BOSS DC-2w Dimension C: Stereo Chorus Goodness!

The BOSS DC-2w Dimension C produces lush wise stereo chorus sounds. It's so good I want to use it on every piece of music! If you want chorusing in your signal chain, this one is worth considering.
#effectpedal #choruspedal #ambientguitar
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Equipment used in this video (in order of the signal chain):
PRS SE-277 Baritone Guitar amzn.to/2JnZ17x
Wampler Ego Compressor amzn.to/2PIdbF4
Strymon Riverside Overdrive
Morley Little Alligator Volume Pedal amzn.to/2M7RV8k
Strymon DIG Dual Digital Delay
BOSS DC-2w Dimension C Waza Craft
Avid Eleven Rack amzn.to/2PbeBqy
Focusrite Saffire Pro 40: amzn.to/2es9elp
Apple Logic Pro X
Chords of Orion - Ambient guitar music for the mind and heart.
Bill Vencil - Guitars
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[@That52TeleGuy]

I love this pedal and the fact that Boss did a reissue/Waza version. I never had opportunity to pickup the original and the vintage used ones were out of the question. Thanks for a great demo.

[@diamonddad3059]

Great job. I feel the same way about most choruses. I've tried a few and have sold them. This purple rain pedal, however, is another story. It's such a gorgeous, subtle, and useful tone. I think its an instant classic.

[@Mordred478]

I'm your age and it is so funny to me how the pedals of my teens years have made such a comeback. Even cosmetically, the new/old models are made to look like the originals which, to my chagrin, I am now old enough that I have to endure them being callled "vintage." By that logic, my hair is vintage, if I could only find it...

[@staceycarras3815]

It was a better time

[@Michaelgracon]

The old stuff is analog and was easy to modify if you wanted. Can't go wrong with that.

[@Glpdb]

XD

[@thedaver8]

Always love your gear reviews. I've seen several reviews on this pedal recently, and I think yours is the one of the absolute best!

[@GuitarAnthony]

If Boss decides to Waza up the old Slow Gear, you'll be in heaven.

[@chordsoforion]

Ooh. That would be interesting for sure.

[@staceycarras3815]

I really think they'll do it@@chordsoforion

[@versnellingspookie]

TC Electronic did a reissue of that though, that might come close for now

[@rjroth4869]

Love the sound of this pedal! Thanks for the detailed, descriptive review - very helpful!

[@chordsoforion]

You are welcome!

[@kevinmusso2397]

I really loved your review on this. And that guitar is really sweet sounding, especially with the light chorus

[@Gumdropnipples]

Great demonstration for a great pedal. Really glad this pedal got an update and a well deserved reissue.

[@BingleMcPingle]

I fell in love with my CH-1 pedal long ago, but I must say you have demonstrated some rather godlike tones with this DC-2w. It is breathtaking.

[@rlcubeshop8463]

Love the way you explain everything sr. So very well articulated, choosing your words very carefully every time you speak, with so much knowledge, it’s so easy to understand and very confortable listen to you. Abig thank you for that.

[@MrMongo321]

Thank you!

[@martinignaciodefeo9235]

Hope Boss launches the Ph1-r Phaser in the new Waza Craft package...

[@NotoriousV.I.C.]

I kinda ignored your channel for a while after hearing it described as "ambient music" (no real aversion, just didn't think I needed any insights into it) and after watching you play in this I instantly regret it. Fantastic playing, expert tone manipulation, and some insightful product review. You're an ace! Consider yourself subscribed!

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks very much!!

[@jamiedawe4314]

Amazing sounds Bill!

[@lightnintrucker]

Chorus is definitely integral to my sound. And I'm with you on heavy warbles. Too seasick soundin' fer my. I prefer light chorusin' too. And the Boss Dimension Cw is certainly on my wish list as is the Boss CE2w and the Neunaber Inspire. Hope ya implement this pedal in yer next song. As always, keep up the good work!

[@berlin-west4651]

Thank you very much

[@fernandes5986]

Very good review. Probably the best on YT for this pedal. Hated the dirty sounds but the clean sounds are superb.

[@dansoloskerzo]

DC-pline by King Crimson

[@chordsoforion]

:-)

[@jean-renepirlet]

Lol

[@_804_HVAC_]

Awesome pedal. Nice video. 🤙

[@shaman5150]

Es la bestia de los Chorus.

[@carpetcrawler79]

King Crimson really made your life ey? I love them too!

[@DrLeroyGreen]

Prince LOVED these!

[@HomeGroup-ly9uf]

Very good demo

[@charleshoernemann8661]

Great review, Bill! I still have an original Dimension C which I used A LOT during my studio sessions days in the 80s/90s for THAT Police/Andy Summers sound. Going straight into the desk also helped to get that crips Tele-tone, even if you used a humbucker guitar.

[@chordsoforion]

Very cool!

[@Topsy_Krett]

Love your channel. Been watching it for months and just now I realized that it's not actually "Chords of Onion". Orion is cool too though, hehe.

[@rickc2102]

The main reason it differs from chorus is because it's a different means of modulation from chorus. Colin from CSGuitars gives a good technical explanation of the circuit in his review of the pedal.

[@theliberation9061]

I'm in the same boat of really liking subtle choruses but not so much the heavy warbly ones, and this sounds really nice and pleasant. I like that it seems Boss finally decided to step up their game with some of the new pedals, after a long time of just riding on the "people will buy just because our brand is so big" wave. (Also, really digging the distorted + delay tones, instantly made me feel John Petrucci/Dream Theater, especially "Trial of Tears"

[@runabout76]

I need one of these to go along with my Digital Dimension DC-3...

[@HomeGroup-ly9uf]

Nice accurate demo. Now i know what the pedal is doing. I run a chorus pedal into a wet/dry rig otherwise my sound is lost behind the drummer. This may work for me...

[@newsongguitarcollaboration4614]

Since it is stereo in and out, I have a mono in stereo out chorus, I would put this after the chorus. I wonder if this is like the Ce's and the ch's chorus's. One channel is direct the other is modified?

[@masmachina803]

The combos option level this pedal up big time

[@chordsoforion]

Agreed!

[@liverawkstar]

Hell yea 6:51 sounding very Manual Gottsching “Inventions For Guitar” , with your chosen phrasing too (of course) I want this.

[@chordsoforion]

Gonna check out "inventions..." for sure. Thanks for the tip!!

[@michaelvolkel5714]

You are right. I had the great luck, seeing Göttsching live together with Klaus Schulze. I simply love the old german electronic musicians. Ashra (that's Manuel Göttsching), Tangerine dream, Popol Vuh, Kraftwerk etc. Ambient guitar music comes very close to this, so I really like your channel, Bill.

[@interstellardriftambientgu5834]

I bought the original dimension c when it was new in the 80s. It sounded great on my distortion especially. Used it on tour often. This sounds good on mode one as an always on widener.

[@enkiea8322]

Did you run a stereo rig? Curious what opinions the users of the original dc-2 have about running it in mono.

[@interstellardriftambientgu5834]

Enki Ea I had one amp/mono but it still sounded great

[@enkiea8322]

@@interstellardriftambientgu5834 Dope man, thanks for your input, I appreciate it!

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Agree Bill, (not a fan) of any Chorus with: Seasick-warble. I also own the F.T.T. Tri-Avatar Chorus = Phenomenal Pedal. I purchased this for my Acoustic Pedalboard. Love it. Great job Bill (as always).

[@flynn_22]

When is the next ambient guitar highlights

[@nunoharris]

Hi..is this chorus similar to the Gallien Krueger 250 ML amp ? Thanks

[@ElisandroDeLeon]

I was wondering when you were going to review this as soon as I heard they were re-releasing this

[@daren.t.housse2121]

Nice bill . Choirs sound nice not to fat and thick but a nice touch of width ....

[@tonepoet]

Stopped using chorus pedals because of the same 'warble' dislike, even in stereo. Only the Old TC Electronics did good stereo. I now get my chorus from my delay (Flashback) and reverb (Digitech Polara). This pedal demo sounds really nice, like the Roland Jazz Chorus. Very signature sound.

[@jamesoconnor2753]

I heard a little Steve Hillage in there, Bill!!!

[@RobertDorschel]

You doing Discipline in the first 10 or 20 seconds there, made me snap-to-attention. Haha. Openly showing your colors, Bill

[@RobertDorschel]

Also, the pedal detailed review was nice. Not many reviews/showoffs on this pedal with meaning.

[@avpostbox]

Thanks! I am wondering , how close TC Electronic 3rd Dimension Chorus comes to Boss DC-2W (TC claims their chorus is made after Boss pedal)?

[@avpostbox]

Very true about stereo thing... Actually meanwhile I found a video called "3rd Dimension vs Dimension C (In Stereo)"... Someone has compared these already... Well... there is something similar, I guess...

[@christopherrusch]

how come this pedal has stereo in/out but the waza craft ce-2 does not?

[@christopherrusch]

i’ve come here from the future to say that it’s because boss hates us

[@too--late]

Thank you for this video. I have a question. When both inputs AND both outputs are used at the same time, are the A and B signals mixed in the pedal, or are they processed separately and do they come out separately ? I ask this question for one reason : the Boss Super Octave OC-3 has two outputs to separate the signal with the octave and the signal without the octave. So if I plug the two outputs of a Super Octave OC-3 into the two inputs of Dimension C, will my two signals (with and without octave) remain separate, or will they come out mixed by the Dimension C ? Thank you for the info.

[@eddievhfan1984]

Based on what I know about the signal paths of the -D and the -C models (and assuming Waza modeled both of them with max fidelity), the standard -C mode will mix both inputs to mono (if not just use only the A channel), and the -D mode (SDD-320) will process each stereo channel independently.

[@ppilasiewiczz]

First of all, thank you for beautiful music and great reviews. Every time you touches the guitar, the sound and atmosphere is amazing :) If I may ask, which chorus do you prefer: CE-2w or DC-2w? All the best! 💙🎶🙌🏽

[@chordsoforion]

I have never used or even seen a CE-2w in person, so really can't say. That being said, I suspect maybe the DC, as I normally like very light chorusing.

[@danieljester7752]

well what if you just use a small clone or something that can tweak the tones along side of this pedal with a killer base?,,,will it kill or negatively affect the sound?

[@Anonymous.android]

I have this, I only use one setting. But man is it a nice setting

[@gngng5626]

I think I found the original source for my enjoyment of ambient dynamic space. All those Warner Brother cartoons. Classical music being pushed on childrens minds, wasn't such a bad thing.

[@ericbittner1235]

Very cool sounding pedal. It’s kind of like a Roland Jazz Chorus amp in a pedal. The added “spaciousness” added is really noticeable when you engage/disengage the pedal while the guitar sound is still going.

[@chordsoforion]

I think that is a good analogy!

[@corporaterobotslave400]

Could you use this for vocals? I like to run my voice thru a slight distortion or compressor, reverb, delay, and e.q. but I'd really like a chorus in this chain, too. Will this work? tnx.

[@chordsoforion]

It should work, as long as you are OK with the lighter modulation effect.

[@corporaterobotslave400]

@@chordsoforion Very cool! Yeah it's what I'm looking for because most chorus pedals are too heavy on the effect. Peace.

[@TheMidgardViking]

Have you ever reviewed the Dreamscape pedal by TC Electronics? It has a Chorus similar to this as well as Flanger and Vibrato. I'd be interested to get your take on it. Nobody seems to test the pedal in stereo, but you always use stereo. Thanks!

[@jebusgod]

When is Game of Thrones back Sir Onion Knight

[@CERUSICUS666]

LOL

[@StevenMorris]

I kind of wish this had a wet only mode/mix knob for more complex setups. I also wish it wasn’t so pricey!

[@chordsoforion]

This is not a defense of the price, but I thought it was interesting when Mitch Gallagher (Sweetwater demo video) mentioned that he had a vintage '80s Dimension C with the price tag still on it. Was over $200 way back then. Guess it's always been on the pricier side.

[@wakjob961]

If I remember right... Pushing down NO buttons sounded pretty cool too.

[@anoniconoclast2030]

The rate and depth don't actually change. It's the mix that changes.

[@funk8669]

Dimension C and Dimension D---the Kings of Choruses!

[@wakjob961]

eh?...Dytronics cs5!!!

[@blave549]

I had an SDD-320 way back in the day (picked it up for $225 new at K&K Music in San Jose in about 1983), and until last week I had a Dimension C pedal. For years I just left the effect on (position 1 or 2) and ran stereo guitar amps. I'm thinking about doing that again; my biggest question about the DC-2w is -- is it quieter than the DC-2? I found the latter to be a little noisy

[@chordsoforion]

I don't know how it compares to the old model, however, the DC-2w is very quiet.

[@xaviercarrabba8711]

can someone please help me, what does it mean by input a (mono) and input b im so confused

[@chordsoforion]

If you want to plug in a stereo instrument (say a keyboard), use inputs A+B. If you want to plug in a mono instrument (electric guitar), use input A only.

[@xaviercarrabba8711]

@@chordsoforion does input A sound worse then input B though? Do you recommend this pedal for guitar?? i have a vox ac30 and am very new to pedals, i don't know what im doing. lastly, i have a driver and a reverb pedal, will this pedal sound good with those

[@bitspacemusic]

"I never meant to cause you any sorrow I never meant to cause you any pain"

[@asharpbflat7179]

YES!!!!😍

[@jdjk7]

It's a bit pricey, but I'm looking to try the Fromel Electronics Seraph Deluxe. It's functionally a DC-2 clone with several extra goodies that might justify the extra price over a DC-2/DC-2w.

[@Diax1324]

Do you notice any clipping when boosting it? I really need to know. The original had this problem. If you had a clean boost type of pedal you could test this properly!

[@enkiea8322]

Nice tip. I'm heavily in the market for an original and I run an 'always on' boost near the top of my chain.

[@cmath8577]

Diax1324 just a tip...you could always put your booster after the DC-2. I have an original but never had a problem putting boosters before it but I was not slamming it too much gain...just a TS-9 for solos.

[@cmath8577]

Do not be fooled kids.. The old Dimension D Rack unit was a much more subtle and softer and darker effect vs what this new pedal is offering in the “D”mode”....not to be confused with Depeche Mode.. I’ve compared the pedal to the rack unit side by side and the “ C” new and old is way more pronounced than the old “D”

[@RichLunaMusic]

Dimension Distortion sounds almost like a Bit Crusher.

[@alexthorfinnart2937]

I've been itching to get mine for weeks. I put in a preorder and I'm still waiting for it to be shipped. Well worth the wait I presume. I play through a huge Matamp and Orange wet/dry/wet amp setup and I just think the stereo field spacing on this will be amazing. Not to mention the minimal churning sound of the modulation which is also a plus. I currently own the CE-2waza and while I do enjoy the stereo sound, the modulation noise between my amps is a hard pill to swallow.

[@sealteam608]

Did I hear you say out of sight... I think that's really groovy

[@chordsoforion]

I don’t know. Have to go back and listen!

[@nnamhor]

Bill, it sounds like whatever mic you use for your vocal audio is live throughout the demos. It picks up pick noise and the dry acoustic sound of your guitar. In the case of a chorusing effect pedal demo it’s more noticeable as having more dry guitar sound makes the chorusing effect seem less robust. Am I right about the audio tracks in your video(s)? If so have you considered killing all the audio except tracks going thru amp modeler when you play?

[@chordsoforion]

I always put a side chain compressor on the voiceover mic, which reduces its gain by about 30dB while the guitar is playing. You may hear some pick attack at the start of a phrase, but within 5ms the volume is squashed pretty low.

[@nnamhor]

Thanks for the educational explanation. I greatly enjoy your channel. I don’t play ambient style music in my own guitar playing but I find I learn I lot from your videos about how to use effects musically beyond the way I would do so in my own music. Definitely expands my mind and ear. Thank you.

[@markedwards7721]

button 3 and 4 together is the best. Steve Stevens/Billy Idol tone.

[@johnnymegabyte]

End of the chain? This pedal would sit well in front of a stereo delay, going into 2 amps.

[@chordsoforion]

Agreed that it is not only good for the end of the chain.

[@basildog007]

Ok but what dimension are WE in?? I'm freaking out...

[@lomoholga]

You have a positive review of the Aeon infinite sustainer! After that, your opinion is questionable. Dimension C is awesome.

[@chordsoforion]

I agree. I love the Dimension C.

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

Unfortunately it clips with distortion... I can hear a fizzy harsh kind of distortion that disappeared when he turned off the chorus.

[@mikekavalerchik5226]

You can find a used Boss's Chorus Ensemble for under 100 bucks. It basically does the same thing, even better. Just saving. Have a great day

[@evanpauls3078]

Though I like the ensemble, they are totally different animals. Though I like the ensemble in mono and stereo, the Dc2w is totally different in stereo. It doesn't output a wet/dry in stereo like most chorus pedals. Instead, it puts the wet signal out of phase in stereo creating a much more lush and spacious sound. When I run it in stereo, you can literally hear how much it widens the sound and projects a somewhat almost flanger sound as opposed to the typical wet/dry chorus sound you'd get from any other stereo boss chorus pedals.

[@mattgilbert7347]

With distortion it's purple gain, purple gain. I only want to hear you playing with the purple gain..

[@cmck1777]

Chorus before drive every time.

[@chordsoforion]

Distorting a chorus tone can be cool for sure, however, you lose the ability to run it in stereo. This to me is one of the main appeals of the DC-2w - its gorgeous stereo image.

[@cmck1777]

@@chordsoforion Hmm. Interesting! I would run a stereo chorus to two different amps and utilise their internal gain. Does this cancel out some of the effects of stereo?

[@chordsoforion]

Oh. Gotcha. So you would preserve the stereo image. In that case, the DC-2w might sound good, again, as long as you are OK with distorted chorus tones.

[@cmck1777]

@@chordsoforion I much prefer the subtlety that gives though I understand it's both a very personal preference and counter-intuitive (who in their right mind wants to distort a signal that is a blend of an original - or probably buffered - signal and tremolo signal!). To my - very flawed - ears, it sounds closer to the usual overdubbing of tracks on 90's records. Thank you for your response and clarification though!

[@cmck1777]

And all your amazing videos and music as well! So inspiring!

[@the5chord]

“I’m not going to tell you what delay it is”... it’s a DIG

[@chordsoforion]

You peeked!!!! ;)

[@localtechnique]

My guess was MS-70CDR :)

[@Haciendamann]

Unfortunately to my ears the compressor kills everything soundwise. That way I cannot compare properly.

[@paulsantamaria2605]

You should do these videos with no distortion whatsoever when in a clean mode and no compression as well. Just sayin'.

[@simonbe]

Bob Ross :D

[@mrz80]

It's all way too subtle for me. I really don't hear much difference between any of the modes, except maybe selection 4 in each case. And it sounded more like a very mild phase shifter rather than, say, one of Boss' own chorus pedals. Combining modes 3 and 4 came closest to doing it for me.

[@Quicksilver_Cookie]

Well, that's because dimension C isn't really a chorus. It is a chorus, but also a little more. Hence why it's not really a chorus pedal. It's not a phaser pedal. It's just it's own modulation combo.

[@abiisomad2863]

John petrucci

[@eleanmendoza]

$229 for this pedal!? WTF Boss? Boss is charging some ridiculous prices for the Waza pedals. For the record, it's Mr. Chords of Orion that makes this pedal sound amazing. As for quality chorus, the detune in the Whammy still sounds better.

[@Elhardt]

When digital multi effects units came out, be they rack mount or floor boards, I would think that this continual obsession with individual pedals would have mostly gone away, but no. Instead of buying one do-it-all piece of gear, people instead keep buying standard effects piiecemeal. I have the Roland Dimension D algorithm in at least two of my multi effects units (Boss SX-700 and VF-1) and I didn't buy them for that. It's like I'm getting Dimension D's for free. The Dimension D algorithm is also available today in products from other manufacturers too.

[@neonether]

Handmade in Japan, jack.

[@rachelandryan]

​@@Elhardt It's mostly analogue

[@donramsay169]

Although no money changes hands,do you send them back after review! Of course not. So a $220-350 product gets a shining 10 minute review with 20 minutes sproduction time equates to $440-700 per hour (excluding u tube revenue ). Hardly impartial.the zoom (which you pay for) "review" was largely given over to tc (which you don't ) with an obvious outcome. Before we get into a sour grapes screen, I have owned most of the equipment (new & old) bill talks about on his chanel , including the roland rack mount dimension d. all had good & bad points .there is nothing wrong with zoom gear. Especially for people "starting out" .don't believe the hype. Sorry for the rant.

[@chordsoforion]

Didn't you mention in your last comment that you had unsubscribed? Life is not worth festering over something / someone you don't like or are upset with. In any case, you are correct - I am not impartial on any of my videos. I have an opinion and distinct preferences which definitely color everything I do. And I love my Zoom H4N and H2!

[@donramsay169]

@@chordsoforion bill I am not festering or disliking you. I've watched your videos for 3 years. We seem to have travelled a similar musical path . Mine started in 1973 with no pussyfooting (fripp /eno) with equipment you had to hand or could modify for the porpoises required. These days that stuff is available of the shelf. You are in a position to help less experienced people to make choices based on fact NOT opinion ,monetary gain or elitism . sorry if I got this wrong but l'm entitled to my opinion as well.PS this only the 3rd reply I've ever made on the Internet. No hard feelings on my part.don

[@chordsoforion]

No - you don't have it wrong at all. You are totally entitled to your opinion and perspective, and I very much respect that.

[@revolstar]

So there you have it folks: - a $220 chorus pedal with 4 presets in it = GOODNESS, NO DOWNSIDES! - a $60 versatile modulation and delay modelling pedal with nearly limitless tonal possibilities = IT'S CRAP, I WON'T EVEN REVIEW IT AND I DON'T RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE!!!ONE!!1!

[@chordsoforion]

Whoa. That's a lot of emotional energy spent on some old fart's opinion of 2 hunks of plastic and metal.

[@revolstar]

@@chordsoforion More like some old fart making pretty influential gear review videos ;)

[@television321man]

Given the way you can switch between dimension c and d modes and then freely combine any settings, it becomes 20 possible combinations between the two modes.

[@peterjessop1878]

Sorry but the Dimension C/D is pretty unique in the way it works. The Line 6 M5 has a model of it but it lacks clarity compared to the analog version. I know I have both. This truly is a brilliant pedal. A cheap modelling pedal is great also for its flexibility especially if you are in a budget but it cannot compete with this in terms of build quality or sound

[@JamesMcCutcheon]

298 to 398 USD is to much for this cheap pedal.

[@chordsoforion]

Are you referring to the cost of the pedal in another country? It's about $229 from all the major retailers in the USA at this point. But - if it does not provide the value you are looking for, then perhaps it is still not worth it for you.

[@Elhardt]

I just picked up a used Boss VF-1 multi effects unit on ebay for $100 that has the Dimension D algorithm in it, plus tons of other effects too. The old Boss SX-700 multi effects unit also has it. I'm sure it's in modern boss products too. Line 6 has it in some of their stuff. One doesn't need to buy some over-priced individual Boss pedal to get that effect.

[@almightyEsquilax]

This runs on two analog bbd chips, not an algorithm. Your digital recreations of it might be "close enough" for you, but they're not exactly the same thing.