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BOSS

Description

Filled with newly developed BOSS technology, the DD-500 is the most powerful and versatile stompbox delay ever created. This incredible sound-creation toolbox offers 12 distinctive delay modes with exceptional audio quality, plus deep editing controls, a graphic display, patch memories, MIDI and much more. From basic echo to dead-on emulations of classic delays to incredibly lush spatial textures that take your breath away, the DD-500 will launch your music places you never thought possible.

Twelve Versatile Delay Modes and Deep Editing Options

With the DD-500's 12 delay modes, you can create any delay sound you can imagine, and then some. Everything you need is here, from warm, gritty vintage delays and tape echo to complex modern delay lines that employ pitch shifting, filtering and other unique processing. With the hands-on knobs, it's easy to shape essential parameters and create great sounds immediately. Each delay type also includes a semi-parametric four-band EQ, modulation, ducking and many other parameters, allowing you to dive deep and refine tones with maximum precision.

Unparalleled Sound Quality

In the DD-500, every delay mode has been carefully crafted for a unique sonic personality and highly musical tones at every setting, realized by high-powered DSP running at 32-bit/96kHz. And while the DD-500's delay effects are high-end digital, your straight guitar tone remains 100% analog at all times, with your choice of buffered or true-bypass operation. In addition to strengthening the analog dry signal, buffered bypass has the added benefit of enabling carryover, so delay trails are not cut off unnaturally when the effect is switched off.

Advanced Features for Stage and Studio Use

In the world of sophisticated delay stomps, the DD-500 stands alone in practical usability. The large, integrated LCD fully supports the pedal's immense capabilities, giving you clear visibility of delay time, patch ID and more on one screen, plus sane navigation for detailed parameter tweaks, naming and system management. And via USB, it's simple to connect to your computer for patch backup and MIDI control with your favorite DAW.

Intensive Real-Time Control

With its freely assignable controls, the DD-500 delivers unmatched creative expression and performance flexibility. By default, the A, B and TAP/CTL switches offer intuitive control for two patches, bypass, bank selection, tap tempo and more. However, they can be customized to operate in alternate ways, such as providing top-level access to three different delay patches or allowing you to use two patches at once for layered delay sounds. Instead of tap tempo, you'e able to assign the TAP/CTL switch to various real-time functions, such as Warp or Twist for a wide range of expressive effects. Even more parameters can be manipulated via an optional expression pedal or external switches, and MIDI I/O opens up many additional control options with advanced setups.

DD-500 Delay Modes

• Standard - Clear digital delay
• Analog - Emulates classic analog BBD delays like the BOSS DM series
• Tape - Emulates the warm sound of tape-based delay units, including the Maestro Echoplex and legendary Roland RE-201 Space Echo
• Vintage Digital - Emulations of early digital delays from the 1980s, including Roland's famous SDE-2000 and SDE-3000 rack units and the BOSS DD-2, the original stompbox digital delay
• Dual - 2 different delay lines that can be connected in series or parallel
• Pattern - 16 different delay lines that can be set independently for all types of unique rhythmic effects.
• Reverse - Backwards delay for cool psychedelic effects and other unique tones
• SFX - Special effects delay with a highly unique sound character
• Shimmer - Pitch-shifted delays for lush, heavenly textures
• Filter - Delay with a sweeping filter
• Slow Attack - Ethereal delays that fade in with playing dynamics
• Tera Echo - Spacious, animated ambience effect derived from the innovative BOSS TE-2 pedal

DD-500 Assignable Control Functions

The following functions can be assigned to the DD-500's onboard TAP/CTL switch and/or optional external footswitches. These assignments are stored as part of a patch.
• Tap - Set the delay in time with a song's tempo
• Hold - The delay's feedback is held continuously while the switch is pressed
• Warp - Increases the delay's feedback and level simultaneously for powerful expressive effects
• Twist - Adjusts multiple delay parameters with a single press, creating wild sounds similar to twisting the panel knobs in real time
• Moment - Outputs the delay sound only when you hold down the switch
• Roll 1/2 - Cuts the delay time to 1/2 of the current setting when you hold down the switch
• Roll 1/4 - Cuts the delay time to 1/4 of the current setting when you hold down the switch
• Roll 1/8 - Cuts the delay time to 1/8 of the current setting when you hold down the switch 
• Fade In - Fades in the delay sound
• Fade Out - Fades out the delay sound
• Assign 1-8 - Allows you to assign and control up to eight different delay parameters at once 
BOSS DD-500 Digital Delay Guitar Effects Pedal
BOSS DD-500 Digital Delay Guitar Effects Pedal
BOSS DD-500 Digital Delay Guitar Effects Pedal

Features

  • Studio-level stereo sound with 32-bit/96kHz processing throughout
  • 12 versatile delay modes from vintage to modern deliver unlimited creative possibilities
  • Unrivaled real-time expression with customizable control settings for onboard and external switches
  • Graphic LCD for easy, intuitive operation while performing and editing
  • Onboard patch memories and hands-on controls
  • Equipped with a built-in Phrase Looper, MIDI, USB and more
  • Selectable buffered or true-bypass operation

Warranty

Boss pedals - 5 year parts warranty
90 day labor warranty.
1 year warranty - Multitracks, Jamstations, etc.
Check with manufacturer for specific product warranty.

Featured Articles

Reviews

4.5

14 Reviews

83%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Most Liked Positive Review

5

Great Pedal

From subtle to extreme modifications of classic and modern delays. This pedal does it. This pedal directly competes with the Strymon Timeline and Eventide Timefactor in both quality and sound. I'll let you download the manual to see all the adjustable modifications possible for each Delay. The Re-201 and Echoplex Tape Delays are incredible recreations. The new Slow Attack Delay is another great effects, especially with sustained notes. The Analog Delay, and this is true with all digital analog recreations, will not replace your current Analog delay if you have a good one. I know it does not replace my Malekko Heavy Industry Ekko 616 MKII Dark Analog Delay or MOOG MF-104, but it is nice to have if your after a crisper analog sound. The filter is another nice setting giving you LP,HP,and BP filters with LFO of TRI,SIN,and SQUARE waves. One thing that would have been nice to see is a Formant Filter. The other delays we delay freaks should have a good understanding of, so I'll leave those for you to investigate. I tested the Pedal with a Fender Standard Strat and Fender Mustang VII Studio Clean Amp. I added a MOOG MF Drive and Boss DS-1x at times to test if the delay swallowed up overdriven sound. And as far as I can tell it does not swallow up the overdrive like a lot of delay pedals do. This one is a winner and it won't be leaving my pedalboard anytime soon:-)

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

3

OK, but if you have a DD-20 gigadelay, think twice...

This unit does not measure up to my expectations. I've owned the Boss DD-20 Gigadelay for going on 10 years. It's a fabulous unit. The DD-500 was supposed to be an upgrade. Sure it has a nice LCD window to help through the settings. Sure it has more settings that can be tweaked for each delay type. And yes it is a better looper. But all that aside, it's shimmer (the one thing the DD-20 doesn't do) is not up to snuff no matter how tweaked - this is nothing like Strymon timeline's shimmer, and it's overall sound quality is a STEP DOWN from the DD-20, despite the 32 bit 96khz sample rate. It sounds thin. I couldn't be more disappointed - I'll be taking this back today.

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Home Studio8
  2. Performances8
  3. Amateur Recording7
  4. Outdoor Events / Games4
  5. Professional Recording3
Cons
  1. None3
  2. Difficult To Use1
  3. Not Responsive1
  4. Poor Sound Quality1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced7
  2. Professional Musician3
  3. Novice1
Pros
  1. Versatile11
  2. Excellent Sound Quality9
  3. Good Selection Of Effects9
  4. Compact8
  5. Responsive8

Reviewed by 14 customers

  • All In One

    5

    submitted8 years ago

    byJosh

    fromWinston-Salem, NC

    This pedal is full of sonic textures and sounds. It really is an all in one effect. Great settings and presets. There are many options more than you could probably use. I'd rather have more than enough than not enough. It does everything you need a delay to do and even color some nice tone apart from obvious delay. You can get a lot out of this pedal. Also I've had the DD-20 Gigadelay and i loved it but this pedal is just as good if not better. The delay and tones are much clearer and louder and there is nothing to complain about here

  • Buy it, update it, throw away the manual...

    5

    submitted8 years ago

    byMichael F

    fromPittsburgh, PA

    A great delay, made even better after the 2.0 update. The base delays are good, with a flat eq, unlike the strymon timeline(or any strymon, and which seems to just sound geeat, period). But with some tweeking, i feel it is superior to my timeline. The editing is way deeper, with as good sound quality(if not betterthan in many cases), and its cheaper. Plus its built like a tank. The echoplex setting is amazing, and the vintage digital delay does the mid/late 80s u2 sound perfectly. There are a few minor complaints, but im not sure if the unit CAN do them; im sure its not in the manual, which sucks. It sucks so bad, it needs mentioning twice. The manual sucks. I think it was written by engineers for engineers. You'll learn the real ins and out of the unit on line, be it on youtube, or various groups/pages dedicated to the device. But even that can't detract from what an amazing piece of gear this is.

  • Excellent and exciting

    5

    Verified Buyer

    submitted9 years ago

    byPaul

    fromundisclosed

    The DD-500 is the best pedal purchase decision I have made. This has changed my board for the better. I am excited to discover more I can do. I have been able to remove and sell other pedals due the functionality of the DD-500.

  • No no no.

    3

    Verified Buyer

    submitted9 years ago

    byDaniel

    fromundisclosed

    I bought this product and found myself returning it because I wasn't feeling too sure that it was worth the money. I found that although it sounds great and can do anything you want delay related I also found that it wasn't easy to use or practical. As far as its looping capability I thought it to was not all that impressive in the practical category. I decided it was not ethical to keep it and proceeded to returned it. If one could find one used perhaps it would be more worth the while.

  • So far so good!

    5

    Verified Buyer

    submitted9 years ago

    byPat

    fromMonroe NC

    So far so good. Nice design. Cool effects preprogrammed from the factory. Looking forward to working with it and learning more about it.

  • OK, but if you have a DD-20 gigadelay, think twice...

    3

    submitted10 years ago

    byMickeyC

    fromPhoenix, AZ

    This unit does not measure up to my expectations. I've owned the Boss DD-20 Gigadelay for going on 10 years. It's a fabulous unit. The DD-500 was supposed to be an upgrade. Sure it has a nice LCD window to help through the settings. Sure it has more settings that can be tweaked for each delay type. And yes it is a better looper. But all that aside, it's shimmer (the one thing the DD-20 doesn't do) is not up to snuff no matter how tweaked - this is nothing like Strymon timeline's shimmer, and it's overall sound quality is a STEP DOWN from the DD-20, despite the 32 bit 96khz sample rate. It sounds thin. I couldn't be more disappointed - I'll be taking this back today.

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Q&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • submitted3 years ago

    asked byAlan

    fromLa Villa Strangiato

    Can this create the same effects that you would get from a dedicated Flanger? I see that its a "Phase Shifter" so is that pretty much the same thing?

    Open Reply - Thomas
    No. Flangers are ":swooshy". "Phase Shifting is a very light effect closer to a chorus w/o the delay.

  • submitted6 years ago

    asked byAdam

    fromCA

    Can I run it into the DAW on my computer and record from it directly?

    Open Reply - Ronald
    You would have to run it through an interface, but you can run it from the interface into the Daw.