Strymon Deco V2 - Divine Tape Double Tracking!

Strymon Deco V2 is a heavenly improvement on the original "tape tone of the gods" pedal. Check out the new cassette tape saturation voicing and wide lush flanging chorusing, slapback and delay tones. sweetwater.sjv.io/Kjjjgn
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Bill's pedals / signal chain: (Sweetwater Affiliate links, see disclaimers below):
Eric Johnson Strat: sweetwater.sjv.io/GmjL3m
TC Electronic PolyTune Tuner: sweetwater.sjv.io/q444Ag
D'Addario XPND 2 Pedalboard: sweetwater.sjv.io/rQQQGD
Strymon Compadre: sweetwater.sjv.io/LXP9dM
Strymon Riverside Overdrive: sweetwater.sjv.io/eK4mZO
Strymon Deco: sweetwater.sjv.io/Kjjjgn
Strymon Iridium: sweetwater.sjv.io/5gb402
Morley Volume Pedal: sweetwater.sjv.io/LXXXx0
Strymon DIG Dual Digital Delay: sweetwater.sjv.io/4PPPr3
Strymon BigSky Reverb: sweetwater.sjv.io/KjjjZe
Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB: Sweetwater: sweetwater.sjv.io/anRm7M
iZotope Ozone 9 Advanced: Sweetwater: sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQb17k
Chords of Orion - Ambient guitar is life
Bill Vencil - Guitars
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Video Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:22 What is ADT?
01:11 Let's Look at the Deco!
01:39 Tape Saturation Demo
06:44 Double Tracking Sum & Invert
12:45 Double Tracking Bounce (Stereo)

[@johnmossey]

This might be my new fav pedal reviewer. He is like Bob Ross of the guitar world.

[@fcariani]

I've watched maybe six reviews of this pedal, and this is the first one that made me understand what it actually does! Thank you!

[@frederickklinge2885]

Fantastic demo, Bill! Ordering a Deco V2 and DIG V2 this evening. So glad you were given a prime spot in the Strymon V2 demo-ing line up!

[@jonatkins8184]

Best demo / explanation of the Deco out there! Keep up the great work Bill 🎸

[@elkhanagaev4172]

Thank you!!! This is the exactly video I was looking for the Deco demonstration, so good explained, and as always great music and you best reactions :)

[@zzakk999]

Really well made video. Fantastic use of features and great musical examples. Well done.

[@southernmainesonicexperime3438]

Sounds amazing! Great to see the updated pedal series from Strymon

[@descartesproject]

Your demo is just WICKED!!! adding that pedal to my board soon!! CHEERS from Costa Rica!!

[@jdiesel9048]

One of the best reviews I've heard in a long time with excellent explanations

[@PNovak87]

best review of the deco, bill! and thanks for using the strat!

[@TOEC]

That is a pretty amazing little pedal. Simple concept, but the way they implemented it makes it really versatile.

[@WhiteWolf--]

Hi Bill, love that Strat and what a cool V2 for the Deco!

[@danwilkes3555]

Great Demo! I subscribed while listening. I use the Riverside at the end of my dirt chain as an always on. The Riverside and the Deco sounded great together. I love distorted ambient tones and the Deco really is perfect for that.

[@ernestbuckley8671]

Got the Deco V1... just the saturation on this thing alone is beautiful. Its always on and adds that warm fuzz that is so lovely. The other features are cherry on top.

[@indieroc4life]

Thank you for demoing this pedal, your explanation was very thorough and informative on what it exactly does thanks!

[@whwh7339]

Fantastic review! Really enjoyed your chill demeanor and clear explanations. Also delved into the history of these techniques a bit. Well done sir, just earned a new sub.

[@scdecade]

Great demo. I really like how you started each side with the lowest settings. Really well explained and demonstrated. Not bad on the guitar either :)

[@oliverhazard73]

Killer demo. U make it sound so good

[@mikeferris408]

Perfect... absolutely perfect demo! Thanks for doing it 100% right.

[@guts2112]

The original is my favorite pedal of all time. The updated one sounds great. Been thinking of stacking these for a long time, might have to get the new one so I can try it out. I’ve always thought this is a great teaching tool for people to understand modulation effects on a deeper level. Thanks for the vid.

[@Joldrath]

As always, you explain things very thorough, instead of showing off your playing skills. Great video. ❤

[@pistolpeach123]

Such a great pedal!

[@nicolasmaurin182]

Awesome! Great job. Love your videos.

[@ue4058]

Great video. Superb demo.

[@caesarsheadache]

Great demo 👏🔥 making me want a Deco again. V2 ticks all the boxes 👌🤘

[@user-px4db2sk4p]

So a flanger and an overdrive pedal in one😃 nice!

[@Fiascopia]

This is a wonderful demo, TY

[@edgarnyembwa4717]

Bill playing with dotted 8ths is always a joy to listen to! 🔥

[@onzkicg]

Thanks awesome demo as usual.. while I don’t understand in details, all I can say it sounds really good like the heard in studio recording.

[@agerven]

Wooow, this pedal really, really rocks. And you made it do so Bill! As demonstrated the pedal is so very versatile and has such a broad range, from subtle to absolutely wild and raw. This is known from the tape double tracking technique, which has been emulated fantastically here by Strymon. Being a keyboardist this is not a pedal for me, but i would recommend it to any guitarist out there. And compliments again to you Bill, for showing us what tape double-tracking, as emulated in this pedal, is capable of. i think that when feeding a bit of pedal's output back in, you might be able to get the "I'm not in love" (10cc) or "bohemian rhapsody" (queen) vocal effects ...

[@jtbass]

Wow! I've been researching the Deco as as a possible double tracking solution for my board and this has to be the best review I've found. Keep up the good work! I'd love to see you present a side-by-side comparison of the Deco V2, TC Electronic Mimiq, and the Keeley 30ms Double Tracker.

[@daveryan2148]

Been waiting to see this little guy... Nice.

[@XPJV]

This channel is dangerous! Last time after listening to NightSky demo, it made me buy the pedal! Now it's the Deco... Oh boy! 😂👍

[@fettuccinealraver]

Same 😂

[@adammindykowski6984]

It sounds lush Bill. I've considered buying a Deco for a while because I can hear how much texture and character it would bring to my home recording set up. Now this new version is certainly tempting me more. I could hear how it warmed up the tone from the Strat bridge pickup. Really nice. I hope Strymon also send you a v2 El Capistan to test. For that matter, a DIG, Flint and Blue Sky too!

[@loulasher]

I have the older deco and I love it. It serves many purposes and plays well with other pedals. The new version does seem like an improvement on something already great.

[@gerrykavanagh]

Great review, thanks. I got a Hudon Broadcast clone built from a kit recently and am badly addicted to this low-gain, saturated effect. I like the sort of wooly sound, and especially how beautifully musical double-stop intervals sound. JPTR Jive does this well too.

[@thomascperez]

Damn, I owned (and sold) a V1 Deco, but now you have me wanting to try the V2!

[@AmbientMusicStudio]

A really great sound

[@everartaraujo8637]

This pedal gave me a vibe that I could actually use it like a pre for everything that I record, from voice to keyboard or drums, I have a feeling that with the right settings applied to it you can make everything sound better, doesn't really matter what sound or instrument you are using.

[@allenleitch1783]

Love your work sir

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks very much!

[@TheFlutecart]

Excellent video Bill. This new version is on my radar. My Zeropoint is cool but no adjustability. But it is simple and small. I could really use the new midi features on Deco for sure. This thing makes the grade with midi. Wish you spent more time on the push button flange, that's why I bought the Zeropoint. I need that sound of the finger flange.

[@Twirlyhead]

Strymon stuff just sounds so good doesn't it.

[@Br4dSp34d]

Had the V1 and miss it. My favorite setting on the lag side was to crank the wobble and blend and keep the lag set low- super cool lo-fi pitch vibrato tones. I don’t get along with chorus pedals but the Deco sounds unreal. Might have to spring for the V2 now

[@josesalvador4578]

Sheesh Bill. This has been an expensive week. I’ve purchased the second iterations of the Dig, El Capistan, and Avalanche Run thanks to your reviews :)

[@tubingforever]

OH. MY. GOD!!! I NEVER KNEW I NEEDED THIS PEDAL! THIS PEDAL IS GONNA CHANGE MY LIFE!!! EXACTLY WHAT I NEED!!!!

[@CillBlintonOfficial]

This pedal seems like it would sound wonderful with a Gretsch! I need it

[@larryarsenault]

Had the Decco for a few years (vers 1) It's the Swiss army knife of pedals. It does it all, not as heavy as a say dedicated flange or chorus pedal, but it definitely gets in those zones and at low numbers just improves the texture of your sound. But if you like it FAT, Decco will do that too. Personally, I like a full clean tone, so I don't like turning saturation much past 1:00 or just before break up but that depends on your guitar and amp settings.

[@lectrikdog]

#800 I got interested in this pedal because of Killing Joke's Geordie Walker. "Geordie plugged his ES-295 directly into an Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man, which provided slapback echo (here at about 132ms with two repeats) and subtle chorus modulation while also splitting the signal to a pair of PA:CE/Bell Electrolabs ADT units, which stack additional layers of chorus modulation and delay effects to generate a lush, vibrant wall of sound." - that gives him his distinct sound!

[@thcdenton]

@15:05 really nailed the terry brown era alex lifeson tone. incredible.

[@sandyturner1911]

It looks like the only new feature is a knob for tone, and a toggle for classic and cassette tape. It does sound great. I have V1..I really want a DIG, so I think I'll stick with my original DECO. It's a great pedal, which I have at the end of the chain, and is always on. I have the Tap Tempo button for it, so it really expands the functionality.( I love that Strat, btw, but it's no longer a thinline.) Thanks, Bill!

[@lyftrip]

Satriani Flying in a blue Dream . . Lydian . X love it

[@painterofwords5761]

I have More Than A Feeling to Run Like Hell and get this pedal

[@crustyapplejack2609]

Hey could anybody give me hand with setting this up in stereo with a Boss GT-1000core? The Boss GT has an external stereo effects loop with 2 sends and 2 returns. I have the Y adapter for the input of the Deco and everything. However I am getting some weirdness in that once the FX loop and the Deco is on I’m getting dropout in the left or right channel. Any suggestions?

[@pythonflying]

I bought all my Strymon pedals in the past couple years, figures they would update with ones I got recently lol.

[@libracordial]

Can this Deco V2 get any faster warbles? I’m trying to get the sound from TheBeatles’ “Yer Blues”… there’s a very fast vibrato warble on the second guitar solo. I think George plays the part, and had always thought it was a Leslie. But I’ve never heard a Leslie go that fast. So maybe it was a tape effect? Or maybe it was some kind of chorus?). I’d definitely appreciate any advice for that sound! Thanks

[@jeffshirkey3085]

Love my Deco v1. But now I can have presets + a new voicing for the type of saturation?? Take my money. (If only I had some right now!)

[@STONERY-BAND]

Yep that’s a winner winner chicken dinner 👍🏻👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😎💪🏻🎸✌🏻🖖🏻🫵🏻

[@The_Penny_Seventeens]

I run my vocals thru guitar pedals for recording can I get a clean doubler sound from this for vocals ?

[@billa6348]

Thanks for this. I thought I wanted to upgrade to the El Cap V2, but the Deco is exactly the "drive" I need for ambient, so that makes more $$ sense to me. I read your pedal chain and am curious if you experienced and latency issues placing the delay and reverb pedals AFTER the Iridium, and if so, how you addressed them.

[@marjeziorny924]

Hi, What are your impressions of the two effects, el cap V.1 and deco, and in what order do you attach them? Greetings!

[@MasterIvo]

would love to hear it on a drum track

[@chrislink73]

I would love to hear a side by side comparison of the Deco to your Reel to Reel machines. I am curious if it can capture that subtle compression of the tape and how they differ in tone. The Deco sounds great to my ear.

[@emeraldcelestial1058]

It's kinda it's own thing? It has amazing unique things going on for it all in all tbh

[@drdre4397]

Honestly as someone who owns the v1 of this pedal, the cassette function and a tone knobs wasn't enough to justify me replacing my mk1. I understand midi is a huge plus but the mk1 is already a 400$ pedal that is tried and true. I'd say unless midi is a must for you, save some $ and get a mk1.

[@judeworth938]

Double tracking...inspiration for digital delay lines. ! 😉 AND NOW it's a plugin !!!!

[@MarshallCommaDave]

We meet again, Sir Davos

[@drutgat2]

ADT (Artificial Double Tracking) was not invented by The Beatles, but it was invented for The Beatles, by Abbey Road (then EMI) Studios engineer Ken Townsend.

[@thevelointhevale1132]

Correction ... ADT; The technique WAS developed in 1966 by engineers at Abbey Road Studios in London at the request of the Beatles. It is also thought that John Lennon had a hand in it's development.

[@ThisTrainIsLost]

There are two fine examples of reel-to-reels being used in performance situations. One is by Robert Fripp and the other is John Martyn. Martyn had a nickname for some time: the "one-man Pink Floyd." I enjoyed both a fair number of years ago so I can't swear that both are still up but I know of no reason why they shouldn't be.

[@chordsoforion]

Robert Fripp just released a 32 disc set of all of his solo / Frippertronics works called "Exposures". Pretty cool!

[@ThisTrainIsLost]

@@chordsoforion I'm sure that it's cool but, Lordy Moses! I would probably need a mortgage to buy it!!

[@adrianreyes4702]

It's a great device, with full control. I have a question, and was wondering if you could do a similar demo. I saw this small Rock band perform at a local bar venue. The guitarist was playing this lead. His volume was not loud, yet he had slightly above moderate distortion, yet it all sounded so clean, clear, and incredible. I told him to get that I would have to crank my amp loud, yet his was not. His single note leads sounded so good, and effective without having to over distortion, nor blast our ears. Afterwards I asked him what the secret was to that sound. He told me a tech buddy modified his Boss foot pedal to create a double track sound. I knew it was different, and it sounded great, and clean, even in distortion mode. It made an impression on me because my distortion, to be heard, always muddled the sound, even with a good amp, and ME-80 pedal. Could you demo a single note, with occasional double note lead with clean distortion, and your double tracking? It gave the distorted leads a great fullness, depth, without having to blast anyone's ears. It could be clearly heard through the drums, and bass during his lead solos. Thank you!

[@peterschaefer1665]

I wonder if the Timeline is getting an update. Not that it needs one.

[@mynamethog1151]

Hey all, after some advice. Are pedals such as these, really suitable for ‘inexpensive’ Amps such as a boss Katana mk2? I understand an amp like this mightn’t have the tonal fidelity of tube driven fender amps 3 times the price, but it seriously is an excellent amp, Eqd right it sounds damn near as good as proper tube amps I’ve tried. But I’m curious if the full extent of such an expensive and deep pedal like this would be wasted on an amp like a katana?

[@ad6499]

The Katana is pretty much made to be a solid platform for using pedals. I think it would sound great. I mean, the amp used in this video is not even an expensive tube amp. It is a Strymon Iridium, which is an amp/cabinet simulator pedal.

[@LysanderLH]

With most combinations of pedals, I usually end up with several Tone controls in the lineup, plus those on the amp and guitar. I find this very confusing and there doesn’t seem to be any way to neutralise or disable the various Tone controls. How do you deal with this Bill?

[@chinmeysway]

just make it sound good to your ears? if it doesnt, then you might have too many options or your room acoustics are bad. tone is just a weird word for frequencies; learn about those. and how the guitar itself has a sound (strings, pickups etc, and dont worry about being perfect. find a unique sound. tone is overrated and vague.

[@mortonwilson795]

Thanks for the demo. Not sure if I would buy this given I have the V1, which is terrific. Is it really significantly enhanced to warrant the expense?

[@chordsoforion]

Only you can make that determination. As I mentioned at the end, it may not be worth buying if you already have version 1. Are the additional features such as the cassette voicing and tone control important to you? If so, then you might want to sell V1 and get V2. If not, then no need to update.

[@SorenAraujo]

The pedal is great, but man, that stratocaster... I've never been a strat kinda guy, but if I ever end up getting one, it's gonna have to be a semi hollow!

[@Bcwilderness]

clutch are a great band how do you find time for all this

[@anthonyburke223]

Great vid …Do you think the v2 Deco is a big improvement over the v 1 . I think the addition of the tone is handy on the saturation . Love my v 1

[@chordsoforion]

As I mentioned in the video, unless you really, really want one of the new features, it may not be worth upgrading from V1 to V2.

[@marjeziorny924]

Hi Bill, great demo, what do you think , does the use of el cap and deco , playing live make sense ? Or is this rather an option for musicians playing ambient music in "home" conditions ?, By the way-what strings do you use on this video and more ? Greetings from Berlin

[@chordsoforion]

Greetings! I would definitely use the El Cap and Deco live if I were playing in stereo. If playing in mono, they would still sound great together, you just would not get the stereo separation the the Deco can provide. For standard electric guitar, I use Elixir 10-46.

[@marjeziorny924]

@@chordsoforion Thanks for the quick reply, I play in stereo as for the strings, I thought Elixire. Respect. Greetngs Mar

[@tonedover]

"i gotta say that casette voicing slaps". hahaha

[@BozowolfnHD]

Bill, a question, what amp modeler did you use in your signal path? Also I am guessing that the Deco is placed before the amp modeler?

[@chordsoforion]

I used the Strymon Iridium, and in this case, the Deco was placed before it. But I also like to use the Deco last in the chain if I am going for a subtle effect without a lot of saturation.

[@willdenham]

Great I just got a deal on version 1 and then I watch this and hear the cassette feature. I can't win...

[@stevieboy444]

That was really really good, thanks. I'm pretty sure I want one. I'm curious as to how to set it up with a full blown delay & reverb after it without them tripping over each other. Great video.

[@benjamincoggins6568]

Use this a stereo double tracker breakout and run your delays and reverb in stereo! This is the way.

[@henqmusic]

Well... almost 100 Bucks more for that little improvements makes the decision easy.. I stick with my Deco V1 which I absolutely love! One of my favorite pedals ever...

[@chordsoforion]

Agreed - if you already have the Deco V1, then the V2 upgrade is probably not necessary.

[@bumbum4592]

Is there an internal screw to lower saturation distortion more db volume boost

[@chordsoforion]

No. But there is a secondary startup mode that changes the overall input level.

[@ThisTrainIsLost]

You are definitely a fine guitarist but I'm curious: how well would your variety of effects pedals work with a keyboard?

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks very much! Many of the pedals that I have used over the years have enough headroom to work well with keyboards. The Deco has a selectable input specifically to accommodate keyboard/line level inputs.

[@ThisTrainIsLost]

@@chordsoforion Things were both simpler and more, shall we say…potent, in the "old days." Back when the Hawkwind spacecraft first took off in the late 70's their electronics consisted of a ring modulator (basically a full range signal generator) fed via a wah-wah pedal into a 100W stack. The setup's range went from infrasound (below the range of human hearing--he said unnecessarily) way up to ultrasound. Combined with a strobe in the 13Hz range, it truly was a sonic attack (which Lemmy describes in a number of interviews--once the show began they used to lock the doors to keep the people IN). The strobe put people into trance states while ultrasound affected their sense of balance and ultrasound could cause the relaxation of autonomic muscles, such as one's sphincter. Their hours long shows were what would later be called raves and shoegaze music. Great sonic oaks from wee acorns do grow. And Hawkwind is still active! Trivia: Arthur Brown was the first to use a drum machine in live performance. Innovators all.… (My most sincere apologies. I have a tendency to wax verbose that I can't always restrain when I focus on an interesting subject. Will try harder in the future.)

[@daviddelossantos6075]

Watched a video about Wendy Melvoin (Prince/The Revolution) and I think this is on her board.

[@binkydognose]

That video inspired my V1 Deco purchase. Very happy w/it.

[@michaelrosawatkins3928]

How does itdo with fuzz?

[@vladledesma3765]

Sounds nice wish it had internal dip adjustment for amount of distortion on gain volume ?

[@jamesculley845]

❤️🙏🏻🕊🌿🌻📿🕯🎸

[@RustyTonesJr]

This pedal really sounds great. But I like pedals that make more messed up sounds.

[@chordsoforion]

Nothing wrong with that!

[@chinmeysway]

sounds flat and not doubled until "bounce" setting where stereo comes into play.

[@savannahw112]

One day I will be rich enough to own this

[@savannahw112]

Dream overdrive

[@nebelweiss6999]

I follow some guitar/pedal chanels. Instead of riff wars. Why dont you have ambiance wars😉 Rabea, danish pedal guy, harp girl and josh from jhs pedals. It would be lovely

[@giuseppefabbricatore4314]

Deco into riverside of riverside into deco?

[@chordsoforion]

Riverside into Deco for sure.

[@giuseppefabbricatore4314]

@@chordsoforion so… a hi-gain pedal into a low-gain pedal… not so usual :)

[@masterofreality230]

I kind of wish they would have pushed the max delay time on the new version so it could act more like a real delay.

[@chordsoforion]

Yes - would have been cool for sure.

[@devids51]

Imagine if strymon real expanded this pedal by giving it their big pedal format

[@chinmeysway]

any of it analog?

[@chordsoforion]

No. All DSP.

[@marvinkmooneyoz]

@@chordsoforionI think my ideal would be the digital tape saturation emulation, with some analog LFO at least for chorus and flange. Chorus like from Maxon and the moog clusterflux show off the justification for analog.

[@post-man23]

I would prefer the volume to be at unity when comparing against other sounds

[@konnektlive]

"I mean that sounds good! Oh that sounds better"... wow... sales pitch at its best ey...

[@wholewheaties]

Your dry unaffected tone sounds compressed, but hey, maybe it's me.

[@eventidewinds]

demo great as always. But not a pedal for my board. There are very good software plugins out there that do the same job.

[@basicforge]

The tc electronic Mimiq does a very similar thing.

[@theliberation9061]

The Mimiq is pretty simple though, this is a lot more in-depth.

[@basicforge]

@@theliberation9061 Sure. :-)

[@URTH-yb5xh]

Sorry Cassette reallyYikes