A Vintage Digital Delay Legend, Reborn
Released in 1983 at the dawn of the digital effects era, the Roland SDE-3000 is a hallowed icon among fans of classic gear. With its highly musical character, long delay times, and ability to store and recall presets, this rackmount legend went on to become the prime delay machine for the world’s finest touring guitarists, session musicians, and engineers of the time, and its special sound is still revered forty years later. The SDE-3000D brings you not one but two authentic reproductions of the much-loved SDE-3000 in a floor-based pedal. Fully independent delays, flexible internal routing, and expanded I/O offer modern versatility for all types of mono and stereo rigs. Modulation and tone-shaping capabilities have also been enhanced, and there are 100 memories for storing favourite setups. And with a wealth of onboard and external control options—including deep MIDI support—you can integrate this inspiring vintage voice with any stage or studio setup.
Retro Digital Magic
Musicians and engineers gravitate toward certain classic effects because they make any sound better, and the SDE-3000 carries that magic touch. Many attributes made it highly expressive with live instruments, including ultra-wide dynamic range, adjustable delay phase, rich modulation, and multiple seconds of clear-yet-warm delay tone. The SDE-3000’s voice became an integral part of music in the 1980s and 1990s and remains a source of inspiration for tone seekers and effect builders everywhere. With the SDE-3000D, you can now access the authentic delay sounds used to produce some of the most iconic tracks of all time.
Faithful Sound Reproduction
In contrast with the clear, precise tones of other digital delays, the SDE-3000 stood out from the crowd with its beautiful warm sound and inviting musicality. This was the result of clever and complex internal digital processing coupled with nonlinear behaviours from the supporting analogue circuitry. These behaviours included variable frequency response in the preamp based on input gain, magnetic saturation in the anti-alias filter, and evolving modulation produced by the components of the time. We deeply analysed these many factors in creating the SDE-3000D, bringing the complete character of this time-honoured classic alive for the modern era.
Authentic Details, Modern Enhancements
The SDE-3000D includes nearly every parameter from the SDE-3000, accessed via a retro interface derived from the vintage hardware. Two selectable delay ranges offer different frequency characteristics, vital elements in the original’s appealing sound. The unique tonal colour of the SDE-3000’s external feedback loop circuit has been replicated as well, and it’s possible to turn this coloration off or internally process the feedback loop with a powerful EQ. You also get 100 memories—up from the original’s eight—plus carryover when switching sounds.
Masterful Modulation
The modulation circuit in the SDE-3000 also contributes to the effect’s distinctive sound. Along with basic depth and rate controls, it’s possible to independently switch the phase of the initial delay and the delay feedback loop, which influences the way the modulation reacts. The original analogue LFO behaviour has been faithfully reproduced in the SDE-3000D, and there’s now a sine wave option in addition to the original triangle wave. We’ve also provided even more control over the delay phase settings for a broader range of sounds.
Two SDE-3000s in One Pedal
While the original SDE-3000 was mono, the SDE-3000D gives you two discrete delays with independent parameters and mono or stereo modulation on each. Run the delays in parallel and pan them for ever-evolving stereo colours. Or chain them in series to create complex rhythms and reverb-like depth. And with the flexible audio I/O, you can route the effects for wide stereo operation, send each delay to its own output, or split effect and unprocessed sounds for wet/dry setups.
Modern Compact Power
With its pedal-based design and expanded control options, the SDE-3000D offers much greater versatility than its rackmount inspiration. Three onboard footswitches provide instant control of memory selection, tap tempo, delay hold, momentary effect engagement, and more. Two control jacks allow you to connect up to four footswitches, two expression pedals, or a GA-FC/GA-FC EX for external operation, and TRS MIDI I/O is also included. There’s a large selection of assignable targets to choose from, delivering deep real-time control that reaches far beyond the capabilities of the original SDE-3000.
