The Boss DD-6 Digital Delay is a delay effects pedal made by Boss, released in 20021. It is a digital delay that grew out of the DD-5, and its headline features are a maximum delay time of 5.2 seconds in long delay mode, a Hold function with sound-on-sound overdubbing, Reverse and Warp modes, tap tempo on the pedal switch, and true stereo I/O1.
For a player, that means the DD-6 covers everything from short slapback echoes to long ambient repeats, and it can also act as a small looper, play your signal backwards, or produce oscillating pitch effects in Warp mode. Pedal of the Day's reviewer called it "a perfect little unit to get your delay jobs done"2.
Hold, Reverse and Warp modes
The DD-6's Hold function gives you 5.2 seconds of recording time with sound-on-sound overdubbing, so you can stack phrases on top of each other like a basic looper1. Pedal of the Day notes the Hold lasts for 5 seconds and describes the pedal's maximum delay time as 5200ms when in Hold mode2.
Reverse mode does what the name suggests: it takes your guitar's signal and plays it back to you backwards2. The DD-5 before it also offered Reverse, which the same reviewer called "fun, for sure"4.
Warp is the mode the DD-6 is now known for. Boss describes it as producing tape-style pitch and oscillation effects when you press and hold the pedal switch1. Pedal of the Day's take on the sound:
"the Warp setting scrambles and dissects notes and throws them at you in a jumbled, sonic mess"
Warp did not survive the next generation. MusicRadar notes that "The 'warp', or oscillation Mode found on the DD-6 was not kept, making the DD-6 collectible"5. Players who want that specific effect have to go to the DD-6 itself rather than the later DD-7.
Controls and tap tempo
The DD-6 keeps the familiar three-knob Boss delay layout, with suggested starting settings recorded for each3:
| Control | What it does | Suggested setting |
|---|---|---|
| D. Time | Adjusts the delay time | L.800ms3 |
| F. Back | Sets the number of repeats | 2:003 |
| E. Level | Sets the delay volume | 11:003 |
The delay time can also be adjusted using the D.Time knob directly2. The big change from earlier Boss delays is that tap tempo functionality could now be accessed with the onboard pedal switch1, so you tap your tempo in with your foot instead of dialing it in by ear.
From the DD-5 to the DD-6
The DD-6 replaced the DD-5 in Boss's compact delay line. The DD-5 offered up to two seconds of delay time and 11 different delay modes, which Boss says made it the most advanced pedal of its moment1. Its four delay modes ranged from 1ms to 2000ms, with Mode 5 being the Hold function, a looper-style feature4.
Pedal of the Day frames the DD-6 as "a stripped-down version of their DD-5 model"2, but Boss's own history points to the gains: the max delay was increased to 5.2 seconds in long delay mode, the Hold function was enhanced with sound-on-sound overdubbing, tap tempo moved to the pedal switch, and the pedal provided true stereo I/O1.
Prince and the DD-6
The DD-6's best-known user is Prince, who used the pedal from the late 2000s onward3. It replaced the older DD-3 Digital Delay on his pedalboard, and although the DD-6 featured several new delay modes, Prince still ran the pedal on the same mode as his DD-33. One of his DD-6s is currently on display at Paisley Park3.
Videos
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AskAGuitarPro
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Questions
How long is the maximum delay time on the Boss DD-6?
The maximum delay time is 5.2 seconds when using long delay mode. In Hold mode the pedal offers 5200ms of recording time with sound-on-sound overdubbing, so you can layer phrases up to that length.
Does the Boss DD-6 have tap tempo?
Yes. Tap tempo functionality could be accessed with the onboard pedal switch, so you set your delay time by tapping in the tempo with your foot rather than turning a knob.
Is the Boss DD-6 stereo?
Yes. Boss says the DD-6 provided true stereo I/O, meaning both the inputs and outputs are stereo, which suits two-amp setups or stereo effects loops.
What does Warp mode do on the DD-6?
Warp produces tape-style pitch and oscillation effects when you press and hold the pedal switch. One reviewer described it as a setting that scrambles and dissects your notes into a jumbled sonic mess. It was not carried over to the DD-7, which has made the DD-6 collectible.
What is the difference between the DD-6 and the DD-3?
The DD-3 is a simpler delay, while the DD-6 adds up to 5.2 seconds of delay, Hold with sound-on-sound overdubbing, Reverse and Warp modes, tap tempo on the pedal switch, and true stereo I/O. Prince replaced his DD-3 with a DD-6 but still ran it on the same mode he had used on the DD-3.
Sources (5)
- Echoes in Time: The History of BOSS Delay Pedals, BOSS (articles.boss.info), 2024-01-10
- Boss DD-6 Digital Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2014-09-09
- Boss DD-6 Digital Delay, Guitarcloud (guitarcloud.org), 2026
- Boss DD-5 Digital Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2016-03-14
- The FX files: Boss DD-3, MusicRadar, 2019-02-12
