The DigiTech Expression Factory was inspired by 7 of the world’s classic expression pedals. Introducing Expression Factory, the pedal that lets you metatarsally modulate a whole pedal board of classic expression pedals. From Wah and Whammy to rare, sought-after pedals like the A/DA Flanger and DigiTech’s own highly collectable Space Station Synth Swell.
Thanks to 2-in-1 concentric controls, you can tweak 3 key controls of each expression effect and season them with your choice of seven classic distortion stompbox models piped in from the DigiTech DF-7 Distortion Factory.
Add Flexible Output Mode, a cast metal treadle and a sleek carbon fiber finish and you have an industrial-strength tool for anyone who likes to tread a treadle.
EX7 Models are Based On:
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah*
Vox Clyde McCoy Wah*
DigiTech XP300 Space Station
DigiTech Whammy
Unicord Univibe*
Leslie 145 Rotary Speaker*
ADA Flanger*
* PLUS: 7 classic distortion models!
* And – it’s a volume pedal
Model Details:
Based on Dunlop Cry Baby*
One of the most popular iterations of the Wah pedal with a slightly thicker tone than a Vox(R), reminiscent of late ’60s and early ’70’s Guitar Gods.
Frequency Range, Q (Shape), Volume controls; Xpression pedal changes Wah effect.
Based on Vox Clyde McCoy Wah*
The 1966 original. Though it was designed for the guitar, it was initially aimed at trumpet players, which is why horn player Clyde McCoy’s name graces the pedal today.
Frequency Range, Q (Shape), Volume controls; Xpression pedal changes Wah effect.
Based on DigiTech XP300 Space Station/Synth Swell
The most popular tone from a very rare pedal, Synth Swell packs an entire outer-space string orchestra into your guitar, let you create other-worldly effects and flourishes via the expression pedal.
Pitch Shft, Chorus/Pitch Balance, Swell Attack Time controls; Xpression pedal changes input level (volume swell).
Based on DigiTech Whammy
The one and only, to use an expression. Smooth pitch bends, rich detuning, deadly dive bombs and fast-tracking harmony shifts, just like the original.
Whammy Shift, Tone, Wet/Dry controls; Xpression pedal changes pitch shift.
Based on Unicord Univibe*
The chorus standard since the late 60’s for adding lush depth and dimension. True to the original, our model also offers both vibrato and chorus.
Chorus/Vibrato, Intensity, Volume controls; Xpression pedal changes modulation speed.
Based on Leslie* 145 Rotary Speaker
Add the meticulously modeled sound of the Leslie 145 rotary speaker. This is as real as it gets without lugging a 160-pound cabinet around with you.
Drive, Min Sweep, Max Sweep controls; Xpression pedal changes rotary speed.
Based on the ADA Flanger*
The Holy Grail of all flangers with a dramatic jet-engine fly-by sweep. Rarer than a 7-string Strat – and its optional foot controller is even harder to find!
Range, Speed, Enhance controls; Xpression pedal changes sweep.
Includes Built-in DF-7 Distortion Factory Pedal!
Distortion model based on Ibanez TS-9* / cabinet model based on Fender* 1965 Deluxe Reverb* 1×12
Distortion model based on DOD Overdrive/Preamp 250 / cabinet model based on Marshall* 4×12
Distortion model based on Boss DS-1* / cabinet model based on Johnson 4×12
Distortion model based on Pro Co Rat* / cabinet model based on Fender Bassman* 2×12
Distortion model based on Boss Metal Zone* / cabinet model based on Johnson 4×12
Distortion model based on DigiTech Metal Master / cabinet model based on VHT* 4×12
Distortion model based on EH Big Muff pi* / cabinet model based on Marshall* 4×12 with 25-watt Celestion*
DigiTech, X-Series, CIT, Metal Master, Synth Swell, Whammy, Space Station, Johnson Amplification, Distortion Factory and Expression Factory and DOD are trademarks of Harman International Industries, Inc.
*Other product names used here are trademarks of their respective companies and are not associated or affiliated with DigiTech. They are trademarks of other manufacturers and were used merely to identify products whose sounds were reviewed in the creation of this product.
Weight: 5.4 lbs.
Very Nice for the money
This pedal is very good for the money. The whammy effect sounds just like the original. And the Crybaby effect is much better then the original for the fact that you can modify it for the sound you want. The distortion sounds amazing through my fender amp.
MetalMaster3223 from New Philadelphia, OH (Jan 3, 2008)
As far as the sounds of the effect models go, this pedal almost *has* to get full marks. Blows the modeling pedal competition out of the water. The individual effects are the best simulations I have ever heard, and each is incredibly useful in its own right– with the possible exception of its two wah modes. As some of the others have commented, why have two? As overwhemlingly happy as I am with the sound quality, there are a number of issues I have with its overall operation– areas which, in my own humble opinion, leave quite a bit of room for improvement. If you're interested in my $0.02, or curious to see why this is certainly NOT just another moon-eyed rave-up, see the overall rating section.
I'm giving it a 5 not because it isn't easy to figure out. It actually is– I got it going and got great sounds out of it in the store, with no manual. See previous posts for details. The EX-7 gets a 5 in ease of use for its quirks when using it in an actual playing situation. I will insert my complaint about the lack of movement in the treadle here. This isn't enough to make it less-than-wonderful, but it is kind of an oversight on Digitech's part. Why did they design this type of box this way??? Some of their other offerings (Whammy) have acceptable throws, why not this one? As it stands, you've really got to be careful with it– people that like long throws might want to look the other way. I'm also not a fan of the external mode/model switch. These two combined with the inability to program patches and the extra oomph required to get the switch going bring it down to a 5 in my book. You've really gotta know what you're doing if you're going to make regular use of it.
I have never had a problem with any of Digitech's stuff. The pedal itself is a solid, heavy piece of eqiupment. The external switch, however, is not quite as tough looking. The way things are designed, this switch may be absolutely necessary for some folks, so I'm knocking off two points here.
Okay– now for the fun part. As overwhelmingly fantastic as the idea for this pedal is, and as stellar (no pun intended w/respect to the Space Station) as the models sound, there are a number of important areas I would like to see addressed– things that would really make this thing, for me at least, an end-all and be-all pedal:
1)The wahs. Yes, wah has a place here, and there probable should be ONE wah mode. Yes, one– not two. They both sound great, but there should be one wah setting that morphs between Vox and Crybaby. Much more useful, and would leave room for:
2)Tremolo. How cool would that be? Have a nice, wavery organ-y sounding trem in the second position– maybe even a setting that morphs between trem and vibrato…all nice and speed-controlled w/the treadle.
3) If I had wanted distortion in this box, I would have bought a distortion pedal (maybe even Digitech's DF-7, but I've basically got one now–minus one tone control). This, IMHO, is totally out of place in this pedal. The "dual" knobs are great, but I'd rather have control over 6 expression/modulation parameters than access to distortion in one pedal. How much cooler would it be to have the ability to do things like add extra phasing stages to the Uni-Vibe, or control wave shape in the Flanger than these built-in distortion models that aren't exactly intuitive to program and tweak the way you want (and don't do what myself and many other players are looking for tone-wise anyway)?
4) Speaking of programming: there should be a way to program patches in this one. Even though the settings work relatively well when switching between models, it would be nice to have custom settings on tap. This would make the extra cost of the control switch almost worth it….
5) That darned footswitch: another good idea carried only halfway through. Getting rid of the distortion modes could knock it down to 2 buttons, and give it a much friendlier footprint. It's construction should also match the soliditiy of the pedal, and it should be able to plug in with any 1/4" cable. The cable you have to use with it is too long, and the ends are not exactly flexible. In a perfect world, it would also be included in the price of the pedal. I bought mine used, and it came with the switch. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have shelled out $40 for it, even if it does make switching between models handy.
6) Another issue with the treadle throw: this time not its over all shortness, but the fact that you have to keep pressure on it to access the highest speeds/settings of the effects. If I want to leave the Univibe on crazy speed-chop, I should be able to walk away from the pedal. Also the "hidden" volume pedal feature in the bypass mode of the flanger model would not cause volume loss when you walk away from it.
7) My final frustration (as of today, anyway)– the power supply. I'm not an engineer, so perhaps there is some technical reason I don't understand, but why on earth did they have to make it AC powered? Everything else on my board is happy with Voodoo Lab's PP2+… this one needs a big, ugly wall wart sticking out of the PP2's courtesy outlet. Thankfully someone at Voodoo Lab was thinking!
Again, I am certainly not speaking out against this pedal. It definitely has secured its place on my board and does 90% of the things I need it to do (the only other modulator I now need to bring is a tremolo). I actually sold a Keeley Modded Line 6 MM4 to get this one. The Keeley Mods really brough the Line 6 to life, but even so the Uni Vibe and Flanger models sounded flat and truncated compared to this one. The Line 6 Leslie wasn't bad, but even that isn't quite as "3-D" as the EX-7's. Digitech has really made the grade with the actual sounds of the models, and you get the oh-so-cool Whammy and Space Station stuff in there, too. Great pedal, but I would sell it for the first company that comes closest to making one that addresses my complaints!
fellsilver (08/04/2007)
