Features In early October 2014 we came out with the new "flat box" version of the ARDX20. The new version uses a custom "hammond style" box for lower profile.
ARDX20 receives the GUITAR PLAYER magazine EDITOR'S PICK AWARD in the April 2010 issue
The ARDX20 takes the great sound of our previous single AR20DL analog delay, but adds more features.
This delay was designed for ease of use and the best sound possible, with standard features everyone can use, but optional external features for things everyone may not want to pay for up front. The external options like tap tempo, modulation, and presets is an additional AMAZE0 pedal with a computer in it to control this delay.
FEATURES
1. True bypass switching, the right side foot switch is effect ON/OFF.
2. It's ONE delay pedal, but has TWO sets of controls, not only delay time but also delay level and feedback.
YELLOW channel (upper 3 knobs) or RED channel (lower 3 knobs) are selected with the left foot switch.
3. Battery or normal 9V boss type power. Power jack in the center top.
4. Battery compartment on the bottom for quick and easy battery changes (round version).
5. Low power consumption, 15mA, so an alkaline battery should last about 30 hours of use.
6. Jacks are on the top of the pedal for efficient layout on pedalboards
7. Input jack on the far right, unplug to disconnect battery
8. Output jack on the far left
9. EFFECTS LOOP is next to the input jack. Use a Y-cable (insert cable like optional HOSA STP-201
Modulation pedals are cool here. The E-H FREEZE pedal is amazing in the loop!
Or use a VOLUME pedal with a Y-Cable, or an expression pedal to control the level of the repeats. Pulling back all the way will kill the delay sound. You can also control the FEEDBACK somewhat, as lowering the repeats volume will reduce the feedback so you can easily control infinite delays.
10. DELAY TIME EXPRESSION jack is next to the output jack. Use a normal 10K Boss EV5 type expression pedal to control the delay time of the RED channel. This jack is also used for external options (AMAZE1) including tap tempo, modulation, multiple delay time preset boxes, etc. The Boss FV500L is a stronger, bigger expression pedal which we also carry. We also carry the Ernie Ball 6181 volume pedal which makes a GREAT small, heavy duty expression pedal (requires insert Y-cable).
11. 600mS (.6 seconds) analog delay time, with clear, not dull, delay sounds. But not clean and bright like a digital delay. Most of the units actually get 650mS if you measure them. The delays are easily controlled for infinite feedback without runaway volume problems which can damage your speakers. 3:00 on the feedback will usually provide easily controlled infinite repeats. Minimum delay time is 36mS. Uses two select 3205 chips for best delay at 9V.
12. You can plug into the EFFECTS LOOP to get a WET ONLY sound, when the pedal is ON. You will need a special cable- the ring on the delay side always connected to the tip of the output cable. These WET ONLY cables are an option. So the WET output will be very loud. You can alternatively plug a normal cable half-way into the EFFECTS LOOP jack to do this but it's a little tricky to get it just right so if you want to do it often it's best to use a special cable. HERE .
13. Two LED lights blink in time to the delay setting, whether the pedal is ON or OFF, so you can see the delay time setting. lat box version size : 4.6" wide x 5.5" deep x 1.72" tall (2.4" to top of switch)NEW REV 3 ARDX20 circuit in Dec, 2011 We
NEW REV 4 Flat Box ARDX20 in Sept, 2014 NEW REV 4 ARDX20 with no Plexiglass panel in December, 2019 The same as the previous flat version except there is no plexiglass panel, the graphics are printed directly on the enclosure. We can re-box your old round-box VERSION 3
ARDX20, into the new flat box. You can tell ver3 as all four jacks have a plastic nut, and the
power jack is square. We can't do the earlier versions, sorry! REV1 had all four jacks with metal nuts, and rev2 had two black and two metal jacks. Our MOD FORM has that info (google will find it).
Youtube. The remote jack is an option on a new pedal.
When you change delay time on an Analog delay, the repeated notes can slur a bit, a sort of portamento. This happens whenever changing time on any analog delay - turning the delay time knob; using the delay time expression pedal (see Gary Clark, Jr's cool use of portamento below!); changing channels on the ARDX20; or using the AMAZE1 to change with tap tempo or program changes. An Analog Delay is like a tape echo or record player, you probably have tried slowing down or speeding up one of these and heard the slur as it changed time. If you don't like it, you can change delay time between playing but it can be used for cool effects too.
No surface mount components
Unlike most of the new sunface-size analog delays now available, and most larger units with long delay times, the ARDX20 uses vintage style normal-size electronic components that are hand-soldered to the circuit board. These are not machine made at a factory like others. We also use normal size potentiometers and switches that are hand wired. This means that the ARDX20 won't wind up in a landfill if something goes wrong- it can be repaired by anyone, while the factory made, robot-built surface-mount analog delays must usually be replaced if something fails or is damaged by an electrical or mechanical accident. We also feel that the normal size components will give you a better sound. The resistors may not make a difference, but the capacitors we use are not available in tiny surface-mount versions. One big difference between the sound of digital and analog, is the high frequency decay. A
digital delay can have essentially infinite decay, at all audio
frequencies. In nature, air absorbs high frequencies really quickly. It
turns out that even the largest acoustic space, with a decay of tens of
seconds at low/mid frequencies, will be limited to around 1.25-1.5
seconds of decay at 10 kHz or so. Having high frequencies that ring out
for seconds ends up sounding unnaturally bright.
TAP TEMPO INFORMATION
The AMAZE1 Tap Tempo box is an external computerized controller box. It plugs right into the delay time jack with a stereo patch cord. No other box or switch will work with the ARDX20 for tap tempo. We have some cool features like modulation and presets in this external box which became available in 2011. The AMAZE0/1 controller will work on ANY ARDX20 pedal. Not sure if it will work on any other analog or digital delays yet but we may come out with new versions if there is a need. The AMAZE0 was discontinued in late 2015 and now we have the smaller AMAZE1. BASS GUITAR An analog delay works great on bass, as it has a warm low end and you don't need a lot of highs. Eric Johnson's bass player Chris Maresh has the ARDX20 on his pedalboard along with one of our chorus pedals.
When Eric went on tour with his old bass player
Kyle Brock, Kyle got one too!
I tried out my Analogman Dual Delay on my bass board a few months ago
and it has become a permanent fixture! The utter transparency translates
perfectly to bass, and in fact, it is the ONLY "usable" delay I've ever found
for bass. In addition to long special FX type applications, I most commonly use
it for a long slap-back type effect, which perfectly replicates the sustain of
synth bass without requiring the squashing effect of compression...
SAMPLES
Awesome video from Daniel and Mick at thegigrig
VIDEO
Here is a great video from Mike Hermans (pop into the chemist) :
That Pedal Show compares the ARDX20 to an Echoplex, jump to 9 minutes to skip intros:
VIDEO
ANATOMY of GUITAR TONE - ARDX20
http://www.analogman.com/samples/dougdoppler/ARDX20AnalogMen.mp3
Another from Doug Doppler
http://www.analogman.com/samples/dougdoppler/ARDX20IfSixWasEight.mp3
GEARMANNDUDE!
More GEARMANNDUDE with the expression pedal for delay time:
Option Jack explanation video:
Matt Rae playing some country licks with the ARDX20:
Here is a demo of the delay with the AMAZE0 controller by Lance Keltner
Gary Clark Jr. has been using his ARDX20 for some time. I finally saw him in the summer of 2012 and he was
also using a KOT V4 and Astro Tone fuzz. He was also using a Boss EV-5 pedal as a delay time expression pedal.
Gary did some tasty slow playing while gently rocking the controller pedal for a sweet bent delay sound.
Here is a picture
of his pedalboard
in June 2012.
Here are some videos of Gary using the delay with the expression control pedal in the intros.
Chuck Garvey of the band
moe. has been using his ARDX20 with the AMAZE0 controller since they first came out, for hundreds of shows. He also likes to use an expression pedal on his.
Singer/songwriter Christopher Cross, also an outstanding guitarist, got a few ARDX20 pedals for his various boards in 2013. He said
"I'm always searching for that elusive tone. Using your delay mono and the TC for my stereo spread is incredible compared to using the DL-4 for both.
I have always used the Line 6 but I was losing my fundamental note. Now with your delay and the TC as the last thing in the chain it's beautiful. Nice and thick but much more articulate."
ARDX20 
