Programmable rackmount delay w/ MIDI control suggestions?

[sixstringking713]

I am looking for a rackmount stereo delay unit that I can program and control from my pedalboard with a small MIDI switch to switch thru the banks and turn the unit on/off...? I don't really understand how MIDI works for these rackmount units in general and how you know what footswitches will work with what units. I was thinking possibly a used Line6 Echo Pro would fit the bill?
What units would you suggest?

Price range <$500

 

[mrkmas]

TC Gmajor 2, It does alot of stuff, including delay. $550 new, under 500 used.
Also you can rackmount a Eventide Timefactor on a shelf (not shure if that is an option). $400 new

 

[rogthefrog]

Used Rocktron Intellifex, or Yamaha D-1500. Old, but supreme. $125 each, tops.

You can program anything via MIDI. Changing patches, changing a value inside a patch with an expression pedal, etc. You can also bypass effects (e.g. by assigning a patch number to do nothing). Any MIDI footswitch will work with any MIDI rack unit, by and large.

 

[mrkmas]

MIDI is pretty easy once you get the basics understood. Been awhile since I explained this, but this should hopefully make sense. You assign each unit, in thise case the delay unit, a "midi channel" and each function a midi CC# or preset #. The CC# will just change one parameter, where the preset can change the whole thing.
That way lets say the delay unit is Midi Channel 1, and preset #10 is assigned to the delay setting you like. (With presets you can use multiple midi channels and presets at once allowing you to change multiple midi units in one preset change.) You setup your midi controller to use button 1 to activate/deactivate preset#10 on midi channel 1. The midi controller is nothing more than a remote really that you program to talk to the rack thru midi.
Most units have a default midi channel so whatever channel you choose doesnt matter, and long as you dont have two units on the same channel.

 

[sixstringking713]

thank you for the ideas, I have been reading up on them. I would prefer the unit to sound-good (as dumb as it sounds, haha) as far as there will be no true bypass switcher unit used in conjunction. So, the unit will always have the signal running through it but say with an empty patch or something.

*What models are on the "higher end" of the 0-$500 spectrum? [they MUST be programmable and controllable with a MIDI pedal.]
*What are some well made, small MIDI footswitch pedals that show the 'bank' on the pedal? [I have come across the TECH21 MIDI-Mouse pedal, is this one good? open to suggestions]
*Totally unrelated question: is it true that simply running a signal through a 31 band EQ has far more phase issues than running it through say a 15 band or even a 10band MXR pedal? Do the freq faders have to be moved from unity for this effect to begin happening?


Thanks!

 

[guitarman967]

Get an intellifex if you plan on running the delay processor "in series" with your guitar signal.
The "fex" has the ability to have it's digital conversion process bypassed in the mixer by eliminating the path though the HUSH.
This is really important unless you plan on running FX in parallel with your guitar signal.
If you need any help with MIDI, let me know. It's not hard to understand once you get down a few of the basics.

 

[glpg80]

*What models are on the "higher end" of the 0-$500 spectrum? [they MUST be programmable and controllable with a MIDI pedal.]

Korg DL-8000R. Good luck finding one. They are really rare.

*What are some well made, small MIDI footswitch pedals that show the 'bank' on the pedal? [I have come across the TECH21 MIDI-Mouse pedal, is this one good? open to suggestions]

Rocktron MidiMate, the MidiMaster, and there are a few others. You can search the forum for past topics that include MIDI Pedal as the keywords and you will find a ton of topics that interest you - too many to list here right now.

*Totally unrelated question: is it true that simply running a signal through a 31 band EQ has far more phase issues than running it through say a 15 band or even a 10band MXR pedal? Do the freq faders have to be moved from unity for this effect to begin happening?

1 Yes and 2 Yes/No. If the EQ's have a level boost option then there is a signal buffer that could or could not be beneficial to the original signal depending on where exactly you're placing the EQ in your signal chain. however if the sliders are left at 0 then they are not altering any phases of specifically chosen resonate frequencies yet. Use them moderately/sparingly and not for extreme tonal shaping. Any Wild EQ settings introduced to the original signal could create odd resonate shifts of certain frequencies and their harmonics that could cause micing issues or ear fatigue, especially if they are after any tube stages and not before. Usually for guitar 6 to 10 band EQ's are plenty for guitar frequencies as speaker cabinets cannot reproduce anything above 8-10Khz effectively. For guitar IMHO i recommend keeping EQ's for post processing only, however that is not to say EQ's are not beneficial, just depends on how you are using them and also how much you are using.

 

[Jordon]

I really like my TC DTwo. You can get one fairly cheap, too.

 

[university81]

+1 on the rocktron gear, have a rocktron multivalve that works great

it's pretty cheap used, and sounds good, you can switch it to analog signal through as someone noted, so there's no AD/DA (analog->digital->analog) converters you have to depend on so to speak

TC gear afaik will suffer from that, as well as the Eventide, although Eventides AD/DA converters are really good

if you don't need channel switching/tremolo etc... the intellifex is awesome bang for your buck

otherwise the Replifex + Multivalve , have relay channel switching and some extra effects in there (tremolo/rotary and i think pitch shift)

 

[rogthefrog]

*What models are on the "higher end" of the 0-$500 spectrum? [they MUST be programmable and controllable with a MIDI pedal.]

Korg DL-8000R. Good luck finding one. They are really rare.

I got one recently. Really nice unit.

The Intellifex is easy to find and cheap, and sounds great. Pair it with a Rocktron MidiMate and you have a full rig for $250.

 

[sixstringking713]

wow seems like the rocktron Intellifex is really favored... and yeah they are pretty cheap used. right now i'm using a boss DD-6 on my pedalboard (which to me sounds fine) but I'd like to totally get rid of the FX loop send/return running in-between my pedalboard and the amp. So, the rackmount unit I'm looking for would mainly be used for delays and some reverbs. I'd rather it be great on only delays and reverbs, rather than do a bunch of effects that are mediocre. Is there a unit you would suggest that is beyond the $500 used price point that I should maybe consider? This is for a professional rig that gets used pretty extensively so if its worth the extra cash, its worth it.

My TSL100 is a parallel FX loop, so would the intellifex still work for me? Seems like I wouldn't be able to use the "HUSH" feature previously mentioned..

For MIDI controllers, I should have mentioned what I was looking for. I need it to be really small, have a bank display, a bank up/down, and possibly a bypass? The closest thing I've seen to come close to this is the TECH 21 MIDI Mouse. Are there any other midi controllers similar to this in size,reliability, etc you would suggest? is the MIDI Mouse a good choice?

Also about the EQs,

1 Yes and 2 Yes/No. If the EQ's have a level boost option then there is a signal buffer that could or could not be beneficial to the original signal depending on where exactly you're placing the EQ in your signal chain. however if the sliders are left at 0 then they are not altering any phases of specifically chosen resonate frequencies yet. Use them moderately/sparingly and not for extreme tonal shaping. Any Wild EQ settings introduced to the original signal could create odd resonate shifts of certain frequencies and their harmonics that could cause micing issues or ear fatigue, especially if they are after any tube stages and not before. Usually for guitar 6 to 10 band EQ's are plenty for guitar frequencies as speaker cabinets cannot reproduce anything above 8-10Khz effectively. For guitar IMHO i recommend keeping EQ's for post processing only, however that is not to say EQ's are not beneficial, just depends on how you are using them and also how much you are using.

In my case, the EQ is in my FX loop and will be stereo after the delay unit (lets say the intellifex hypothetically). It basically will have the final say in the tone with small adjustments. So, with that said, the MXR 10 band EQ's on each send (left and right) would work well?

thanks for all the replies!

 

[lordriffenstein]

TC D-Two.

 

[italoop]

I would stay away from the Intellifex as a delay unit. It doesn't offer Tap tempo; delay resolution is 2 or 5 ms if I remember correctly and you don't have rhythmic subdivisions (1/4note, 1/8 note triplet, etc.). So you'll end up without the most important control aspects a dedicated delay should have.
In the 500 $ range you can get some good stuff...
I prefer Lexicon gear for quality of sound and excellent control on delays.
You'll be able to store patches or even to store different settings in a single patch, like different rhythmic subdivisions and recall them without changing preset.
You will also be able to add/cut Diffusion, which is what makes Lexicon delay MAGIC!
And you can add/cut modulation.
Can also be ducked.
Has Tap Tempo.
All of this can even happen in a single preset!
And you can even add more fx if you need them...
Look into an MPX1 or...better...a PCM80/81.


cheers

 

[guitarman967]

I think the Intellifex is a great delay for your basic delay needs. They can be had in great condition for around $125-$150.
I wouldnt spend 5 times as much on another processor if all I needed was quality delay and reverbs.
It has long delay times as well. There's a configuration with 1500 ms.

It's odd, I dont know a lot of guitarists that absolutely need rhythmic subdivisions and tap tempo but I assume for some there's no way around it.
I happen to just imply the subdivisions when Im playing but to each there own.
Dotted eight? Just time it on the beat.. I think a patch that automatically does that would just confuse me.

Never understood the need for that or tap tempo for that matter. If it ever became an issue with an unsteady drummer I would just assign the delay time parameter in the Intellifex CC's to my expression pedal so I could alter it in real time.

The other thing I really like about the Fex' is how transparent it is in your signal path. Virtually no noticable change when bypassed. I can't even say that for some of the higher end processors Ive tried. Why did they stop making these???

The Rocktron Intellifex your meat and potatoes delay and reverb effects unit and it does the job extremely well for 99.9% of what most guitarist would need especially with an expression pedal to have real time control of the fx parameters.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[racerevlon]

I think a good amount of the functionality is in the controller/ability to program. I have a Rocktron All Access that controls patches, but also individually turns off loops on my PatchMate 8, and also enables/disables specific features on my G-Major. Pretty easy once you understand it.