Amp hiss

UnclePsychosis

Fuengi said:

UnclePsychosis said:u

Fuengi said:

Dumb question - Is there a quick way to tell if a pedal is digital or analog?

Not really but normally the manufacturer's website will tell you. 

Not so forthcoming. I presume the Boss RC3 is digital, can't find a reference.  

https://www.boss.info/us/products/rc-3/specifications/

The spec doesn't state it directly but you can deduce that it is: the RC-3 offers 3 hours of recording time, 99 saved loops, has USB connectivity and an absolute giveaway is that it records in 16-Bit WAV format. If Boss were doing that with analog electronics they'd be crowing about it!  

That's often one of the tell-tale signs actually. Since guitarists are often analog snobs companies are often desperate to crow about using analogue tech. So for things that are traditionally done digitally (presets, multiple settings, etc) if they do it with analogue they make damn well sure to tell you

ecc83

With regard to 'hiss'. The guitar/pedal/amp system is always going to be cursed with noise because it is an audio engineering 'k'up.

The input impedance of the 'Magic Meg' has almost mythical status and because the impedances around the passive guitar are 20k ish or higher, there is little incentive for makers of external equipment to use ultra low noise techniques.

If ALL guitars contained a decent OP AMP buffer then overall noise levels could be cut by at least 20dB.

Yes, I know...NEVER going to happen!  AND! The cork sniffers would whinge,"It don't SOUND the same"!

Dave.