The DigiTech HardWire DL-8 is a stereo delay pedal with a basic looper built in, part of DigiTech's HardWire series. It offers ten delay modes, delay times from 10 milliseconds to 8 seconds, true stereo I/O and true bypass, all in a single stompbox12.
The DL-8 is no longer in production. Pedal of the Day notes it was discontinued a few years back as of its December 2018 review, and DigiTech lists the HardWire series among its discontinued products2.
Delay modes and controls
The DL-8's ten delay modes cover a wide spread of delay types: four digital ranges (15 ms to 500 ms, 500 ms to 1 sec, 1 sec to 2, and 2 sec to 8 sec) plus Reverse, Modulated, Analog, Slapback, LoFi and Tape2. Premier Guitar's review groups these as six named delay modes, Reverse, Modulated, Analog, Slapback, LoFi and Tape, alongside four digital settings1.
Delay times run from 10 milliseconds to 8 seconds across the modes1. Four knobs handle the main controls: Level, Repeats, delay Time and mode selection1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the effect level |
| Repeats | Sets the number of delay repeats |
| Time | Sets the delay time |
| Mode | Selects among the ten delay modes |
A Tails On/Off switch lets you decide whether repeats continue after the pedal is bypassed2. All of the sounds are available in mono or stereo1.
The looper
The looper side gives 20 seconds of recording time, with infinite stereo looping and overdubs within that window12. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted a limitation: "The Looper gives you 20 seconds of recording time, but unfortunately there's no way to save it and call it up later."1
That makes the looper a sketchpad rather than a performance tool. Players who want heavier looping may want a dedicated looper such as the DigiTech JamMan, or more delay flexibility in something like the DigiTech TimeBender or the DigiTech Obscura Altered Delay1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer summed the pedal up as combining "a very basic looper function with lots of super-cool delay settings," and suggested that "Performers who are into hardcore looping or need to change delay settings at the drop of a hat might consider getting a" dedicated looper and separate delay pedals instead1.
Pedal of the Day's reviewer was warmer on the series as a whole, writing that "these are some of the finest, highest-quality and best-sounding pedals out there, and can usually be found at a bargain" price, and that the HardWire pedals "are built like absolute tanks, solid as can be and ready to take years and years of stage and studio" abuse2.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Brett Kingman
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the DigiTech HardWire DL-8 true bypass?
Yes. The DL-8 uses true bypass circuitry, so when the pedal is off your guitar signal passes through without going through the delay processing. Pedal of the Day lists true bypass among the pedal's features in its review of the DL-8 Stereo Delay/Looper.
Is the DL-8 still in production?
No. Pedal of the Day notes that the DL-8 was discontinued a few years back, as of its December 2018 review. DigiTech lists the HardWire series among its discontinued products, and used units are the usual way players find one now.
How long can the DL-8 loop?
The looper records up to 20 seconds, with infinite stereo looping and overdubs within that time. Premier Guitar notes there is no way to save a loop and recall it later, so the looper is best treated as a basic practice and sketching tool rather than a performance looper.
Does the DL-8 have true stereo inputs and outputs?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the DL-8 as having true stereo I/O, and Premier Guitar notes that all of the delay sounds are available in mono or stereo, so the pedal works in both single-amp and two-amp rigs.
What does the Tails switch do on the DL-8?
The DL-8 has a Tails On/Off switch. With tails on, a delay repeats continue to sound after you switch the pedal off; with tails off, the repeats cut off when the effect is bypassed. It lets you choose whether echoes ring out or stop dead.
Sources (2)
- Hardwire CM-2, DL-8, SC-2 Pedal Review: In-Depth Look, Premier Guitar, 2010-05-18
- DigiTech HardWire DL-8 Delay Looper, Pedal of the Day, 2018-12-28
