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Re: Digitech RDS questions



At 10:36 PM 12/6/99 -0800, Scott A. Martin wrote:

>1. Apart from the max delay time, what is the difference (if any) between
>the various RDS/Time Machine units?  I've so far seen the RDS1900, the
>RDS3.6, the RDS6400, the RDS7.6, and the RDS8000.

I've personally owned a RDS 1900 and currently own a RDS 3.6; the main
difference between the two is the max delay time.  The LFO filters sound
very similar, the hold function handles identically, and both have about
the same sound quality, which is substantially better than the DOD/Digitech
pedals I've used (and returned promptly) but not up to par with the
Boss/Roland experience.

>  I understand that the
>7.6 has a sample feature (apart from infinite repeat/hold delay) that the
>others might not.  Are there other significant differences for looping?

That's the big difference; the 7.6 has a sample feature according to the
manual.  That said, I've gotten very good loops with my 3.6 and did when I
had the 1900.

>2. What effect does diddling with the Width or Time Delay controls have on
>a loop in progress?  I understand that these units will pitch-shift loops
>if you tweak the proper controls, but I'm not sure what the interaction 
>is.

At least on the 1900 and 3.6 (and I assume the 7.6 as well given the
similarities in internals, not sure about the 8000), the tweaking of delay
time, width, et al, are non-destructive.  It's my favorite of the 80s
rackmount units because of this; while my Boss DE-200 has vastly superior
sound quality on the delay(go figure), the LFO isn't nearly as good and it
isn't non-destructive, nor can I switch delay times mid-stroke without
destroying what's in memory.

> The online manual says that "in longer delay times...the LFO will make
>sounds that are not normally useful in music," so I know y'all must have
>tried it. =)

Yes, quite frequently.  I can provide sound samples if you'd like; they
range anywhere from "oooh, I'm on nitrous" to "who thought that was a good
idea" to "exactly what did you do that signal path', particularly if you
run a couple delay units with that era LFO together.  

>3.  Some PDS owners have previously complained of a problem with pitch
>drift when their delays are set for infinite repeat.  Is there a similar
>problem with the RDS delays?

I haven't ever had that problem; I understand that on some units the memory
chips are not quite up to part or have gotten nasty as they get old.  I
speak from 5+ years of owning various RDS series delays in that I"ve never
had a problem, and my units have been beat, thrown around, carried to gigs,
dropped out of taxis, et cetera.

>Now I just need a couple of rackmount units and
>some volume/expression pedals... =)

Yeah, I need a 0-5v voltage control pedal for my 3.6; then I can enter the
realm of the sickly in modifying times on the fly.
==
the Reverend Rob      ICQ: 1280871          Yahoo: theReverendRob
http://www.realm-of-shade.com .`. .`. .`. .`. http://www.qblh.com
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