DL-8 Delay/Looper
The DL-8 Delay/Looper combines a very
basic looper function with lots of super-cool
delay settings. The four rock-solid adjustable
knobs give you the ability to control the Level,
Repeats, delay Time, and six delay modes:
Reverse, Modulated, Analog, Slapback, LoFi,
and Tape. You also get four digital settings, a
Looper setting, and a Tails on/off switch feature.
You can have all these sounds in mono or
stereo. The tap tempo is easy to use when you
need to get in time with the music, and you can
get delay times ranging from 10 milliseconds
to 8 seconds. Overall, the layout is very easy to
use, and you’ll have fun making up wacky delay settings that you would probably never use in
an actual band situation. You’ll also get a kick
out of the Reverse mode. The Looper gives you
20 seconds of recording time, but unfortunately
there’s no way to save it and call it up later.
I had a ball dialing in rockabilly slapback,
chimey repeats for arpeggios, and my
take on Brian May-esque long echoes. The
Modulated setting sounded awesome. That
teeny bit of chorus really fattens up your
sound, and the repeats are crystal clear.
The Analog mode, which has a warmer, oldschool
quality, can go from 35 milliseconds
to 1 second and has that classic breakup
and degeneration. If you need classic tape
echo, this pedal does that too. My only issue
with these kinds of pedals is that the last
thing you want to do onstage is bend over
and change delay settings. Performers who
are into hardcore looping or need to change
delay settings at the drop of a hat might
consider getting a dedicated looper and
separate delay pedals.
Buy if...
you want a compact delay with
lots of features.
Skip if...
you prefer a one-trick-pony
delay pedal.
Rating...
