Definition of Line 6 DL4
The DL4 Delay Modeler by Line 6, introduced in 1999, is a digital delay pedal. It is one of the first digital modeling effects units. The DL4 features models of 16 vintage delay effects, including the Echoplex, Roland Corporation's Space Echo, and the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man. It also has a 14 second looping function. According to a May/June 2000 review in Canadian Musician, it "delivers a cavalcade of features for a reasonable price." In 2018, Pitchfork called it "quietly the most important guitar pedal of the last 20 years."
The DL4 was spearheaded by product designers by Greg Westall, Jeff Slingluff, and Patrick O’Connor. The original concept was a four preset design modeled in size and shape after the BOSS CE-1. Later, Jeorge Trips, who was originally hired to procure vintage pedals for study, made the suggestion that the fourth pedal be used for a built in tap tempo button instead of using an external jack.
The engineering team for the DL-4 consisted of Michel Doidic, Nigel Redmon, and Jeff Slingluff. All of the Sound Design was created by Jeff Slingluff including original and often imitated sounds like Sweep Echo. Towards the later stages of the DL-4 development Jeorge Trips was hired as Product Manager for the DL-4. In addition to the concept of the built in tap tempo button Jeorge played a key role in spearheading the looper functionality.
Terms mentioned above
Related terms
Roland Space Echo
The Roland Space Echo is a line of tape delay units introduced by Roland Corporation in…
Watkins Copicat
The Watkins Copicat is an effects unit that produces tape delay effects. One of the…
Digital delay line
A digital delay line (or simply delay line, also called delay filter) is a discrete…
Dattorro industry scheme
The Dattorro industry scheme is a digital system used to implement a wide range of…
Z.Vex Fuzz Factory
The Fuzz Factory is a fuzz pedal manufactured by Z.Vex Effects and first released in…
DigiTech Whammy
The DigiTech Whammy is a pitch shifter pedal manufactured by DigiTech. It raises or…
Octavia (effects pedal)
The Octavia is an effects pedal made by Roger Mayer. First produced in 1967, early…
Marshall Time Modulator
The Marshall Time Modulator is an analog delay line-based musical effects device created…
Re-amp
Re-amping is a process often used in multitrack recording in which a recorded signal is…
Further reading
- Filter Design Outline · Wikibooks: Engineering Acoustics
- The Acoustic Parameter of Nonlinearity · Wikibooks: Engineering Acoustics
Frequently asked questions
What is Line 6 DL4?
The DL4 Delay Modeler by Line 6, introduced in 1999, is a digital delay pedal. It is one of the first digital modeling effects units.
Sources & credits
- Wikipedia: Line 6 DL4 – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Guitar Chalk Media LLC – CC BY 2.0