Create Ambient Guitar Drones with the Strymon DIG / TC Electonic Ditto X2 Looper (Tutorial)

[@freeelectron8261]

Nice ambient drone at the end. It has a mysterious searching quality to it.

[@OGbrundle]

"let's do it" dude looks so ripped. good man

[@musicguy8336]

lmao

[@Pyriscent]

Hahaha yes he does. I want to make my channel like this instead!

[@neilgroves3592]

LMAO>>>> kinda creepy but great....

[@goncaloferreira72]

Hello sir! I really enjoy your videos. I have a tendency to feel anxious a lot, throughout the day, so, when I get home, your videos always calm me down and make me appreciate life. I also play guitar, and I enjoy that you don't play one million notes... Just the right ones, with passion and love. All these people talk about your shoes and such... I like your shoes! You seem like a very positive, calm and humble man, someone for whom a lot of people should learn from. It was nice to see that you also like nature, just like me... I love going into the woods. So soothing and calm, makes me feel connected to myself and the wild life around me. Thank you for your videos!

[@chordsoforion]

And thanks to you for the kind words!!!

[@genepozniak]

I love the way you described CoO's not playing a million notes! Perfect metaphor, dude. :-)

[@robsgirl6465]

Gonçalo... Yeah... What you said! I second that!!!

[@robertmailloux3720]

What a wonderful time to be a guitarist!

[@chordsoforion]

Indeed!

[@genepozniak]

Yeah, I keep thinking I know it all about looping, but then this guy gets my learn on. Best how-to on any of his subjects so far. :-)

[@placer7412]

I love Bill's voice. He's very relaxing haha.

[@chordsoforion]

+Nathaniel Bauer Yep - I put people to sleep............................... ;)

[@LukeCorradine]

your reviews are excellent. Bought a DIG last week. Beautiful! Thanks!

[@chordsoforion]

Awesome! The DIG continues to be one of my absolute fav delays. So many gorgeous tones...

[@joby1konobi]

Thanks for another inspiring tutorial.Im going to change the position of my loop pedal and see what sonic possibilities arise.Nothing like tinkering with textures,

[@chordsoforion]

+joby1konobi Def worth playing around with signal chain positions to see what you like. Tinkering is good!!

[@Pyriscent]

Well he actually has the looper there so that he can change the delay of the loop. ANy effects you have before the loop will be "recorded" and anything AFTER the loop will change the loop harmlessly.

[@davidmanseau.therapeuteent6229]

Nice demonstration!! It gives me new ideas. Thanks 🙏🏼

[@VisualArt3D]

I don't know why, but you're one of the coolest dudes I've seen in a while!

[@chordsoforion]

+VisualArt3D Thank you!!!

[@VisualArt3D]

Chords Of Orion I have a question. My parents got me a Zoom G1Xon for Christmas and it's my first effect pedal in general. My favorite band is Pink Floyd and my favorite song Shine on you Crazy Diamond. Do you maybe know of any way I can create some Drones using my Zoom to solo over with? I don't have a lot of experience with effect pedals yet. But i wanna try to make the most out of the Zoom before buying more expensive stomp boxes. Here is a list of included effects in the link: www.zoom.co.jp/sites/default/files/products/downloads/pdfs/E_G1on_G1Xon_FX-list.pdf Would really appreciate your help! Thanks in advance! All the best, Raphael

[@chordsoforion]

Wow. There are a lot of effect options in that unit! I would suggest creating a patch where you first get an non-effected clean tone with some compressor (for clean sustain). After you get something you like, then begin to explore the modulation, delay and reverb options. I see that some of the delay settings go up to 4 seconds, so you might be able to emulate a "frippertronics" type of patch with the longer delay and a lot of repeats. Here's a tutorial I put together on the topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpnOiYF5osinftk. Hope this helps!

[@VisualArt3D]

Just watched the tutorial. I will definitely try that out! Thank you so much for your help! Keep it going!

[@tommynoisemusic]

Very insightful vid, the DIG sounds amazing and I've always wanted one of those Holdsworth "fatboys" they play and sound really nice. Thanks for the demo!

[@ronshaw80]

Nice! I just stumbled across your videos. I am a big fan of ambient music ever since discovering Brian Eno's Music for Airports way back in the late 70's. I look forward to checking out more of your stuff!

[@chordsoforion]

+Ron Shaw I love Music for Airports! Thanks so much for checking in, and looking forward to "seeing you around"!

[@mazklassa9338]

this guy is the Bob Ross of ambient guitar techniques

[@neuromonkey]

Happy little notes...

[@alabastersmidge4692]

Maz Klassa I agree!

[@BenA718]

Maz Klassa Ha, nailed it!

[@jameshendee4489]

LOL... you beat me to it... haha

[@neilgroves3592]

Happy little drones.....

[@michaelguida6964]

Thank you Bill I don't think there was one utterance of the term cool in this one . Really enjoy what you do and appreciate your listening to the comments

[@chordsoforion]

Hell Michael - I saw your other comments about my use of the word "cool". That word is baked into my very psyche so you must expect to hear it a good bit in my videos. I will however, take your feedback and attempt to dial it back. :-) Glad you are enjoying the comment!

[@locksh]

Love your videos man. Gotta get me some DIG with the next paycheck.

[@chordsoforion]

+locksh It's a lot of value for the money, for sure!

[@longships9373]

I have the TCX Ditto. If you like loopers it is the best there is. Such a good little unit.

[@riskyrecords1403]

Longships Yeah, TC do the best budget pedals

[@BenA718]

Inspiring! Great video!

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks!

[@Lets-Drone-With-Bone]

I absolutely love your videos, I love guitar played in this way. I'm an electronic mucisian myself, I love synthesiser and droney atmospheric sounds, could listen to this forever. I have not got a clue how to play guitar but i would love one just so I could learn to make these amazing sounds. keep up the great videos :-)

[@Pharrell700]

great! nice demo rewiew. thanx

[@chordsoforion]

You're welcome and glad you liked the vid!

[@jamesr6497]

Actually some of these drones that Bill just created sound like effects I have heard in beginning and ending credit soundtracks to some horror movies. I know that isn't exactly what he was going for... however just the same these drone tones might be useful for other styles of musical projects besides ambient. They sure are interesting to be sure; as are these pedals. Very informative tutorial.

[@gabrielraphaelofficial]

Peace brotha, I'm sure you know by now that Logic allows you to create channel strips, including Buses, where you can send your guitar signal to a number of bus channels where you can lay out verbs, delays etc., i was doing everything you are until i started working in studios and learned that you can take total control of your sound this way.. I do understand that the pedals and all are a living part of this music style, just saying, for producing this music i would go about it with using multiple bus channels.

[@andyjones3648]

AWESOME!

[@chordsoforion]

+Andy Jones Glad you liked it!!

[@chordsoforion]

Has anyone else worked with the DIG to create ambient drones? I'd be interested to know what your results were. Thanks!!

[@dwoverdrive]

+Chords Of Orion I have been fooling around with the DIG but with the Ditto behind it. I don't do a lot of ambient stuff but the DIG has made me into a tinkerer for sure.

[@chordsoforion]

Cool! I've normally liked to run the Ditto in front of the DIG (as in the video), but have recently, like you, been playing around with the Ditto behind, using the Tap tempo in different ways for each looped layer.

[@deathtoallpoets]

I use the DIG as my main delay, along with a Neunaber Mono Wet Reverb. Check out my band, full of ambience and drones! throneswi.bandcamp.com/

[@charlesfitzgerald3201]

The sound is really amazing ,, do you have amps miced up ? or do you plug straight into your interface ?

[@ErrigalCam]

Great videos ! jam origin midi guitar and electro harmonix freeze works great for cords and drones.

[@chordsoforion]

Sounds good to me!

[@patrickdoring7149]

One of my favorite KZbin channels. I especially enjoy the product demos, as they really show the capabilities of the pedal. Is there a comparable delay to the Dig in terms of creating drones? Trying to do ambient guitar on a bit of a budget. Please continue the wonderful videos.

[@chordsoforion]

What is your budget? There are many options out there.

[@patrickdoring7149]

Ideally would like to find a new one under 200, but I wouldn't mind a used one for around that same price limit.

[@chordsoforion]

If you don't mind going used, I would suggest a TC Electronic Flashback Triple Delay. I see a few on reverb for less than $200, and it's a great reverb for producing droning tones both with and without a looper pedal (as in this video).

[@patrickdoring7149]

Chords Of Orion perfect, thanks. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for that one. Keep up the amazing videos.

[@scottlurken9667]

Cool, well done vid :)

[@RyanHarris77]

Some delays will repeat beyond 100% volume (get louder each repeat), enabling one to fine tune infinite delays, and sometimes going into complete meltdown with runaway feedback. Careful with the volume though. May cause ear ouchies.

[@trashfuzzaudio]

inspirational

[@neilgroves3592]

Hey Bill....I just started playing with this awesome lesson, my question is once I get a drone going, how do I kill it so I can move on to the next part of the lesson? Even if I hit the bypass switch then hit it again to do the next part, the drone is still there, the only way so far I have found is to turn the repeat knob back to the far left......

[@chordsoforion]

Sounds like you have the DIG set to buffered bypass. There's a setting to get it back to tru bypass: www.strymon.net/manuals/DIG_UserManual_REVA.pdf

[@gillesmatte3443]

Hi! I like that a lot! Thank you very much, very usefull video :) Since you made this video have you found other ways or other pedals for the same use?

[@chordsoforion]

I am very glad you liked the video! I do have a playlist of the "drone" videos here: kzbin.info/aero/PLseB5HzFJKVxxsepFal1uXCYNKytpsC_Z The most recent one in the playlist is creating drones with the Neunaber Immerse. Thanks again!

[@gillesmatte3443]

I'll watch that for sure! You are very good and have a nice instructive approach!

[@Synomain]

Really nice video. Anyone knows how to get an ambient chord progression into a loop without the stop at the end of the loop? I have an Jamman Solo xt looper and a Digitech Rp90 for Delay n stuff. Of course i know that the loop has to "stop" to repeat the loop. But is their anyway to get a nice fluid transition? The cut at the end really kills the feeling of floating through space.

[@Synomain]

+Synomain well i just thought about it. It would be possible if i had a DIG like you after the looper. But thats money i dont have. any other ideas?

[@chordsoforion]

+Synomain I don't know that this work too well for distorted tones, but maybe putting the Jamman in front of the Digitech would work. In other words: Guitar->Looper->RP90. That way the loop would be in front of the delay,reverb, etc.

[@rocdogg66]

A good trick for seamless ambient loops... create an empty loop at desired length then overdub over the empty loop.

[@chordsoforion]

rocdogg66 Excellent tip!

[@tavaresdrd16]

Ganhou um inscrito hoje!

[@johnerodz7]

Hi Great video how can i set it up on the send and return of my amp. Thank you

[@Anthony-jh5xc]

I do not have a compressor just guitar into boost into delay and reverb then into Ditto X2 to create "pads" I can then play over. So the X2 is at the end of my chain, unlike what you are doing. Question is this : When I record with the Ditto X2 I get a hiss or lots of white noise so not a real good recording. Do you know why I would get that?

[@javiceres]

I don't know if I asked before but, have you ever got yourself something like a Lexicon PCM 80 or Eventide Rack?

[@chordsoforion]

No, I have not. If I ever find one of those units for a really good price, maybe I will check them out!

[@OceanMoonJack]

Bill, a question, if I may. I have a Strymon DIG and DittoX2 and I've used it to create drones which have a similar texture to the one in your video. The issue I'm having is that when I disengage the delay (in which to play a lead line over the drone) the delay is subtracted from the drone and it becomes a 'dry' signal. Can you help? My signal chain is Gibson Midtown Custom>Carl Martin Compressor>Fulltone OCD> Morley Passive Volume>DIG>Dittox2 Any help would be greatly appreciated. Kindest, Jack

[@chordsoforion]

Your signal chain in the comment indicates that the Ditto is after the DIG, but if the delay is stopping on the drone when you disengage the DIG, sounds like it might be after the Ditto. Can you confirm the order?

[@Pharrell700]

beautiful shoes

[@chordsoforion]

They are now almost worn out, and I will be very sad on the day that I toss them...

[@savanaviolenta]

im getting Myself the DIG,this thing sounds amazing i like how it sounds compared to Timeline

[@chordsoforion]

The DIG is truly a classic delay machine!!

[@neilgroves3592]

I had one but traded it for the mooer ocean machine....much happier since I get two delays, a reverb AND a looper 😃

[@Abyssaeon]

9:08 👌

[@BTsMusicChannel]

One thing that I really like about the creative thought patterns of "ambient guitarists" is that they are "real" electric guitarists compared to the purists who think that using effects is a crutch. The truth is that every component of your rig -- including the guitar and amplifier and all the effects you use (or don't use) -- creates a new "electric" sound. These components are a lot like the stops of an organ. Any electric guitarist who chooses not to experiment with effects as a matter of elitist principle (on the assumption that it is a crutch to use effects) is not fully electric guitarist in my opinion. Even the people that they tend to worship because of their left and right hand skills and "technique" (as if using an effect to alter sound were not a technique) often use effects!!!! I like how you imagine what you want, or play around until you find something interesting to work with, then determine how you made the sound so that you could actually explain it. In that sense, ambient guitarists are more "electric" than purists and staunch traditionalists (who really have no idea what they are talking about beyond labels like Dorian and 7b5, which is not early as mystical as sound itself). The only thing I don't like is this over-reliance on overpriced Stryman stuff -- it has this sound that is too cliche now, way too hyper clean and not mushy enough.When I hear it (because it is instantaneously recognizable with its hyper-compressed-ness), it makes me think, "How boring, everyone does that." It calls my attention to the technique and away from the artistic expression the same way identifying mixolydian mode does to a traditionalist craftsman guitar guy.

[@mikemendillo2742]

Hmmmm,,,,some interesting things going on here,,,,, thank you,,,, 😃

[@chordsoforion]

And thanks to you for commenting!

[@Niven42]

I wonder how many Little Alligators Morley has sold because of your videos...

[@chordsoforion]

Definitely a bunch. Just sold a couple through my Amazon affiliate links...

[@PeteBrownGuitars]

You have a lot to answer for, Bill. I bought a Little Alligator and a DIG after discovering your KZbin channel recently. You have single-handedly changed my approach to guitar playing and boosted my motivation levels enormously. I'm drowning in creative juices!

[@fromthemoonraccoon]

After the 12-bit demo, can anyone else hear the DIG sounding, super quiet in the left ear?

[@EzyoMusic]

I was gonna get a TC Triple Delay but I found a minty DIG and couldn't pass it up. #hyped

[@chordsoforion]

Awesome!!

[@neilgroves3592]

Hey Bill, how do I create a drone in the key of C ?

[@chordsoforion]

Not sure I understand. Are you thinking you need to do something other than play a C?

[@neilgroves3592]

@@chordsoforion I have a melody in the key of C that I want to play over a drone so i am thinking I need a drone in the key of C?

[@chordsoforion]

Makes sense to me. Try it and see if you like it. That's the great thing - you can do whatever you think sounds good!

[@GalenWill]

A C drone would work, but F or G or A or D or perhaps E or B or Bb might be interesting too!

[@innerpull]

more a pad than a drone. still nice of course.

[@TimothyBussMusic]

So add the reverb... lol!!!

[@mclekrell]

We need to address that shoe thing

[@chordsoforion]

Yes we do! See if you can find me another pair just like that. These have have been gone for quite a while, and I sorely miss them!

[@mclekrell]

Chords Of Orion I suggest a pair of classic Campers maybe.

[@deanwolfechannel]

it's probably pronounced 'dij' like in 'dij'ital? Use Dij man....

[@chordsoforion]

Strymon people pronounce it with a hard “g”. Like what you do with a shovel. 😎

[@tintala]

you should grab ya a pair of black leather shoes .

[@chordsoforion]

Aw. I love my beat up brown shoes!!! :-)

[@wankervile07]

Dam someone beat me to the remark on the shoes

[@wankervile07]

other then the shoes great video I learned a lot

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks!! :-)

[@PipinhoSnow]

?

[@francescolossiorebaza1422]

Matt bellamy liked this :v

[@chordsoforion]

Now that dude has some nice gear!!!