Korg SDD-3000 D igital Delay

Produced by Universal Audio in collaboration
with Korg, SDD3000 Digital Delay is a UAD-
powered emulation of the latter’s classic 80s
rackmount (reborn as a stompbox in 2014) delay
unit. The original was largely responsible for one
of the most recognisable guitar sounds in the
history of rock – the soaring, stadium-illing echoes
of U2‘s The Edge – and subsequently found
favour with U2 producer Daniel Lanois and
electronic music legend William Orbit, amongst
others. With its combination of analogue JRC
op-amps (as used in many distortion pedals of
the day) and crunchy 13-bit converters, it’s one of
the most instantly identiiable delays ever made.
Universal Audio’s plugin (VST/AU/AAX/RTAS)
remake of the SDD3000 aims to accurately
model every aspect of the real thing (minus the
CV and footswitch inputs), while adding better
stereo compatibility and, of course, tempo sync.
Drive it over
At the start of the signal low, the Attenuator
switch sets the input level gain compensation to
+4dB, -10dB or -30dB, while -20dB, -10dB and
+4dB options ofer level adjustment at the
output. At -30dB, the modelled preamp applies
wonderfully gritty saturation as the Level knob
is turned clockwise. It’s also available as a
Unison plugin for UAD Apollo users, emulated
within the interface itself for zero-latency
tracking through it.
Like the real SDD3000, the Delay Time
(incrementally adjusted with the Up and Down
buttons, or entered directly) ranges from 1 to
1023ms. Unlike the hardware, though, the plugin
can also sync to host, with a menu ofering all
the usual regular, dotted and triplet divisions
from 1/2 to 1/64, as well as 5/16 and 5/32.
The Feedback circuit includes Low- and High-
pass ilters for simple frequency shaping, each
with three ixed cutof frequencies. High
Feedback settings quickly degenerate to a
gloriously ilthy wash, and we’d have really
appreciated enhancement of the ilters beyond
the original spec to take in a wider range of
cutofs – or even an upgrade to continuous
knobs for real-time play. Sacrilege, we know…
The Hold button repeats the full 1023ms
bufer continuously when engaged – useful for
textural and looping efects. Again, the
implementation of sweepable ilters would have
made a hugely beneicial improvement here.
In the Modulation section, the Delay time can
be modulated by an internal LFO or envelope
follower, for chorusing, langing and other
pitching efects. Triangle, square and random
LFO waveshapes are onboard, and the LFO
frequency tops out at a nippy-enough 15Hz.
Delaying tactics
Universal Audio’s virtual SDD3000 truly nails
the functional speciics of the original hardware
– for better and worse. We can’t help but wish
the company had taken a few more liberties
with regard to modernising it, most notably
those ixed ilter frequencies – UA added tempo
sync and true stereo, after all.
That said, what matters most here are the
sound, musicality and easy worklow, all of
which have been captured perfectly, making
SDD3000 another worthy addition to the UAD
Powered Plugins roster, particularly for retro-
minded guitarists and producers.
Web www.uaudio.com
Universal Audio
Korg SDD-3000
Digital Delay
£149
Get the epic echo stylings of The Edge and contemporaries in your
DAW with the latest classic efect for UAD2 and Apollo systems
Verdict
For Flawlessly recreates the hardware
Lively, timelessly musical delay
LFO and envelope follower pitch mod
Unison preamp
Against Unimproved feedback ilters
feel like a missed opportunity
All the magic of the real SDD3000
plus true stereo routing and tempo
sync. More versatile ilters wouldn’t have
broken the spell, though, would they?
9 / 1 0
Alternatively
Soundtoys EchoBoy
227 » 10/10 » $199
One of the most popular delay
plugins around, emulating a
wide range of hardware units
AudioThing Outer Space
245 » 10/10 » €49
A stunningly successful
software reimagining of the
Roland Space Echo tape delay
The original SDD3000 rackmount featured
three output jacks, which could be panned in
various combinations to output its processed
mono source in mono or two types of stereo.
Needless to say, the plugin covers all of the
original conigurations, but, as you’d hope, it
also adds to them with a stereo in/stereo out
mode and a L/R Balance knob.
The stereo setup is selected by clicking the
Mode button or the faux LED above it, and
there are ive to choose from. The irst is your
basic Mono In/Mono Out, while Mode 2 sends
the summed signal to one side and the out-of-
phase diference to the other for stereoising
of mono input. Modes 3 and 4 output the dry
signal on one channel (left for Mode 3, right
for Mode 4) and wet on the other (vice versa)
– release your inner guitar god!
Finally, Mode 5 simply maintains the L/R
image between input and output, enabling
regular stereo usage. Well, they’d have been
mad not to, clearly.
In the Mode
100 / COMPUTER MUSIC / December 2017
> reviews / universal audio korg sdd-3000 digital delay
CMU250.rev_uadkorg.indd 100 16/10/2017 15:08