[Harp-L] DLS Rotosim

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

A few weeks ago, a listmember emailed me off list to ask about how I  
liked my DLS RotoSim which is a rotary sound or Leslie simulator  
pedal.I sent him a detailed response. If anyone else is interested,  
here's what I had to say after several months of using the RotoSim  
regularly:

I am totally pleased with the DLS RotoSIm.  Completely satisfied.   
It's harp friendly, true bypass, easy to set up and use and has  
separately adjustable fast/slow speeds, upper/lower rotor levels and  
ramp time.  Has 2 inputs and outputs, each of which has a slightly  
different effect or can be used in stereo (I use input A).  Has an  
overdrive toggle switch that i don't use.   2 footswitches on the  
pedal:  one is on/off, the other is fast/slow.  If you have it on and  
go from slow to fast it will ramp up like a real Leslie, which sounds  
very cool. You can adjust the ramping speed. You can also hook up a  
separate expression pedal to independently control ramp time/rotor  
speed if you want to, but i don't. (Yamaha makes a nice one that is  
compatible and relatively inexpensive, though.)

The RotoSim is a well built, very high quality pedal. Metal case,  
quality knobs that stay put. All jacks are metal and very tight. Very  
durable, gig worthy and extremely reliable. Works well with the  
MicroPog, but I used it by itself before i got the MicroPog and  
everyone (musicians and audience) loved it.  Comes with a power  
supply (doesn't use batteries) and will work with a "One Spot" which  
is nice because a "One Spot" has a very long cord.

Costs $299.  i got it with free shipping from Steve's Music on line.   
Their web site doesn't work very well, so i called and ordered by  
phone.  They had one in stock and shipped very promptly.  On a scale  
on 1 to 10 I give it 10 (maybe 11).  Easy to use, great sound,  
harmonica friendly and not at all temperamental. Works well with  
every mic I've tried with it. You don't need to put a compressor or  
booster in front of it or behind it or anything like that, and it  
doesn't increase gain when it's turned on (so, if you don't feedback  
when it's off, you won't feedback when it's on). Very warm sounding  
when it's engaged and true bypass when it's off.  And there's no  
audible click or anything when you turn it on or off or change  
speeds.  Very smooth.

Funny story:  The pedal has a green on/off light so you can tell when  
it's engaged, but it also has 2 small cobalt blue lights that stay on  
all the time and  flash alternately at whatever speed you have it set  
to, so you can tell if it's on fast or slow and how fast or slow.   
There's this one band leader i play with regularly who is pretty laid  
back and favors legalization of marijuana. I wanted to make sure it  
was okay with him before i used the pedal at one of his gigs.   
Anyway, i got set up, plugged in, and the blue lights were flashing  
when i explained to him about the pedal and asked if it was okay if i  
used it.  He kept staring at the lights for a while and finally said,  
"I think i like it already."  He liked even more after he heard me  
play through it.

Btw, although the slow speed sounds very cool with the MicroPog, (as  
does the fast speed) the slow speed really doesn't do much for the  
harmonica when i am using the RotoSim by itself, unless i turn it on  
slow for a second and then switch to fast to get the cool ramping  
effect.  So, unless i am using the MicroPog too, i just leave the  
RotoSim on fast and turn it on and off.  But the fast setting is  
really nice and the speed and the bass and treble rotor levels are  
adjustable, and very easy to set up (just turn the knobs).  There are  
also internal parameter settings you can fool with if you open the  
case, but i never have or felt i needed to.

If you are not interested in effects pedals, you can skip this post  
in good conscience.

JP