TC Electronic NM-1 Nova Modulator

I've been playing 25 years and have used both analog and digital modulation effects. I play classic rock to metal.

I paid $250 at Make'n Music in Chicago. I bought it because it was one of the only modulation pedals that had preset storage and isn't menu driven (difficult to set up quickly).

Setting it up is basically like using an analog modulator. The sound is a lot "organic" than the Line6 modulator. This unit was a lot cheaper than the Eventide unit. It's nice to be able to synch the 2 channels together and get 2 modulations running simultaneously.

The footswitch "preset selection" feature doesn't work all of the time. Half the time when I try to use my foot to change the channel nothing happens.

The construction quality is good, but I question to design (see above about the footswitch select feature).

I tried contacting TC Electronic 4 times about the preset select feature so I can determine if the unit is bad, if the design is bad, or if I'm using it incorrectly (the manual isn't the best). After 5 weeks all I get is a "we're busy and will get back to you" response.

I recommend not purchasing a TC Electronic device in the future because of the poor customer service. After 25 years of dealing with effect vendors THIS IS THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE I'VE EVER SEEN .

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Multi-effects pedal format dedicated to modulation effects:
Chorus, tremolo, phaser, flanger, tremolo

Works in preset mode (9 in all) or bank (banks 9 2 presets) and manual

Digital Technology

2 effect engines can work together (you can for example add tremolo + phaser in the order of chain you want). This gives great opportunities to make "complex" effects such as getting closer to the effect "Univibe" ...

Presets can be edited, but unlike that reported another opinion, they are not using a computer. Everything is done on the pedal itself.

Audio connector (jack)

UTILIZATION

In the manual, the general pattern is relatively simple. Each motor can be adjusted from four potentiometers. To simplify, all effects thus produce from these knobs 2x4 (4 per engine), on the other hand, as selected effects, some of these are 4 knobs have different functions. This can be confusing! With some effects, and off using the manual, it's hard to understand and master what is done if triturated several buttons without logical investigation. But the manual is clear and refer seems to me essential. Once you understand the roles of buttons, editing is easy! More an "on-off" button variation can change the overall feel of the effect.

When you arrive on the functions of bank, I found that it gets complicated! Follow the manual step-by-step perusing seems unavoidable. I feel that I need about 1h drive daily handling for 1 month to arrive at the store use. But hey ... it's not insurmountable!

Clearly, I think for the stage, it is necessary to create presets 4-5 (factory ones can be crushed) of No. 1 to No. 4 or 5, deny access to others and be satisfied without touch it. I say why later.

The difficulty of handling is the weak point of the device.

SOUND QUALITY

The effects are they effective? Issue difficult to understand what an effective effect? Effects: they like or do not like. For my part, I like them a lot. But! (Because there is a but!) I'm rather fond of modulation effects too sustained, too typed: I use the "wet" signal low mix. In this context this pedal gives, in my opinion, beautiful sounds. Some point out here and there is a lack of "personality". This is not true. With all the trouble that can take the use of words to describe the sound, I would say that the effects are relatively "pure".

This pedal goes well with all my guitars and amps. Some modulation effects (including those comprising a carrier wave as phasing) obviously induce a little breath, but it is inherent in the purpose and not gene.

Even disabled, it "colors" the sound slightly. This staining proves more or less likely by the amplifiers according to the pedal chain, even as the instrument. On my equipment, taking into account this fact by changing the EQ of the amp can forget ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use (extensively!) For nearly 3 months. and have gained in trusting to the satisfaction that I had other TC electronic products.

The +:
- Quality effects (but that is very subjective opinions of other lower argue the opposite!)
- Apparently robust construction

The -:
- Outside with a simplified presets 4-5, pedal for rapid use complicated manipulations
- Always outside of this framework from April to May presets frozen, unusable serenely on stage. And here, let me elaborate. Navigation preset preset is done only by ordrecroissant: to go from 1 to 9 preset, you have to scroll all. There are two "options" to scroll: a manual button that works fine but that requires squatting to operate it, or the combined action of two footswitches, which itself is more than capricious! On my pedal, the passage at the foot of presets from # 5 is very capricious. It is sometimes necessary to try several times, and very often I give up and I squatted to change the preset finger! My pedal does a fault? Perhaps, but reading many forums makes me think that this is a recurring problem. By locking 4-5 presets (sounds programmable) ie that pressing the scroll preset, once arrived at No. 4 or 5 it returns to No. 1, it facilitates navigation. But it also deprives April-May other presets!

This pedal coutait its output more than 200 €. Under these conditions, views the complexity of handling the device and its unsuitability for use on stage all the presets, the price / quality ratio seemed mediocre. Today, the price has dropped and the extent, if used on stage, we simply few presets and some manipulations, then the price / quality ratio seems good.

Distrust, therefore, for performing musicians who want a range of easily interchangeable possibilities. on the other hand, for fans of home studio, I invite them to listen to this pedal. Perhaps, like me, will they be very happy with the sound quality of the Modulator.

Little hungry crowd presets and quite stingy with multiple changes of sounds, I would do the same choice of course.

NM1 Nova Modulator.

Numrique PDAL I guess, since it offers multi-effect no less than seven effects.

It is divided into two distinct sections, in fact you only buy not one but two pedals, I pse my words, both pedals indpendantes.
Systmes several possible applications.

In manual: The you enable, disable, set your pedals like any other classic effect knowing, of course, you can adjust the two effects independently of each other!

At preset, you save your memory's among 9. (You can decide the number of memory you need).

In bank: you have two memory bank 9 or 18 at the max.

UTILIZATION

Well at first it's pretty "usinagaznesque" ...

APRS and the first glance it is a gas plant anyway, I'm not quite at ease with this kind of thing is too much mess to edit or return to a sound, there are plenty of functions gadget, nothing wants spares pedals, I'm vaccine against multi now.

This is useful on some functions, see below but there will never be worth the effects spars.

SOUND QUALITY

This is the only down injured.

TC, you think big big brand here we go with confidence. I quickly dchant.

Good overall clean. Dj but for me too, it lacks the personality. Numrique too.

I am the happy owner of a boss dc2 (chorus). Nothing to do.
The chorus of the tc is still a dcalage, one behind a note plays. Chianti DEATH!
They are not Arian, their so-called tri chorus is frankly sucks! But frankly, on video on the internet it's been ptiller eyes and once in the face ... trsdcu.

The flanger is bad. carrment. I found them dry, synthetic. Unused almost all the time I got it. no no I have the more ...

Looking back I realized that it really is not top this silent pedals.

The phaser is happening but not transcendent.

Best and I agree with the advice above, the vibrato. And the big Russianness the MODEL is the progressive vibrato on the second switch. It's a true c'tait rgal!

The tremolo is a trem ... it's going we do what we vzut with cot by mixing the two is not bad.
But the worst of the worst. The horror of horror, is the bypass. It sucks!

On my set ca buzz everywhere, I have put in a looper to be able to "true bypass". At this point!
The sound is dnatur compltement. Zero.
At a price like that is unthinkable!

OVERALL OPINION

THE sounds are unique in the whole one can not say. she is beautiful, a good finish trs.

But a bypass like that, that price! is unacceptable.

THE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +

All embarqubr />
double-edged effect

The second function of vibrato.

The shuffled effects.

---------------------------------------------- THE -

THE BYPASS! that's for sure! Farewell transparency.

The price! far too expensive for average quality if the level.

The brothel organization ca demand. I frankly see no live with ca.
Stress + pedals this is a blow shit!

<ul class="ul">

What are the effects, types of effects available?

</ul>

Modulation effects: chorus, tri-chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, vibrato

<ul class="ul">

What technology is used? (Analog, digital, tube ...)

</ul>

Digital
<ul class="ul">

Are they edited? Via a publisher Mac / PC?

</ul>

Yes they are editable.
<ul class="ul">

What is the connection? (Audio / MIDI)

</ul>

Instruments input and 2 outputs, all in stereo

<ul class="ul">

Is this a rack or rack-mount model?

</ul>

No
The pedal is complete and solid, stable, potentiometers are fucking and switch too. RAS on this point.

9 / 10

UTILIZATION



<ul class="ul">

The general configuration is simple?

</ul>

Okay, we&#39;ve seen better. Let&#39;s say the MV-1 has lots of features and editing is not obvious. Including the organization of the manual patch / preset. It needs to be done.

<ul class="ul">

Editing sounds and effects is easy?

</ul>

Here, the same. In fact, all modulations have the same base, and what makes pots comun: Depth (Depth), Speed ​​(Speed). TC adds 2 potentiometers whose action depends on the chosen effect. So it is like having a pedal with two knobs knobs x 2 + 7 is 16 potentiometers. TC had the idea to provide a summary sticker.

With practice, but it fits the grip is not intuitive.
<ul class="ul">

The manual is clear and sufficient? ...

</ul>

Yes, from this point of view not too much trouble.
Manuel clear but the grip is not intuitive, and storage of their games were over at first.
6 / 10

SOUND QUALITY



<ul class="ul">

The effects are they effective, responsive and realistic enough?

</ul>

So TC, I do not know, and I&#39;m expecting the digital clean-sounding nickel! Okay, so, no loss of strength or character of the instrument or its guitare.Niveau, Me, I do not. The difference between the chorus and flanger is quite marked. I have not been seduced by the grain of the phaser, nor the tremolo. For cons, the vibrato is very sympa.Les settings are not obvious, and I struggled to find sounds that I liked. I was especially disappointed by Flanger ...
Moreover, the transition normal / psychedelic for each effect is very sensible.On password from nothing to too much of a movement on the pouillième knob "special"

<ul class="ul">

Which instruments do you use?

</ul>

Guitar (ESP LH MH400NT)

<ul class="ul">

Which ones do you prefer, you hate?

</ul>

Apart Vibrato: none. My Danelectro tremolo is much more fun and easy to settle, I have a Boss DC3 is irreplaceable and will ring in 1000 when the tri-chorus (supposed to be more "space").
Overall I&#39;m disappointed. At my office, I may not be tried fairly. But I spent a few hours on this pedal, and I have not managed to get out a sound that suited me.

5 / 10

OVERALL OPINION



<ul class="ul">

For how long have you been using it?

</ul>

Approximately one month, but I do not need to wait longer to see that this product does not suit me.

<ul class="ul">

What thing do you like most/least about it?

</ul>

Most: the principle. A multi specialty modulation effect is the dream. I&#39;m a fan of chorus, flanger, vibrato, and allow all this with functions of Tap-Tempo, with memories of beaches, and a single pedal, the DREAM! The least: the sound that I have not packed at all.

<ul class="ul">

Did you try many other models before getting this one?

</ul>

In chorus, I had a Behringer (musty), a Boss DC3 (excellent), a Belcat (months) and I am sure looks DC3 mieux.En Flanger, Boss I got BF2, BF3 Boss, Ibanez FL9, Psychoflange , Digitech X Series, FX747 Dod (the one I currently have), DOD FX75B. From everything I&#39;ve tried is very average.

<ul class="ul">

What is your opinion about the value for the price?

</ul>

This pedal costing about 250 €, which is not very expensive given the possibilities of adjusting the number of bank. The equivalent in dedicated pedals cost a lot more in the medium range brands (Boss, Digitech ,...). sounds: we like it or not, I like it! But the quality / price seems good.

<ul class="ul">

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? ...

</ul>

No way, I sold it. Any takers.
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">In conclusion:</span>

This pedal, I dreamed long ago, the demos are great assets, TC has good feedback. In practice, it is almost perfect level possible, the grip takes a little time in return but that is understandable.
His level, I&#39;m pretty disappointed but some are likely to find their happiness.

6 / 10