Digitech 300 Vocal Processor Review

[@Nobody-xg2un]

I use this thing for bass guitar and it's absolutely amazing. And I use it to mic a snare drum. If you have some imagination you can pull off about anything you could ever imagine. You can change everything on it. You don't need to worry about the factory settings. Ditch them and make your own settings. My pedal has never shut off running a bass thru it with a balanced cable. Lose the factory settings. Make your own it's easy as hell. This thing is great for bass guitar. The fact I can plug my phone into this and my guitar and my headphones and practice in dead silence is awesome. It has a stereo output that you can plug into 2 channels on a mixer and get some incredibly killer tones. It's funny because I also mic a snare with an sm57 with this. I run a bottom mic right out of the mixer with a top mic out of the DigiTech and it works great. Lose the factory settings they suck. This video cannot even begin to cover all this pedal does in just a few minutes. 50.00 Bucks for one of these and they are built like a brick shit house. Love this pedal absolutely underrated because of the factory shit settings.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

I agree as far as price is concerned if you can get a nice one used for a a low price it beats paying $300-400

[@masonbhunter2]

Animal Collective/Avey Tare in a box. I want it.

[@folkjam]

dave uses this pedal 100%!!! i have a few friends that use it and they love it haha

[@youtub-fj8mu]

@@folkjam he sold his a few years ago, someone bought it had the presets still in it, but they refuse to share them

[@nathanielgardner8208]

@@youtub-fj8mu iirc, they asked avey if it was okay to share the presets and avey said they'd rather they didnt

[@Artzzero]

This is really well done, I didn't understand the difference between vocal pedals

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

I just demonstrate size difference. Main difference between this pedal and other is a lack of 48Volt phantom power for Condenser microphones

[@fensom80]

I used to have one. I loved 16 detune. I want to work out how to recreate it with the effects in the xr18

[@brentonwhitten8131]

I got this pedal in the 90's when there really wasn't any other option for a teenagers budget and beat the hell out of it. Even though it's basically obsolete, my only real gripe when is the pedals are too crowed so I occasionally hit two at the same time. I still have it and use it for narrations, along with music mostly for a quick mute/volume control on the mic. It's easy to repair and upgrade to make it more functional and it's just a fun piece that has long since paid for itself and still works just fine. The v400 was a better version, but the reason these don't have phantom is they have a mic emulators to make a cheap mic sound like an expensive one, didn't work but they though it was good enough. Somebody liked my v400 enough to steal it so I guess it wasn't that bad.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Thank you for the comment and insight. That makes sense. Back nthe late 90s early 2000s I wouldve killed for this piece of equipment. No, it isnt all bad, it has some interesting snd fun qualities.. just in today's markrt at comparablr prices there are more suitable options. That sucks it was stolen I am not surprised!!! Lol I have had gear stolen.. it always urkkss me!! For voice over it is solid. I recently experimented with my electric acoustic Guitar and realized it is quite fitting for the combination.. the digital delays are pretty cool!

[@brentonwhitten8131]

@@newcastlemusicstudios @Newcastle Music Studios the thing is surprisingly versatile with a bit of messing around. Had so much gear stolen or smashed in a drunken stupor it's not even funny. My boss rc 300 looper(back when it was the newest flagship) ended up a victim, someone had stolen it after a show in a nasty snowstorm. Then one day it was just sitting in my front yard in the mud 5 moths later, the snowbank it landed in when it fell off the cart had finally melted.

[@gaucho.mdq1]

Good afternoon. Do you have any means where I can contact you?

[@SspaceB]

This pedal is legendary in the extreme metal scene. Also it’s clearly for live and vocal only, not sure why you’d plug a guitar into it at all.

[@theunknownzonetvshow]

Some pedals offer a harmonizing effect when you plug in your guitar. Only because the guitar jack was there. Didn't know it was popular in the metal scene! thanks 4 watching!

[@SspaceB]

@@theunknownzonetvshow I think it’s supposed to be alternate inputs rather than dual inputs. After all it’s a vocal pedal

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

That makes sense!

[@colemcnair5752]

How do people use it for metal?

[@totaltwit]

@4:50 - I have another DigiTech foot pedal and the same fast auto scroll stops me from using it live. I was going to make an additional circuit/footswitch that worked around this. - I have a TC Helicon D1 which is 48V BUT they use a DC-DC converter which is noisy, so using a condenser with the on board 48V will soon becomes annoying so maybe DigiTech knew this ;)

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Probably. Most people MYSELF INCLUDED!! Rarely realize circuit boards are designed and engineered with specific ideas versus what musicians think should be there. Great point though. Thanks for watching!

[@xXDJllamap3tt3rXx]

I got this pedal in 2013 as a birthday gift when I was 14 years old. I used it on so many really shitty tape recordings I distrubted amongst friends hahahaha.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Lol!!

[@schoovaertssimon7904]

what's the input jack hole for? guitar? can this thing vocode?

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Yes a guitar and a microphone. Vocoding... ummmm not really some effects yes definitely change your voice enough to make it indistinguishable.. but not like a dedicated vocoder. It's older technology, when u plug in the guitar it deactivates the microphone inout..input... which is really stupid! So you can use it as a vocal fx pedal or a guitar pedal.. Best use is probably voice over & radio Dj fx.

[@Nightfool708]

Using it most for "invocations" in my music, together with Focusrite 18i20 and Cubase but I can´t get rid of a little latency on my signal way. Cannot get behind it. Could you probably tell me what I do wrong ? Sorry for my german-english.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

strange. not 100% sure why there would be latency specifically from the digitech 300. test it with a live amp or p.A. system.

[@Nightfool708]

Thanks, prob. almost solved, the latency came from a phonic limiter I used in my signal way.

[@HoodHandyman]

Does it have a harmonizer that's the bread and butter of these type of units

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

DO you mean for the guitar input? I don't think so. I sold it a month ago. What bothered me about the unit was when you plugged in the guitar it disengaged the vocal microphone input... lol making it useless for what i bought it for. The delay and reverb is nice for vocals and guitar... that's the highlight!!

[@markr.8770]

What is the best way to assign simple microphone volume output to the pedal expression? I have the VX400 but I would think its the same as the 300.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Using the master volume knob.

[@markr.8770]

@@newcastlemusicstudios Maybe you were trying to be funny, I don't know. My question is how to control volume using the foot pedal.

[@gaucho.mdq1]

Good afternoon. Do you have any means where I can contact you?

[@markr.8770]

@@gaucho.mdq1 yes

[@markr.8770]

markrad4

[@sidjim7700]

Does it have a back up vocals harmonizer?

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

yes it has multiple effects, it had some choruses that do similar. If you want a harmonizer, watch my review for the TC Helicon voicelive play. That has the best harmony effects and autotune for the $$$$.

[@sidjim7700]

@@newcastlemusicstudios thanks buddy 🙏✌️

[@fender42421]

alien effect is the rfk jr. voice lol

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Lol funny!!! Yah I have a difficult time listening to that dude talk. Not judgin etc.

[@JimmyGeikie]

Lots of the complaints about this seem pretty negligible. First off, the size is no bigger than a guitar multi-effects. It's a standard size. Then, as for plugging guitar into it, you don't need to plug your guitar into this unit if you have separate guitar effects, kinda the point. Also, yes, this was intended for live playing, with dynamic microphones, not for studio recording, which if you did, you would run the signal through it AFTER recording your vocals. It seems like you were expecting a TOP TIER vocal effects processor that actually reads the key of your guitar-playing and harmonizes with it. That's a little niche of an expectation.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

That is pretty accurate. Not necessarily top tier, more like the tc helicon pedal with guitar n vocal combo. It is an older unit than i realized for $150 it makes sense.

[@Ullish1989]

Can you get it to blend a clean signal of your vocals through as well? I have an industrial project where I use a bunch of effects in recording and I'm trying to figure out how to pull them off live. The monster effect and a separate unit doing grunge and compression would be useful if there was a clean parallel or blend I use a pitch shifter, a lot of compression and some saturation for the recording but I need more control over the pitch shift than what you showed like formant control

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

I understand the question. Not 100% sure. I would have to look sometime n the next day since I am at work. But.... I would think so. Typically it is just a Stereo or Mono efect setting to get one side clean with no effects. At the moment I cannot remember if it has Stereo Outputs which ar necessary to do that. I remember on the Boss VE 20 and TC helicon Voicelive you are able to do that.

[@peepeepoopoo8006]

You ever figure anything out? I’m in the exact same boat

[@francommentsonyutup]

Can you mix distortion, an octave down and reverb in this pedal?

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Yes for a deep growl sound.

[@garryross2470]

Great video, thanks! Is it possible when using pitch down to not hear the original vocal, or is this always mixed in?

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Im not sure. I'll have to mess around with it again to answer your question. But usually it is always there.

[@garryross2470]

@@newcastlemusicstudios I've never found a definite answer on it, it would be a deal breaker if not. Looking for a distorted, pitched down effect, but only able to hear the pitched down.

[@fensom80]

Yes, you can with the pedal

[@craigwilliams7620]

Aside from the negatives you mention...which wont be an issue for me....how do you rate the actual sounds of this unit? Not the awful Robot, Radio etc presets lol, the actual effects like delays, reverbs etc. Does it give a nice professional polished sound? Hoping to also use the double effect for harmonies.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

The effects are pretty good. I guess that depends on opinion as well. Delays and reverbs are all quite different n diverse to give you a lot of room to be creative. There are a few other effects that are decent as well. "Polished" I dont know... lol. I think if your base vocal is well recorded adding these effects shouldn't diminish any professionalism. As long as your setting are not set too high (which could distort) you will be fine after you tweek the level & amount of the effects.

[@craigwilliams7620]

@@newcastlemusicstudios Thanks so much bro

[@___-cu8rk]

is worth it? I see only one announcing in my country selling this model. But the pedal is broken. Should I buy?

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

No. Not if it is broken

[@patrickwadsworth692]

I have one for sale- working properly

[@shmoi1576]

Does this unit have a built in pitch correction option?

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

It has pitch modification which is different. The pitch FX just brings the octave up or down. It does have a detune Effect but that also doesnt really do anything desiireable . So No.

[@gaucho.mdq1]

Hello friend, could you send me the drivers?

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

There are no drivers. This unit is conpletely internal on basic motherboard.

[@jMerkyJJ]

I think this entire video makes a sweet ass song.. like RadioHead or whatever.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Lol thanks man.

[@francommentsonyutup]

Can you use distortion in a live situation or would it create too much hum/noise?

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Yes you could. No utd be very harsh. Theres not much hum when used with a dynamic microphone.

[@LSDEM0N]

Got mine for 50 bucks it’s beat to shit but works great

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

lol, good deal, I paid a bit too much!

[@HarryBallzencoque]

Alien eff3ct needs to be renamed the RFK Jr.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

funny... yah i can't handle it when he is talkin!

[@soundguymatt]

The beautiful thing about these digitech units is the ability to precisely edit the parameters and save presets for live playing. When dialed in properly ALL the effects have the ability to sound great. 24 bit internal AD/DA converters Just not for amateurs that like to have ready presets. The presets sound like trash out the box, every single one has to be tweaked. Probably not good for the 3 second attention span people.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

exactly, you can tweek most equipment and find some value for your own setup, most people assume less than $500 is a toy, but not necessarily true!

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

NEW EDITINNG SOFTWARE...

[@fender42421]

this pedal is like 20 years old much btter options out there lol.... most mmodern mixing boars have this included lol

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Right is is 20 years old. I remmeber having sinilar pedals by digitech in 1999. It has mixed reviews, some people love it and some people think it is a toy.

[@squirmdiggler9535]

I don't know why you keep referencing plugging your guitar into a vocal pedal don't you have a guitar rig don't you have guitar pedals maybe I'm not understanding I don't plug my guitar into the vocal effects nor would I even bother trying.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

Right that is the better method of course. However the audience is wider because the video is intended to reach people on all economic levels that cannot perhaps afford both and thusly are left with no choice but using the said device in such a manner.

[@akinaroony9059]

Im the type of person that would plug it into my guitar lol

[@OzzyAirborne]

@@squirmdiggler9535 im in this same exact boat rn. Using my boss me80 for/as vocal effect

[@RoughRaiders13]

@@newcastlemusicstudios anyone can afford the basics of anything if they work hard enough and want it bad enough. Plugging a guitar into a vocal processor is one of the stupidest ideas I've ever heard of...... Unless you're trying to create avant-garde experimental music. You can pick up a cheap old multiFX pedal anywhere for under $50. If you can afford a guitar, you can afford a guitar effects pedal.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

@@RoughRaiders13 I agree mostly with what you are saying. But these are DIGITAL FX. There are many other pedals that have guitar inputs on them that intertwine the harmony of your voice and the guitar chord for that reason. But yes, I agree it is better just to have a dedicated guitar pedal. The TC HELICON VOICELIVE PLAY ELECTRIC does just that. I foolishly assumed before I got this thing back n the day it had the same design in mind. I was wrong! However the 1/4inch is there and it literally sounded just like a cheap digitech guitar pedal.

[@roaringcartoons]

TC Helicon Voicelive play is a better option.

[@flyboywatson69]

So no points, on our guy here?

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

@@flyboywatson69 what are you trying to ask? What were the MAIN POINTS OF THE REVIEW? 1. IT IS VERY OLD 2. IT IS CHEAP AND EASY TO BUY 3. IT IS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY 4. THE EFFECTS ARE ENTERTAINING 5. GOOD FOR LIVE STREAMING SOUND FX FOR EDITING. 6. IT LOOKS N FEELS LIKE A GIANT TOY. 7 A LOT OF THE EFFECTS DONT SEEM TO HAVE MUCH POINT 8 IT IS FUN TO PLAY AROUND WITH 9.YOU CAN ALSO PLUG YOUR GUITAR INTO IT 10. WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD BUY IT COMES DOWN TO "HOW YOU WANT TO USE IT?" 11. BUSKING, LIVE STREAMING, EDITING ETC. 12 ITS NOT MUCH BETTER OR WORSE THAN MOST OTHER PEDALS BETWEEN $100-$200 13. IT IS A GOOD STARTER FX PEDAL BEST OF LUCK MAN

[@jMerkyJJ]

This pedal evokes irreverance. I can't get it to work. My friend gave it to me for free..😒 telling.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

What type of microphone are you using? Does it turn on? At what point are you encountering issues?

[@jMerkyJJ]

@@newcastlemusicstudiosSir, Sure Super 55. I can power it. The display illuminates. I went as far as connecting the 300 to our PA. Nothing sound came out. I spent about 5 minutes trouble shooting them moved on with life.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

@@jMerkyJJ the master volume or presets could be turned down all the way? not likely but possible. The XLR output connecting wires could be broken or corroded on the inside, a chip inside or capactitor couldve broken. Hard to say. If it illuminates n nothing comes out. It could have just been dropped on the floor at some point.

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

@@jMerkyJJ you could also test the headphone jack.

[@jMerkyJJ]

@@newcastlemusicstudios thanks I appreciate the advice. Good video.

[@2bthirsty]

This processor is junk, the Boss VE is much better!

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

well it is digitech, lol!

[@walterlacerda1]

It's a very old pedal ..... You should realize this

[@newcastlemusicstudios]

It is indeed! But even old pedals have 48V power... my main disappointment with this pedal.

[@Danielallanz]

Why does the extra voltage put you off?..in many cases the extra voltage results in better headroom,less clipping and a better delay/verb/modulation sound..a lot of pedal circuitry is voltage starved

[@mariosotaofficial]

@@Danielallanz true 👍