Why Does Boss Make All These Big-Box Delay Pedals? [DD-500, DM-101, RE-202 & SDE-3000D]

Don’t they all just do the same thing? Confusion ends here!

Welcome to the show. It wasn’t that long ago when a delay pedal was a delay pedal. Level, repeats, time… GO! First - in compact pedal form anyway - came dark-sounding analogue delays… then the digital delay revolution brought longer, cleaner repeats. Then digital modelling meant we could have more delays than we ever thought we needed, at the same time re-educating us in all those sounds lost up the annals of history. Ewww.
Today, in addition to its incredibly popular Compact pedals, Boss also has a range of more feature-laden, big-box delays that cover the gamut of tones from vintage to modern. Question is, how on Earth do you choose one?
Step this way. Enjoy the video!

Interesting bits and go to sections…
0:00 Intro and welcome
0:20 The quick and easy answer
2:15 Broad feature overview
9:31 Today’s amps
10:00 RE-202 - Tape
16:52 RE-202 or DD-500 Tape mode?
22:25 SDE-3000D - 80s Digital
35:15 SDE-3000D or DD-500 Dual mode?
43:45 DM-101 - Analogue
50:19 DM-101 or DD-500 Analog Mode?
56:00 Thoughts on user interfaces
57:08 Thoughts so far
58:40 Thoughts on presets
1:00:00 More from the DD-500
1:01:45 Final thoughts
1:04:02 Which one would you have?

Pedals & Stuff used in this show
If you use these links to buy stuff - any stuff – we receive a (very) small cut.

• TheGigRig Three2One
• Sonic Research ST-200 Turbo Tuner
• Browne Amplification Protein Dual
• Boss DM-101 Delay Machine
• Boss RE-202 Space Echo
• Boss SDE-3000D Dual Digital Delay
• Boss DD-500 Digital Delay
• TheGigRig G3

Guitars in today’s show
• PRS Myles Kennedy Signature Model - no specific video

Amps used in today’s show
• Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb (completely standard, regular reissue model)
• Tone King Imperial MkII with 112 cabinet (standard speaker)

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[scottcurry]

It’s not boring! These deep dive shows are excellent especially for delay junkies like me! I look forward to this show every week.

[clydebillingsworth]

I'm only half way through but this is one of the best episodes TPS has put out in a while. Awesome content and I'm tempted to buy them all

[spiltmilk]

Definitely not boring. Videos like this help us overcome the kind of superlative "what's the best delay?" thinking and instead sort out the workflows that help us make music.

[hulkslayer]

Absolutely LOVE that you not only did ✔️ and ❌️, but included a double check for ones that go beyond the normal feature 😊

[babaupede]

The DM101 became an almost "always on" pedal in my rig. It can totally be a base sound for many. Other delays, digital and analog (like El Capstain, DMM, or the delays in the HX stomp) are added on top when a big spacious sound is needed… But the DM101 is so good at creating a certain type of creamy, natural, organic vibe on its own (especially in stereo) that it's almost impossible to switch it off. It's addictive.

[StaffyLee]

I've had a DD500 on my board for around 6 years now, so it's great to see it getting some love.
There isn't saturation built into it for tape delays, but you can add a pedal to the feedback loop, so you can put a drive in there to do that job.
There isn't a reverb built in either, but many of the delays can get bloody close, so you can run an analog delay into that "reverb".
Seriously, you can get this thing to do a lower octave like on a drop pedal, create a tremolo effect, phasers, harmonies, and so much more. If you know how these effects are built you can create them in the 500 within the menus.
And the menus aren't too bad once you know where everything is. It seems like a lot, but it's really the same thing repeated for each effect with some small changes specific to each delay type.
I love it, and gig it regularly. And the funny thing is the two delay sounds I mostly use are analog and tape!

[AdamStachelek]

Hearing two great guitarists tweak delay pedals is my meditation jam. Really enjoy these videos - especially since I have the DD500 and you've taught me stuff about it!

[johnsawyer]

My hat is off to you, gents! That’s a lot of buttons and dials and settings! I’ve had my Collider for two years, and have yet to fully plumb the depths! Keep up the great work! We love y’all! 😊❤️👍

[pvolt]

Great to see some DD-500 love! It's an incredible unit and deserves more play all around

[Peternkirk]

the answer to the question about altering the delay time in analog mode on DD500 over 300ms - (asked at 51mins in) is if you adjust the 'stage' setting it can be increased up to 1200 ms

[neilbrophy]

The DD 500 has a preset manager that you can run on your laptop after connecting the pedal by USB. This shows you all the parameters on one screen which can be tweaked and edited. You can do all this in "real time" and play as you edit. This is far easier than bending over it and turning knobs and menu diving. You can also download presets that others have created and load them onto the pedal via the preset manager. If we really want to explore, with relative ease, all that the DD 500 has to offer, I think the preset manager is the way to go.

[coldacre]

very very cool episode! love the deep dives and BOSS is as good as it gets. thanks guys, loved this one. I'm an analogue delay guy, but that DD-500 really looks special.

[davedavem]

Dan - not for the first time, your playing today gave me goosebumps all over. I love it when you get to play a tape delay!!

[danottley]

Great show. All of those pedals sound wonderful. Really great summary showing where each pedal excels, and great to see how a multi function delay can achieve a character delay tone, or not. Thanks leg-ends!

[kennethlinton]

Dan's playing against/with the analogue delay is just fantastic, just fantastic!

[cazimfuzz]

I received my t-shirt. Thank you for that. It was beautifully packaged, with lots of attention to detail and love.

[alanale]

The 202 sounds like so many songs that I love. It's a must have!

[rokkrrofficial]

The summary in the beginning was great! Much appreciated!

[MayorMcCheese]

You guys make perfect content... simple as.... every video you make I can think of nothing to add.... you give me exactly what I'm looking for and I could be more grateful but I can't afford to be so I hope a simple thanks will suffice!

[zootallures]

Mick, the interlude music played during Dan’s menu diving had me in stitches. Bravo!
This vid just confirmed my comfort level with my Ibanez AD-9 for that analog short delay softness, Strymon DIG for that 12-bit ’80 dynamic and Keeley Caverns for that modulated tape feel. Great delays and not a menu to be found!!
You guys are the absolute best…..