DS-1X Distortion

Dynamic Distortion

Distortion is one of the oldest and most popular guitar effects around, and with good reason. Put simply, without that roaring, shredding sound, rock would be rock, metal wouldn’t be metal, and the world would be a pretty boring place.
That being said, most distortion pedals have a problem, and it’s one that we’ve all come to live with.
You see, distortion is not the most versatile of effects. While a good distortion pedal will offer you a nice range of sounds, it can take some fiddling, and if you want to switch between two settings mid-song, you might as well just get a second pedal.
The DS-1X distortion from Boss is a dynamic digital distortion pedal that attempts to compensate for that problem electronically.

A Different Kind of Pedal

The Multi-Dimensional Processor (MDP) might sound like something out of a bad sci-fi movie, but it’s actually a pretty incredible development in pedal technology. By analysing your play, the MDP shapes the sound to fit your playing. In practice, this means that when you switch between rhythm and lead the pedal will adjust to compensate.

Who is The DS-1X Distortion For?

Now it’s worth saying that the DS-1X is not for everybody.
While it has some incredibly useful functionality, ultimately this pedal is the one calling the shots. That’s great if you’re looking for a high-quality, hassle-free distortion, but for audio-perfectionists, the DS-1X may be a step too far.
At the end of the day, you’re handing control over to the pedal, and if you’re the kind of guitarist who wants a really precise sound, then you’ll have to get to know this pedal for the best results.

Of course, that’s just what we think. You can play around with the DS-1X yourself here on Tonepedia to see if this digital distortion is right for you.