ISP Decimator vs. Boss NS-2?

  • Thread starter Thread starter napalmdeath
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napalmdeath

napalmdeath

Well-known member
I now have an ISP that I've had a year or so. It seems to work better up front, than in the loop. However, it seems like my NS-2 worked better in the loop, and cut more noise. What's the consensus with others who have tried both? I'm thinking about another NS-2..
 
NS-2 is junk IMO. Cuts off your highs to severely. The ISP is the only gate where I didn't feel like my tone was being compromised.

Try turning the knob up when its in the loop. :lol: :LOL:
 
I've had a newer NS-2 and then got a ISP. I agree with Fluff the ISP retained more of my original tone and didn't chop the highs off as much as the NS-2. I also use the ISP in the loop after my preamp section which IMO works better but you do have to turn it up more. But I must say that a buddy has an old NS-2 probably from the 80's and I liked it much better then the new one I had.
 
MXR Smart gate works great in front or in the loop and very transparent IMO.

Pascal
 
Get the G String variant, works way better, samples your clean guitar and then noise reduction occurs in the loop. Mine is virtually transparent.
 
The ISP G-string is supposed to be made to run in the loop, so if the loop is where you want to run it look into that. I didn't like the one I had, but I don't think noise gates are for me. I mainly tried to run the one I had out front.
 
NS-2 only affects your highend if you are playing a low volumes or low recording levels. If you have your amp roring loud if works just fine.
 
D-Rock":3bdzkokq said:
NS-2 only affects your highend if you are playing a low volumes or low recording levels. If you have your amp roring loud if works just fine.
Click to expand...
I played mine live at gig volume and it sucked out some high end. Maybe I had a bunk unit :dunno:, the old (80's) one I played didn't really do this.
 
tripstan":58pwgdka said:
D-Rock":58pwgdka said:
NS-2 only affects your highend if you are playing a low volumes or low recording levels. If you have your amp roring loud if works just fine.
Click to expand...
I played mine live at gig volume and it sucked out some high end. Maybe I had a bunk unit :dunno:, the old (80's) one I played didn't really do this.
Click to expand...
I used mine predominantly in the X hook up. When I did that it actually slightly boosted and compressed my signal, in a good way. Now I use a Decimator because it just gates and eliminates better IMO.
 
I have an NS-2 and a Decimator and I prefer the tone of the Decimator, but prefer the performance of the NS-2 for my high gain uses MUCH MUCH more.

I bought the decimator simply because of the "good" rep it has. Granted, I noticed that it retained a bit more high end than my NS-2 does, but I find the gating isn't as good. finding a balance of threshold and release has been difficult for me and the decay of sustained notes is no where near as natural as the NS-2 is, even on light settings.

I moved the decimator to my "low/mid gain" board and rarely even have it on.

Probably one of the biggest let downs in gear purchases I've made. Thankfully they arent that expensive, lol.
 
Never used the ISP.

I've used the NS-2 for years. Great pedal. Works as it should. Never had tone changes. :no:
 
Another vote for ISP here..just the standard issue not the G String. Love it.. doesn't rob tone and let's note sustain and naturally decay. I would consider the MXR as well in a pinch if mine blew. I run mine up front.
 
ISP is the shit for me, can't use the Boss, it just alters and sucked the highs too much.
the ISP does alter the original signal a bit, but not as much as the Boss. The ISP will add a slight compression when the gate opens up, but it's still pretty transparent.
I use noisy pickups (single coils, P-90s) at high gain. The ISP has to be there or my signal would be way too noisy. I actually have 2 ISPs on my pedalboard when i run two amps.
 
ISP! I just picked one up last week...
My house has old wiring so I was getting nasty buzz! Once I put the ISP after the preamps....BOOM!
It makes my recordings sound much better
 
I think ISP G string will work better if you run things in loop. Works Great! I had the NS-2 but the ISP one knob set it and forget works flawless!
 
I was trying to figure out which to get for my second pedalboard about a month ago. I use an ISP on my main smaller pedalboard, and was trying to figure which I'd want to go with for my bigger pedalboard I'm making to mess around with some effects I have laying around. I went to a Music Go Round store nearby and was leaning towards the NS-2 because they had a couple for $30 or so. I plugged them both in (not using the send and return on the NS-2 because I wasn't planning on using it that way) and the ISP blew the NS-2 away tone suck-wise. Both reduced the noise once you set it properly, but the NS-2 made it sound dull while the ISP sounded good still. I'm sure you could probably dial your amp a little differently or depending on your setup it might not matter, but if you have the choice, why not just do it right and leave the tone intact from the get go? Just my thoughts!
 
It gets no better than the ISP GSeries....You run in front and in the loop....Doesn't alter tone, cuts all noise...I own 3 rack versions and 1 G String pedal....LOVE THEM!
 
Don't want to sound like an ad for ISP. But FWIW, the ISP was recommended to me by Bruce Egnater, he likes them enough that they come built in on his Armegeddon heads.
 
Wow.. i surprised to see a thread debating this. ISP is the ONLY gate that actually works correctly but you need either the g string or the prorack
 
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