SeriesTC Electronic Nova

NDT - Nova Drive Technology: All-analog programmable overdrive and distortion circuit under preset and expression control. 6 effect blocks taken straight from G-System: Compression, EQ + Noise Gate, Modulation, Pitch, Delay, Reverb - these are all digital 30 factory and 60 user presets Two footswitch layouts: preset and pedal Hi-Z and balanced input + balanced stereo outputs Optional G-Switch for added control Very nice display feature Anodized aluminum housing - very durable Great switches UTILIZATION The Nova System is designed to replace a pedalboard setup. It is a multi-effects processor, which is a term that makes many guitarists groan - one tends to think of the old cheesy processor units with over a hundred sounds, but zero GOOD sounds - but this unit is full of excellent tones. It has a smaller amount of presets, as well as different effects models, as something like a Line 6 M9 has, but they tend to be higher quality sounds. The unit is really easy to navigate and program. SOUND QUALITY First things first - the delays and reverbs are PERFECT. They don't get much better than this, folks - you'd have to get into mega-expensive Axe Fx units to get any noticeable difference. The analog drive unit is surprisingly good. I thought the addition of having analog drive instead of digital distortion was a great move on TC's part - digital distortions frankly typically sound like crap. Now, distortion is one of the most personal of sonic touches that any guitarist looking for their "signature tone" can have, so it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but TC Electronic has made it easy to bypass the distortion signal so one can use one's amp distortion or another external pedal. OVERALL OPINION I love this pedal. The functionality is vast, deep, and yet simple. Two gripes - it weighs a lot for the size, so it definitely adds a considerable mass to a pedalboard. That's not totally a bad thing - it seems to be extra durable, but I wanted to mention this in order to be thorough. The other gripe I have is with the switching - it seems like the switch activates the function upon the RELEASE of the switch, and not upon the PRESS of the switch, like 99.99999% of all other units. This is a bit awkward to get used to. It's not the most annoying feature in the world, but for someone that is used to many sound changes in the course of a set, this can make the stomp timing a bit harder to nail. All in all, this is a great unit.

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

• 6 studio quality digital delay types • Two switchable settings: » manual and preset • 9 user programmable presets • Up to 2290 ms delay time • Audio Tapping™ - audio-generated tap tempo • Modulated delay • Delay spillover types of delays available: Delay line • Dynamic • Reverse • Ping-pong • Pan • Slap-back It's a digital delay by TC, but has the tone knob to replicate a more analog-ish delay sound as well. Stereo/mono ins and outs available also. Overall a very versatile piece of equipment! There's also the note section which chose what type of delay rhythm you get, eighth notes, dotted eighths etc. UTILIZATION I found this pedal to be quite versatile for each player's needs. If you want to tweak to get that perfect delay sound and bank it, you can, for up to 9 presets. Or if you just wanna plug it in, pick a delay, and tap the tempo or 'strum' the tempo like the new flashback delay you can do it as well. You can even specifically set the tempo at whatever ms thanks to the huge bright clear display. My only beef with it is the adapter, yes it uses I think a 12V adapter of it's own so for those who have simple boards or don't like anything outside of 9v connections you have to sacrifice space on your board or an outlet or whatever it is to get this baby working right. SOUND QUALITY I think nearly everybody can agree that TC stuff almost always sounds great. The only thing one ever has to worry about with TC stuff is if the features suit their needs or not. In my case I think it's a great pedal and does more than suit my needs. I've actually considered 'downgrading' to the flashback for it's more compact size. But yes you can get that classic TC crystal clear delay sound from the nova delay and it sounds great! OVERALL OPINION I like this pedal a lot. I was comparing this to the DD-20 and even though they were both quite similar, I ended up with the nova delay and don't regret it. The delays sound great, and you can do any delay-related with the nova delay. Again my only beef is the 12v adapter that can be a bit of a buzzkill for some who's built their perfect board to the exact specs with the exact spacing for every adapter and/or pedal etc. My board is personally getting bigger and bigger. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing..

The Nova Repeater Delay is a stripped down version of TC Electronics Nova Delay. It has high and low inputs, and mono or stereo outputs. Five knobs and several buttons allow several different settings on this pedal. A Delay knob adjusts the amount of delay time. The Feedback knob adjust how many repeats happen before the delay fades away. A Tone knob allows you to roll off the high end EQ of the delays. The Mod knob allows you to adjust among detuned chorus, no modulation and vibe. The FX Level knob allows you to adjust the volume of the delay in relationship to the dry signal. Delay times range from 20 ms to 1200 ms. UTILIZATION This pedal is built pretty sturdy, but I wouldn’t beat on it like something from Boss or MXR. The incorporation of a HI and LO input allows this pedal to be used in front of an amp or in the loop of an amp which is great. Stereo outs allow you to get that big stereo sound. TC included a spillover button that allows the delays to trail off after the pedal has been bypassed, which is hard to find on pedals. There is a kill dry button that allows you to only hear the delayed sounds. I don’t find this useful, but some may. There are several types of delay available similar to those found on a Line 6 DL4, in a much smaller package: studio, analog, tape, dynamic, reverse, ping pong. A division button lets you play rhythmic delays and get that “Edge” vibe going on. Tap tempo allows you to keep those rhythms right in time. SOUND QUALITY This pedal sounds super. It does a great modulated delay sound, and you can choose between a detuned chorus effect or a more pulsey vibe sound. I like the chorus better myself, I feel it’s more lush. The spillover button is just incredible to, I need trails on my delay. I hate when pedals don’t have that, it feels very unnatural for the delay to just shut off without trailing off. Tap tempo works great on this pedal and the audio tapping does as well. This is my first time using the audio tapping in a pedal, and it seems pretty cool, but I’d rather use the normal tap tempo switch personally. There is no loss in tone or added noise with this delay, just lush delayed sounds. I think it’s great and easily hangs up there with the Line 6 DL4. OVERALL OPINION Overall I really like this pedal. I don’t see how they packed all these features into this small package, but I’m sure glad they did. I’m using a DL-4 now due to the availability of the presets, but if I weren’t this would be my Swiss Army delay. I was a little nervous about the durability of the pedal before I got it, but it’s been very reliable. This is way better than any Boss pedal I’ve ever used, and being in the same price range it would be a no brainer for me to pick the Nova Repeater every time.