated rack mount units and older stomp boxes, just experiment with it and prepare a couple of presets before going to your gig and you cant go far wrong. I haven't any criticisms other than the reverse and smooth settings although for this price so much is already on offer that it isn't a big bone of contention.