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.
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.
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 analog 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.
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.
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 analog 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. 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.
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.
Features
- Faithful floor-based reproduction of the legendary Roland SDE-3000 rackmount digital delay from the 1980s
- Classic warm digital delay sound with extended features for modern rigs
- Distinctive retro display and panel controls based on the original SDE-3000
- Includes two full-featured delays, each with independent parameters, mono/stereo modulation, and panning
- Widely adjustable delay time with two range settings: 0–1500 ms and 0–3000 ms
- Characterful modulation inspired by the original circuit design
- Phase switches for the primary delay and delay feedback loop
- Adjustable low-cut and high-cut filters for shaping delay feedback sounds
- Two inputs and two outputs for dual mono, wet/dry, or stereo setups
- Selectable series or parallel operation for the two delays
- Save and recall sounds with 100 memories
- Assignable onboard footswitch control for tap tempo, hold, and more
- Jacks for extended operation with up to four footswitches, two expression pedals, or the GA-FC/GA-FC EX foot controller
- MIDI I/O on space-saving mini TRS jacks