The Arion DDS-1 is a digital delay/sample pedal made by Arion, listed at £129 in the UK1. It sits in the delay pedal family, but its sampling functions put it close to looping pedals as well: it can record a short piece of sound and play it back, not just repeat the input as an echo. Its sibling, the Arion DDS-4, offered four seconds of sampling time1.
The controls
The DDS-1 carries four knobs and a six position rotary switch on its face1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level knob | Sets the level |
| Tone knob | Sets the tone |
| Repeats knob | Sets the number of repeats |
| Delay knob | Fine adjustment of echo/sample time |
| Rotary switch | Six positions, described below |
The rotary switch's first four positions are coarse adjustments of echo time, labeled S, M, L, and XL. The fifth position records a piece or sound with overdub, and the sixth holds the sound and plays it back when activated1.
A front panel switch labeled Trig and Remote governs sample playback: on Trig, pushing the pedal plays the sample through once, while on Remote the sample plays for as long as the pedal is down1.
In record mode, the recording starts as soon as the pedal is pressed, and the sample time is set by the delay time knob1.
Triggering and playback
Beyond the footswitch options, the review notes that it is possible to trigger sound from an external source on the DDS-11. Between the record-with-overdub position, the hold position, and external triggering, the pedal works as a short sampler as much as a delay.
Sound and build
One Two Testing measured the bandwidth at 7 kHz at all times and settings, and summed up the sound this way1:
On build, the reviewer was less warm. The pedals are square and look great in chunky plastic, but "don't feel as tough as they might"1. The knobs drew criticism too: they are small and fiddly to the point that you are not encouraged to adjust them, which the reviewer noted means you sound the same for the whole set, a live practicality consideration1.
Videos
gearwire
The Unperson
Slow Waves
Questions
How long can the Arion DDS-1 sample?
The DDS-1 gives 1 second of sampling time, according to One Two Testing's 1986 review. Its sibling pedal, the DDS-4, offered four seconds of sampling. In record mode, recording starts as soon as the pedal is pressed, and the sample time is set by the delay time knob.
Can the Arion DDS-1 be triggered from an external source?
Yes. The 1986 One Two Testing review notes that it is possible to trigger sound from an external source on the DDS-1, alongside the front panel Trig and Remote playback options that control how a recorded sample is played back.
What is the bandwidth of the Arion DDS-1?
The bandwidth at all times and settings is 7 kHz, according to the One Two Testing review. The same review found the sound clean and clear throughout, with very pleasing results.
What does the Trig and Remote switch do on the Arion DDS-1?
On Trig, pushing the pedal plays the sample through once. On Remote, the sample plays for as long as the pedal is held down. The switch sits on the front panel alongside the six position rotary switch that sets echo time and record or hold functions.
Sources (1)
- Arion DDS-1/DDS-4 (12T Oct 86), One Two Testing - IPC Magazines Ltd, Northern & Shell Ltd., 1986-10
