MF-104z vs. Diamond Memory Lane 2

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EMwhite
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MF-104z vs. Diamond Memory Lane 2

Post by EMwhite » Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:02 pm

Likely odd to ask a Moog forum for a comparison of a non-Moog product VS. a Moog product but in this case, I'm interested in pony'ing up the big cash required to buy an Analog delay and stumbled upon the Memory Lane.

Any comments or comparison that you guys might be able to provide? The videos on the 104z don't show much about the product unfortunately and this review is extensive: http://proguitarshop.com/store/delay-pe ... edal-p-790 (click on the video on the right)

Obviously, it only has 1/2 the buffer but otherwise?

Thanks,

-Mike W. from NJ

EricK
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Post by EricK » Tue Dec 15, 2009 1:36 pm

Mike,
Nah were capable of not being biased. :wink:

Pro Guitar Shop had a GREAT demo of the Moog delay with an MXR phaser that is the delay video that I think would solve this mystery for you, but they have since moved it to private. I have written them requesting that they rerelease it to us. That is the video that I wet my whistle on prior to purchasing mine.

The main thing that I would be interested to know about the DML is how it functions with non guitar based instruments.

The modulation effect is nice, but Id rather have CV's to do that exact same thing with a greater level of control.

Im waiting on the second half to load.

It seems to feedback a little more violently than the Moog, which I thought was pretty violent.

So far, I haven't heard the slapback effect with high feedback, which is one thing that I love about the 104's abillity to emulate space reverb.

As of right now I think that the 104 is a little more smooth and warm. This unit doesn't sound bad at all but im mainly interested to know how it would handle really low Frequencies like the Voyager would dish out.

I also haven't heard its longest time setting yet.

Im thinking that they no longer carry Moog gear because I didn't find a single Moog product on their page, so that might be why they went private on their video. That is the video to see though.


Ill finish my review when I finish the video.


Eric
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EricK
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Post by EricK » Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:05 pm

So far I like the .8th note function. I really am beginning to question the frequency response of that diamond unit.

It goes into oscillation a bit more abruptly and the noise it makes is brighter and a bit more harsh than the 104. That coulde a desirable quality though to some.

I prefer the 104z slapback with a high feedback level. I think the 104 gives you more control over the feedback, though that switch on the diamond seems to make it MORE sensitive to going into oscillitory mode.

The modulation is pretty sweet, but if you plan on geting any more cv gear like the 251 you can have much more modulation possible, but its a bit harder to dial in.


Basically I think you are just going to have to decide, the price isn't that much of a difference. Maybe you can try both pedals out or let your dealer know that you might be exchanging one for another and they might can work with you.

I personally think that I would end up longing for the Moog delay.


The 104 has the advantage of tweaking the input and output settings, has a dedicated feedback loop with the loop gain that is switchable to on and off and of corse the spillover mod.

Overall I think the sound of both units is a matter of subjectivity, but the features of the 104 are what seals the deal for me, the cv ins, the control over your tone, etc.

Eric
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EMwhite
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Post by EMwhite » Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:29 pm

Thanks, as always for the feedback, Eric.

Yes, Price is similar. Still scouring for videos on 104z and finding some. Interestingly (or not), I ran out and bought a Fender '63 reissue Reverb unit... as always, I was lead in that direction after starting someplace completely different.

The Synth.com modules have been a curiosity of mine for a while, first I was interested in the Instrument module (before discovering that I could use the ENV follower on my Freq box); then the Tub reverb on the Synth.com was appealing (again, I was looking for modules not currently offered by Moog). After asking the question (you may have replied), a number of folks on the general forum recommended the Fender. And a friend of mine has been collecting Fender everything for years and years and once he said it was a good tube driven Reverb, that sealed it.

So to some extent, the Echo is not as pressing for me as it once was but I'll shortly be making my "last" purchase for a long while and it's going to include a set of T3's and one more Fooger, so 104z is on my list.

Anybody else have any feedback for me (hahaha get it, feedback?!)

-Mike W. from NJ

Bryan T
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Post by Bryan T » Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:40 pm

The CV control possibilities on the Moog make it stand out. The modulation effect possibilities are really powerful. For example, if you adjust the amplitude of a square wave LFO correctly, then you can get the delay signal to jump up and down an octave while playing. Very few other pieces of equipment can do that.

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Post by CTRLSHFT » Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:12 pm

I sold my 104z for the DML2.

While I really really liked all the features on it, it doesn't sound as good as the 104z to my ears. Didn't regret it, but since then I've sold the DML2 as well.

If I were to buy either again, I'd get the 104z.
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Post by Klopfgeist » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:58 am

Also check out the MXR Carbon Copy. Its really cheap and makes a great addition to any delay. :)
So this thing only plays one note?

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EricK
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Post by EricK » Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:48 am

If I was looking for an analogue delay, it would probably go like this...

Carbon Copy
Boss RE20 Spae Echo
Moog Delay
Moog 104sd
Roland re201
(clone myself and kick him to activate the delay)
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moremagic
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Post by moremagic » Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:52 am

The boss space echo's digital ;)

and don't the roland re-501 &c take footswitches?

Anyway I'd say go with the Moog, because even if you're not modulating it with audio signals it still sounds like y're lost at the bottom of a cave (and i think that's good for some reason)

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Post by peterkadar » Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:46 am

I haven't checked out the DLM, but I have 2 of the Moog delays, so here's my impression:

I love how tweakable they are both from the front panel and from attached CV pedals and the CP251's.

I love how they sound... I've recorded with them, and they put whatever you put through them into such a special space... I wish I could describe it more scientifically, but they impart a warmth and sound quality that reminds me of synths on old 80's recordings. Being played back on cassette. That's a good thing, btw ;)

Disadvantages? I wish they didn't squash out all the high frequencies as much as they do sometimes. And of course they're not cheap. Nonetheless, I loved their sound and functionality so much that I bought 2 of them so I could run them in stereo if I wanted. Obviously, that's a MAJOR investment for a delay effect... but once I heard what they did to my LP on a record I did... I knew I had to have the option of stereo...

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Post by EricK » Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:02 am

It seems like on that video of that DML, they said that a charachteristic of Analog delays is that the longer the delay time, the darker the sound.

I don't know if this is intentional or not on the 104, but perhaps that is the nature of the brigade.


Eric
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CTRLSHFT
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Post by CTRLSHFT » Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:10 am

EricK wrote:It seems like on that video of that DML, they said that a charachteristic of Analog delays is that the longer the delay time, the darker the sound.

I don't know if this is intentional or not on the 104, but perhaps that is the nature of the brigade.


Eric
Certain BBD echos start considerably darker than others though, 104z is definitely a lot darker than others. One up for the DML2 is that you can tweak the echo sound from dark to bright very effectively, whereas the 104z echo will always be dark. Sounds mighty fine though! :)
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Post by latigid on » Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:27 am

With both bucket brigade devices and analog tape recording, the quality of the sound is very dependent on the clock or tape speed.

There's a bit of math which I can't quite remember, but the speed of recording determines the analog "sample rate". The faster you go, the larger your audio bandwidth. That's why pro reel to reel use[s/d] 30 inches per second to give >30kHz capability. Slow down your tape and the sound gets less bright as you compress the bandwidth.

Same thing with the 104 etc. The "long" setting halves the clock, resulting in a darker sound.

Although I swore and said "sample", of course analog is not limited by Niquist Theorem (you can use the whole bandwidth safely without aliasing) and there aren't steps in the recording process.

Maskin
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Post by Maskin » Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:26 am

EricK wrote:If I was looking for an analogue delay, it would probably go like this...

Carbon Copy
Boss RE20 Spae Echo
Moog Delay
Moog 104sd
Roland re201
(clone myself and kick him to activate the delay)
I bought a Maxon AD999 this week to double the delay power in my rig (I already have the MF-104Z but it's too expensive to buy another one at the moment).
With a maximum delay time of 900 ms it isn't bad at all, it has a nice feedback sound and is a bit brighter than the MF. Oh, and it costs about 2/3 less.
[size=75]"I like to play with electronic noise makers. I hope someone wants to listen, and if not, I'll still be up at 3 am making sequences in the dark, drinking coffee, and burning expensive incense." [i]Rod Modell[/i][/size]

thomas
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Post by thomas » Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:25 am

Hello Maskin,

What about the headroom of your Maxon AD 999 ?
Is it as "noise free" as our beloved MF-104 is ?
And what about the input level ?
Can you feed it with any sound source ?

Thomas

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