Battle of the Delay Pedal Titans! - Universal Audio UAFX Vs Strymon

[@2020twayne]

You’ve got to use the secondary functions to get rid of all the flutter, secondary functions also include the bias, and low pass filter, as well as adding a spring reverb if desired. You can get the El Capistan to sound really clean. I feel it’s one of the greatest delays ever created.

[@gair1944]

Yes, I completely agree with this. The El Capistan is unrivaled.

[@JonManness]

I agree. El Cap has all the character you could want in a tape pedal.

[@jessieplaysmusic8530]

What about the volunte? I feel like for ambient stuff that pedal is better then both.

[@-Atmos1]

Thanks I'll check El Capistan out .

[@Topsy_Krett]

mm... it's not really Flutter. But you are correct in that the secondary function on the W&F knob controls Tape Crinkle, which is what the guys were wanting to be rid of in the video. I never cared much for that crinkle effect myself, but the wow/flutter is a lovely modulation effect in the El Cap & Timeline.

[@chris.dm8372]

It's been 5 years since I started playing the guitar. I progressed more the first 2 years than the last 3 when I fell in love with pedals

[@shckltnebay]

Thats normal its a plateau you reach and its harder to get over the next one

[@garyloader6605]

We definitely need an Analogue delay blindfold shootout.

[@JareddarArt]

Once again Pete takes two beautiful chords, through a delay and just adds that level of wow that doesn't spoil the mood. Dang, a great musician.

[@YeatzeeGuitar]

Ya the El Cap's secondary settings are not factory default. The tape krinkle sounds like it's set real high. Should have reset the pedal, and you really should both have known it's got tons of secondary functions, it's only been out for like a decade lol.

[@meowanderson2189]

was gonna say the same thing, not a clean setting there

[@cabbycabby1770]

Pete: Charming banter.. Lee: Shh!! SELL THE PRODUCT!

[@koonsickgreen6272]

Always hahahahahah

[@thomasbarrasso6099]

I have three delays on the board thanks to my G2. Belle Epoch Deluxe, Strymon DIG, and Strymon Volante. Fantastic. I’d love more, but who wouldn’t.

[@robinho1978.]

Well, I’m selling my delays and buying the UA....exactly what I’ve been looking for! Brilliant playing as always from Pete

[@sundrenched6248]

I'm all set for delays, but it's a great package, with a great interface. Plus in time they'll release plug-ins for other iconic delays. Those probably won't be free, but that's still a lot better than having to buy an entire new pedal. As of now, it has an Echoplex, Deluxe Memory Man, and TC Electronic TC-2290 if I'm not mistaken, but there's several more they could do, like an Echorec drum delay, Roland RE-201, Ibanez/Maxon AD-230, Korg SDD-3000, Boss DD-2, etc.

[@waynebridger4998]

I use dual delays most of the time Dotted 8 into a quarter note based upon song tempo

[@GabiOprea]

The playing is just fenomenal! Great job!

[@andertons]

Glad you enjoyed the playing Filip. Let us know which delay was your favourite!

[@GabiOprea]

@@andertons All are great in my opinion... It depends for what you want to use it... I am going with the pink one

[@pjuliano9000]

Yes, people have used to delays at once. Alex Lifeson used to sit on the song limelight at the end of the guitar solo.

[@Loudmouth69]

I'll just hang on to my Meris Polymoon - Thank you very much :)

[@KoaCharvel]

I am a simple musician, I see an Andertons video, I watch, like, and comment.

[@nicolasmasset]

On the strymon you can hear the usual strymon sound that it does to the dry sound (not the repeats), that slight compression, slight flattening and coloring of the sound. The starlight has a lot more purity and headroom, impressive! The top end is beautiful, whereas all the strymons colour it.

[@GeauxSaints121]

I hear that sound too and it’s called The Strymon Sheen. Their pedals are awesome but I ended up selling them because of it.

[@PeterGuitarSound]

I loved the El Capistan, but got reid of it because of that. Volante still have it, but REALLY less.

[@alanw559]

I’ve just bought a Starlight and just getting inti it. I may be mistaken but from what I’ve read, one factor regarding the clean top could be an option In the mobile app, there’s a ‘preamp coloration’ toggle which lets you choose whether the ‘dry’ signal is routed through the chosen effect preamp or not. Hence if that option is off the dry signal may be less modified than it would? Dunno, just a SWAG but I can kid myself I understand! Next, try it out …

[@JimMetzendorf]

I think the UA pedal represents a better value because you get all three types of delay in one device (plus a fourth algorithm, the Cooper Time Cube, when you register). While there are some differences in the modeling between Strymon and UA, I wouldn't say that one is definitively "better" sounding than the other based on this video. They are both outstanding on their own and in direct comparison. Perhaps one brand is providing more accurate emulation of the original hardware than the other, but that's beyond the scope of this video and would take tremendous effort to conduct a comparison test. If anything, it reinforces how good Strymon's engineers are and continue to be. Their flagship large form factor pedals have functionality and a place in the market that isn't fulfilled by what UA has released so far. I can't help but think that a pedalboard consisting of the drive pedal(s) of a player's choosing followed by the UA Golden Reverberator, Astra, Starlight, and then Strymon's Iridium for amp/cab simulation would be an astonishingly great ampless recording and performance setup. An interesting aspect of UA's entry into the pedal market is the use of a quad-core ARM architecture. I own two of their audio interfaces and would not be at all surprised if they transition away from SHARC processors for their next-generation products.

[@user-zv7lm8uk7h]

All of Strymons engineers have left the company (except Pete Celi). There is a new engineer intern there (who sucks) who made the "cloudbur$t cash grab reverb pedal), and a sould patch wearing salesguy. Stymon company is almost dead now. They get money by releasing black painted version of their pedal and a $200 plugin... the people who left made companies like Meris.

[@zaqintosh]

I would go with the UAD because I like owning things most people don’t have

[@pianoworld89]

Did you set the secondary functions on the El Cap to "normal"?

[@isaacwalker9240]

Yep the tape crinkle is definitely turned way up and apparently they didn't know about that feature when doing the demo

[@bleeknoir]

“Somebody is unlikely to buy all three of these” (strymon delays). I have two of them, and genuinely want the third haha.

[@nuvaco5]

For shure!!! Me too :)

[@weschilton]

And dont forget the beautiful Volante!

[@cchavez248]

@@weschilton Volante, oh oh, cantare, oh oh oh oh! Uhhhhh, sorry, that's volare! :)

[@skadesignetcetera]

Same here !😄

[@chrisggoodwin777]

Is it bad that I watched this video solely because of that gorgeous guitar which was seen in the thumbnail? 😉 Those are all cool pedals for sure!

[@stanislavmigra]

Happen to me all the time.

[@bertagriese8282]

During the comparison with with the El Cap I think you forgot to check the secondary buttons, the pedal can do without flutter

[@McEnroe911]

Damn, the UA sounds great.

[@eanroad]

Great vid! I know alot of hard work, $$$, and R&D went into the UA pedals. However, given the market, I believe they priced them a bit too high. $300 would have been more enticing. Cheers!

[@chris.dm8372]

You can’t ignore the market when you talk about price. This is the price of a great quality mutli effects pedal as long as stupid people put the price the market will always be stupid

[@rickthomas393]

It is now, in late 2023, possible to get the UA Starlight & Golden Reverberator new for $319. That sold me. Plus the sounds.

[@Markus050995]

You need to adjust the secondary functions of the el-Cap - there you kan turn of the tape crinkle (the thing you Call flytter) and also adjust bias to make it clearer and brighter :)

[@RS-pj2ts]

...and cut low end

[@punottedbumhucker3974]

Fact is, if you want a clean delay without any modulation you dont a tape echo in the first place...

[@benjaminfowler4513]

@@punottedbumhucker3974 that's not true, tape delay functioning properly should be really clean, it's only after it wears down that those "flaws" are introduced to the sound. Most all modern tape pedals have settings for both ends of the spectrum though as far as I know.

[@punottedbumhucker3974]

@@benjaminfowler4513 Tape Delay Pedals are trying to recreate the sound and behaviour of a real tape machine. These old analog machines never worked perfectly(I had a few). So I see no reason why you should use it as a very clean echo pedal, we have digital delays for that...

[@gair1944]

Another exceptionally helpful comparison! Superb musicianship Pete. You know how to let us hear what the delays are doing and you offer just enough of a chord, strum or single note runs to let us listen into the pedal. Nicely done. The UA is absolutely a pro piece of kit, but I am not hearing it as Strymon killer or complete game changer. I have an El Capistan and also a Blue Sky. Both superbly musical. I'm not letting go of my El Cap. If you go into Secondary functions, you can clean things up even more or even add a little reverb to the El Cap. I wanted to be blown away by the UA, but instead, I admire it, but don't feel like I need to hurry and get one.

[@simonshreddy3219]

When's the Joyo version coming out? lol

[@johnbuell8035]

I note that Pete managed to get a ‘ball bag’ in there without getting bleeped out. Edit: I just saw my own comment, having forgotten all about it - and I had to find the ‘ball bag’. It’s at 05:23

[@drdre4397]

I chose a carbon copy and a deco. I think I'd like a delay with easier access to dotted 1/8th delay than is availiable on the carbon copy deluxe but it's a great analog delay and the deco can do 10000 things. When I eventually get better with understanding delay and how I use it I'll likely replace the carbon copy.

[@cakenbolls442]

When will the next blindfold series drop???? I'm thirsty for some hot ass pedals

[@andyjm7122]

The determining factor with digital pedals trying to sound like analog delays is how well they manage overdriven sounds. Analog delays tend to blend much better with overdrive. I wish you had tested this here with the analog settings on each pedal.

[@isohenflowil]

the stuff about not being able to eliminate wow and flutter on the el capstan - sounds like they had some tape crinkle dialled in - it's a secondary function and you can switch it off completely if you need

[@jn-xd9qv]

they didn't change the el capistan's bias to get rid of the distortion/headroom either

[@fraserlundie9468]

For the dual mono to TRS stereo stuff Old Blood Noise have a box called the Split Meld that combines and splits out the cables for pretty cheap. So can put trs to dual mono and back again on another set of inputs

[@guylaforce4266]

To me the Strymons sound more shimmering. No right or wrong but it seems that you can’t remove it on Strymon but can add it on UAD.

[@forensicbass]

Been waiting for an El Cap and Starlight comparison! Great review guys. Have to say I'm still a Strymon fan, although the Starlight is impressive.

[@ilmisxx2]

That PRS is spectacular, so is it's owner

[@tonoselectricos]

Coming back to this in 2023.....I would love to see Fjord Fuzz Löke in contest

[@openup007]

The Starline wins... it’s a dig, el cap and brigadier in one. Plus dotted eight at the flip of a switch and blue tooth around corner. Plus-plus per Mr. Peat... USB-C!!!

[@ANI-ep2ct]

UA is in it's element when stereo setting. In the case of only emulation of tape delay, El cap is better. UA have more versatility.

[@wargo6263]

Starlight all day.

[@matzer8846]

Nice collection of top notch pedals and a good 1st look review! Thanks a lot for sharing.

[@pCeLobster]

Not quite a fair fight. Strymons have much deeper functionality that still feels like a natural extension of the effect. For example there is a whole world of flanging in the DIG that never gets talked about. It's not on a switch, you create it with the secondary delay. Incredible feature. El Cap has the looper.

[@ArvidNielsen]

For me it’s the UAD.

[@MrCandystop]

Guitarist of Evergrey, Henrik Danhage uses 2 and sometimes 3 delays and it sounds massive :)

[@JonManness]

Get El Cap if you want an awesome emulation of a Roland Space Echo, which includes a spring verb and a bonus looping feature. Starlight is awesome, too, but I think I prefer UA's reverb pedal over this delay.

[@georgehill6098]

Plenty of guitarists use multiple delays; Devin Townsend, Kevin Shields, Andy Summers, Buckethead, Rabea Massaad...

[@TalleyWacker1000]

There is something addictive about the Strymon's... for example I cannot live without my Mobius, it's killer. But, the Starlight offer's so much in a single pedal I had to buy one.

[@chris.dm8372]

You can live without the mobius guy dont’ be stupid

[@gammalpojk]

It seems like the strymon pedals has a slight high-mid/low-treble boost when engaged, regardless of it's settings. Is it a buffered signal? Different pre-amps most likely

[@pjuliano9000]

The Dig V2 is MIDI enabled … so it can be leveraged with presets that way

[@lance134679]

I think the Volante in single head mode would be a better comparison to the Starlight since it's the newest Strymon tape delay pedal.

[@Phil_Hayes]

Captain, the pedal addiction is real! Lol. However, I agree with you guys the is nice, but I’ll keep my strymon pedals. I believe the starlite would serve the a smaller rig well! Enjoyed the show.

[@therealone1288]

i got the dig and digitech obscura thats all you need, great pedals

[@scottsanders1960]

As usual, stellar playing by Pete! The pedals sound awesome, too.

[@aaronsmithey4044]

PRS and Strymon have a "thing" goin on I think. Awesome pairing.

[@proteusswarm7291]

Brigadier is so underrated.

[@SilverParatrooper]

Totally man, it’s a really great delay

[@guyute6386]

EBS makes pedal friendly Y Cable!

[@disco4535]

Are there any good delay pedals that don't cost as much as my amp?

[@Falk0209]

I'm just sitting here with my Boss DD3T "Nah, I'm good" xD

[@robinjgill]

Great playing guys. I've got a Timeline and a Capistan and they do way way more than I need. I actually got the Timeline to replace a guy on a synth who played loads of pads and ambience stuff. Timeline, Capistan and a volume pedal, you can't get more chill.

[@larrydj549]

Hey that's the guitar I found in my Taxi!

[@kentaylor8004]

The UA!

[@PaulIsbell]

I need help. Should I buy the UA Starlight or Boss DD-200? The Boss is cheaper, but I do love the UA as well.

[@hawedehre]

Sorry for the comment but shouldn't these delays be demoed in stereo to do them justice? Stereo has become the industry standard since the 60s and it allows you to use both ears individually for some great effect as you are sitting in the room. Some in the audience might even notice.

[@stuart_rose]

Thanks for the honest review, there's very little difference in the comparisons. I dig my UA interface and plugins but, given the price point and that the pedals are digital, I'd go for a Timeline over the Starlight any day. Actually, I'll stick with my Alexander Quadrant with 4 x delay types + presets, MIDI and expression control, in a single, pedalboard-friendly form factor. 👍

[@PolaOpposite]

I have a Stymon Big Sky and a Timeline I ordered months ago and still haven't taken them of their boxes, but I really like the way that DIG is sounding... 🤔 I don't have to eat this month anyway. I hope someone is working on that pedal vaccine.

[@ricksigurdson2016]

Great sound and playing. But brings up the question of value. Is the cost worth the increase in tone and function over lower cost but still quality sounding pedals? To much for my board.

[@diegopiedrasanta2713]

The secondary functions in El capistan were not adjusted. Sounds like it has some crinkle.

[@niallpadden]

There isn't enough difference. That said... what would life be without at least just finding out? Yep, it's all subjective blah! That's just my opinion! Please don't quit. I love it. Pedal 21 affliction.

[@blackmirror5559]

. TC Electronic Flashback, I'm good thanks ✌😎👌 .

[@Momentum88]

I think I would go strymon on here it's a hard choice though. I look forward too new and expanded UA pedals.

[@user-zv7lm8uk7h]

this comment aged poorly re: new ua pedals

[@adrianjems7443]

According the price range in my country. UAD same as strymon timeline, i will go to timeline .. many options, midi ,more switches .

[@nathanhyatt5869]

If all UAFX pedals are the same, I imagine you’ll be able to save and recall user and artist presets through the control app?

[@Notorious_9inch]

This is gonna be sick.

[@andertons]

It was a close comparison!

[@cchavez248]

21:05 Pete realizes he almost made a boo boo! LOL

[@rnestrella]

Blindfold delay pedals!! Sweet tones btw!

[@jessieplaysmusic8530]

3:36 empress echo system “hold my fookin beer”

[@cathalwhelehan]

I enjoyed this - all in all it was a pretty interesting comparison, but I didn't hear anything that would make me want to switch from my El Capistan. Would be really interested in seeing a similar shootout on reverbs with the UA Golden (which I'm *really* interested in getting) up against an RV500, an Empress and maybe even a curve ball with a "simple" Hall Of Fame 2.

[@steelheadplayer]

Which delay pedal ? , I'm not sure sure sure sure sure sure sure....

[@wimdewild9345]

yes, obviously people use more delays at the same time! stack yer delays!

[@Lorneplumber]

Before I watch it Dig ftw

[@Kjetil_MB]

Should´ve added a delay to «Andertons TV!!!» at the end there 😞

[@bradleyfurer7847]

I love the DIG

[@bertagriese8282]

I was waiting for a comparison with Strymon, so thanks - although I would have favoured the Volante. A remark to „use head phones“: no-one plays guitar though head phones, so if I need head phones to hear the differences, this differences are not relevant - are they?

[@Calle565]

It's because some people listen to it on Smartphone speakers and wonder why it sounds like crap. If you're listening on great speakers you're good!

[@Calle565]

And yeah, I'm playing my rig through a Walrus ASC 1 and Headphones.

[@timetobenotdo]

There’s secondary features on the el cap

[@AFinalForm]

I’ve never met a delay pedal I didn’t like but the 12-bit mode on the DIG is a bit special.

[@ronchorivera]

Confirmed - DD8 is the way to go! Was it windy in the room today?

[@rosieotis]

Funny, I got up off my ass to get my headphones before this started. Then, in the intro, “use headphones”. Perfect. I ❤️ Anderton’s. - From 🇺🇸

[@bradleyfurer7847]

Of course the main trick on the DiG is the double delay

[@Lorneplumber]

I often use the dig with one delay but in this context to not just show what the 2 delays sound like together is churlish

[@strplox0wn]

starlight sounds very thin to me, on all settings compared to strymon

[@kenmasters007]

Yes people do use two delays... and many people stack multiple strymons.. The timeline is amazing, but I understand it cannot replicate the other pedals 100%

[@MiguelLumberto]

In Monty Python voice: "If you've already got one..."

[@MarcCoteMusic]

Surely, Pete will eventually commission an upgraded (maybe triple!) OD pedal and call it the Great Dane. That has to happen, right?

[@mmg_golf]

I've learned a lot, thank you!

[@Lorneplumber]

I run 2 digs in series for more betterer

[@koonsickgreen6272]

I believe strymons turn the original a tad bit glassy.

[@mikemorrisonmusic]

Why didn’t they include the Volante?

[@jessieplaysmusic8530]

First thing I thought as well. They know the Volante would destroy both of these.

[@danjack-son4871]

I would have put this up against the Volante as well.

[@Ebusje]

Lessons learned, strymon sounds better to me, and the Dig has dual delay and a reverb setting. Buying the Dig.

[@Ebusje]

And the Dig costs € 300, the uafx € 400.

[@Calle565]

@@Ebusje But if you want a Tape Delay, a Bucket Brigade and a Digital Delay in a easy intuitive Layout you pay 400€ for the UA and over 1000€ for the Strymons.

[@Kaiyes_]

@@Calle565 agreed 100%. Thing is, if someone doesn't want the bucket brigade & tape delay then the dig is a killer pedal for having the dual delay plus low price. Still, uafx comes ahead

[@moose5206]

My favorite duo for all things pedals on KZbin!!! Plus, they’re fans of John Mayer!

[@theprisonier]

I use two delay in once. And more sometimes

[@alexjohnson4759]

belle epoch deluxe is the supreme