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Topic: TC Nova reverb vs Digitech RV7 |
Jeremy Threlfall
From:
now in Western Australia
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Tommy Detamore
From:
Floresville, Texas
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Posted 27 May 2009 9:05 pm |
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Jeremy, I can't speak about the Nova Reverb, but I have to say I don't really care for the Digitech reverb. I bought one based on a lot of glowing reviews, but it just didn't sound all that good to me. Most of the patches had a "swim factor" (modulation) that I guess I just don't care for in reverbs. The spring patch didn't have the swim thing so much, but it was a tad too "fluttery" in the decay for me. I A/B'ed it with my '68 Twin which has pretty decent reverb, and I really couldn't get anything with the pedal that was very close to the real thing. I know this "review" maybe places me in the minority, going against opinions of some people who I respect highly for their ears and their skills, but I gotta call it like I see it I guess..
I do have a Nova delay, and although it's apples to oranges, the build quality seems good, and it sounds decent, and so far it is working well for me.
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Tommy Detamore
Quilter Labs, Goodrich Sound, Source Audio, Neunaber Audio, and Stringjoy Authorized Dealer
www.cherryridgestudio.com
www.steelguitartracksonline.com |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 28 May 2009 4:58 am
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Tommy,
I agree that the spring reverb model in the Digitech isn't all that great for my interests. I don't use it for that ever, although some have said it's a pretty good model. I find the plate and the hall (especially the hall) are most useful to me, and even that modulated setting is pretty cool for some stuff. But you mentioned that all the settings seem to have a modulated quality to them. I recall when I first got mine that I used a small, maybe underpowered wall wart to drive it, and it misbehaved. It sounded funny, and a couple of presets barely worked right. Then I connected it to a powerful One-Spot wall wart supply and it totally lit up and worked great. So it's possible it was a power issue. That and I agree that the spring model isn't all that useful and isn't as nice as a real analog spring.
I recall the TC Nova Reverb sounding pretty good. It was a brief encounter, but I liked it. The key with the TC Nova pedals is to go thru the "calibration" process where it detects your input level and adjusts for that. I hear that this can really make a difference with the Nova.
Brad |
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Tommy Detamore
From:
Floresville, Texas
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Posted 28 May 2009 5:14 am
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| Quote: |
| But you mentioned that all the settings seem to have a modulated quality to them. I recall when I first got mine that I used a small, maybe underpowered wall wart to drive it, and it misbehaved. It sounded funny, and a couple of presets barely worked right. Then I connected it to a powerful One-Spot wall wart supply and it totally lit up and worked great. So it's possible it was a power issue |
Thanks Brad. You know, you have a very good point. And I did read in other posts about the fact that inadequate power would adversely affect this unit. I guess I just didn't make the connection that this could cause the kinds of issues I was having with it. I should give one another go with a proper power supply before I make such a call as this.
So Jeremy, please take what I have said about the unit with a big 'ole grain of salt!
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Tommy Detamore
Quilter Labs, Goodrich Sound, Source Audio, Neunaber Audio, and Stringjoy Authorized Dealer
www.cherryridgestudio.com
www.steelguitartracksonline.com |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 28 May 2009 9:25 am
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Yeah, that series of pedals from Digitech has this kind of unique power circuitry that steps up and holds the voltage constant at 12v, I think. It seems that this power circuitry is picky about the power source. I witnessed it when I first got mine. Two of the algorithms didn't work, and one sounded strange. When I went to the bigger, better supply, it worked fine.
And to be fair, this pedal isn't the greatest reverb in the world, but for a pedal, it's one of the best around.
Brad |
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Tommy Detamore
From:
Floresville, Texas
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Posted 28 May 2009 9:57 am
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And I am curious about the TC Nova Reverb pedal. I came real close to buying the total Nova System, because for the price of two pedals (ie, the delay and the reverb) I could get the whole package. Arguably, there is a lot of stuff in the Nova System that I wouldn't use for steel, (guitar maybe moreso), but my main sway towards it was the fact that you could choose a parallel routing scheme for the your delays and reverbs. But I opted for just the delay pedal for now. The big drawback to going that route is if I want to add a reverb pedal at some point, I would be locked into a series routing arrangement I suppose. Unless I fed one of the pedals (100% wet) into channel one. But I think I read somewhere that channels one and two on a Twin were out of phase (?)......
Currently most of the time I am using either a Custom 15 or a Twin, and both have usable spring reverb, so for the time being I guess I don't really need a reverb pedal. But I know the first time I hit a bouncy stage I will wish I had one!
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Tommy Detamore
Quilter Labs, Goodrich Sound, Source Audio, Neunaber Audio, and Stringjoy Authorized Dealer
www.cherryridgestudio.com
www.steelguitartracksonline.com |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 28 May 2009 10:09 am
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I reviewed the RV-7 and used it about a month with both my lead guitar and steel. I A-B'd it against the Boss RV-5. Put me in the minority also. I found that the RV-7 rolled off the highs a lot more than the RV-5 and that the dynamic range in the RV-7 sounded more compressed. The difference in the highs is HUGE when you quickly swap between the two. Now it may be that the RV-7 EQ is flat and that the RV-5 boosts the highs a bit but in my application the RV-7 just destroyed my base tone. I use mostly the Plate and Hall in both units.
RV-7 Review
Greg |
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Tommy Detamore
From:
Floresville, Texas
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Posted 28 May 2009 10:37 am
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| Quote: |
| I found that the RV-7 rolled off the highs a lot more than the RV-5 |
Greg, do mean it rolled highs off of your basic steel dry tone (not just the verb itself)? Wow....I didn't notice that with the one I had but could very well have been the case....
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Tommy Detamore
Quilter Labs, Goodrich Sound, Source Audio, Neunaber Audio, and Stringjoy Authorized Dealer
www.cherryridgestudio.com
www.steelguitartracksonline.com |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 28 May 2009 11:29 am
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Tommy, it rolled off the highs dramatically on the dry and reverberated sounds. As I said above, it may be that the Boss RV-5 actually boosts the highs and that the RV-7 is relatively flat. In any event, the sparkling clear, lively sound I was getting with the RV-5 disappeared when I swapped in the RV-7. I tried this with both of my RV-5s in both my steel and guitar setups - same results. There may be some steelers that want to cut their highs a bit but they IMHO they would still have to live with the dynamic range issue.
My setups use the Goodrich 120 pot pedal, no buffer in line. Perhaps those using a hilton pedal or other buffer would get sifferent results although I expect the difference in tone is in the pedal and not due to the input stage loading.
Like everything else, you have to try it to see if it's for you or not.
Greg |
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Jay Ganz
From:
Out Behind The Barn
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Posted 28 May 2009 12:26 pm
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I've been powering it up with a plain old "DC Pack"
200ma adaptor and it's been perfect. I notice no modulation on the plain settings whatsoever.
It also has plenty high end, although I mainly use it when playing through old Fenders with Jensen alnicos.
I did have a Boss RV-3 years ago and found it was a bit too metallic for me.
The Hardwire RV-7 has a warmth that I really like and the high freeks are adjustable. |
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Jeremy Threlfall
From:
now in Western Australia
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Posted 28 May 2009 10:17 pm
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I'm going to get the TC Nova. I've been over a few previous threads, and it seems the Nova is right up there with the best reverbs and I am getting it a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than list price (display item, with full new warranty).
To paraphrase one of our respected brethren, it has been said (words to the effect) that in comparison to the Digitech RV7, "the only other reverb pedal that sounds anything like this is the TC Nova Reverb for a couple of hundred dollars more" |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 29 May 2009 1:16 pm
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| As much as I do like the RV7, I keep going back to the good ol' amp spring 'verb. You don't need to plug it in or worry about power. But compared to the Holy Grail, RV5, RV3 and Verbzilla, the RV7 is the champ by a long shot. Just my opinion. |
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Bob Baringer
From:
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 29 May 2009 4:26 pm
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| Due to all the positive reports here on the Forum I went in to the local music store to day and ordered an RV7, on the way home I thought "now watch the negative reports come in" and here it is. Thanks Jay,Jeremy and Chris, you give me some hope... |
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James Martin (U.K.)
From:
Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.
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Posted 31 May 2009 3:45 am
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| Can someone suggest some good settings to use on the RV7 when playing in a five piece - quite loud band? I've tried a number of different modes and settings but always end up using the reverb in my 112 because it seems so acceptable and in keeping with the other instruments in the band - most odd! I find all the modes in the RV7/RV5 to be too swirly and without definition. Would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks. |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 31 May 2009 5:08 am
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James, you may try cranking the liveliness a bit more, to sharpen up the throw of the 'verb. Also, settings like Spring will give you more high end than a darker Plate setting.
What you are describing is kinda what I like about the RV7. The 'verbs are more natural and not so spanky. They seem to do their job without washing everything out. I always thought that the best 'verbs are the ones you can't really hear but miss when you take them out. |
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James Martin (U.K.)
From:
Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.
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Posted 31 May 2009 7:37 am
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| Thanks Chris, I'll try just that.I think that what I'm looking for is the 112 verb sound but with a bit more surroundasound without losing the definition and bite. I'll probably end up as usual with the straight sound of the 112 and with another effects pedal in the drawer. We'll see. |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 31 May 2009 8:20 am
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| James, I know where you're coming from. I always end up going back to the amp 'verb, usually because it's so practical in a live setting. |
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Jeremy Threlfall
From:
now in Western Australia
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Posted 1 Jun 2009 11:23 pm
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I wouldn't have had this conundrum if the amp in question had reverb in it.
I have ordered the TC Nova. I figure it is at least as good as the digitech and for roughly the same price. |
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Jeremy Threlfall
From:
now in Western Australia
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Posted 18 Jun 2009 1:06 am
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Jay Ganz
From:
Out Behind The Barn
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Jeremy Threlfall
From:
now in Western Australia
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Posted 22 Jun 2009 6:34 pm
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well, I like it a lot
but it is clearly more than I need, as I just wanted 'a bit of reverb'. There are so many differeet types, and variations of types, that I am sure it will be some months before I can usefully adjust things to get one sound I prefer over another.
It is testament to the realism of TC Electronics digital emulatory that the reverb I was most comfortable with straight out of the box was the Classic Spring Reverb - like on Fender amps I have had.
There is a 'stomp box' option which emulates a cheesy stomp box (and which probably would have done me well enough) in addition to other options. The 'Dynamix' function is pretty cool, and I'm playing with that a bit (it dampens the effect whilst a string is plucked and brings it on 'in the spaces').
In short, if the RV7 was a couple of hundred bucks cheaper than what I paid for this, then I would have been just as happy with the smaller, simpler stomp box.
At the same price, however, it was no contest. It will be a set-it-and-leave-it proposition for me, I will probably set it up in the floor of my amp (where the reverb bag would be) and forget about it!
Thanks for all your input. |
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Jim Ives
From:
Los Angeles, California, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2009 8:54 am
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If you want a Digitech, consider their Hardwire line of reverb (and delay). There is a current post by Bruce Bouton that adresses these. I am NOT a dealer but I find the Hardwire reverb the best after-market pedal I've tried, perhaps because it has the Lexicon engine.
I briefly tried the TC electronics Nova unit and liked it, but didn't do a comparison.
Jim |
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