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Average Price: $162

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$601+

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Description

Embark on a sonic adventure with the DigiTech Dirty Robot, a guitar synth pedal that transforms your guitar into a vintage synth powerhouse. With its dual-voice capability, this pedal offers a journey from the warm, nostalgic sounds of the '70s and '80s analog synths to the futuristic realm of vocal formant synthesis. The 360-degree Drift knob stands as your command center, letting you weave Square Wave with Sub and Octave sounds for a truly out-of-this-world experience. Whether you're crafting thick modulation or tweaking the frequency sweep, the Dirty Robot responds with precision, ensuring your sound is uniquely yours.

Key Features:

  • Dual-voice synth pedal for diverse soundscaping
  • Offers both classic analog synth tones and vocal formant synthesis
  • 360-degree Drift knob for blending Square Wave, Sub, and Octave sounds
  • Mix/Mod, Start/Stop, and Sens/Time knobs for detailed sound shaping
  • Ideal for guitarists seeking to add a synth dimension to their playing

Product specs

Brand DigiTech
Model Dirty Robot Synth Pedal
Finish Graphic
Year 2010s
Categories Noise Generator Pedals, Octave and Pitch-Shifting Pedals

FAQs

What types of synth sounds can the DigiTech Dirty Robot produce?

The DigiTech Dirty Robot offers two distinct synth voices: a vocoder-style voice and a traditional synth voice, allowing for a wide range of sound textures. It can emulate classic synth tones and create unique, futuristic effects for both guitar and bass.

Does the DigiTech Dirty Robot work well with bass guitars?

Yes, the DigiTech Dirty Robot is designed to work with both guitar and bass, offering rich synth tones for either instrument without the need for special pickups.

What power supply does the DigiTech Dirty Robot require?

The DigiTech Dirty Robot requires a standard 9V DC power supply with a negative center pin, which is typical for most guitar pedals.

How does the DigiTech Dirty Robot differ from traditional synth pedals?

The DigiTech Dirty Robot offers unique vocoder and synth voices, allowing for more creative sound manipulation compared to traditional synth pedals that may focus on a single type of synth sound.

Can the DigiTech Dirty Robot be used in a stereo setup?

Yes, the DigiTech Dirty Robot features stereo outputs, making it suitable for stereo setups and providing a wider spatial effect for your synth sounds.

ProGuitarShopDemos

ProGuitarShopDemos

Digitech Dirty Robot

Video thumbnail for Digitech Dirty Robot by ProGuitarShopDemos

Digitech Dirty Robot

ProGuitarShopDemos

ProGuitarShopDemos

Video thumbnail for DigiTech Dirty Robot Mini-Synth Pedal | Reverb Demo Video by Reverb

DigiTech Dirty Robot Mini-Synth Pedal | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

Reverb

Video thumbnail for DigiTech Dirty Robot (demo) by Living Room GD

DigiTech Dirty Robot (demo)

Living Room GD

Living Room GD

Video thumbnail for DigiTech Dirty Robot Stereo Mini Synth Demo by Pedal of the Day

DigiTech Dirty Robot Stereo Mini Synth Demo

Pedal of the Day

Pedal of the Day

Video thumbnail for DigiTech: DirtyRobot Stereo Mini-Synth Pedal by Brett Kingman

DigiTech: DirtyRobot Stereo Mini-Synth Pedal

Brett Kingman

Brett Kingman

Video thumbnail for DigiTech Dirty Robot - on Guitar & Bass by TheSuperFunAwesomeHappyTimePedalShow

DigiTech Dirty Robot - on Guitar & Bass

TheSuperFunAwesomeHappyTimePedalShow

TheSuperFunAwesomeHappyTimePedalShow

Video thumbnail for 90 Seconds With Digitech Dirty Robot by Musicmaker

90 Seconds With Digitech Dirty Robot

Musicmaker

Musicmaker

Video thumbnail for DigiTech Dirty Robot - demo, reamping test by Portal Gitarowy

DigiTech Dirty Robot - demo, reamping test

Portal Gitarowy

Portal Gitarowy

Video thumbnail for Digitech Dirty Robot Synth Pedal Demo by Bonedo Synthesizers

Digitech Dirty Robot Synth Pedal Demo

Bonedo Synthesizers

Bonedo Synthesizers

Video thumbnail for Digitech Dirty Robot Guitar/Bass Synth Pedal | Gear4music demo by Gear4music Guitars

Digitech Dirty Robot Guitar/Bass Synth Pedal | Gear4music demo

Gear4music Guitars

Gear4music Guitars

Reviews

PROS

  • Encourages experimentation with easy-to-use interface

  • Offers unique textures and sounds, perfect for Trent Reznor-like guitars

  • Can achieve John Carpenter soundtrack era synth tones

  • High build quality, described as bulletproof

  • Versatile; from subtle enhancements to complete sound morphing

  • Functions well with other pedals for layered effects

  • Creates immediate, great musical sounds without deep knowledge of waveforms or LFOs

  • Suitable for both retro and modern ambient music styles

CONS

  • Has a learning curve to dial in specific sounds

  • Physical layout and stacked controls can be initially challenging

  • Limited by internal processors and control size

  • Lacks presets and downloadable patches for ease of use during performances

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about DigiTech Dirty Robot.

Features and functionality

  • The Dirty Robot has a powerful Start/Stop dial for sculpting filter sweeps up or down, offering more control over the effect's behavior.

    Source
  • The modulation knob adds chorus effects, and holding the footswitch activates a momentary vibrato, enhancing sonic versatility.

    Source
  • The 360-degree drift knob allows for shaping synth sounds, offering both pronounced octave-down effects and subtle envelope filtering.

    Source
  • The Dirty Robot is noted for its ability to maintain clean sounds, although slightly less so than the Micro Synth, while still delivering a compelling digital sound experience.

    Source
  • The Dirty Robot's small footprint and standard 9V power requirement make it a practical choice for compact pedalboards, contrasting with the bulkier EHX Micro Synth needing 24V.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Dirty Robot is noted for doing unique sounds the Synth Wah is known for, but lacks simple envelope filtering capabilities.

    Source
  • The Dirty Robot offers more than Synth Wah by providing fixed filter positions without sweep, delivering a rich, static synth sound.

    Source
  • The Dirty Robot is described as more feature-laden and versatile compared to the EHX Micro Synth, offering multiple voices and speed options, enhancing its practical use.

    Source

User experience

  • One owner prefers the Dirty Robot over the Synth Wah for its extensive parameter control despite having both pedals.

    Source
  • Owners report that the Dirty Robot maintains its unique sound across different guitars, highlighting its consistent performance regardless of guitar quality.

    Source
  • Some users find it challenging to dial in desired tones initially, but appreciate the pedal's ability to enhance parallel setups with other effects.

    Source
  • One owner spent over two hours reconfiguring their pedal board after acquiring the Dirty Robot, highlighting its engaging nature and the time investment in optimizing setup.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The pedal excels at creating synth-like bass tones, particularly with low octave settings, making it suitable for bass players seeking a synth sound.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • An owner purchased a Dirty Robot in near-new condition for $60, suggesting potential value in the used market, particularly for those seeking a budget-friendly option.

    Source

Critic Reviews

DigiTech Dirty Robot review | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

For adventurous guitarists, the DigiTech Dirty Robot is a gateway to synth-like soundscapes. With faultless tracking and robust construction, it offers two synth voicings: an envelope-style synthesis and a vocal formant mode reminiscent of classic 80s sci-fi. While it excels in capturing fast runs and adding flair with onboard filters, its niche appeal means it's best suited for those looking to blend synth effects into their music. Overall, it's a unique pedal that delivers on its promise of transforming guitar tones, making it a worthy addition to any experimental setup.

positive
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 18 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
am_studio

Such a shame it's discontinued

Found out about this pedal because of Andrew Huang. I'm glad I managed to buy this pedal (somehow).

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Voice 2

From Gear Setup
shok
shok

1509

Fun and Robotic

I finally got this pedal right at the pandemic while working on a soundtrack and have used it several times when the funk needed an odd bite. This pedal is similar in ways to the BitCommander in that you can color the sound yet the bass remains solid!

stefano_ioele

This thing is CRAZY!

I still have to find the right definition for this little fella... It gives you AMAZING possibilities and unique sounds. It's not for everyone and surely it is for people that love experimenting new ways to subtly deform your sound or to completely morph it into a broken robot talking wah! I used it in 2 ways:

  • Hidden boost behind my "The Dude" overdrive, to add a unique rounded dirty boost
  • By it self with a compressor as main protagonist of my sound... it sounded FAT!

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Andrew Huang uses DigiTech Dirty Robot

Andrew Huang

Singer, Guitarist

First Of October

...
Verified via YouTube

Seen clearly at 3:11, Huang uses the Digitech DirtyRobot pedal for the first time after being gifted a number of pedals from Rob Scallon.

See how Ace uses DigiTech Dirty Robot

Ace

Guitarist

Skunk Anansie

...
Verified via Photo

In a post on Instagram, Ace of Skunk Anansie showcases the DigiTech Dirty Robot guitar synth pedal as part of the gear setup in Skunk Studio.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use DigiTech Dirty Robot, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

Show yours
jamesnotjim

jamesnotjim

Gear IQ 367

am_studio

am_studio

Gear IQ 780

uncannyadam

uncannyadam

Gear IQ 2265

am_studio

am_studio

Gear IQ 780

andre_rocas

andre_rocas

Gear IQ 480

extraterrestrialreptile

extraterrestrialreptile

Gear IQ 232

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