TC Nova Delay and MOD 50

[EWSEthan]

The Nova can do some things the DD-20 cannot in a smaller package. For example, you can add modulation to any delay with the Nova. The DD-20 has 1 setting of modulated delay. The Nova also does the "audio tap tempo" (which I think it useless pretty much in a parallel loop) and I think it does longer delay times. The Nova also has more presets. That said, it also has digital distortion and a tap tempo freak out "mode" where you tap and the display shows a quick countdown from 2290 to 1 and does nothing.

The DD-20 does something really well that the Nova doesnt, which is pretty important. It works.

If you want analog, the T-Rex Replica supposedly works great in the loop.

FYI - If youre looking for a DD-20 my friend is looking to sell his. Its mint but doesnt work in his Bogner Shiva loop. The loop on that amp is a disaster.

-Matt

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

So is the nova a keeper?

 

[EWSEthan]

So is the nova a keeper?

I doubt it. It seems really tempermental. Im gonna give it another honest shot tomorrow night at rehearsal. Im going to run my module masters a little lower to help it out a bit and see if I can completely eliminate the digital distortion. However, if I get any more of those tap tempo issues its definitely going back! Basically, this thing better behave next time I plug it in. If it can do that it might be a keeper because as Ive said, the actual sounds it produces are awesome.

-Matt

 

[richedie]

So the digital distortion is common on the DD-20 and Nova? Maybe I'll go to analog. I bet the T Rex is expensive. The Maxon AD-9 Pro looks nice as does the $500 Diamond Memory Lane.

 

[bruce egnater]

Ah....the ongoing loop issue. You are correct that lowering the module masters and increasing the global master on the MOD50 will reduce the loop level. The real problem with guitar amp loops is that there is no way to really know what is going on. Unlike on a mixer you have VU meters, send knobs, return knobs etc etc. A guitar amp is much harder to use with effects because you have none of those advantages. What was set up at rehearsal goes out the window as soon as you get out on the gig. The trick is to keep the channel masters as low as you can and the main master up to keep the loop level down. If you are still having problems with pedals in an amp loop (Egnater or not), there is a helpful gadget. EBTech (Morley) makes a passive level shifter device specifically for this.

 

[richedie]

I can't really keep the Bassman module channel master low because it needs to compete with the other modules. I find it needs to be almost all the way up.

Maybe I'll stick with effects in front of the amp...or no effects.

I contacted Maxon a few times about their AD999 delay pedal and they promised me it works exceptionally well into the front of an amp for all styles and gain levels.

 

[EWSEthan]

OK, well the jury is in on the Nova. Its going back. The "don" is right about this pedal. It does some funkiness to your sound. I still didnt notice the the tone suckage, but the digital distortion on the repeats was in full effect even though I backed the volume off the masters and recalibrated the input level. I dont know whats going on with that because according to documentation is supposed to take something like +16db I think?!? I think I wasnt getting the distortion initially because I was using low volumes (before I wrote the opening piece to this thread), but who knows? At full band volumes, its just not usable.

Also, when I turned it on last night, the delay time on the display started repeatedly counting UP from 1 to 2290 (last time it was going down). It stopped only when I hit the manual button, and then the preset button again.

Who the hell knows whats going on inside of that thing? Maybe quality control is suspect and me and the don got bad ones, but the one I got cannot be trusted as far as I see it.

As usual, I swapped in my trusty DD-20 and it performed like a champ.

I MAY try a Timefactor, but its wider than the DD-20 and space on my board is TIGHT.

-Matt

 

[richedie]

Maybe try the Line 6 DL4. Do you have the Digital noise on the Boss?

 

[EWSEthan]

Maybe try the Line 6 DL4. Do you have the Digital noise on the Boss?

No, the Boss DD-20 is fine in the loop. Just make sure its set to +4db input level.

-Matt

 

[richedie]

This is confusing. I am hearing the Nova is THE digital delay to own!

I also keep reading that nothing will ever sound as fat and 3-D as analog delay so the Maxon AD-Pro may be on my list.

 

[3 Mile Stone]

Ah....the ongoing loop issue. You are correct that lowering the module masters and increasing the global master on the MOD50 will reduce the loop level. The real problem with guitar amp loops is that there is no way to really know what is going on. Unlike on a mixer you have VU meters, send knobs, return knobs etc etc. A guitar amp is much harder to use with effects because you have none of those advantages. What was set up at rehearsal goes out the window as soon as you get out on the gig. The trick is to keep the channel masters as low as you can and the main master up to keep the loop level down. If you are still having problems with pedals in an amp loop (Egnater or not), there is a helpful gadget. EBTech (Morley) makes a passive level shifter device specifically for this.

... and the EBTech gadget works amazingly well. See some folks like me like funky vibeyness in the effects sound. If you have ever heard Eric Johnson and Alien Love Child he does an intro piece called Zen Land. It's pure tonal bliss and it is achieved by using chorus and an Echoplex. The weirdness of old analog units is just so organic. That's why some of us like the low fi pedals. I use a Vox Tone Lab SE floor modeller in the loop because the delays are so orgnic and spectacularly funky. That's not say I don't like the sound of a 2290, it's just a different feel. I don't like things to be too pristine, it just does'nt jive with the vibe I'm going for. I also don't like them to mess up my amp sound either, so one does have to choose wisely. I also feel pretty strongly that the module master volumes should go up as high as possible. I feel it really opens up the sound and is more real sounding. Things get too squishy with low MV settings. The EBTech is cheap too, less than $100.

 

[richedie]

This is confusing. I am hearing the Nova is THE digital delay to own!

I also keep reading that nothing will ever sound as fat and 3-D as analog delay so the Maxon AD-Pro may be on my list.

Any good experiences with this????

 

[EWSEthan]

This is confusing. I am hearing the Nova is THE digital delay to own!

I also keep reading that nothing will ever sound as fat and 3-D as analog delay so the Maxon AD-Pro may be on my list.

Any good experiences with this????

The Nova Delay is THE delay to throw into the bottom of the ocean. The Timefactor is THE DELAY to OWN!

 

[richedie]

This is confusing. I am hearing the Nova is THE digital delay to own!

I also keep reading that nothing will ever sound as fat and 3-D as analog delay so the Maxon AD-Pro may be on my list.

Any good experiences with this????

The Nova Delay is THE delay to throw into the bottom of the ocean. The Timefactor is THE DELAY to OWN!

Not sure what to think. A friend of mine used one for a while on loan and I am readin posts on forums about how incredible it is. Maybe you got a bad one?????

Timefactor???

 

[EWSEthan]

I must have gotten a bad one because the one I had sure was bad. Or maybe other people arent using it with MOD 50? Timefactor is made by Eventide. They're pretty much impossible to get right now because the wait lists are too long and Eventide cant make them fast enough. Night and day for me. Its too much delay for some people though. Want to buy my Boss DD-20? I wouldnt use a Nova Delay for free especially after using the Boss and Eventide.

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

I might want your DD20

 

[richedie]

I must have gotten a bad one because the one I had sure was bad. Or maybe other people arent using it with MOD 50? Timefactor is made by Eventide. They're pretty much impossible to get right now because the wait lists are too long and Eventide cant make them fast enough. Night and day for me. Its too much delay for some people though. Want to buy my Boss DD-20? I wouldnt use a Nova Delay for free especially after using the Boss and Eventide.

How much for the Boss??? Does it mess with the tone? I hear companies that sell analog delays talking about how much fatter and warmer an analog delay is next to digital! I really can't afford to be spending $400 for a top notch analog delay. The Boss could get me by.

I love the Meistersinger chorus though and a friend just bought a ChoraFlange so noe I am interested in that! Some day...

Also want a Budda Wah!

 

[richedie]

I don't think the Nova delay is meant for the loop since it is not Line level like the DD-20.

 

[richedie]

How much for the Boss??? Does it mess with the tone? I hear companies that sell analog delays talking about how much fatter and warmer an analog delay is next to digital! I really can't afford to be spending $400 for a top notch analog delay. The Boss could get me by.

I love the Meistersinger chorus though and a friend just bought a ChoraFlange so noe I am interested in that! Some day...

Also want a Budda Wah!

Good luck finding an analog delay that will work in the effects loop. Unless you want to run in front of the MOD50 distorted and sound like warm, fat ass!

Don't be silly. I know at least one guy who has great success running delay up front to cut down on cables, etc. But for everyone one person who lives with delay up front, there are 10 people who much prefer it in the loop.

Personally, I like very warm, natural sounding effects. This usually takes me to analog effects. I found one analog delay, the Maxon AD-9 Pro and maybe the AD-9 that work in the loop for sure - you can check the specs.

I am interested in the Jauques Prisoner delay but not sure if it is line level. The other is the DSL Tap Echo which looks really nice but not sure it is line level.

 

[richedie]

My apologies.