The Truetone V3 Dual Tap Delay is a delay pedal with two independent delay channels and tap tempo on both, built around the idea that the two sides can run synchronized or set to completely different repeat patterns1. Truetone, the company formerly known as Visual Sound, describes it as combining analog warmth with digital precision1. It is an archived product: Truetone lists it in the V3 Series Archive as part of what it calls a legacy of tone, so it is no longer a current catalog item1.
The pedal was originally released as the Visual Sound Dual Tap Delay, and much of the published coverage, including reviews from Guitar World and MusicRadar, appeared under that name23. A 2016 review noted it was already out of production at that point4.
The controls
Each channel carries its own full control set, which is what lets the two sides behave as two separate delays rather than one delay with a variation1.
| Control (per channel) | What it does |
|---|---|
| Delay Time | Sets the delay time manually1 |
| Tap Tempo | Taps in the delay time1 |
| Time Divisions | Selects rhythmic subdivisions of the tapped time1 |
| Repeats | Sets the number of repeats1 |
| Effect Level | Sets how loud the repeats sit against your dry signal1 |
| Tone | Shapes the character of the repeats1 |
The tap tempo footswitch is the key to how the two channels relate. As Guitar World's reviewer put it when covering the Visual Sound version, "The tap-tempo footswitch allows users to tap the delay time for an individual delay or both delays at once"2. That means you can tap one channel to a tempo and leave the other where you set it, or lock both to the same pulse for layered, synchronized repeats.
The tone control does more than brighten or darken. Guitar World's reviewer found that "Each section's tone control allows users to dial in delays that retain detail with each repeat or progressively deteriorate for realistic acoustic echo effects"2. MusicRadar's review described the same layout from the player's point of view: "controls for time division, delay time, repeats and effect level plus a manual/tap switch and mini tone control"3.
The two channels are not identical in character. Truetone says Channel 2 adds modulation to its repeats for a chorus-infused shimmer1. The pedal also runs in stereo through its two separate outs, an option reviewers of the Visual Sound version highlighted4.
The single-channel V3 Tap Delay and archived status
The V3 Dual Tap Delay has a single-channel sibling, the Truetone V3 Tap Delay, which Truetone describes as "built for players who want the full feature set without the footprint"5. Premier Guitar introduced it at launch as the Dual Tap Delay's little brother, reporting it at less than half the size of the Dual Tap Delay while carrying the tone and features of channel 26.
| V3 Dual Tap Delay | V3 Tap Delay | |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | Two, independent1 | One5 |
| Tap tempo | Both channels, synchronized or individual12 | Yes5 |
| Modulation | Channel 21 | Yes5 |
| Outputs | Two, stereo14 | Dual outputs for stereo setups5 |
| Size | 9.1" x 5.1" (231 x 130mm)1 | Less than half the Dual's size6 |
The single-channel version keeps the same core features: tap tempo, manual mode, tone control, time divisions, modulation and dual outputs5. Its tone control is aimed at the same job as the Dual's, which Truetone says is "particularly effective for dialing out digital brightness from longer delay times"5. Guitar Interactive's launch coverage listed the same feature set when the pedal appeared under the Visual Sound name7.
Both pedals are archived. The V3 Tap Delay sits in the Truetone Archive alongside the Dual, no longer sold on the current site5, and the Dual Tap Delay carries the same V3 Series Archive designation1. For players shopping today, that means the used market: a 2016 Pedal of the Day review of the Visual Sound version predicted it would become a sought-after item4.
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Questions
How long can the Truetone V3 Dual Tap Delay's delay time be?
Each of the two channels offers a maximum delay time of one second, so you can set two different repeat patterns of up to a second each. Delay time can be set manually with the Delay Time control or tapped in with the Tap Tempo footswitch, and each channel also has selectable time divisions.
Does the Truetone V3 Dual Tap Delay have stereo outputs?
Yes. The pedal has two separate outputs and can be run in stereo, with one output per channel. Reviewers noted the stereo option when covering the original Visual Sound version, and the single-channel V3 Tap Delay sibling also carries dual outputs for stereo setups.
What power supply does the Truetone V3 Dual Tap Delay need?
It runs on 9V DC regulated power with a center pin negative, the standard pedalboard supply arrangement. Truetone lists its current draw at approximately 120mA, which is more than a typical analog pedal, so plan an isolated or adequately rated output on your power supply.
Can each channel of the V3 Dual Tap Delay have its own tap tempo?
Yes. Each channel has its own Tap Tempo control alongside Delay Time, Repeats, Effect Level, Tone and Time Divisions. The tap tempo footswitch lets you tap the delay time for an individual delay or for both delays at once, so the channels can run independently or synchronized.
Is the Truetone V3 Dual Tap Delay still made?
No. Truetone lists it in its V3 Series Archive as a legacy product, and a 2016 review of the Visual Sound version had already described it as no longer in production. It now appears on the used market rather than as a current product.
What is the difference between the V3 Tap Delay and the V3 Dual Tap Delay?
The V3 Tap Delay is the single-channel sibling of the Dual Tap Delay, carrying the same feature set, including tap tempo, manual mode, tone control, time divisions, modulation and dual outputs, in a smaller box. Premier Guitar reported it at less than half the size of the Dual Tap Delay when it launched.
Sources (7)
- V3 Dual Tap Delay, Truetone, 2026
- Review: Visual Sound Dual Tap Delay, Guitar World, 2012-04-06
- Visual Sound Dual Tap Delay review, MusicRadar, 2012-01-30
- Visual Sound Dual Tap Delay, Pedal of the Day (pedal-of-the-day.com), 2016-01-07
- V3 Tap Delay, Truetone, 2026
- Visual Sound Releases V3 Tap Delay & Time Bandit, Premier Guitar, 2012-01-13
- Visual Sound Releases The V3 Tap Delay, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2012-07-02
