Boss DM-101, analog BBD delay machine pedal with digital control

Boss DM-101 is a new analog delay pedal powered by eight CPU-controlled BBD chips and with all the advantages of digital pedals.

Delays come in many forms. Analog with BBDs or fully digital with crazy sound design options. The range from ambient, granular, to spectral delay processors goes far beyond what classic delays can do.

Boss, a Roland company, has gone the classic way with analog and BBD with the new mighty DM-101 delay machine pedal.

Boss DM-101 Delay Machine

The design of the new DM-101 looks familiar to us. Yes, it’s the same shape as the Boss RE-202 Space Echo Delay/Reverb. The case was used again here. But the content is different.

The core of the “Delay Machine” consists of eight BBD chips, a technology that is often used to make analog delays. Controlling eight BBD chips at the same time is not easy work. So Boss developed a CPU that not only is the control hun but also pushes them further. The result is 12 creative delay modes

• classic – traditional warm analog delay sound with up to 1200ms of delay time plus controllable modulation
• vintage – retro analog delay sound inspired by the iconic BOSS DM-2 Delay pedal with modulation
• modern – super clear analog delay sound with a distinctive high-end tone and up to 840 ms of delay time plus modulation.
• multi-head – emulates a multi-head tape delay while imparting a uniquely analog BBD sound character with 10 different head combinations.
• non-linear – a unique effect that produces consecutive short delays (35–190 ms) that gradually increase in volume
• ambiance – simulates a small space with the option to change the size and early reflections
• reflect – a stereo delay sound that produces a rever-style effect with adjustable pre-delay.
• doubling + delay – a stereo effect that combines a doubled sound with a longer delay
• wide – a stereo delay with offset left/right delay times for an expansive sound
• dual mod – a stereo delay with different modulation phase settings on the left and right outputs
• pan – a tapped stereo delay with different delay times distributed across the sound field
• pattern – stereo delay with different rhythmic patterns

Analog Sound Meets Digital Control

Boss DM-101 has a completely analog signal path and can be used as a mono-to-mono or mono-to-stereo delay pedal. Too bad that it only has a mono input again. This is where synthesizer players are again at a disadvantage as most synths have stereo outputs.

The pedal has a full analog sound but benefits from the advantages of digital pedals. So you get 127 user presets for capturing your creations, tap tempo, selectable carryover, MIDI control via mini-TRS, and more.

It is operated via a very classic and clear user interface. You get controls for the modulation rate, depth, variation, delay time, intensity, and volume. In the center, you get a knob for selecting the delay mode. Then, it also hosts three foot switches for turning the pedal ON/OFF, memory, and tap. There are also pressure switches for the memory slot and tap division.

Connection side, you get a mono input, stereo output on two 6.3mm sockets, expression pedal input, MIDI input and output on mini-TRS, a USB port, and a DC in. Wait is that a micro USB socket? How dare you BOSS?

In 2023 every developer should know that micro USB is the worst USB port ever made. Or does micro-USB conduct analog sound better?

First Impression

At first glance an exciting analog delay, especially for guitarists. I think less so for synthesizers. Unless you need an analog delay with lots of features on your mono synth. The pedal is on the list to test.

Boss DM-101 Delay Machine is available soon for $499,99/ 519€.

More information here: Boss 

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