The choice between analog and digital effects pedals can be confusing—not to mention anxiety-raising. One internet search for ‘analog vs digital guitar pedals’ will find passionate warriors on either side of the debate, ready and willing to wage all-out war.

The truth is, as is often the case, each path offers its own unique sounds, textures, and experiences. There’s no right or wrong. There’s no bad or good. 

So, relax. I’m not writing this article to tell you that analog is the best or that digital is the future but to help you make that decision yourself when the time comes.

Key Takeaways

• Analog pedals offer a natural, continuous sound. Often described as warmer and more organic.
• Digital pedals provide precise, varied effects.
• You can use both digital and analog on your pedalboard. But think carefully about power requirements and position in the signal chain.
• The choice between analog and digital pedals should be based on your own sound preferences.

What Is the Difference Between Analog and Digital Pedals

To understand the differences between analog and digital pedals, it’s easier to look at what each pedal is individually. Bear with me. I’ll try to keep things light.

Analog Effects Pedals

Analog pedals use a more traditional electrical circuit, which consists of components like transistors, capacitors, resistors, and occasionally vacuum tubes (1). 

You don’t need to know these components to understand what analog and digital pedals are, but if you’re curious, here’s a simple explanation.

• Transistors can switch signals on and off or make them louder. 
• Capacitors store electricity and release it to help smooth or shape the signal. 
• Resistors control how much electricity can flow through a circuit. They manage the power. 
• Vacuum tubes are used less commonly now, but they also control and amplify signals, giving a rich, warm sound. 

Because of their circuitry, analog pedals create a pure and continuous sound. This signal is smooth and uniform, which many people find makes it sound more natural.

The diagram below shows the smooth-flowing shape of an analog signal (known as a sine wave).

Digital Effects Pedals

Digital pedals are analog pedals’ modern siblings and process sound using computer chips. 

I’m far from an expert in the intricacies behind a digital pedal’s brain, but here’s my very simplified understanding of how they work:

First, the sound from your guitar passes through an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, which converts the signal into digital data (1s and 0s). Then, a computer chip in the pedal changes these numbers to alter the sound (this is where it creates the effect). The signal then passes through a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter, which converts the numbers back into a signal you can send to your amplifier and hear. 

Digital pedals create a signal that is made up of separate, clear steps. Because of these steps, the sound might not be as natural for some people compared to analog. However, the sound can be changed and controlled very accurately. Digital pedals can create many sounds and effects that analog pedals can’t. Many guitarists love this because it allows for lots of different effects and keeps the sound the same every time you use it.

The diagram below shows the step-like shape that makes up a digital signal (sine wave).

So, what’s the difference?

Okay, I’ll get to the point. The major difference between analog effects and digital pedals is how they work inside: analog pedals use traditional electronic parts to change the sound, and digital pedals use computer technology to change the sound in a more complex way.

Limitations of Analog Pedals

All over the internet, you see analog pedal aficionados praising analog pedals like they are the holy grail. But they’re not without their limitations. Here are a few you should be aware of:

• Sometimes basic and limited features
  Analog pedals usually have a simpler design than digital pedals, and as such, they tend to have fewer features and advanced settings you can play with. Whereas this can make setting up super easy, it might lead to fewer sound options in the future.
  
• Potential problems with consistency
  Analog pedals are sensitive to external factors like temperature and component aging. In theory, these factors can cause the pedal’s performance to vary, making it difficult to reproduce the same sound consistently. That said, I have pedals in my collection that are 30+ years old, and they still sound fantastic. Look after your pedals, folks, this shouldn’t be a problem for most people.  
  
• Might suffer from noise and signal degradation
  Analog pedals can introduce noise and signal degradation, especially when multiple analog pedals are chained together. This can result in a less clean sound or weaker sound than digital pedals, which usually have built-in noise reduction and buffers to combat that. 
  
• Limited delay and looping
  There are significant differences between analog and digital delay pedals. Without the digital processing of digital pedals, analog delay pedals are limited in their delay and looping capabilities. For example, analog pedals usually have shorter delay times and less precise control, and finding a tap tempo is a rarer occurrence —although there are a few models if you look around.

Limitations of Digital Pedals

Everything has its limits, and digital pedals are no exception. Here’s a rundown of some of the limitations of digital pedals you should know about:

• Low sampling rates and frequency range
  Digital pedals can’t sample quickly enough to capture the entire analog signal. Your ear can hear sounds up to 20 kHz (20,000 Hz), but digital pedals can’t always sample at this rate. This means some high-frequency sounds might be missed out or sound strange.
  
• Can suffer from aliasing 
  Aliasing happens when a digital pedal’s limited sampling rate tries to interpret sounds outside its range. This can create weird glitches and affect the sound quality (2).
  
• Less natural sound (maybe)
  Digital pedals sometimes struggle to replicate the warm, organic sound of analog pedals. While many guitarists love the sound of digital pedals, some feel their digital processing can make them sound more sterile or artificial.
  
• Can introduce latency
  Digital pedals can introduce latency, a small delay between the input signal and the output. Usually, you won’t notice this, but it can be a concern for some guitarists, particularly with more complex setups.
  
• Can be complex to use
  Digital pedals often have more features and settings, which can be confusing and overwhelming for some. They call this option paralysis.
  
• Might use more power
  Digital pedals generally use more power than analog pedals. I’m not sure if this is strictly a limitation — unless you insist on using batteries to power your pedals. 

Mixing Analog and Digital Pedals on Your Pedalboard

Mixing analog and digital pedals on your pedalboard is a great way to get the best of both worlds and a huge range of sounds and textures. 

I mix analog and digital pedals on my pedalboard. Many musicians much greater than me do the same, and if you want to build a truly versatile pedalboard, you probably should, too!

Here are some tips to help you get the best results:

Choose the Right Power Supplies

Digital pedals usually need more power than analog pedals. To make sure all your pedals work well together, use a good quality isolated power supply that can provide enough power for all of them. This will help you avoid any unwanted noise or problems.

Think About Your Signal Chain

When you connect your pedals, the order matters. And it’s good to think about where your digital pedals are processing the signal. The digitally processed signal might not have the same characteristics as the original analog signal. 

To try and get the most natural sound out of your analog pedals, put the digital pedals at the end of the chain. This way, the analog pedals can work their magic on your guitar’s natural signal before it’s affected by the digital pedals.

Take Advantage of Your Amplifier’s Effects Loop

If your amplifier has an effects loop (not all do), you can use it to separate your preamp and power amp sections. This can help you better manage the interaction between analog and digital pedals. For example, you can place time-based effects like delay and reverb (usually digital) in the effects loop while keeping your analog overdrive and distortion pedals in front of the amp.

Pros and Cons of Digital vs Analog Effects

When trying to figure out which is better (analog or digital pedals), there is no “better.” 

Honestly. I’m not being diplomatic. It’s like trying to decide which of your children is better — they’re just different. 

The right pedal for you depends on what you like and what you need for your guitar effects. To help you make this decision for yourself, I’ve summed up the pros and cons of both. 

Analog Guitar Pedals

Pros:

• Keeps your guitar’s sound natural
• Easy to operate and adjust
• Straightforward to repair
• Quick setup without programming

Cons:

• Fewer sound variations
• Larger, uses more space on your pedalboard
• Sound might vary slightly each use

Digital Guitar Pedals

Pros:

• Lets you change your sound in many ways
• Compact size saves space
• Can produce sounds that analog can’t
• Often includes built-in effects and presets

Cons:

• Might not capture the exact sound you want
• Harder to repair due to complex electronics
• Some digital effects can sound less ‘real’

Buy The Pedals You Like

The bottom line? Don’t get too hung up on whether a pedal is digital or analog. If you love how it sounds, add it to your rig. Plan your pedalboard correctly and experiment with your pedals in different positions to find where they sound best, but don’t get too tied up in the details. After all, we’re here to play and get better, right?

FAQs

References

• Sparkfun, analog circuitry, retrieved from https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/analog-vs-digital/analog-and-digital-circuits
• Analog.com, what is aliasing, retrieved from https://www.analog.com/en/resources/glossary/aliasing.html