DigiTech GSP2101 Artist user reviews ( 8/10) - 13 user reviews

• 03/26/08

  Rockmonster's review

  Characteristics

  Hmmm.. what are the effects used. Wellllll... this preamp/effects unit was definitely "it" back in the day... and yep. I'm the original owner. This is based upon the regular, 1-S-disc,no Artist,no chrome, no nothing GSP 2101. This is an analog preamp wed to a 24 bit digital effects processor, as well as including analog e.q.'s,compression, etc. The range of effects was pretty wide.. pitch shifting,chorus,delay,many different reverb programs ranging in complexity from basic multi effects grade reverb to close to studio quality programs... (with a veritable plethora of parameters to adjust..enough to give Bill Gates a headache.)
  
  Not the MOST user friendly unit... but something that should be looked at as almost an instrument on its own.. It is fairly intuitive if you are just looking to adjust factory programs on your own, but if you are looking to create your own algorithms... then grab some coffee. Arm yourself with patience, the thick manual and a highlighter pen.. and you will be rewarded! ( once you understand the creating,mixing and saving patches.. it is easy... and the flexibility is unreal.)
  
  Connections are 1/4 inch and XLR (with/without cab simulation),MIDI, and effects loop to sidechain other stuff. 2 rack spaces... Dunno if this has any USB thingie... hmmm

  Utilization

  Easy to moderate for basic editing..a bit more difficult for creating patches, and deep parameter manipulation. Gosh. That almost sounded dirty. The manual is clear...a bit heavy to the Digitech propaganda side...however it is thick, comprehensive and has a bit to remember. Not for the plug and play guys. I mean it.

  Sound Quality

  Good to great... The phaser is unreal for trippy, ambient Robin Trower, Pink Floyd stuff... with a LOT of different parameters available. Pick your wave shape. Same goes for the Chorus. Lots of delays available... very clear... total control over milliseconds you want.( no tap tempo).
  
  Pitch shifting, extensive reverb programs ( with control over early reflections,high, low, mid freq. rolloff... and that is just the BEGINNING).
  
  Tremolo... super. Compression.. eh. E.q.'s.. well.. there are a LOT of them. Graphic, parametric,notch... it has 'em. Panners, mixers, flangers, etc. 20-20khz clarity.
  
  
  
  Ok.. So. The effects are pretty yummy. Just have to invest some time to really get to know the unit. The preamps... welllllll... again good to great. The cleans... amazing. I dialed mine in next to an old Fender Twin. I think I got my rig to sound sweeter. Mid level gain stuff... very very good with delays, etc. I get some great blues, edgy rock sounds. Nice and crunchy. (no factory presets...you have to adjust them to your taste.) Heavy distortion.. here is where it becomes a matter of perspective. I would say...do not use this amp with V30's or G12-75's....I would say it does best with an organic set of speakers and a good tube power amp. It seems to become a bit sterilized with modern Celestion heavy rock type speakers, and benefits greatly from some of the Eminence stuff or Greenbacks. Something warmer. This unit is great for tight hi gain rhythms.. i have had a love/hate relationship with this unit for leadwork. It does not get a very organic tone for lead.. but I have only used it with 6L6 based poweramps... maybe with an EL34 setup it would be a bit warmer... Less tight. More note bloom. Currently, I just use this as an effects device for my Voodoo Labs preamp.. but did use it extensively as my primary tone generator for years... ( Yep. I have had this unit for about 15 years.. still chugging!!) Use it with Les Pauls, Strats, Tele's, metal type guitars.
  
  It sort-of respects the differences between these guitars... but really... on the high gain stuff it has it's own personality that it globs on to whatever guitar you play..I kinda hate that. The good news is... you can play a 2k Les Paul.. or a 200 dollar Rogue... and get them to sound close, quality wise

  Overall Opinion

  Using it almost 15 years. Lots. I love the flexibility... don't mind the complicated interface...wish it sounded a bit more organic so that I could have one dead silent killer rig. I DID try a lot of models before this..during that time period... (alllll those years ago....) You can pick these up for between 300-500 bucks...which is still holding a good value..but not a bad deal. I have tried to replace this many, many times..and the quality and amount of effects keep me coming back. So...yeah..I would make the same choice. I might get another one just as a backup!
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• 02/04/08

  myriam63660_en's review

  Characteristics

  Analog preamp + digital multifx in a 2U rack
  
  Got more effects than you'll ever need in this unit

  Utilization

  - you got to be patient when you setup the 2101, the effects chains can be very complicated: lots of paraméters, same effect can be used and re-used at any place in one chain. The manual is well designed and very helpfull

  Sound Quality

  The effects are really good. 2 groups:
  
  
  
  - analog (préamp): compressor (excellent), distorsions (transistor or tube, they both sound very good)
  
  - digital (multifx): the wha is cheap but otherwise all the effects are great (you've got here all the effects you can think of, even the whammy). You can blend the ratio original signal/processed sound with the mixers in the chain. I only had problems with the réverbs: lot of people find it great, i don't (T.C. electronics reverbs sound 10 times better to me)
  
  
  
  You can really achieve uncommun sounds ala allan holdsworth etc. Everything is possible!

  Overall Opinion

  - If you are fond of never ending tweaking, unusual but beautiful sounds, for a low price, go for that unit you won't regret it
  
  - I have used it since 2003 but mine is a 1995 version. At the time it was a very professionnal and expensive device. nowadays a lot of recent processors give you a better sound quality, but few will give you the flexibility the 2101 has
  
  - You can find a used 2101 with a single S-disc for 500 dollars or less, at this price, it's a steal. If you can, take the 2101 with 2 S-discs or even better: the 2101 limited edition
  
  - I love this unit, but i already have my ENGL head for the distorsions and i only use my digitech as a multifx when i need delays or chorus. I don't really need so much effects and i never use more than 2 effects at a time, so i will instead get a T.C. electronics M350, which is way easier to use and sounds better in my opinion
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• 03/08/10

  steve torc's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  The effects that are offering the GSP2101 effects disto.Une super.Manque few large range of effects of all kinds are available.

  Utilization

  Configuration unclear despite a manual explaining in French. The explanations are not always clear. We must master the beast to edit sounds from a to z.Il enough to spend some time to fully absorb its functions

  Sound Quality

  The effects are effective and beautiful. I remedied the lack of distortion by adding a pedal electro harmonix metal muff. What makes my GSP perfect for use as I asked. I use it with an Ibanez JEM 7V, and a Mesa amp Boogie.Tous effects are usable and have a realism certain.J 'I proceeded to change my GSP 2101 by changing both corny, and for the model Artist. Easy to make, but watch out for welding, not cutting tracks during assembly.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for about a month. I tried the BOSS GT PRO is an excellent multi-effects, but I prefer the 2101 GSP even if the age. I took some time to find a good multi effects, and the one I garde.Son very affordable prices currently about two hundred and fifty € uros with his pedals.
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• 03/07/10

  lauke_lux's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Techno mixed, 2 lamps entry for some of the distortion, analog preamplifier and then by two DSP processors for mine (2101 Limited Edition). Otherwise, an expandable DSP by the additional DSP card ppc 210.
  
  Connectors: 1 x stereo jack to 6.3 for power amp or combo. 1 x stereo XLR recording console of choice for simultaneous inter HP. 1 stereo return effects loop, headphones, instrum entrance to front and rear. Noon-through / in / out. 1 socket connection digitech pedalboard.
  
  Rich sound quality, high-quality reverb, can be used as input directly on the table.
  
  Presets not evil, then we can easily develop his style. I confirm the staining instruments unusually low for this type of device. It is well recognized his instrument. Delays sometimes need a bit of filtering low pass filter to reduce harmonics. The operation of the compressor could be stronger. Pitch shifters, harmonizer intelligent etc etc. Decidedly one will not find better prices for secondhand. Having the second processor board is recommended instead for more flexibility. I have a 2101LE, there was original.

  Utilization

  We can not say that the device is simple. Those who are afraid to try and spend hours to fully develop their sound, let go and take this wonderful tool for analog stompboxes. For other: a world of possibilities opens. We also like the effect loop serial control / off / parallel, which allows to use other effects and control their use via One Control pedalboard or a MIDI pedal. The pedal control one is definitely outdated but nevertheless represents a facility that will be difficult to setup with a MIDI pedal. A U.S. computer expert has developed yet another soft Midiwizzard "which allows the full control of the device. Mine is running XP SP3 without problems. No idea about the use with Windows 7.
  
  Apart from a battery change ts 3 years to properly maintain the RAM for the user effects the device is rather reliable. Over 8 years of almost weekly trips the only failure was a faulty power connector (found at home - phew!), I was able to repair itself. No idea how it will evolve because the device is now 15 and I do not know how my "box full of silica" is likely to fail.

  Sound Quality

  See under characteristics

  Overall Opinion

  User fierce for 8 years I particularly regret that Digitech has not continued to play in this range. That's really what they've done the best thing since forever. Even the 1101 has not matched the level of this beast. There are now Ultra Fractal Audio FX but good god, what price (2100 Euro)! For now I prefer my 2101LE secondhand. However, these devices are beginning to have done their time (mine is 15 years old ...), and I'm starting to seriously consider his replacement for 2011, the choice will be very hard! There is an end to everything.
  
  I would advise any and everyone who is looking for a camera of professional quality, reliable and used for a very affordable price. Usable and configurable for all styles of music including rock, blues, metal, hardcore, punk, country, funk, Balloch finally .... tutti quanti ...
  
  If the score remained at 9, it is purely for age, and because there Eventide & Fractal Audio. But at its price level it is clear that 15 years is the 2101 champion absolut.
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• 08/22/08

  Philou13bis's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Rack 2 U: + multieffe Preamp: 12AX7 + 2 t many digital effects
  
  Output Midi in out-through; possibility (not easy easy) to get the various patches on the system PC noon the sysex exchanges and dedicated software circulating on the net (that is far from easy, it is far from modern editors for multifx current ...)
  
  connectors: one input on the front and the back + a left and right XLR output with a simulated cabinet amp output jack, an effects loop
  
  
  
  The strong point is its one pedal control comprising: a tuner, 10 buttons, which can not be programmed at will to call the banks or programs, or increment sounds, each button in a particular bank, we just assign a list of 32 sounds, imagine that a song to play it x I need a clean sound and a saturated then a lead, well, by pressing the same button (which we call little piece x) is called successively the three sounds handy ...

  Utilization

  The general configuration is relatively simple when you understand the operation of this device:
  
  program = a set of basic algorithm
  
  an algorithm modules = (effects) related to each other by mixers + - complex
  
  
  
  It is relatively easy to modify an existing algorithm to create a sound so ...
  
  Bcp is more complicated to create and save algorithms ....
  
  The manual is clear, it flows from the French versions on the net ...

  Sound Quality

  The effects are superb: the distos are organic, clean sounds, in which an integrated circuit may have to light are beautiful
  
  the reverbs, phasers, tremolo great
  
  WHA is not up on my version 2,01,01

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for a week
  
  I love the live sound console with cab simulation, notament clean sounds with phaser
  
  I had a JMP1 with multifx Quadraverb boss and I had a Pod XT Live, a digitech RP350, a ToneLab, a SansAmp ... I played so far with an amp + pedals analog VK112
  
  I bought it for 370 euros OCCAZ of his pedal ...
  
  For now it's the best preamp I've tried, he played in all registers of my repertoire, it is extremely versatile, respect my guitars, faithfully transcribe all the subtleties of the game (even unintentional) a brief good investment
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• 07/07/08

  banbanthirion's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  Simply put: There's everything in, even the intelligent harmonizer in the latest version.

  Utilization

  So is the hot ... it takes a few days (and nights) to go around. Once the presets rgls, a will alone with pdalier (10 + sounds ACCS direct the wha wha)

  Sound Quality

  Virtually unlimited range of sounds, and a clean ...

  Overall Opinion

  I have since 1995, am always satisfied. pairing the amp with a lamp and a 4 x 12, you will not.
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• 02/11/07

  ya-lys's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  This is the same as the 2101 studio tube
  
  but with the latest firmware, and factory preset created by great artists such as:
  
  Joe Satriani, Stevee vay, Jimi H and other
  
  "Firmware chip located in a house that can be upgraded"
  
  the same effects as
  
  The PPC 210 is a double the memory of the beast, allowing the effects of the most greedy to feel at ease, and so to set up novel combinations.

  Utilization

  Without the doc will print some of the sacred concerns
  
  otherwise the same delirium as a sampler with the scroll wheel and arrow
  
  if you are one who likes to scratch the big buttons that touches more on your way

  Sound Quality

  Very good and for the price I still think the best in its category of multi-effect guitar preamp

  Overall Opinion

  Basically the artist is the same as the studio tube but with latest firmware (in 1996) with artist presets
  
  it is true that the 24-bit for the preamp grateux is good, I personally feel that this preamp has its place also in the studio, and why not live in dj,
  
  there are still one or two guys that makes PPC 210, but more Digitech
  
  if there are other guys that have developed apps to save presets on pc
  
  but it runs on 98, here
  
  tcho
  
  ps: the moderator should delete duplicates delete duplicates without notice as a priority, unless it can not read ...
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• 02/10/07

  3prod's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  See general assessment

  Utilization

  See general assessment

  Sound Quality

  See general assessment

  Overall Opinion

  I got this amp in the 90 multi-effects, and as I was rich at that time, I had bought all options (ie with one pedal control over the second processor S-Disc) for the modest sum of 13000 F. ....( when I think I depressed ....).
  
  The preamp was pretty good, very versatile as long as the lamp is replaced by a model a little upscale, all processing is analog, it was a real hot weather and a real big sound as well with a scraper, with a low or even an analog synth or a rhodes.
  
  The multi-effect was the icing on the cake ... and what a cherry! The kind of fruit that makes you forget the cake underneath is so tasty and enjoyable. Almost all types of effects were present in the following families: modulations, reverbs, delays, filtering, level changers, etc.. But he was a must-use management of the effects due solely to consumption DSP .... suddenly, with integrated splitter and mixers, so were the routing of madness, many times using the same effect but different setting, modeling and textures of non-standard and new .... the other side of the coin is called multi-effect that a good knowledge of setup, a lot of logic and time ... time ... and time!
  
  The dual DSP allowed to have the morphing between two patches, to have the tails of reverb and delay that does not intersect when changing patch, working the full dual mono signal, etc..
  
  I sold it and replaced it with a 2120 ... but he definitely played in a different court, and I regret it a bit (I have a TSR24 which is never the effect of section 2101 ... but more general, damage).
  
  I repeat one may on occasion, but only dual mode DSP because without this option, the 2101 has a different taste .....
  
  
  
  Warning: this is only my opinion and that is a reflection of my personal or professional experience that I want objective, but which is necessarily subjective. I am not forcing anyone to share it, to take it at face value. So for the brave who think invested I do not know what mission on condition of anonymity to their email, it is useless to send me messages of insults because you do not share my point of view: your mail automatically end his life in the trash, with no other alternative. In a sense, you can consider it a return to sender;)
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• 12/24/06

  Gab_'s review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  This monster 2U rack built in the mid-90 trs is complete.
  
  It includes part pramp analog, and some multi-purpose numrique.
  
  Multi effect for the part, the sound sample in 18bit, 48Khz.
  
  The connection is trs trs complte:
  
  2 instrument inputs (one front, one derrire)
  
  1 dpart Stereo effect.
  
  1 Stereo effect return.
  
  2 output jacks (left / right)
  
  2 XLR outputs (left / right) (with possibility to add an analog simulator HP)
  
  1 headphone
  
  Midi in / out / thru.
  
  1 connector for pdalier digitech that goes with it and I can not remember the name.

  Utilization

  The grip is not easy. It is better to read the 100 pages of the manual (in English!) Before emptying the bte. Apparently, a French version ( ) To travel on the forum ...
  
  Do not worry, the manual is very well done!
  
  
  
  Digitech philosophy is: You must imagine a bunch of pedals, lots of cable to connect them. You will then have two modes of shipping:
  
  - The first that connects the pedals together your convenience, eg a time limit Stereo, released a self wha right and left in a flanger and then sent it all in a rverbe ...
  
  - The deuxime which allows for the rglages effects, eg choose the length and the feedback time limit.
  
  The grip is long enough, but when mastery, you can really do anything with!
  
  And becomes more complicated when you possdez version "artist" with dual DSP!

  Sound Quality

  I test the multi-effect in two configs:
  
  Ibanez S prestige -> GSP 2101 -> Mosfet 60w Stereo Amp -> Marshall 1960A
  
  Ibanez S prestige -> GSP 2101 -> Tage power TT50H Laney -> Marshall 1960A
  
  
  
  Prampli for analog
  
  It includes a compressor, a distortion (A choose from six types: 3transistors/3tubes), a 6-band graphic EQ and a noise gate. This chaining is fixed!
  
  
  
  The compressor operation is very simple and very effective.
  
  
  
  For distos:
  
  The disto Clean Tube, is actually a pramp for clean sounds. It adds a light color, with a warmer and slightly compressed. But also with most mediums.
  
  The disto Tube Overdrive gives a fairly disto lamps grazed, very serious, with low SETTING THE gain, we have a good crunch a little runny, pushing a little more sound you get enough fat and vintage.
  
  The disto Distorted Tube is a step up from the previous ones. It has a grain srr more and more modern, but if you want to make mtal is a bit lightweight.
  
  The distortion is a kind of grunge with Fuzz nromment gain. The sound is unfortunately not trs "big", and it takes out a battery of Eq to get the best. That said, with rglages of Eq xtrmes enough, we can also draw interressants sounds ...
  
  The distortion overdrive, proposes a slight boost the signal. The grain of this distortion is interresting to sound "Pink Floyd" a little crunch / Blues.
  
  And disto dernire I remember the name and I never use Russi ...
  
  
  
  The 6-band EQ is doing its job. But I have often put enuite of Eq 10 or 15 bands (with mulieffet to obtain rglages finer).
  
  The noise gate is great Lorqui mairtiser it comes to custom settings ...
  
  
  
  In Manir gnrale the distos not prcises trs. The grain is interresting but trs "hard rock", but when playing in agreements, is a draft. (Should I try with other lamps may be too)
  
  
  
  For the multi-effect:
  
  The effects are all good quality trs trs gnre little noise. I have AIM Eq 10 and 15 bands, the reverb (a little overwhelming if it is not gaffe in output, but so beautiful !!!), self-wha, the whammy, the chorus 4 ways!.
  
  Less well: phasers that sound really weird. Before I had a Boss GX700 with rgalges of phasers and sound are dmentiels, I'm kind of not finding aii.
  
  The not good at all: the whah wha ... Yeah, you have your APRS cbler of the distos ... And besides she is really trslgre!
  
  Assets: When the version "artist", we can make the "morphing" change of patches: the patch is replaced by the patch gradually demand. Or the patch continues to run until some time when you change patch. Gnial when you dlais full of sounds: the dlais continue for some time when you changed the ...

  Overall Opinion

  I've had almost a year. Qualitprix level, you can find between 350 (I got mine for 360 on Ebay) and 500. With this quality of his is an excellent quality price!
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• 09/19/06

  myriam63660's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Characteristics

  - An escalation of effects with multiple variants (eg 4 or 5 times mono, stereo, 1 second, 5 seconds ...)
  
  - Part preamp and some multi-effects
  
  - Rackmount unit standard

  Utilization

  - General configuration well thought out.
  
  - Sound editing complex. for example modules reverbs some of which may have a couple of parameters. Can be reused several times the same effect routed anywhere in the chain with different settings. So finally we can have patches with more than a hundred settings ... requires a good dose of patience ...
  
  - The manual is a keypad that allows to read and is useful
  
  - For guitarists patients who know what they want

  Sound Quality

  - Effects of very good quality (except wha wha). sounds clear and clean. effects of two families: analog and digital. The analog section is a preamp with fixed routing: compressor, distortion and signal bypass module, summed or no sum (or to have the grain of another preamp or the GSP 2101 preamp or a mix of the two preamp ...) . panel distortion: transistors (grunge - sustain heavy - overdrive) - and light (clean tube - Distorted tube - Saturated tube) and the distorted satured are with good quality 12AX7 ... for more radical styles was the transistor distortion "grunge" is very accurate but a bit "small sound" compared to the sounds lights ... So we obtain a good metal sound but more ... The preamp section is a little behind the quality of multi-effects.
  
  
  
  For the digital section that can be used quite independently of the amp: it is excellent. We can mix and more anywhere in the chain the ratio of natural sound of the instrument with the ratio of signal digitally processed ... (And there are usually a mix at the end of string)
  
  
  
  - I like compression, distos "grunge" and "satured" "clean hit", the noise gate precise, semi-parametric EQ, short delays, chorus and multi-channel stereo reverbs (which is often necessary to mitigate strongly because it is really invasive. I found a small parade: use two or three times micro shorts offset against each other can emulate a good reverb)

  Overall Opinion

  - Used for 3 years ... This is the upgraded version of the least of the range (2.00.00) which dates from 1995 but given the prices and potential remains very competitive. It's still nice to pay a premium (well ok it did ten years ago ...)
  
  - Excellent value for money
  
  
  
  Petit added 04/08/2006
  
  I indicate here the results of the reviews on Harmony Central user on the machine:
  
  - Ease of use: 7.1/10 (52 responses)
  
  - Sound quality: 8.4/10 (55 responses)
  
  - Reliability: 8.0/10 (48 responses)
  
  - Overall rating: 7.7/10 (43 responses)
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