All user reviews for the DigiTech Obscura Altered Delay

Digitech’s Obscura Altered delay pedal is – as its name suggests – an “altered” delay, offering several possibilities which can make its use all the more complex.

It is a digital delay with an analog mode and max delay time set at 2 seconds. It can deliver an analog delay but it can also distort and lofi-ize the sound. It first addresses guitar players on the look for an unordinary sound.
The box is made of metal, with outstanding graphics that still make controls less readable. Size (cm) is 11x6x3.5.

It’s a true stereo pedal that does not sum the signals from both channels but renders them separately. Putting this pedal at the end of your chain, you can feed it with your modulation fx’s stereo signal instead of mono signal, while keeping your stereo modulation.
The Oscura offers many delay types, with 4 of them being documented:
- Analog : "bucket Brigade" simulation.
- Tape : tube tape echo simulation.
- Lo-Fi : based on an 8-bit digital delay.
- Reverse : delays repeat what you play – but backward.

A “Level” control adjusts the delay levels.

When the “Revers” mode is selected and “Level” setting is at its minimal, no signal can be heard.

The lower left knob has a dual function :
- Time allows to choose the delay time
- Repeats allows to set the number of time the signal is repeated. Starting at 3:00, you get infinite repeats through self-oscillation
The Time control also allows to adjust the “Tap Tempo” when this mode is selected. Tap Tempo is selected through keeping the footswitch for 3 seconds.

The last two controls are Tone and Degrader. The first modifies the delayed signal’s tone, from dark and hot to bright and shiny.

The Degrader’s effect changes according to the selected delay mode.

The footswitch is soft and features a multicoloured LED: red to just indicate the pedal’s switched on, it changes from green to yellow depending on the “Time” setting position.

Up on the pedal’s front, there’s a 2-way “Tails” switch, allowing to choose the bypass mode (true or not).

Overall: it’s a slightly complicated pedal, too much for me who likes to keep things simple. But it will satisfy those always on the lookout for new sounds.