ia

  • transparent tattoo on your forehead
  • A non-existing delay: Vestax DDG-1 & similar units


    by Jane is K.O.

    A friend working in a DJ equipment store in Berlin around 1997 recommended buying a preproduction delay unit by Vestax called DDG-1. Soon after I regretted i hadn’t already gotten two of them, as this one got to be a permanent companion right away. Unfortunately it never got into a full production then, CE certificate issues, i heard. A non-existing delay unit.

    So here’s a Vestax DDG-1.

    Part of jayrope's CELLO: Vestax DDG-1 (image from approx. 2006, looks much worse now)

    This table unit has a unique combination of features in one unit, which i couldn’t find anywhere after.

    - It’s relatively small
    - It’s digital (probably 16bit/32KHz)
    - It has a hold switch, to loop data in delay buffer.
    - It has delay time modulation with depth and speed (approx. 0.05 Hz to 10Hz), capable of extreme sounds, working both in delay and hold mode. LFO waveform is roughly a sawtooth.
    - It has 5 delay ranges, 2, 8, 32, 128 and 512 ms, all variable with a separate dial 0.5x – 2x. When you switch the range, old audio remains in buffer until overwritten. Good for interesting hold loops.
    - Big silver delay time knob and LFO give you pitch control as clean as on a tape machine.

    That delay fun sound like this:
    That small loop starting to pitch there and going on with various alterations.

    Since my unit is already more than 15 years old and has mechanically worn out extremely i had to look for replacement parts, which were impossible to obtain. The dials for instance are Japanese ALPS, 4-pin PCB mounted RK11K114 ... (I'll post a separate article on reparing those potentiometers some time)
    So i looked around and found, that Vestax or predecessors Vesta Fire and Vesta Kozo had produced various alterations of this unit already:

    A Vestax MDD-9 is mono, but has nice extra output and remote control options. Beware, it runs on 15V.

    Vestax MDD-9 Vestax MDD-9 rear

    +++

    A Vesta Fire D-1x with additional LFO unit, stompbox-style. This one lacks the 2 ms range of the DDG-1. The hold function only works in 256-1024 mode – but the LFO unit has two switchable waveforms. My unit arrived with a broken LFO unit, i am still repairing. Unfortunately the D-1x has no option to listen to delay only. As a foot pedal it is yet great. It self-oscillates to a greater extent, than the DDG-1 and it’s overall sound is very analog. Recommended unit for compressed signal, input needs a good minimum level to escape the noise floor of the unit. Youtube video, not from me.

    Vesta Fire D-1x

    +++

    Also look for the Vestax DIG-400,

    Vestax DIG-400

    +++

    the Vesta Kozo DIG-411 (and 411B) rack unit includes a high cut filter on the feedback line

    Vesta Kozo DIG-411

    +++

    Finally the ideal variation, unfortunately without hold switch. Vesta Fire MDX.

    Vesta Fire MDX

    Compliments to such variety, Vestax/Vesta Fire You might want to consider to get those legendary units back into production ;)

    Thank you to the Looper’s Delight mailing list for helping research all those options.

    If there’s anything similar i haven’t covered: Please comment. Thank you.

    +++
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Jane is K.O. aka jayrope is a Berlin-based composer, producer and musician.
    More info: jayrope.com


    1. — Guywhit    13 April 2019    #

      Hi Jane is K.O,
      I’ve inherited a non-working MDX from my brother. Do you know of anyone who might have a schematic to help me bring it back to life?
      Cheers,
      Guy

    2. IG    24 April 2017    #

      Hey here is another one in Israel. Not cheap but
      https://reverb.com/item/4894031-vestax-ddg-1-rare-digital-delay

    3. Jane Is Ko    4 June 2015    #

      Chris, that’s awesome! Can’t wait.

    4. — Chris W    2 June 2015    #

      Hi

      My uncle has a boxed, unused Vestax DDG-1 that he keeps asking me to sell for him! Let me know if it would be of interest and I’ll find out how much he wants for it (haven’t been able to find a guide price anywhere, but I see this is a fairly rare bit of kit!). I have photos I can send you straight away if you want to take a look. Cheers.


    Comment on this?



      *Email address will not be visible or used by anyone. It's only used for us to be able to communicate back, in case you put a question in here.
      Textile help

     

    XML ♒ We always wanted to do this. That´s a lie. ♒ Imprint