Overview The DD-3 is a 12-bit digital delay with analog feedback and mixing stage. What this means is that everything in the pedal is analog, except the part that produces the actual delay. The analog signal is split, and a portion of it is sent to the delay chip the rest ends up at the output stage, where it is joined with the delay signal. In the delay chip, the signal is slightly crudely converted into digital form 12 bits is not quite CD-quality, folks and delayed. The delay chip then spits out an analog signal delayed, of course , and a portion of that signal is sent back into the delay again this is controlled by the feedback knob. So, for each pass the signal makes, it gets dirtier and dirtier, due to the repeated conversion process. The Boss DD-3 has been around for quite some time now, and people are starting to realize that it has changed somewhat over the years. Boss recognizes two different versions — the DD-3 and DD-3 A — a definition that corresponds with a major change in the circuit design, where the schematic changed drastically. DD-2 Boss released this pedal in 1983, and to say that it caused a stir is an understatement. In 1986, the price on the digital delay chip used in both the DD-2 and DSD-2 dropped dramatically, which meant that compact digital delays might now be affordable too. DD-3 version 1 So the DD-3 was born. The mode selector was mounted separately from the other three pots which were soldered together to a small circuit board. This means that if you find a DD-3 that has a wobbly mode selector while the other pots are screwed down tight, it is definitely a version 1 pedal. If you open it up, you will find a huge delay chip that covers the entire width of the circuit board, along with a maze of wires connecting the pots and various points on the pcb. They completely redesigned the circuit board, to minimize the number of wires needed to be hand-soldered, and based the delay circuit around a completely new main delay chip. This new circuit was named DD-3 A by Boss. When you open one of these pedals up, the circuit is easily recognized by the square delay chip that is soldered to the back of the circuit board. The plastic shield that is there to protect the soldering back side from shorting out on the bottom plate is cut out, to let the chip touch the bottom plate. The small circuit board for the pots was extended to accomodate the mode selector as well, spanning the width of the box. At a later point in time, Boss moved the production to Taiwan, obviously changing the label as well. DD-3 version 3 This is the current version, and it is once again quite different from the earlier models. The layout is drastically different from the earlier versions. The circuit board is now double-sided and many components are the SMT micro-size type. This makes construction far easier and faster. However, with a couple of mods to take the treble edge off the delay sound, the version 3 DD-3 can sound pretty nice indeed. Also, thanks to Brian Magill for the pcb photo! You may use the information on this website as you please, but do not reproduce or republish the content anywhere else. Please note that many of the featured images visible in category view were sourced off the internet. Those are obviously not my copyrighted material, and while I have tried to mostly use official product images, some may be from other sources. If you spot one that is yours and want to be credited or want me to take it down, contact me and I will sort it out.
