Strymon Deco

DimensionsTomorrow · 2023-02-16T11:44:11.185Z

I’ve had a Deco for years that I got from a friend and always used it quite subtly. I found myself looking at some lofi pedals lately (like the Shallow Water), and decided to see what I could do with the Deco. I have really been missing out by not messing with the hidden high and low cuts. There is some magic in there if you want those really nostalgic tones.

The settings I dig for this are: high and low cuts all the way to the right (maxed), middle position on the toggle, the blend knob all the way to the right, modulation all the way up, and the time knob somewhere between 11:00 and 2:00.

I also found a strange pedal order that worked out well.

UAD Dream -> Deco -> Volante (Reverb up quite a bit on on the Dream and off on the Volante as strange as that sounds)

Sounds like a weird order, but surprisingly super nice having the spring reverb going into the modulation on the Deco, and having the whole thing with a bit of tape delay.

I’ve always found the Deco quite tough to fully wrap my head around because it can do so much, so I thought I’d share.

Strymon kind of gets viewed as pretty vanilla these days since there are so many boutique things out now, but I find their stuff is actually really classy. The Deco was so ahead of its time.

Elek4 · 2023-08-24T07:55:52.797Z

The pedal is now available in plugin.

Strymon

Deco Tape Saturator & Doubletracker - Strymon

Makers of precision-crafted music electronics and effects pedals. We want to build products with no compromises. We want to push the limits of technology in music.

Hope it sounds better than it looks.

RytmMASCHINE · 2024-01-08T07:09:03.454Z

Hi, I’ve got the Deco V2 recently and use it on synths, e. g. Bassline DB-01. I love that sound …
Deco V2 is set to mono in and line level input. FW is version 1.22 from September 2023.

My question regarding the Wobble (LFO) effect on the lag time:

While the YT demos with guitars show a noticeable effect on the lag after turning the wobble knob there is only a marginal effect in my setup.

First I thought the wobble knob might be defective but I can use it flawlessly to switch the Stereo Width Mode (a Live Edit function) on and off.

What’s your experience with synths? Does your Deco V2 behave similarly?

handed · 2024-01-08T07:36:57.000Z

Still in love with my Deco V1 after all these years.

Anyone have any experience with the plug-in version? Curious to know how it goes…

DimensionsTomorrow · 2024-01-08T08:02:40.202Z

I don’t use mine in wide stereo mode, but it might be the case that wobble doesn’t really do much in the wide stereo mode (I can’t remember). Try in the regular mode and compare. Also check where the blend knob is set. All the way to the right is where the wobble is the strongest i think. Sum, invert and bounce also affect it I believe. Try those settings and compare with blend all the way to the right in non-wide mode.

JacopoAcquafresca · 2024-01-08T08:24:38.086Z

I have Deco V1. Although almost every function is pretty subtle (I like that way) with blend and wobble at maximum in bounce setting when you are not in the studio wide mode, the vibrato is very, noticeable.

Area_808 · 2024-01-08T10:48:37.838Z

I have the plugin and think it sounds really really good!

Don’t have experience with the hardware but do use it alongside the Analog Heat in processing signals and find it to be really useful in achieving a sound really quickly that I can’t do so easy on the AH.

RytmMASCHINE · 2024-01-08T21:36:16.477Z

@JacopoAcquafresca and @DimensionsTomorrow

Thank you for your suggestions.
For me wobble didn’t work well together with the DB-01. Everything else worked very well though.

Then I connected the Deco V2 to my Volca FM 2 and there wobble effects are very noticeable.
My lessons learned: Again some synth / pedal combos work better than others. That will be never a boring game.

Edit: Of course I will continue to use the Deco together with the DB-01 but with lesser expectations to that wobble.

handed · 2024-03-24T02:44:38.390Z

Folks with the V2 Deco - how are you controlling it with MIDI? It has a non-standard 1/4 inch TRS MIDI input - does that just mean I can use it as a 3.5mm MIDI port with a 3.5mm to 1/4 TRS adaptor (like for headphones) to interface with my other DIN MIDI and 3.5mm MIDI gear? Or does it really need you to buy some extra Strymon MIDI dongle to access MIDI through that port? Does it conform to TRS-A or TRS-B MIDI? I’m not so interested in using MIDI over USB.

RytmMASCHINE · 2024-03-24T11:45:03.751Z

Hi, my Strymon pedals are MIDI In TRS Tip active.
I would try it with a MIDI Type A adaptor because e.g. Chase Bliss is Ring active and there MIDI Type B is reported to work.

EDIT: I use a MIDI Box 4 that can drive any MIDI In TRS setup.

Disaster Area Designs

MIDI Box 4 — Disaster Area Designs

Updated and more powerful than ever, the MIDI Box 4 converts standard 5-pin (DIN) MIDI communications to a variety of 1/4″ formats. Four independent control ports interface to your devices, and new user-accessible configuration switches make setup...

Price: USD 69.99

Kegeratorz · 2024-03-24T16:35:44.358Z

I have a El Cap so I’d assume all is the same. I have a Type A TRS-midi dongle I use with the DN and all works well!

g3o2 · 2024-06-18T00:10:22.548Z

I am positively surprised by the fact that, with Deco’s wide stereo mode with stereo input, the OB-X8’s stereo voice spread is pretty much preserved when double-tracking, or at least I didn’t get the impression that the voice spread would become any less stereo. I thought Deco would sum to mono in bounce mode. Nevertheless, the X8, being relatively bright sounding synth, appears to benefit most from the tape saturation.

shigginpit · 2024-08-21T17:35:03.018Z

Do you know if they can use both or is it type A specifically?

8bitBarry · 2024-08-21T17:29:06.937Z

Having a Deco for guitar use, I banished a Microcosm and put the Deco into one of the Aux Sends. I am absolutely blown away at how it ‘completed’ the stereo field became. I’ve found the answer I didn’t know I needed

For those that don’t know (you can find the pedal’s technicals on YouTube), it creates a wonderful saturated central focus point. It works very well with on literally anything, but you can focus a monosynth and add subtle overdriven delay.

It compliments clinical delays and high fidelity with some much needed grit, but it’s so smooth it never sounds distorted, just thicker.

Any tips from Deco users gratefully accepted.

Kegeratorz · 2024-08-21T18:45:35.568Z

Not sure about both, I happen to have the A and it just works.

LyingDalai · 2024-08-21T19:02:10.986Z

8bitBarry:

Any tips from Deco users gratefully accepted.

I love it on drum machines. Especially MD.
Hats loose some treble, but I just love it. Might get another one at some point ^^

KaOsphere · 2025-04-23T15:34:49.187Z

Hi everyone, I have a deco v2 and cannot make it react to midi clock…

I have verified that a midi clock signal is present…Is there a connection trick I missed or did they cripple it on purpose to sell their 40 bucks midi cable ?

Thanks everyone !

Kegeratorz · 2025-04-23T15:41:08.385Z

I have the Capistan so possibly different but you do have to enable midi on the pedal. There are also other configuration options for midi.

KaOsphere · 2025-04-23T15:59:19.615Z

Thanks, yeah, I dunno. I managed to make it work with the undocumented usb connection. The led is now purple instead of red but the functions have somewhat changed and the lag time is working backward…Not sure if I gain anything with this…

Kegeratorz · 2025-04-23T16:06:58.507Z

Haven’t tried midi over usb but my el cap is solid when the DN is running the show!