Does anyone here use an analog delay pedal with their Mark V? It seems like the Mark V tends distort the repeats of analog delays. I hear that it does with the MXR Carbon Copy. Just recently I found out that it does with the EH Deluxe Memory Man as well.
Analog Delays
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screamingdaisy
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Most analogue delays are designed to be used in front of a guitar amp and not in the FX loop. It's why I've switched to using a digital delay pedal.
bluestometal
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Isn't analog delays meant to distort (or deteriorate) the repeats as it goes? Or maybe you mean it distorts the signal itself? I'm not a fan of effects in front of the amp unless it's about some specific things (like od, comp, whammy, oct and, of course, wha)
bassmantim71
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My EHX Memory boy is in the loop and sounds great..., you have to mess with the loop level.
A few things I've noticed about it:
- It does not self oscilate as easily in the loop as it does up front, you need to dime the blend and feedback knobs and wait for it to build up..., but it still sounds very cool.
- No matter how the pedal + loop level is set, when you bypass the FX loop on the footswitch, it always seems a tad louder with the delay/FX loop on. Slight..., but it is there.
- IIRC, the Memory Boy delays up to 550 miliseconds..., cash permitting, I'll try to get an old Malekko or another analog delay that sounds good with the Mark V and delays up to 600 miliseconds. I sometimes need just a touch longer delays than my EHX can do.
A few things I've noticed about it:
- It does not self oscilate as easily in the loop as it does up front, you need to dime the blend and feedback knobs and wait for it to build up..., but it still sounds very cool.
- No matter how the pedal + loop level is set, when you bypass the FX loop on the footswitch, it always seems a tad louder with the delay/FX loop on. Slight..., but it is there.
- IIRC, the Memory Boy delays up to 550 miliseconds..., cash permitting, I'll try to get an old Malekko or another analog delay that sounds good with the Mark V and delays up to 600 miliseconds. I sometimes need just a touch longer delays than my EHX can do.
fuzzgod
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I use a Moog MF-104Z in the loop and in front of the amp. Never had any unexpected sound degradation. As was stated before, analog delays get darker as they go along. It's part of the charm.
From my experience with analog delays (which is limited), I noticed that the repeats do deteriorate or however you wanna describe it. Which gives it that warmth that everyone likes about analog delay. But the effect that I was getting was the repeats were distorting. My signal was fine, it was just the effect that was distorting. The EH DMM has a overload light on it. According to the manual it is normal for the light to flicker while you play. Which was the case when I tried it in front of the amp. The repeats were fine. But way to loud and did not mix well. I couldn't seem to find a sweet spot mix wise. Especially on the overdrive channels. It just "washed" the sound out. While I had the pedal in the loop, the overload light was on pretty much constantly. I tried messing with the loop level but it did not change anything but my volume. The repeats were still distorting.
jmontgomery
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I really like the Diamond Memory Lane Jr. It's digital but has a very good analog sound to it.
bjoneill74
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screamingdaisy said:
This is not correct.
I'm not saying you can't use an analog delay in front of the amp, because it does give a particular sound *if you're after that.
Most Modulation/Delay/Reverb and pitch effects will sound better in the fx loop (after the crunch stages).
If you plug any of these into the front of the amp on a clean setting. It will be fine.
If you plug any of these into the front on a high gain/overdriven/crunch/metal tone.. It will add the distortion to each of the repeats.
In the effects loop it will add the delays/verbs to the already effected/distorted tone and not add more.
Again no right or wrong way.. just a matter of preference for a given task/tone. It doesn't much matter whether it's digital or analog. Yes they all sound different, but are essentially doing the same thing by repeating the signal.
IMO, the compatibility of your delay (or any effect) with your rig is more dependent on signal level and impedence then if the delay is generated by analog or digital circuits.
Dom
Dom
screamingdaisy
Well-known member
bjoneill74 said:
Most analogue delays aren't designed to handle the +4dB (or higher) signal that are present in the FX loop. They're designed for a -10dB instrument level signal.
It has nothing to do with how a delay sounds or where in the signal path it should theoretically function best... it does has everything to do with the delay's components having the headroom to handle such hot signals.
Been playing since 1986 and have had lots of analog and digital delays. My favorite for the last 6 years has been the MXR Carbon Copy analog delay. I have used it in the loop of about 5 different amps and it works great. My go do delay. Analog pedals are just fine in the loop. Right now I have 3 analog pedals in the loop of my PWE and my Bogner. As long as a loop is instrument level or has a level control, switch, you are just fine! 
I have heard that the Carbon Copy delays do not mesh well with the Mark V loop. Apparently they have a tendency to distort in the Mark V loop as well. Again this is just what I hear. I have never tried the CC.
Has anyone had any experience with the Maxon AD-9 Pro analog delay in their Mark V loop??
Has anyone had any experience with the Maxon AD-9 Pro analog delay in their Mark V loop??
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