Your articulate presentations are becoming habit forming . I have been playing for fifty + years, wow... Have collected pedals and amps since the seventies. Your presentations are articulate and presented in a way that captures one's attention. Keep on keeping on young man, good stuff. Thanks for sharing.
I had both a digital and an analog version at my disposal for a long time. Tbh, the differences are so minor that they will be instantly lost in any mix or recording. As with most pedals there are tolerances in electrical components that can lead to "slightly different" sounds when the settings are the same. Idk, I find it easy to get lost in "slightly warmer here" or "slightly deeper chorus" etc, the difference isn't going to be the make or break on if your playing sounds good or the song/guitar part you write is solid
I don't see how anyone could think the pedal on the right was the digital one. The pedal on the right was soupier, less precise, a hallmark of BBD chips-you can clearly hear the inconsistency in the modulation-and the pedal on the left was more clear and controlled, almost totally pristine, a hallmark of digital. That being said, I wouldn't necessarily say one was better than the other. It comes down to personal taste and the intended application. Two different sounds, both eminently usable, which do you want to use where and when? It's the same thing with analogue delay v. digital delay.
Amen! I use a NUX CH-3 which uses the old analog chips. It cost me $35.00 USD . They made the same pedal for 10 years. I replaced it with a Strymon no less . I kept the Strymon for 2 years then bought another CH3, lol. They replaced it with a new paint job when they brought out their vintage Re-Issue line, LOL The same pedal is now $60,00 USD. Even so it is worth it.
So funny - I skimmed the comment earlier and forgot which one; just ordered an analog CE-5 and when the right one sounded better, I was panicking for a second it might be digital! 🙀 Glad I did my research and ordered the right one. ;) Liked a friend's CH-1 but wanted to go analog with a Chorus Ensemble. Got a feeling I might've chosen wisely!
My old ears have endured the journey. Played in many a hall in the Delta and up and down the east coast. Done studio work to help shape classic rock. The study of music and a great ear got me there. At my age, on this night, I personally could not tell the difference. I in fact have a CE-5 on my shelf of Boss pedals. Which one? Not sure but am flagging this vid for future references. I too luv the Boss pedals (most). Good stuff young man. Keep on keeping on.
Thanks. Your channel always brings interesting information. I didn't even know these digital and analog Chorus Ensembles existed! I thought they were all digital. I opened my old CE-5 just before the end of this video and immediately realized that it was an analog model, although I always believed otherwise. It's from the early 90s and has a “wide and detailed” sound range. I've heard that little difference between these two pedals and maybe because of my age I bet the one on the right was digital. Great video!
Wow, interesting. I own a CE-5 from the nineties. It is the first pedal I bought as a youngling. The right pedal sounded like mine, so I guessed it is the analogue one. I prefered the sound because I am used to it. The other one sounds nice too. Usually I use less depth than in this test and I guess the difference would be even less noticeable. Great experiment!
Hey, that’s good news! I think the differences in sound are negligible enough where it doesn’t really matter when you’re playing with a band or even a singer, but it’ll be worth more if you ever decide to sell.
That fuzziness you heard it's from BBD circuit, it has a MN3007 inside. All BBD have those subtle harmonics and is nothing you can do about it! On the other side, the digital version has that crystal and noiseless sound, plus a more subtle and pleasant chorus effect. It's like a vinyl vs CD comparison. I like everything BOSS does and I am 100% for digital in matter of modulation, reverb and delay effects. But when it comes for tube screamers, overdrives and distortions I am for pure analog! And by the way, I personally didn't believed you when you guessed wrong! Great video anyway!
Sometimes with a BBD, the higher end is boosted at the end to try and regain some of the rolled off treble, and sometimes with a digital, they roll off some of the highs to make it sound more warm. I could tell a difference but didn’t know which side to attribute it to. That said, I’d use either one no hesitation in like 99% of practical situations.
Thx for the video! I find it psychologically fascinating that when asked to say which is digital and which is analog, you got them wrong, and then after you know, you mentally say, "Whew; I'm glad those notes that rang out clearer were actually from the analog pedal, so now I can comfortably say the analog pedal is better." I suspect, if a player had someone else swapping between the pedals so the player couldn't see what was going on, with that person trying very hard to get the same tones out of both pedals (ignoring making the dials point to the same positions on both, and instead going on how it sounds), the player wouldn't be able to tell the difference. It's a mental thing to want to BELIEVE old tech sounds better!
It's like the old Folgers Crystals "we've secretly replaced..." commercials. Is there a difference to be heard? Yeah, I can squeeze out a difference that I can consistently demonstrate. Would I notice a difference if someone swapped out the pedal mid-set? Probably not unless I was recording pure clean guitar and was really focused on a very particular sound. I also know that there's a bigger difference to be had by using different pick materials, adjusting where I strike the strings with my right hand, changing pickups, dialing in my amp... You hit the nail on the head, a lot of times there is something awesome about older tech, but I think people sometimes confuse causation and correlation. Amazing how the rarest pedal is always going to be the most sought-after one.
I've been playing since 1989, and for years I didn't even bother with a dedicated chorus: I used a DOD FX75B flanger instead. It's great for chorus! And then a friend bought me the CE-5, so it became my go to. I didn't even know it was digital! I can make it sound just as lush as the analog flanger. It's all just psychological for the most part, but hey, if that mental state drives sales of the CE-2 Waza, even though the CE-5 digital can replicate it just fine, more power to them!
I have a CE-5 that's digital and I think it's great. If anything happened to one of my other chorus pedals (CE-2w and MXR Analog Chorus), I wouldn't have an issue using the CE-5 instead. I think it's every bit as good.
I picked B thinking it sounded warmer, thicker, more wobbly like it should be and BETTER and guessed it was the analogue. I was correct. Was listening on crappy tv speakers too. Good test.
Idk.... If you look at the cords carefully, especially how they jiggle when the switch is pressed the pedal on the left is plugged into channel A (the light on the right). The analog pedal on the right was channel B (the light on the left). So I do believe your first guess was correct.
The analog CE-5 sounded rounder, whereas the digital CE-5 had more sparkly treble, which might be perceived as too brittle by some. The chorus effect on the analog CE-5 sounded deeper and more 3D.
Great comparison - really appreciate you efforts and time. I like the analog better. I had a feeling it was the analog. There is some merit in older technologies. Again, thank you very much brother!
Given that the noticeable difference was only perceptible when you had several knobs cranked, is it possible that the audible differences are due to the potentiometer tolerances of the two pedals being different more than any of the other components? In other words, if you got another digital or analog CE-5 and tried those maxed out settings in another shootout with the same type of CE-5, would you still find differences? An interesting thought. Still, enjoyable video. I didn’t hear any meaningful difference, personally, but UA-cam does have a way of compressing audio.
Wild, i thought the same as you. I forgot which was which when you showed the answers. Im confused by the comments saying how the analog one sounded darker and less pristine. I thought the digital one sounded "warmer". Of course, the eq could change this, but wow
This is very good quality video, thanks. My thought was analog on switch A and that was right, i have analog pink label CH1 and CE1 , analog is better.
After my TC Corona chorus died I dug out my old CE-5 (GK) so must be analog and very happy with the sound. Even though there are so many choices out there I don’t feel the need to go buy another chorus.
That certainly would be a good clue. I considered swapping the footplates from the pedals, but the colors didn't quite match. That said, one pedal being 23 years old and one being 26 years old wouldn't make that much of a difference in and of itself, I think it just happened to be the case here.
The digital was clearer and the analog was murky. I was surprised you heard it the other way around. The difference is just a preference thing. Sometimes I think old pedals make me sound old LOL.
Oi! Great work as always…..is there a thing about using an irregular power supply with the analog version, and does it make a difference? I read people talking about using 18v DC with analog version.
Can't say I have any experience with that. I know that between the MN3007 and MN3207, the MN3207 can run at a lower voltage, and according to some ears, this results in lower bandwidth, and someone may want to raise the voltage to try and get greater headroom. Even if the BBD chips themselves can run at 15v, I personally, I wouldn't want to push my input voltage that high because there are plenty of other components in there that might top out at 12v. So, the TL;DR, I might see the benefit of pushing it up to 10-12v, but you'll only find the limit once. I almost definitely wouldn't go to 18v, that just sounds like a recipe for disaster.
I have the analog pedal. I bought it new. But I knew which was the analog before you started. The rubber on the pedal had grayed out like an old pedal. The analog pedal has more mid range
The rubber pad is a good indicator, but the pedals are only a few years apart in age. The analog one likely just saw more usage or was left out in the sun more. I’ve got an early year Blues Driver that’s minty fresh because it’s barely been used, and a more recent one that’s worn to heck from being on a touring board.
The analog one is noticeably darker. The digital has more treble. My guess was correct, but then again I wasn't there in the room and UA-cam does a lot of compression.
Finally a clean and useful comparison. Subbed of course. Would you consider a more in depth video of the Boss dc3? I know you already did a video but I'd like to listen to it more than a few seconds. I've noticed that the knobs react in a weird way and that a good setup would be Level and Tone at 2 o'clock, Rate below half and Depth 1 o'clock. At least it sounds good on my Behringer clone.
IMO, the analog is warmer, clearer, and has longer tails, too. I have a newer model, but have started collecting the analog models for a dedicated board with just ACA power for a vintage board to run through a '72 Peavey Studio 40 Pro (with a FX Loop, and an Unbalanced Out).
great review, and fwiw, i thought the pedal on the right was analog just based on the oxidation of the rubber stomp-pad! i would say a more objective approach might be to use a recorded series of loops to remove player "bias" as far as dynamics go. but in the end if they're this close so as to involve this depth of analysis, it's not really going to "kill the song" at the end of the day if you were to use one over the other. jmo additionally, i don't think Boss is gonna make such a move in production if they really thought it was going to cost them any business.... just sayin'.
What is your favorite chorus pedal? I've used an analog Boss CEB-3 since on bass '95, and the analog Boss CH-1 was my main chorus for guitar for years, but I recently acquired the Boss DC-2W which is currently my favorite on guitar.
DC-2w is probably my favorite for adding a bit of depth without it getting too swirly and in the way. Love the Dimension pedals. For regular chorus, I have a lot of favorites, the CE-2w, the Maxon CS-505, and lately I’ve been having a lot of fun with the TC Electronic SCF.
@@shckltnebay it's just a comparison with the effects that I've tried. I still use digital effects for their features, but digital effects usually sound "choppy" to me because they generate weird static and they sound "glitchy" to me... especially when compared to an analog version of the same type of effect. I hear more of what I'm playing with analog effects, and with digital effects I hear more noise.
@@shckltnebay honestly... Chorus isn't even "my thing"... I'm more into phasers and envelope filters. Flangers are not really "my thing" either, but I do use flangers more than I use chorus. I'm also not into "the next new thing"... I would rather have something that is dependable. You are correct about that. Furthermore, I'm not into multi-effects or effects processors.
@@John-ue8md Im 55 and love analog and tubes but have digital pedals, like the FLINT, Deco, Inspire that you couldnt tell from analog party because of the tube amps they also they dont sound DIGITAL
I had a CE-5 but even when switched off, I could hear the effect bleeding through very quietly, so I got rid of it. Now, I _think_ it was the digital version, but it may have been analogue. Anyway, it's something to listen for when buying one of these.
@@0megalul309 That would be annoying to me, and I'd have to get rid of the pedals. I owned a Boss analogue flanger for years, and the modulated sound never bled through.
I looked and found that mine is the analog! Do you recommend that you take the 9volt battery out if you’re going to be using the electrical power supply to power it? Or can you just leave it in there and it gets bypassed?
Usually analog takes better the overdrives, and digital its like playing with latency or it feels like the sound not come from your fingers and plastic sound. When I try a CH1 digital with an overdrive I sold it and buy the analog mooer ensemble king (CE2 clon), much better than the Boss digital CH1 and it has a mix knob in built too. The only downside in the mooer is the clock noise (its a little but audible compare with other analog devices I own) , but in sound and feel is superior. On a clean situation both they get the job done, but in front of an overdrive, Man... ANALOG all the way!
I'm curious to how they sound without the dry signal mixed in. I just got a digital CE-5 and tried to get a vibrato sound by plugging a dummy jack into output B, but the waveform sounded more like a square wave than a smooth sine wave... Maybe that's intentional, but I'm not a fan of how it works as a vibrato pedal.
The difference is very slight & not worth tracking down one if you have the other. To my ears the Analog was softer sounding. I have the digital btw & it sounds great on dirt.
Good question. I’d say start with a CE-5 for guitar and see if it like it on bass too. I’ve been kind of unimpressed by the CE3-B, I usually use an MXR Micro Chorus on my bass board.
Yeah, it was a fun experiment to do. Totally threw me as to which was which. I haven’t spent much time with the Super Chorus, but I plan on doing another comparison some time.
@@StompboxBreakdown It’s been very durable. One of the very first 2 pedals I bought in 2005. I picked up a Ts-9 at the time too. I went with amp-overdrive forever, but the pandemic changed that. 😂
To make absolute sure, if you look at the circuit board, the digital one will say CE-5A, whereas the original analog one will say CE-5. The digital one is also surface-mounted components, whereas the analog one is soldered full-size components and has a Panasonic MN3207 chip in it. The easiest way to check, which should be true unless someone swapped the baseplates, is to look for the serial number. A dark gray-colored sticker on the bottom, and a serial number that starts after "P1" (so S9 or Q5, and so on) is digital.
Thank you for this! My husband bought me a CE-5 for our 5th anniversary, to try and get me back into playing… it took a while but I guess it worked! I was never quite sure if I had the analog or digital… however, I am pretty certain that I have an analog one (the label is grey but the second letter is M, apparently it’s from 1999). Unfortunately I saw your text telling me which was which before I listened to the pedals (maybe next time make it an optional subtitle, or display it at the end of the experiment before the reveal?), but I was unsurprised as the analog one sounds like mine… of course the pots may not be calibrated quite the same as each other and you can’t replicate playing precisely but what stood out to me was a more pronounced, kind of off-centre wobble almost like a vibe throb? I don’t know how to explain it but it sounded more lop-sided than the digital. I like it better but I might be biased! Another way to do this experiment, less fun but more precise, could be to record a track demonstrating a variety of guitar techniques (chords, single-note melodies, fingerpicking, pick strumming etc) and re-amp the same track through two pedals for comparison? Just a thought :)
I’ll have to check the video again and see where I spoiled it. I don’t remember doing that. Either way, I’m glad you’re enjoying your pedal and getting back into guitar.
Unfortunately after I got into it I developed issues with my left arm and haven’t been able to play for over a year… but I’m getting into organ and synths instead and experimenting with my pedals with there.
I got a CE-5 12 years ago. I now know it was the weakest Boss offering. I should have got the Super Chorus. I've used a TC Corona but now have the DC2-w. There's no going back...
By the way, you don't have to see the circuit boards to tell if it's analog or digital. The label on the bottom of the pedal will tell you. If it's a colored label like the pink label on the pedal in the video. It's analog.
It is ironically Sucky that these types of affordable kits are basically the only option for super-green newbies at this and due to the low quality and well..let's call it translation loss, they are the most confusing for someone new!
Your articulate presentations are becoming habit forming . I have been playing for fifty + years, wow... Have collected pedals and amps since the seventies. Your presentations are articulate and presented in a way that captures one's attention. Keep on keeping on young man, good stuff. Thanks for sharing.
I had both a digital and an analog version at my disposal for a long time. Tbh, the differences are so minor that they will be instantly lost in any mix or recording. As with most pedals there are tolerances in electrical components that can lead to "slightly different" sounds when the settings are the same. Idk, I find it easy to get lost in "slightly warmer here" or "slightly deeper chorus" etc, the difference isn't going to be the make or break on if your playing sounds good or the song/guitar part you write is solid
A tone adjustment anywhere in your signal path will easily conpensate-or over compensate-for the difference.
Dude! It's impressive how your explanation is concise, yet in-depth. Awesome content!
Oh thank you so much, Kevin!
I don't see how anyone could think the pedal on the right was the digital one. The pedal on the right was soupier, less precise, a hallmark of BBD chips-you can clearly hear the inconsistency in the modulation-and the pedal on the left was more clear and controlled, almost totally pristine, a hallmark of digital. That being said, I wouldn't necessarily say one was better than the other. It comes down to personal taste and the intended application. Two different sounds, both eminently usable, which do you want to use where and when? It's the same thing with analogue delay v. digital delay.
Amen! I use a NUX CH-3 which uses the old analog chips. It cost me $35.00 USD . They made the same pedal for 10 years. I replaced it with a Strymon no less . I kept the Strymon for 2 years then bought another CH3, lol. They replaced it with a new paint job when they brought out their vintage Re-Issue line, LOL The same pedal is now $60,00 USD. Even so it is worth it.
and thats why the Analog sound better lol.
So funny - I skimmed the comment earlier and forgot which one; just ordered an analog CE-5 and when the right one sounded better, I was panicking for a second it might be digital! 🙀 Glad I did my research and ordered the right one. ;) Liked a friend's CH-1 but wanted to go analog with a Chorus Ensemble. Got a feeling I might've chosen wisely!
My old ears have endured the journey. Played in many a hall in the Delta and up and down the east coast. Done studio work to help shape classic rock. The study of music and a great ear got me there. At my age, on this night, I personally could not tell the difference. I in fact have a CE-5 on my shelf of Boss pedals. Which one? Not sure but am flagging this vid for future references. I too luv the Boss pedals (most). Good stuff young man. Keep on keeping on.
Stoked, I picked correctly! When I heard that the one on the left sounded thinner at the same setting I thought 'that's digital'.
Nice work! I should do more “can you guess” type videos, people seem to enjoy them.
Thanks. Your channel always brings interesting information. I didn't even know these digital and analog Chorus Ensembles existed! I thought they were all digital.
I opened my old CE-5 just before the end of this video and immediately realized that it was an analog model, although I always believed otherwise. It's from the early 90s and has a “wide and detailed” sound range. I've heard that little difference between these two pedals and maybe because of my age I bet the one on the right was digital. Great video!
Your channel is killer dude! Great video!
Thank you so much!!
I didn't know that! And i just discovered mine is the old analog one, cool ... hahaha. Great video.
Excellent explanations of the nuts and bolts of what chorus is!
Wow, interesting. I own a CE-5 from the nineties. It is the first pedal I bought as a youngling. The right pedal sounded like mine, so I guessed it is the analogue one.
I prefered the sound because I am used to it. The other one sounds nice too. Usually I use less depth than in this test and I guess the difference would be even less noticeable.
Great experiment!
Had know Idea there were 2 versions. Discovered I have an analog CE-5. That's cool!
Hey, that’s good news! I think the differences in sound are negligible enough where it doesn’t really matter when you’re playing with a band or even a singer, but it’ll be worth more if you ever decide to sell.
Great honest comparison, I love the fact you guessed wrong! We need more unrehearsed but professional videos like this \m/
Subbed instantly!
Thank you!!! I’m kind of glad it went that way, I was seriously surprised.
I’m hearing a stronger chorus effect and slightly less treble, “more warmth” from the analog pedal. It’s noticeable even through my phone speakers
Ive had a Delta Blues 210 for about 20 years, those peavey classics are sleeper amps for sure. Great demo as always!
just discovered this technical difference! I'm checking mine (that I love a lot too) right now!!! thanks
Nice! What version do you have?
@@StompboxBreakdown the good old analog one. I really didn't know this change. I bought it second hand years ago. Really happy.
That fuzziness you heard it's from BBD circuit, it has a MN3007 inside. All BBD have those subtle harmonics and is nothing you can do about it! On the other side, the digital version has that crystal and noiseless sound, plus a more subtle and pleasant chorus effect. It's like a vinyl vs CD comparison. I like everything BOSS does and I am 100% for digital in matter of modulation, reverb and delay effects. But when it comes for tube screamers, overdrives and distortions I am for pure analog! And by the way, I personally didn't believed you when you guessed wrong! Great video anyway!
Sometimes with a BBD, the higher end is boosted at the end to try and regain some of the rolled off treble, and sometimes with a digital, they roll off some of the highs to make it sound more warm. I could tell a difference but didn’t know which side to attribute it to. That said, I’d use either one no hesitation in like 99% of practical situations.
So funny. People whine about analog vs. digital, then rant about how amazingly great their Strymon, Line 6 or Boss DD-500 is. Great video.
Thx for the video! I find it psychologically fascinating that when asked to say which is digital and which is analog, you got them wrong, and then after you know, you mentally say, "Whew; I'm glad those notes that rang out clearer were actually from the analog pedal, so now I can comfortably say the analog pedal is better." I suspect, if a player had someone else swapping between the pedals so the player couldn't see what was going on, with that person trying very hard to get the same tones out of both pedals (ignoring making the dials point to the same positions on both, and instead going on how it sounds), the player wouldn't be able to tell the difference. It's a mental thing to want to BELIEVE old tech sounds better!
It's like the old Folgers Crystals "we've secretly replaced..." commercials. Is there a difference to be heard? Yeah, I can squeeze out a difference that I can consistently demonstrate. Would I notice a difference if someone swapped out the pedal mid-set? Probably not unless I was recording pure clean guitar and was really focused on a very particular sound. I also know that there's a bigger difference to be had by using different pick materials, adjusting where I strike the strings with my right hand, changing pickups, dialing in my amp...
You hit the nail on the head, a lot of times there is something awesome about older tech, but I think people sometimes confuse causation and correlation. Amazing how the rarest pedal is always going to be the most sought-after one.
I've been playing since 1989, and for years I didn't even bother with a dedicated chorus: I used a DOD FX75B flanger instead. It's great for chorus! And then a friend bought me the CE-5, so it became my go to. I didn't even know it was digital! I can make it sound just as lush as the analog flanger. It's all just psychological for the most part, but hey, if that mental state drives sales of the CE-2 Waza, even though the CE-5 digital can replicate it just fine, more power to them!
I have a CE-5 that's digital and I think it's great. If anything happened to one of my other chorus pedals (CE-2w and MXR Analog Chorus), I wouldn't have an issue using the CE-5 instead. I think it's every bit as good.
I picked B thinking it sounded warmer, thicker, more wobbly like it should be and BETTER and guessed it was the analogue. I was correct. Was listening on crappy tv speakers too. Good test.
Fun comparison! The digital one sounded brighter and more brittle. Thank you! 😊
of course it did. Thats exactly what you're supposed to say
@@fixedgear37 I am not "supposed" to say anything. Just a comment on what I was hearing 😳
That doesn’t mean it’s not true though.
Your channel is very interesting, I subscribed.
Thank you! Appreciate it
I heard what you heard on opposite pedals lol. Noticed the high frequencies cutting through on the digital pedal much better and clearer.
best show in UA-cam - I also thought the one on the left was the analog one...
Aww thank you!!!
Idk.... If you look at the cords carefully, especially how they jiggle when the switch is pressed the pedal on the left is plugged into channel A (the light on the right). The analog pedal on the right was channel B (the light on the left). So I do believe your first guess was correct.
The analog CE-5 sounded rounder, whereas the digital CE-5 had more sparkly treble, which might be perceived as too brittle by some. The chorus effect on the analog CE-5 sounded deeper and more 3D.
that's exactly what I've heard! I like analog better, but, nevertheless both sound brilliant :)
Great comparison - really appreciate you efforts and time. I like the analog better. I had a feeling it was the analog. There is some merit in older technologies. Again, thank you very much brother!
no difference
Day and night! Same diff between the DMM with the same chip and its various modern-day renditions. Vastly prefer the analog versions of the CE-5.
Is there a chance the tolerances could be different? Maybe tweak one of the tone knobs to see if they match.
Now that’s an experiment!
It's a certainty that the tolerances are at least slightly different.
What I was hearing was a difference in the attack of the notes. The analog pedal sounded like it was compressing the attack a little.
Given that the noticeable difference was only perceptible when you had several knobs cranked, is it possible that the audible differences are due to the potentiometer tolerances of the two pedals being different more than any of the other components? In other words, if you got another digital or analog CE-5 and tried those maxed out settings in another shootout with the same type of CE-5, would you still find differences? An interesting thought. Still, enjoyable video. I didn’t hear any meaningful difference, personally, but UA-cam does have a way of compressing audio.
The one on the right has that 90's chorus annoyingness that is impossible to duplicate digitally.
Я сразу догодался, что слева цифровой. Правая потертая, а левая новая😂😂☝️💥
Analogue is more interesting with sustained notes. Liked the digital with jangly playing.
Wild, i thought the same as you. I forgot which was which when you showed the answers. Im confused by the comments saying how the analog one sounded darker and less pristine. I thought the digital one sounded "warmer". Of course, the eq could change this, but wow
Oh btw, you should compare the dod turbo chorus and the digitech hardwire chorus.
One of these days I’m gonna record *all* of my chorus pedals and have a contest to see if anyone can identify them all correctly (myself included)
This is very good quality video, thanks. My thought was analog on switch A and that was right, i have analog pink label CH1 and CE1 , analog is better.
Nice video dude. I just noticed mine was digital :D I think it was not a bad idea that you added a big muff behind them and see how these pedals roar!
Oh man, they might blow up! I really like Alex Lifeson’s method of combining chorus and dirt, not many can pull it off, guitarist or pedal.
@@StompboxBreakdown I see a bright future for your channel. Keep going dude and be persistent.Best of luck. 👍👍👍
Analog or vintage tend to be warmer. It's even clearly heard thru UA-cam compression. But without a side to side comparison , it's impossible to tell.
After my TC Corona chorus died I dug out my old CE-5 (GK) so must be analog and very happy with the sound. Even though there are so many choices out there I don’t feel the need to go buy another chorus.
The one on the right has more wear use on the pedal, so I deduced from that that the pedal on the right is analogue...
That certainly would be a good clue. I considered swapping the footplates from the pedals, but the colors didn't quite match. That said, one pedal being 23 years old and one being 26 years old wouldn't make that much of a difference in and of itself, I think it just happened to be the case here.
The digital was clearer and the analog was murky. I was surprised you heard it the other way around. The difference is just a preference thing. Sometimes I think old pedals make me sound old LOL.
I heard it that way too.
Oi! Great work as always…..is there a thing about using an irregular power supply with the analog version, and does it make a difference?
I read people talking about using 18v DC with analog version.
Can't say I have any experience with that. I know that between the MN3007 and MN3207, the MN3207 can run at a lower voltage, and according to some ears, this results in lower bandwidth, and someone may want to raise the voltage to try and get greater headroom. Even if the BBD chips themselves can run at 15v, I personally, I wouldn't want to push my input voltage that high because there are plenty of other components in there that might top out at 12v.
So, the TL;DR, I might see the benefit of pushing it up to 10-12v, but you'll only find the limit once. I almost definitely wouldn't go to 18v, that just sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Yeah, thats a hard agree.
Keep up the great work!
Here’s an idea for you: Seinfeld theme video: “WHATS THE DEAL WITH THESE ADA SPEC PEDALS?”
Great comparison! Really enjoyed this.
Can you touch on what exactly the filter knobs do?
Thanks!
I have the analog pedal. I bought it new. But I knew which was the analog before you started. The rubber on the pedal had grayed out like an old pedal. The analog pedal has more mid range
The rubber pad is a good indicator, but the pedals are only a few years apart in age. The analog one likely just saw more usage or was left out in the sun more. I’ve got an early year Blues Driver that’s minty fresh because it’s barely been used, and a more recent one that’s worn to heck from being on a touring board.
I thought it was just the CH-1 that durned digital. Learned something new every day. Have you compared those?
Yup! I haven’t dived into the CH-1’s yet.
@@StompboxBreakdown would love to hear it. I have an analog one. I actually preferred it to the CE-2.
@@StompboxBreakdown Yes, please do a CH-1 comparison video.
The analog one is noticeably darker. The digital has more treble. My guess was correct, but then again I wasn't there in the room and UA-cam does a lot of compression.
Finally a clean and useful comparison. Subbed of course.
Would you consider a more in depth video of the Boss dc3? I know you already did a video but I'd like to listen to it more than a few seconds. I've noticed that the knobs react in a weird way and that a good setup would be Level and Tone at 2 o'clock, Rate below half and Depth 1 o'clock. At least it sounds good on my Behringer clone.
Thanks for that! Yeah, I plan on it. I’m a fan of overlooked gems, and its one of ‘em
@@StompboxBreakdown thanks!
The One on the right sounds more deep and untamed.
I guess I’m not the only one who could tell. BTW I didn’t like the dark bypass tone of the analog CE-5, so I’ll just stick to my CE-2w.
IMO, the analog is warmer, clearer, and has longer tails, too. I have a newer model, but have started collecting the analog models for a dedicated board with just ACA power for a vintage board to run through a '72 Peavey Studio 40 Pro (with a FX Loop, and an Unbalanced Out).
Standing Ovation Excellence Sir well done ,well explained !!!
Thank you so much!!
I’ve bought another one so I can hear for myself 👍
I hear the difference and I guessed it correctly right away!
great review, and fwiw, i thought the pedal on the right was analog just based on the oxidation of the rubber stomp-pad! i would say a more objective approach might be to use a recorded series of loops to remove player "bias" as far as dynamics go. but in the end if they're this close so as to involve this depth of analysis, it's not really going to "kill the song" at the end of the day if you were to use one over the other. jmo
additionally, i don't think Boss is gonna make such a move in production if they really thought it was going to cost them any business.... just sayin'.
What is your favorite chorus pedal? I've used an analog Boss CEB-3 since on bass '95, and the analog Boss CH-1 was my main chorus for guitar for years, but I recently acquired the Boss DC-2W which is currently my favorite on guitar.
DC-2w is probably my favorite for adding a bit of depth without it getting too swirly and in the way. Love the Dimension pedals. For regular chorus, I have a lot of favorites, the CE-2w, the Maxon CS-505, and lately I’ve been having a lot of fun with the TC Electronic SCF.
Thanks for the reply. I had the TC Electronic SCF for a little bit when they reissued it, but I hate how the switch operates.
@@brettmartin4742 Yeah, I totally get that. It’s weird.
Very good idea to do this. thanks.
I notice you have a Small Clone at the back, im considering either the CE-5 or Small Clone, which one you prefer & why?
Probably the CE-5. Small Clone is a lot less subtle, and sometimes you want that, but I usually just want a little extra depth and dimension
In my experience, digital effects tend to sound "glitchy" and analog effects usually have a "warm tone" instead of just sounding "glitchy".
Neunaber Inspire NOTHING GLITCHY lol
@@shckltnebay it's just a comparison with the effects that I've tried. I still use digital effects for their features, but digital effects usually sound "choppy" to me because they generate weird static and they sound "glitchy" to me... especially when compared to an analog version of the same type of effect. I hear more of what I'm playing with analog effects, and with digital effects I hear more noise.
@@John-ue8md You obviously havent tried any modern digital chorus pedals
@@shckltnebay honestly... Chorus isn't even "my thing"... I'm more into phasers and envelope filters. Flangers are not really "my thing" either, but I do use flangers more than I use chorus. I'm also not into "the next new thing"... I would rather have something that is dependable. You are correct about that. Furthermore, I'm not into multi-effects or effects processors.
@@John-ue8md Im 55 and love analog and tubes but have digital pedals, like the FLINT, Deco, Inspire that you couldnt tell from analog party because of the tube amps they also they dont sound DIGITAL
I had a CE-5 but even when switched off, I could hear the effect bleeding through very quietly, so I got rid of it. Now, I _think_ it was the digital version, but it may have been analogue. Anyway, it's something to listen for when buying one of these.
Same happens with Bf3 when bypassed, I still hear slight flanger tone leaked out form the pedal
My 1979 mxr chorus and flanger do it too
@@0megalul309 That would be annoying to me, and I'd have to get rid of the pedals. I owned a Boss analogue flanger for years, and the modulated sound never bled through.
I looked and found that mine is the analog! Do you recommend that you take the 9volt battery out if you’re going to be using the electrical power supply to power it? Or can you just leave it in there and it gets bypassed?
Definitely take the battery out. Over time those can leak and ruin the pedal.
Usually analog takes better the overdrives, and digital its like playing with latency or it feels like the sound not come from your fingers and plastic sound. When I try a CH1 digital with an overdrive I sold it and buy the analog mooer ensemble king (CE2 clon), much better than the Boss digital CH1 and it has a mix knob in built too. The only downside in the mooer is the clock noise (its a little but audible compare with other analog devices I own) , but in sound and feel is superior. On a clean situation both they get the job done, but in front of an overdrive, Man... ANALOG all the way!
15:27 only $950 shipping!😲 *Added to cart*
I'm curious to how they sound without the dry signal mixed in. I just got a digital CE-5 and tried to get a vibrato sound by plugging a dummy jack into output B, but the waveform sounded more like a square wave than a smooth sine wave... Maybe that's intentional, but I'm not a fan of how it works as a vibrato pedal.
The CE-5 is very close but the old CH-1 sounded way better to me, actually useable where I don't like the digital version.
The analog pedal on the right had faded lettering, which was a dead giveaway.
What if it was a 2001 analog and a 2001 digital? The pedals could be as little as a month apart in age…
The difference is very slight & not worth tracking down one if you have the other. To my ears the Analog was softer sounding. I have the digital btw & it sounds great on dirt.
Very good the idea! i have a analogic CE-5 its sounds amazing. By the way i thought it was digital.
Is the analogue version more sought after and worth more money?
Yup. That is no doubt true.
digital one sounds more warm to me.
I play both guitar and bass, should I get a CE-5 for both or CEB-3 for both?
Good question. I’d say start with a CE-5 for guitar and see if it like it on bass too. I’ve been kind of unimpressed by the CE3-B, I usually use an MXR Micro Chorus on my bass board.
how would you know the difference if buying one?
You'll have to either look at the serial number or get a shot of the inside.
People only use the clean channel when doing chorus demos. Good....more room for me to dominate in the Lifeson vibe
just like an analog delay the analog chorus is slightly darker. The digital is is crisper and brighter.
For me, lots of times it sounds like digital is on the guitar tone, and analog sounds like its in the tone.
I feel a bit better now. I only own one of those analog CE-2s.
I use a Super Chorus … it’s from 2005. Is it analog or digital?
According to the Boss Corporation Wikipedia page (I know, Wikipedia) they switched to being digital in 2001
@@StompboxBreakdown Thanks for the info! Cool demo … I could really tell the difference by the end. ☮️
Yeah, it was a fun experiment to do. Totally threw me as to which was which. I haven’t spent much time with the Super Chorus, but I plan on doing another comparison some time.
@@StompboxBreakdown It’s been very durable. One of the very first 2 pedals I bought in 2005. I picked up a Ts-9 at the time too. I went with amp-overdrive forever, but the pandemic changed that. 😂
BOSS CH-1 analog. THE KING OF CHORUS!!!!
Ce1
Horses for courses.
I always have both available depending on the song.
how can you tell the difference between the two?
To make absolute sure, if you look at the circuit board, the digital one will say CE-5A, whereas the original analog one will say CE-5. The digital one is also surface-mounted components, whereas the analog one is soldered full-size components and has a Panasonic MN3207 chip in it.
The easiest way to check, which should be true unless someone swapped the baseplates, is to look for the serial number. A dark gray-colored sticker on the bottom, and a serial number that starts after "P1" (so S9 or Q5, and so on) is digital.
On the ch1 the analog backs plates are pink
Thank you for this! My husband bought me a CE-5 for our 5th anniversary, to try and get me back into playing… it took a while but I guess it worked!
I was never quite sure if I had the analog or digital… however, I am pretty certain that I have an analog one (the label is grey but the second letter is M, apparently it’s from 1999).
Unfortunately I saw your text telling me which was which before I listened to the pedals (maybe next time make it an optional subtitle, or display it at the end of the experiment before the reveal?), but I was unsurprised as the analog one sounds like mine… of course the pots may not be calibrated quite the same as each other and you can’t replicate playing precisely but what stood out to me was a more pronounced, kind of off-centre wobble almost like a vibe throb? I don’t know how to explain it but it sounded more lop-sided than the digital. I like it better but I might be biased!
Another way to do this experiment, less fun but more precise, could be to record a track demonstrating a variety of guitar techniques (chords, single-note melodies, fingerpicking, pick strumming etc) and re-amp the same track through two pedals for comparison? Just a thought :)
I’ll have to check the video again and see where I spoiled it. I don’t remember doing that. Either way, I’m glad you’re enjoying your pedal and getting back into guitar.
Unfortunately after I got into it I developed issues with my left arm and haven’t been able to play for over a year… but I’m getting into organ and synths instead and experimenting with my pedals with there.
To me, digital chorus sounds a bit stiff, I always prefer analog. Doesn't mean digital is bad, and it's all a matter of taste anyway.
idk i think the ce-5 wins this
I scouped up 2 analog (1 pink label CE 5s a while back after they went digital...nothing wrong with duplicates in case one gets fried or stolen
The analog sounds nicer. I compared both. If you use output B and put a dummy plug in output A you get a slight vibrato.
I got a CE-5 12 years ago. I now know it was the weakest Boss offering. I should have got the Super Chorus. I've used a TC Corona but now have the DC2-w. There's no going back...
The knob settings aren't going to be the same even if they were both the same kind.
Granted, I would rather have the analog version. But digital is all I could find when the need came, so... digital it is.
Digital one sounds more compressed, like if it had a CS3 built-in.
The analog sounds more strong, hi-cut, depth large. Like the CE-2.
yeah the very worn out one is the newer digital one ; )
How much older do you think the analog one is than the digital one?
very interesting. I'll try to pick up an analog one!
By the way, you don't have to see the circuit boards to tell if it's analog or digital. The label on the bottom of the pedal will tell you. If it's a colored label like the pink label on the pedal in the video. It's analog.
He already said that all the pink labeled ones are analog, but not all of the ones without a pink label are digital.
It is ironically Sucky that these types of affordable kits are basically the only option for super-green newbies at this and due to the low quality and well..let's call it translation loss, they are the most confusing for someone new!
Right is Analog.
Analog all the way to me.
I got it right.. My luck.. Hahaa.. My mind are thinking about digital delay and analog delay..
I thought the digital sounded better.
Corners Rule.
I guessed right