‪@strymon‬

The Strymon Dig v2 is a frustrating and buggy mess. I'll walk you through the bugs so that you don't waste hours of your life like I did. This video also has two fully arranged sound examples to give you a better idea of where this might fit into your work flow.
The unit offers up some really nice digital delay sounds that make you feel like you're back in the 80's but overall it feels like a one trick pony.
MIDI BUG STATUS (Firmware 1.25 Updated September 2023): 15 Months after release, Strymon has released a firmware update so 'Presets saved with MIDI clock tap division settings are now recalled with the same TAP/DIV setting'. Full release notes here: www.strymon.net/faq/dig-v2-fi...
0:00 - Intro Song (Pressure)
1:06 - Introduction
1:24 - Gear Channels are hack frauds
2:55 - Why get a delay?
3:25 - Differences between v1 and v2
4:15 - Controls
5:28 - MIDI clock sync with your DAW (Studio One)
6:33 - Song 2 (Elastic Sun)
8:27 - MIDI Bugs
10:15 - Strymon's response
11:34 - Gut Shots
11:51 - Final Thoughts (Free download of the @Kilohearts Dual Delay: kilohearts.com/products/dual_...)
‪@strymon‬

[@onesandzeros]

Nice review and very nice playing. Your Dimension C build video was very good also. Re the problems: it's possible product defects were ignored. It's also possible that no reviewers understood or could configure MIDI. We're electric guitar players after all.

[@shoetiquemusic]

Thanks onesandzeros! Glad you're enjoying the channel! It's certainly possible that some of the gear channels innocently missed these problems but there are a handful of them that took some very weird steps to get their presets and tap tempos configured. These elaborate work arounds would only be found (or necessary) if you were actively trying to avoid the bugs.

[@masterofreality230]

My favorite line from creators that get free things is: "I got this for free, but it does not effect my opinion at all" Yea...ok buddy. I have been waiting for that Nixie update for my Volante.

[@shoetiquemusic]

Feels like that Nixie update still might be a ways out. It'll probably come out around the same time as the DiG v3 Midnight edition.

[@albertwilliams3748]

Thanks a million for this video! I am having the midi sync issue and have spent hours trying to figure out why the subdivision was not saving. I didn’t know there was a fix for it. You saved me amigo!

[@shoetiquemusic]

Glad it helped Albert! It's a huge PITA that these are still being sold with outdated firmware. Hopefully the fix from Strymon will get rid of the technical problems so you can play some tunes and enjoy the DiG!

[@AWM8]

Sounds very nice. Greetings!

[@shoetiquemusic]

Thanks for checking it out A War!

[@lostwoods]

I appreciate the honest review. It does bother me how few gear channels are willing to even mention a little constructive criticism. I'm still intrigued by the DIG, but wish perhaps they had done a larger enclosure where access to those secondary functions would be easier and more intuitive not to mention have access to presets. May I ask, have you found a decent alternative to the DIG in a pedal format? I feel like the FTT Future Factory looks like it might be able to attain some of the same sounds.

[@shoetiquemusic]

Hi Lost! I still haven't found a digital delay pedal that I would permanently place on my board.That FTT Future Factory looks pretty neat - I had never even heard of it until now. That said I've been focused more on recording and in that environment I find myself needing pedals less frequently. In my current workflow I record a mic'd up amp and have a digital reverb or or delay on a bus. I can then tweak the verb or delay to my liking after the recording has been finished. This gives me way more flexibility and prevents me from getting options paralysis before I record.

[@peterposafalvi6805]

Hi! Great video, it's nice that you talk about issues as well, not only the shiny things... It's not really clear for me in the manual, how can you put DIG v2 into midi mode, if the pedal is connected to a computer via USB?

[@shoetiquemusic]

Hi Péter! Are you trying to connect the DiG via USB and send Control Change and Program Change messages from your computer? Let me know if that is what you're going for and I'll see if I can figure it out!

[@javiermp81]

I think many of the issues were fixed with the latest firmware update (rev. 1.25). What still bothers me is that the Tap LED lights up blue when receiving MIDI clock. It makes it impossible to have a visual confirmation of the tempo. At least recalling with the stored midi/div setting is mentioned in the release notes, so that’s a good thing. I really like the sounds from DIG so I haven’t given up on it yet.

[@shoetiquemusic]

Hi Xavi, thanks for bringing this to my attention! Looks like this firmware dropped in September '23 and the Nixie v2 Beta launched in November. I have not had the opportunity to test this myself - my Dig is currently out on loan. I'll update the video notes to reflect the new firmware info! Here are the release notes for those who are curious: www.strymon.net/faq/dig-v2-firmware-revision-release-notes/ I agree that it's a bummer to not have a visual indication of tempo when receiving midi clock.

[@nedward5871]

Great review. Also waiting for Nixie Beta support for the DIG V2. Nixie does update the firmware which is good. I have a MAX patch that currently works bidirectionally with the DIG, but doesn't save patches. I'd suggest doing a SYSEX dump of the patches in your favorite DAW until Nixie Beta supports it. About to save 4-5 patches for live use with a MIDI Footswitch. for plugin delays, look at the PSP 42, which is 12-bit and "warmer" than stock delays.

[@shoetiquemusic]

Thanks Ned! Strymon seems to be getting their act together slowly but surely. Thanks for bringing the SYSEX option to my attention - I wasn't familiar with this one! The PSP 42 looks interesting, I'll have to give the trail a go at some point. I've been spending some time with Fab Filter Pro R 2. Here's a track I did with that one: soundcloud.com/shoe-tique/nesting-doll

[@nedward5871]

@@shoetiquemusic sounds great! I'm also fond of the SoundToys plugins for regular echo or sound mangling. I'll keep working on the MAX patch, as IIRC there is an option to then create a standalone version of a MAX patch that can be shared for people to use without MAX. I just need more hours in the weekend.

[@mr-iz8cx]

Great articulate review. Im not buying one now, thank you 😊

[@shoetiquemusic]

You won't regret it 😂

[@doriginal69]

I would love it if you could do a video of how to integrate the Morningstar with Studio One.

[@shoetiquemusic]

Thanks for the suggestion Doriginal! Are there any specific things you want to see covered? Are you trying to control Studio One functions and plug ins? Let me know what you're thinking and I'll see what I can do!

[@daveandrew7014]

Another problem using MIDI Presets and MTC is switching MIDI Presets with the different or even the same tempo cuts out delay signal as in no spillover and annoying ramping up/down sound ala analog delay. Pretty useless in live application. Anyone got a fix on this?

[@shoetiquemusic]

Hey Dave! I busted the DiG out and tried to see if I could find a way around the MTC/Spillover issue. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find one. This issue is present even with the super secret firmware update from Strymon (version 1.12).

[@daveandrew7014]

@@shoetiquemusic thanks for trying to find a solution! Is this the same with Volante do you know by any chance? I’m in communication with Strymon I’ll post their response here as well

[@shoetiquemusic]

@@daveandrew7014 I don't have a Volante (or any of the big Strymons) so I can't confirm that one. I'd be curious to know if they suffer from the same MIDI bugs! Thanks for looking into it!

[@daveandrew7014]

Ok Strymon got back to me. They said Spillover does work for MIDI preset changes but only after 5 seconds. So you’d have to stay in a preset for more than 5 seconds then change to make it work. So all good for this matter. I was testing it like a second preset to presets which will never happen in live situation. Now the ramping up and down sound between MIDI presets with different MTC doesn’t have a solution and is unavoidable. This is very unfortunate and made it unusable for me live. I am sending it back.

[@shoetiquemusic]

@@daveandrew7014 Thanks for following up! I was also switching between the presets quickly which explains the lack of spill over. I mostly use the DiG at home, but I can see why the ramping would make the pedal a PITA to use. There's better stuff out there - send it back!

[@BkBk-gy6vr]

A whaaa

[@shoetiquemusic]

Ghaaaaaaa

[@tiagodalmeida]

Hi! Question not related with the Strymon DIG: Since you're so devoted to exposing the truth, why are you being filmed with a fake background, with an expensive gear rack behind you?

[@shoetiquemusic]

Hi Tiago. Thank you for outing me as a hack and a fraud. The lies have continued to pile up and I can't live like this anymore. It is a relief to be exposed. Everything in this video is fake - the background, the gear and even the audio. It's all AI generated. I apologize to you and all the other subscribers who thought I was the real deal. RIP In Pepperoni: ShoeTique: 2022-2024

[@tiagodalmeida]

Rough question and rough answer! Have a nice 2024!

[@Boues91]

???

[@jnnyg65]

Hey Champ! You forgot the hilarious "air quotes" 3:56 in your comment👆 so I fixed it for ya': "I apologize to you and all the other subscribers who thought I was the "real deal". "😂🤣😂

[@shoetiquemusic]

@@jnnyg65 ​If I find out you and @tiagodalmeida are in cahoots I'm going to "call the police" and tell them you're "bullying me on the internet"

[@fangtwo]

I love how most of the complaints are literally just you using the pedal wrong or being upset at things that are standard on every Strymon pedal lol. Someone's cranky.

[@shoetiquemusic]

This is why your life is already over, stalker. Enjoy prison.

[@wisniconverte4864]

I've had my Dig for years and it works perfect. Weak review. You don't know how to explore the functions of this magnificent pedal.

[@shoetiquemusic]

Hey Wisni, I think you forgot to take your brain medicine. This video is about the Dig version 2. It has only been out for a single year. The MIDI bugs with the v2 are verifiable and still present to this day.