The DigiTech HardWire DL-8 is a stereo delay pedal with a built-in looper, part of DigiTech's HardWire series. It offers ten delay modes, true stereo inputs and outputs, tap tempo, and a switch for whether repeats ring on or cut off when you disengage the effect. Pedal of the Day lists it as discontinued, noting it was retired a few years before its 2018 review, so it now turns up mainly on the used market1.
Delay modes and controls
The DL-8 keeps its front panel simple. Premier Guitar's review describes four adjustable knobs covering Level, Repeats, delay Time, and mode selection, plus a tap tempo footswitch: "The tap tempo is easy to use when you need to get in time with the music"2.
Pedal of the Day counts ten delay modes in all, grouped as four ranged digital settings and six named voicings1:
| Mode group | Modes |
|---|---|
| Ranged digital settings | 15 ms to 500 ms, 500 ms to 1 sec, 1 sec to 2 sec, 2 sec to 8 sec |
| Named voicings | Reverse, Modulated, Analog, Slapback, LoFi, Tape |
Premier Guitar frames the same panel slightly differently, naming "six delay modes: Reverse, Modulated, Analog, Slapback, LoFi, and Tape" and adding that "You also get four digital settings, a Looper setting" alongside a Tails on/off switch2. Either way, the practical picture is the same: a handful of digital time ranges plus a set of character voicings that imitate analog, tape and other delay flavors.
Other controls and features the reviews call out:
- Tails On/Off switch, which decides whether repeats continue after the pedal is switched off1
- Tap tempo for syncing to the music2
- True Stereo I/O1
- All sounds available in mono or stereo2
The looper
Alongside the delay modes, the DL-8 carries a Looper setting. Premier Guitar's reviewer summed up the pedal as one that "combines a very basic looper function with lots of super-cool delay settings," and flagged the looper's limits: "The Looper gives you 20 seconds of recording time, but unfortunately there's no way to save it and call it up later"2. In other words, it is a sketchpad for ideas rather than a performance looper, and players wanting serious looping would look at a dedicated unit such as the DigiTech JamMan.
"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.
Stereo operation
The DL-8's stereo wiring is one of its main selling points. Pedal of the Day lists True Stereo I/O among its features1, and Premier Guitar confirms the flexibility from a player's angle: "You can have all these sounds in mono or stereo"2. That makes it usable with one amp, or as a stereo delay at the end of a two-amp or stereo rig, where the Reverse, Modulated and Tape voicings in particular benefit from width across two channels.
What reviewers said
"these are some of the finest, highest-quality and best-sounding pedals out there"
Pedal of the Day's reviewer was broadly positive about the HardWire line as a whole, while treating the DL-8 itself as a capable but straightforward delay: ten modes, true stereo I/O and a tails switch, with the looper as a bonus rather than a centerpiece1. Premier Guitar's verdict was similar in shape: strong delay options in a simple package, with the looper basic enough that heavy loopers should look elsewhere2.
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Questions
Is the DigiTech HardWire DL-8 still made?
No. Pedal of the Day lists the DL-8 as discontinued, noting it was retired a few years before its 2018 review. DigiTech placed it among its discontinued products, so new units are no longer made and players looking for one are generally dealing with the used market.
Does the HardWire DL-8 have true stereo inputs and outputs?
Yes. Pedal of the Day lists True Stereo I/O among the DL-8's features, and Premier Guitar's review notes that all of the pedal's sounds can be had in mono or stereo, so it works with a single amp or a full stereo rig.
How many delay modes does the DL-8 have?
Pedal of the Day counts ten delay modes: four ranged digital settings (15 ms to 500 ms, 500 ms to 1 sec, 1 sec to 2 sec, and 2 sec to 8 sec) plus Reverse, Modulated, Analog, Slapback, LoFi and Tape. Premier Guitar highlights the same six named modes along with four digital settings.
Can the DL-8 work as a looper as well as a delay?
Yes, but only in a basic way. Premier Guitar describes the DL-8 as combining a very basic looper function with a wide set of delay settings. The looper gives 20 seconds of recording time, and there is no way to save a loop and call it up later.
What is the longest delay time on the DL-8?
Premier Guitar gives delay times ranging from 10 milliseconds to 8 seconds. Pedal of the Day's mode list agrees at the top end, with the longest ranged digital setting covering 2 sec to 8 sec.
Sources (2)
- DigiTech HardWire DL-8 Delay Looper, Pedal of the Day, 2018-12-28
- Hardwire CM-2, DL-8, SC-2 Pedal Review: In-Depth Look, Premier Guitar, 2010-05-18
