dbx DDP Digital Dynamics Processor

Very easy to use, even for newbies, 50 preset programs, although they do overemphasize things to demonstrate the "capabilities" of the DDP. BUT, they're also mirrored in 50 user presets, so you can tweak all you want!

The large LCD display is logically laid out, and the graphical representation of settings like a graph for compressor/limiter/gate/etc really make it easy to visualize the settings.

More importantly, you can lock out the front panel from pesky fingers that love to push buttons.

What would give it at 10? If there was a Ethernet port so we can control this puppy from a computer. But hey, it has MIDI, which is fine for more advanced users.

I found the whole program/setup configuration a little confusing at first.

Programs (the big number) are a SET of complete, finished setups.
Setups are actually the parameters of the DDP.

So you Program #1 can recall two SETUPS (one on Ch.1 and one on Ch.2)
OR.. Program #1 can link one SETUP so that the same settings are on Ch. 1 and Ch. 2

AutoLoad is a smart feature - you can look through the programs without affecting the current output (so you can preview/finalize the program before you hit LOAD). Great in a live-sound situation!!

Firmware 1.3, no problems. No freezing like with v.1.0.

in a chain of EQ -> DDP -> Aphex -> poweramp for a church. The DDP and Aphex really makes the sound fatter, the Type IV AD on the DDP is fine, the tape saturation sounds really funky and "analogish" if you choose.

I would probably go with a DriveRack PA now if I had the choice, but I also have the Digital I/O option and I sometimes use this unit as an analog -> AES/EBU converter. Nice.

I have had no problems with this unit out of the box.
Simple defaults let you get decent sound with plug and play, you can really shape the sound with the parameters and datawheel.


I would use it on a gig without backup.

I don't know, never had a problem with the unit, so never contacted DBX.

DBX DDP - simple - it has your DBX sounds and reliability of multiple pieces of gear all in one 1U!

If it was stolen, I would probably buy the DBX DriveRack instead of the DDP. It is a better value now for what I need to do (live sound). If it was mainly for recording, I would buy the DDP again.

All menues are shown on a really big screen, you can see all
parameters at once, great. There is one drawback: Storing sounds is a bit odd, you have got Programs and a library of sounds, I forgot the special word; You have to store programs and sounds separately so it can happend that you influence a program by changing a sound of the library in the background. Its not really "what you see is what you get"

Its great to make sounds really fat, saturation is great, too
I do not give a 10 because the hights could be critical in bright
saturation mode. Dynamic is 24 bit, no problem.

I have had problems with software release 1.0, the software crashed when power supply is out of a narrow tolerance. The current had to
be very stable and without digital or analog "dirt". So release 1
had problems with the inputtransformer and the software as well.
Customer support changed the mainboard, no problems any more.

Support was very fast and satisfying.

I can recommend it even for mastering of popmusic, if you have lots of
classical instruments: test it and listen carefully!

Easy-to-read menus that detail all parameters of dynamics. Graphic representation of parameters and curves. Good manual. Great presets to get started with. Overall interface can be a little overwhelming at first, but is easy once you get used to it.

Excellent sound. Almost like having the far more expensive Quantum (fewer features, of course) at a reasonable price. Tape Saturation Emulation is great at warming up sterile-sounding digital tracks. I use this piece in every stage of my recordings, from individual tracks to final mixdown. This is really just about the only dynamics processor you should ever need in a studio, unless you have need for more than two mono channels simultanelously (like for individually compressed drum tracks). Great value.

Never had a problem with it. Studio use only.

Being a music tech at a local music store, I've dealt with dbx in the past, although not with this piece. I've always found them helpful and efficient.

The only qualms that I have are that I wish the parametric EQ was smoother when shifting fequencies, and I wish there was a way to adjust the parameters of the Tape Saturation Emulation. Other than that, this is an essential component in a home (or pro) studio. I have yet to install the digital I/O option. Wish it was stock.