Eventide Timefactor - Parallel Universes, Beautiful Noise and Ugly Noise

[starfish]

I started this new standalone thread for additional feedback specifically on the timefactor and to discuss the static/crackle noise issue. LouV has already done fab clips and a comparison thread (to the TC Nova Delay) which you can find here: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=280629

So, I ordered my TF on Monday from AudioMidi.com. It arrived today. Quick word on AudioMidi - great service on the phone, but GC like follow through - avoid them at all costs. Long Version - I got a unit that was clearly either a previous purchase and return or it was a demo unit. This really pisses me off and it's why I never do business with GC or Musicians Fiend anymore when ordering NEW. NEW to me means, 100% not f@#$-ed with in any way. Not removed from plastic, not carted around the office, not plugged in to demo for friends, not anything but sealed and delivered. Especially for a unit that Eventide just shipped in the last 2 weeks, when I order new and pay $400, don't send me something that - a.) the cardboard innards of the box are torn/mangled, b.) the unit is repackaged with no attempt to make it look brand new (i.e. like a 3-year old put it in a bag and taped it up 3-year old style., c.) power supply cord is wrapped like a monkey did it, and d.) outer box is scuffed like it was kicked around the store. :nono

If you're a big volume dealer, then buy a F@#$-ing unit for DEMO purposes or at least inform the customer they will receive a demo unit. NO more business with these clowns. They blew it. GC would have been better in the sense that I could have driven back up there and ripped them a new one. Yes, the unit was ok, but that's besides the point. :FM

So now I'm pissed off, just to start before I even plug it in. I hook it up, initialize, and... snap, crackle static poop. I plan to take Eventide to task over this noise issue. After taking a deep breath, it is relatively minor, but I found it may be a software bug rather than hardware. More on that further down.

As a side note, I also ordered a Nova Delay which I expected tomorrow but I was informed I'm now on a backorder list. Screw that. I cancelled my order. Why? For what I want out of a digital delay, from sounds to depth, the Timefactor has it. I'm blown away by the sound and creative potential of this unit. I'm deeply satisfied with everything EXCEPT the dreaded static, crackle noise issue as reported by several others too. This is not a completely terrible thing in the sense that it isn't a deal breaker by a far stretch. In many ways the noise floor is no worse than my DL4, but this is a distinct static type noise that is present only when the unit -


Has a power supply connected, unit powered on
Any algo other than the looper is selected
You are connected directly to your guitar with no buffers before the TF (as report by LouV).
(UPDATE) - TF is in front of the amp not in an effects loop. (The issue reportedly doesn't exist in an effects loop.)


So, to reduce (nearly eliminate) the noise, you can put the unit into looper mode. Huh? Can this be a software bug related to delay feedback or something, maybe clock? On other delays, if the clock is slightly off, barely audible noise floor turns into annoying noise. But why this spills into the relay? Why the heck does the noise disappear when in looper mode? Even with audio recorded to the loop, there is no static noise in the looper mode.

Another way to eliminate static noise, put a buffer pedal before the TF. On my board, I have a couple MIJ Boss pedals. This works. Finally to eliminate noise, pull the power supply. (not joking.) Noise disappears but you are still connected with a relay wiring input to output. But again, that's because the delay algos are not active and ins are wired to outs. For me, I'll have this unit at the end of my pedal chain, pre-dedicated looper, with buffers upstream so it's not a huge issue.

BUT... (There always has to be a but doesn't there. :( ) But, the VintageDelay mode clearly sucks extra hard with this static noise issue. Try turning the bit depth to 10 bits. It's a crazy unacceptable static buzzing while not playing anything on the guitar, just muted. Crazy! Low bit delays don't buzz. They are low fidelity repeats while signal is going through. This has to be a bug.

The QA need to be raised, even if it is low in the product line, they should have done more testing and identified this issue. Let's see what Eventide says. They may blow us off figuring we're otherwise pleased, but this would be a poor strategy for reasons I won't go into here. Let's just see how fast the issue is addressed with a real explanation, no fluff like connect a buffer. Puhleeze. Clearly the VintageDelay is affected by this issue and having the noise disappear altogether in looper mode tells me there is some feedback or noise loop issue due to the delay algos. I.E. a bug.

Setting the noise aside, I am otherwise pleased with the TF and it exceeded my expectations in terms of depth and just plain kick a$$ sounds. The TF is a deep unit, there is as much to tweak as you would find on a rack unit but what is very helpful is that most parameters are available at the knobs so you only have to enter a menu maze for system settings and stuff you likely won't mess with while creating music. The depth of the unit is going to scare some (perhaps most) people off. I don't think this unit will be for everyone. I like to use delay as a distinct part of the creative process and not soley a tone color or something to kick on during a solo or to cover (insert fave guitarist's) tunes, or to approximate another type of delay whether analog or tape, etc. In this sense, depth is vital to me. I like to make delay fit what I'm doing not the other way around. I also like quality sounds and unusual textural type sounds. This is where bandpass delay becomes a fave flavor. I realize not everyone works this way and probably most people prefer something with a few great to stellar sounds and much less tweakablility because they DO want to cover songs or use delay as another tone in the arsenal or a distinct effect rather than an ethereal type creative palette or a genre-defining sound. Or maybe simplicity helps others be creative faster.

If you just want to get setup with great sound, tweak just a couple knobs, perhaps delay time, feedback and rolloff, then the TF can do all that and excels at it, but it's probably overkill for you. If you like to get lost in space and bob within layers and textures and have the ability to tweak these all to taste, look NO further! Delay search is done. Not since the H3000 D/SE have I said that. I just couldn't deal with that unit integrated into my rig. Studio yes, rig no.

I'm going to contact Eventide first thing Monday and post back when they reply. I also need a couple days to really mess around. Sure I'm still on a honeymoon but I just married a smoking supermodel, and like all sublime beauty you come to realize complete perfection is elusive. Still I think this unit will generate quite a buzz (pun?) in the months to come. :AOK

[Sunil]

Gosh, I seem to be one of the few TGPers who got a TF that doesn't have the static noise discussed in related threads. Lucky me.

Just got it this afternoon and really loving it thus far. That said, I was annoyed to find that the TF packaging was damaged, though not the way-to-large-of-a-box American Musical Supply packed it in, which may suggest this pedal has been used or is a demo (the TF was wrapped in shitloads of bubble wrap). Fortunately the pedal doesn't exhibit signs of any damage.

It would indeed be pretty f**ked up if MF and the like are shipping out demo, dent-and-scratch, or used pedals to people who paid full price for a new one.

[starfish]

What serial number do you have? Mine's 174. Are you connecting yours directly to your guitar and amp with nothing else inline? While this noise is just slightly audible, you can hear it if you have it. Just make sure you're in relay bypass mode, select anything but the looper. It should have the same noise with or without the effect active. Pull the power plug out and if the noise disappears and rig becomes a little more quiet, that's it.

Also, can you do me a huge favor and try your VintageDelay with the bit depth set down to 10bits. Are you hearing just crazy noise without playing anything and the effect engaged???

[lv]

Starfish,

Great post (and humorous too). I agree with everything you said.

btw, my TF also arrived obviously returned, maybe some guys just can't get on with the noise thing - I think someone with all true bypass pedals will really have to think twice about the TF due to that crackling absurdity. :)

[lv]

Gosh, I seem to be one of the few TGPers who got a TF that doesn't have the static noise discussed in related threads. Lucky me.

Just got it this afternoon and really loving it thus far. That said, I was annoyed to find that the TF packaging was damaged, though not the way-to-large-of-a-box American Musical Supply packed it in, which may suggest this pedal has been used or is a demo (the TF was wrapped in shitloads of bubble wrap). Fortunately the pedal doesn't exhibit signs of any damage.

It would indeed be pretty f**ked up if MF and the like are shipping out demo, dent-and-scratch, or used pedals to people who paid full price for a new one.

Hey Sunil,

Have you tried putting the TF in relay bypass mode, and then plugged it into your amp with no other pedals in between and then bypass it? That is where the noise is the worst.

[lv]

Also, can you do me a huge favor and try your VintageDelay with the bit depth set down to 10bits. Are you hearing just crazy noise without playing anything and the effect engaged???

I experienced the same thing.

Try turning up the hiss parameter on the tape delay setting, wtf were they thinking by putting that parameter in there? :)

[Sunil]

What serial number do you have? Mine's 174. Are you connecting yours directly to your guitar and amp with nothing else inline? While this noise is just slightly audible, you can hear it if you have it. Just make sure you're in relay bypass mode, select anything but the looper. It should have the same noise with or without the effect active. Pull the power plug out and if the noise disappears and rig becomes a little more quiet, that's it.

Also, can you do me a huge favor and try your VintageDelay with the bit depth set down to 10bits. Are you hearing just crazy noise without playing anything and the effect engaged???

I have 192. I'm running the TF and a T-Rex roomate reverb pedal through the effects loops of a Suhr Badger. I do indeed hear this god awful crackling and static news on the VintageDelay setting with bit depth at 10, though it disappears at any higher number -- strange! Otherwise, in every other setting and mode I've tried, it's been pretty quiet. I was hearing some funny low-level chirping noise when I fired it up a moment ago, but found it was a cricket chirping outside my closed window :-)

Lou is definitely on the mark in his TF/Nova Delay thread that the TF thickens and smoothens the overall tone. I especially hear this with cranked OD solo tones, which is a plus to me.

-- Sunil

[lv]

I have 192. I'm running the TF and a T-Rex roomate reverb pedal through the effects loops of a Suhr Badger. I do indeed hear this god awful crackling and static news on the VintageDelay setting with bit depth at 10, though it disappears at any higher number -- strange! Otherwise, in every other setting and mode I've tried, it's been pretty quiet. I was hearing some funny low-level chirping noise when I fired it up a moment ago, but found it was a cricket chirping outside my closed window :-)

Lou is definitely on the mark in his TF/Nova Delay thread that the TF thickens and smoothens the overall tone. I especially hear this with cranked OD solo tones, which is a plus to me.

-- Sunil

Another TGP guy told me the noise dissappears when used with an effects loop, try it in front of the amp.

+1 on the thickness, I like that as well. I wish it was adjustable (and I wish the TC had it as well).

[Matt Gordon]

I wanted one, but I'm definitely avoiding one now. Hope they get the bugs worked out. Great company. BTW are these made/assembled in the US or overseas?

[starfish]

China. Don't lick the paint just in case. :crazy

[starfish]

Another TGP guy told me the noise dissappears when used with an effects loop, try it in front of the amp.

+1 on the thickness, I like that as well. I wish it was adjustable (and I wish the TC had it as well).

Good point, I missed adding that. I'm running effects in front of my amps -1963 AC-30 treble w/ rear TB, 1965 (not ri) BFDR, and 1993 Matchless DC-30, which is the amp I used so far in testing. My DC-30 was Sampson built and predates the effects loop that was offered later.

[Sunil]

China. Don't lick the paint just in case. :crazy

Damn, too late! Need to do something about that disorder :)

-- S

[starfish]

I wanted one, but I'm definitely avoiding one now. Hope they get the bugs worked out. Great company. BTW are these made/assembled in the US or overseas?

It's a hard issue to explain. It's not really a deal breaker especially when you hear this unit. But nevertheless, it should not be present and needs to be dealt with by the manufacturer. This type of noise is not present on any other delay nor Eventide unit I have ever used. The closet I came was setting an H3000 to +4 incorrectly and got an unexpected noise floor. But that's different. This is not extraneous noise levels or a gain noise floor, rather it is a noise being generated by the unit itself and evidence points to the delay algo or clock possibly based on my other details above like not being present in looper mode or when the power supply is pulled out. It just odd that you can hear the noise in relay bypass with the unit powered on, and you can't powered off in relay bypass.

[Matt Gordon]

China. Don't lick the paint just in case. :crazy

Are they really?:confused:

[Twanger]

China. Don't lick the paint just in case. :crazy

LOL!!!:roll

[radcliff]

But man the thing sounds good!

I can't wait for them to fix that low res delay....that noise is weird on that one.

[Sunil]

Just tried the TF through the front of my Heritage Victory combo. The TF is preceded by some true bypass OD pedals and a Demeter tremolo pedal. No noise to report other than the same static/crackle on the VintageDelay setting with bit depth at 10.

-- S

[starfish]

But man the thing sounds good!

I can't wait for them to fix that low res delay....that noise is weird on that one.

It does sound really good. I have some really nice analog delays that ended my analog delay search long ago, but my digital delay search has gone on and on trying to find something I liked as much as when I ran an H3000 in a guitar rig. Tough standard to match or beat in pedal form. Finally it's here and we'll beat on the noise issue because it's mind boggling that such an otherwise great sounding unit would have such a flaw.

[Sunil]

But man the thing sounds good!

It's absolute heaven with OD/Distortion!

[starfish]

Just tried the TF through the front of my Heritage Victory combo. The TF is preceded by some true bypass OD pedals and a Demeter tremolo pedal. No noise to report other than the same static/crackle on the VintageDelay setting with bit depth at 10.

-- S

Can you try it with just (guitar --> TF --> amp)? Set to a delay algo, relay bypass, unplug the power, or switch to looper algo. Did the background noise change?

[starfish]

It's absolute heaven with OD/Distortion!

+1! I was playing my bjf/hb in front and talk about sick thick.

[Sunil]

Can you try it with just (guitar --> TF --> amp)? Set to a delay algo, relay bypass, unplug the power, or switch to looper algo. Did the background noise change?

Okay, done.

There is a little static but it's pretty subtle. The background noise did indeed change when I unplugged the power (got quieter), but again the difference to my ear is slight. I did this with amp volume low and high. The static is more noticeable with the amp dimed, but then I never have the amp that loud for home, studio or live gigs. I can't say for sure having not played the TF through the Victory in a band context yet, but alone the noise is so slight the I can't imagine it being annoyingly perceptible in a gig context. Recording would be another thing, though, but with my usual true-bypassed pedals preceding the TF through the front of the combo, there's no issue.

[Sunil]

+1! I was playing my bjf/hb in front and talk about sick thick.

Yup. I'm using a cranked TIM and ZVEX Box of Rock in front of the TF and having a grand old time. Syrupy thick, and any over emphasis of high end is smoothed out. A really pleasant extra from a great sounding delay. Hope Eventide works out the kinks soon. :dude

[lv]

Okay, done.

There is a little static but it's pretty subtle. The background noise did indeed change when I unplugged the power (got quieter), but again the difference to my ear is slight. I did this with amp volume low and high. The static is more noticeable with the amp dimed, but then I never have the amp that loud for home, studio or live gigs. I can't say for sure having not played the TF through the Victory in a band context yet, but alone the noise is so slight the I can't imagine it being annoyingly perceptible in a gig context. Recording would be another thing, though, but with my usual true-bypassed pedals preceding the TF through the front of the combo, there's no issue.


Pretty sure the Demeter is buffered. Is the noise the worst when the unit is set to true bypass and is bypassed? Are you getting hiss or staticky clock type noise? Agree that it likely wouldn't be a big deal on a gig.

[Eric Pykala]

Perhaps I've missed it in all the threads floating around about this and other delays, but does this noise issue go away when used in the FX loop (where it belongs)? Not talking the lo-res patch, just noise in general. I love my Memory Lane, but the Timefactors feature-set sure looks intriguing to a delay junkie like me. Has anyone who owns a Memory Lane tried it in comparison yet?-Eric

[NoFi]

(There always has to be a but doesn't there. :( ) But, the VintageDelay mode clearly sucks extra hard with this static noise issue. Try turning the bit depth to 10 bits. It's a crazy unacceptable static buzzing while not playing anything on the guitar, just muted. Crazy! Low bit delays don't buzz. They are low fidelity repeats while signal is going through. This has to be a bug.Being used to bitcrushers as plugins on the computer, or as hardware effects (alesis bitrman) i'm not surprised at all. I would almost call that a feature lol. They are probably applying a bitcrushing "program" on the delayed sound, it is bitcrushing even when you are not playing so the effects of lowered bit resolution (increased noise floor) is heard at all times. Each bit of digital precision adds 6db of signal to noise.
On the older delays, it was just the digital conversion that had to be done at lower bit resolution, when no signal is coming in, it's not necessarily converting. And maybe also older delays had a gate system to keep the noise floor low when no signal is going through.

[mild]

Perhaps I've missed it in all the threads floating around about this and other delays, but does this noise issue go away when used in the FX loop (where it belongs)? Not talking the lo-res patch, just noise in general. I love my Memory Lane, but the Timefactors feature-set sure looks intriguing to a delay junkie like me. Has anyone who owns a Memory Lane tried it in comparison yet?-Eric

Hey Eric, re-read this thread buddy. :)

The Timefactor in the loop is dead silent. According to another user in one of these many threads, the TC in the loop sounds awful compared to the Eventide.

The issue people are experiencing is hum, when used into the front end of the amp, with no other buffered pedals in the chain.

I know I'm watching with keen eyes as to how Eventide responds to this...

[donbarzini]

Hey Eric, re-read this thread buddy. :)

The Timefactor in the loop is dead silent. According to another user in one of these many threads, the TC in the loop sounds awful compared to the Eventide.

The issue people are experiencing is hum, when used into the front end of the amp, with no other buffered pedals in the chain.

I know I'm watching with keen eyes as to how Eventide responds to this...

Eventide is working on this issue, I have been corresponding with them and fowarded all information I have and they seem very helpful. Even though the static issue doesn't affect me in any way since I use the it in the effects loop, it still would be comforting knowing this issue is resolved in case I ever want to use it in front of the amp. And yes, the Nova Delay affected my tone big time in the effects loop, I didn't keep that one very long.

[starfish]

Being used to bitcrushers as plugins on the computer, or as hardware effects (alesis bitrman) i'm not surprised at all. I would almost call that a feature lol. They are probably applying a bitcrushing "program" on the delayed sound, it is bitcrushing even when you are not playing so the effects of lowered bit resolution (increased noise floor) is heard at all times. Each bit of digital precision adds 6db of signal to noise.
On the older delays, it was just the digital conversion that had to be done at lower bit resolution, when no signal is coming in, it's not necessarily converting. And maybe also older delays had a gate system to keep the noise floor low when no signal is going through.

Thanks this is informative. Excellent point about the gate.

[starfish]

Perhaps I've missed it in all the threads floating around about this and other delays, but does this noise issue go away when used in the FX loop (where it belongs)?

Can you show me where an effects loop is on a classic tube amp like a 60's Vox or Fender? :)

Yes this approach works for people with modern amp rigs which nearly have an affects loop standard these days. My 1993 Sampson built Matchless DC-30 does not have one. You don't have to go back too far to find that in front of the amp is SOP. In fact I've never really encountered a delay that has this static noise when used in front of an amp. To be forced to use a certain type of rig, which is probably the minority usage, in order to fix a flaw is IMO a kluge. Ditto for buffer.

[S. S. Bender]

I ordered my Timefactor from Sweetwater back in February. I received one from the first batch that came in, so I've had a month to work with it.

I love the sounds and the feature set of this unit, but ultimately I decided to return it yesterday.

My application required that I run it in stereo in front of a pair of non-master volume tube amps. Neither amp has an effects loop.

My issue with the Timefactor was with not static or hum. I could not deal with the drop in signal level when switching from bypass to effect mode.

Some of the delay types were worse than others. The digital delay was the best. With careful setting of the mix control, I could almost achieve unity gain between bypass and effect modes. The loop section had the most severe level drop. I re-initialized the factory settings but that didn't help matters.

To overcome the problem and keep the Timefactor, I considered purchasing a Lehle Stereo D. Loop. However, since the Timefactor has no external gain control(s), I would have also had to purchase two clean boost pedals to run in series in the Lehle loops to achieve unity gain.

This option was considered "over the top" due to cost, and the unwanted increase to pedalboard real estate.

To be fair, other digital effect units suffer from this gain problem, including the Yamaha SPX-90, and Magicstomp. However, they have external gain controls that allow you to "make up the difference" when those units are run in a true bypass loop.

Again, I loved the sound and feature set of the Timefactor. If Eventide can resolve the issue to my satisfaction, I will purchase another unit.

[lv]

And yes, the Nova Delay affected my tone big time in the effects loop, I didn't keep that one very long.

hey Joe,

Does the Nova have some functionality for adjusting the unit for loop use? Or does your loop have an adjustment to go from rack stuff to pedal levels? This thing is so transparent when in front of the amp, I'm wondering if TC optimized the unit for that application vs the TF switches for loop use.


btw, the Eventide is made in China, the TC is made in Malaysia.

[starfish]

Starfish,

Great post (and humorous too). I agree with everything you said.

btw, my TF also arrived obviously returned, maybe some guys just can't get on with the noise thing - I think someone with all true bypass pedals will really have to think twice about the TF due to that crackling absurdity. :)

Lou - Did yours come with a double-sided photocopy for the presets guide or did you get something professionally printed like the manual and quick start guide? Just wondering if the photocopy was intentional or a fill in due to me units obvious prior usage. Thx!

[donbarzini]

hey Joe,

Does the Nova have some functionality for adjusting the unit for loop use? Or does your loop have an adjustment to go from rack stuff to pedal levels? This thing is so transparent when in front of the amp, I'm wondering if TC optimized the unit for that application vs the TF switches for loop use.


btw, the Eventide is made in China, the TC is made in Malaysia.

My effects loop doesn't have a -10 or +4 selection like on the newer Marshalls. It is a dedicated line level loop. I believe the TC uses the calibration utility to adjust your input level, that is what I did several times.

[lv]

Lou - Did yours come with a double-sided photocopy for the presets guide or did you get something professionally printed like the manual and quick start guide? Just wondering if the photocopy was intentional or a fill in due to me units obvious prior usage. Thx!

Mine was a double sided photocopy.

[lv]

My effects loop doesn't have a -10 or +4 selection like on the newer Marshalls. It is a dedicated line level loop. I believe the TC uses the calibration utility to adjust your input level, that is what I did several times.

Ah, makes sense. Thanks.

[lv]

I ordered my Timefactor from Sweetwater back in February. I received one from the first batch that came in, so I've had a month to work with it.

I love the sounds and the feature set of this unit, but ultimately I decided to return it yesterday.

My application required that I run it in stereo in front of a pair of non-master volume tube amps. Neither amp has an effects loop.

My issue with the Timefactor was with not static or hum. I could not deal with the drop in signal level when switching from bypass to effect mode.

Some of the delay types were worse than others. The digital delay was the best. With careful setting of the mix control, I could almost achieve unity gain between bypass and effect modes. The loop section had the most severe level drop. I re-initialized the factory settings but that didn't help matters.

To overcome the problem and keep the Timefactor, I considered purchasing a Lehle Stereo D. Loop. However, since the Timefactor has no external gain control(s), I would have also had to purchase two clean boost pedals to run in series in the Lehle loops to achieve unity gain.

This option was considered "over the top" due to cost, and the unwanted increase to pedalboard real estate.

To be fair, other digital effect units suffer from this gain problem, including the Yamaha SPX-90, and Magicstomp. However, they have external gain controls that allow you to "make up the difference" when those units are run in a true bypass loop.

Again, I loved the sound and feature set of the Timefactor. If Eventide can resolve the issue to my satisfaction, I will purchase another unit.

Before I sent my TF back this morning, I played through it to see if there was a drop in level as I had not noticed it before. I'm hearing a slight treble loss, but not a noticeable drop in volume. Did you notice this when using the unit in stereo, or in mono as well? I've only used it in mono.

[duende]

I ordered my Timefactor from Sweetwater back in February. I received one from the first batch that came in, so I've had a month to work with it.

I love the sounds and the feature set of this unit, but ultimately I decided to return it yesterday.

My application required that I run it in stereo in front of a pair of non-master volume tube amps. Neither amp has an effects loop.

My issue with the Timefactor was with not static or hum. I could not deal with the drop in signal level when switching from bypass to effect mode.

Some of the delay types were worse than others. The digital delay was the best. With careful setting of the mix control, I could almost achieve unity gain between bypass and effect modes. The loop section had the most severe level drop. I re-initialized the factory settings but that didn't help matters.

To overcome the problem and keep the Timefactor, I considered purchasing a Lehle Stereo D. Loop. However, since the Timefactor has no external gain control(s), I would have also had to purchase two clean boost pedals to run in series in the Lehle loops to achieve unity gain.

This option was considered "over the top" due to cost, and the unwanted increase to pedalboard real estate.

To be fair, other digital effect units suffer from this gain problem, including the Yamaha SPX-90, and Magicstomp. However, they have external gain controls that allow you to "make up the difference" when those units are run in a true bypass loop.

Again, I loved the sound and feature set of the Timefactor. If Eventide can resolve the issue to my satisfaction, I will purchase another unit.

Strange.... I'm running a stereo set-up as well, and definitely have no volume drop. Did you run it with a buffer before hand??


I also used in the studio with some synths patched through it and also did not recieve a volume drop using it that way.


I think you had either a bad jack or defective unit.

[javahut]

Just had my TF for a couple of days. No noise issues at all when running in front of my Dr. Z MAZ Jr. Also, didn't notice any drop in signal level at all from bypass to delay effect.

However, there's one functionality of the unit that I don't like. I expected the tap delay to have it's own time settings and remember them. Instead, it seems that if you're in programmed mode, then switch to tap, what you're actually doing is changing the delay time of the last program you were in. So when you pop out of tap mode, and back in to program mode... your programmed tempo is gone... you're still in the tapped time until you switch to different program and back to that one.

I don't like that function at all. I want to have some type of ambient programmed delay, and be able to switch to tap timed delay and back again. It's really hard to see how that's gonna be possible on this unit as is. I think they should change the function, so that tapped time is the same delay type, but keeps it's own delay timing, separate from the two in the current active bank. The tap timing should never change until I tap a different tempo in. That way you would always have 3 different times available... the two in the current bank, and the tapped time.

Any one else see that there's another way to do this? I've only had the unit for a day and haven't had a chance to delve further into it, but it looks like this is the only method of operation that I can see. I just really don't see much use in being able to set a tapped tempo, then when going back to the programmed delay... you're still set in the tapped tempo.

Edit: That being said, however... the delay sound quality of this unit is stellar. Absolutely no problem there for me.

[HBob]

Just had my TF for a couple of days. No noise issues at all when running in front of my Dr. Z MAZ Jr. Also, didn't notice any drop in signal level at all from bypass to delay effect.

However, there's one functionality of the unit that I don't like. I expected the tap delay to have it's own time settings and remember them. Instead, it seems that if you're in programmed mode, then switch to tap, what you're actually doing is changing the delay time of the last program you were in. So when you pop out of tap mode, and back in to program mode... your programmed tempo is gone... you're still in the tapped time until you switch to different program and back to that one.

I don't like that function at all. I want to have some type of ambient programmed delay, and be able to switch to tap timed delay and back again. It's really hard to see how that's gonna be possible on this unit as is. I think they should change the function, so that tapped time is the same delay type, but keeps it's own delay timing, separate from the two in the current active bank. The tap timing should never change until I tap a different tempo in. That way you would always have 3 different times available... the two in the current bank, and the tapped time.

Any one else see that there's another way to do this? I've only had the unit for a day and haven't had a chance to delve further into it, but it looks like this is the only method of operation that I can see. I just really don't see much use in being able to set a tapped tempo, then when going back to the programmed delay... you're still set in the tapped tempo.

Edit: That being said, however... the delay sound quality of this unit is stellar. Absolutely no problem there for me.

I think you can "fix" that. See page 25 in you instructions. "When GLOBAL is ON, the tempo and mix values saved with the Preset are ignored and and the current Tempo and Mix values are used for all Presets." I think that's what you're looking for if I'm reading you post right.

[javahut]

I think you can "fix" that. See page 25 in you instructions. "When GLOBAL is ON, the tempo and mix values saved with the Preset are ignored and and the current Tempo and Mix values are used for all Presets." I think that's what you're looking for if I'm reading you post right.
Yeah, I had hoped so, too. But I think all that's gonna do is set everything to the current tap tempo. I still want the tempo of the programmed values. I just want them to stay at the programmed values, not change to the tap tempo when I tap it in and be stuck there until I switch to a different program and back. The tap tempo should be it's own tempo setting all the time. The programs should be at their own tempo settings all the time. Or at least there should be a feature that allows that.

[Denyle_Guitars]

I wonder if this static noise issue is a result of RoHS compliance. It wouldn't be the first and certainly not the last product to have noise resulting from Pb-free solder, especially coming from China.

[S. S. Bender]

Before I sent my TF back this morning, I played through it to see if there was a drop in level as I had not noticed it before. I'm hearing a slight treble loss, but not a noticeable drop in volume. Did you notice this when using the unit in stereo, or in mono as well? I've only used it in mono.

I experienced equal volume drop in both stereo and mono. It was so bad in loop mode, it made that feature unusable for me as a live performance tool.

I tried various buffers in front of the Timefactor, but none of those helped the gain loss. Every control switch and knob combination on the Timefactor was explored as well.

Using a Loooper.com mono true bypass box, I placed the Timefactor and a Jauernig Gristle King in the bypass loop. By using the clean boost function on the Gristle King, I was able to compensate properly for the gain loss. However, to do this in stereo was going to cost more than the Timefactor, and add three unwanted pedals to my board.

You guys might be right. Maybe I had a defective unit. However, every other function of my Timefactor worked flawlessly.

[starfish]

I experienced equal volume drop in both stereo and mono. It was so bad in loop mode, it made that feature unusable for me as a live performance tool.

I tried various buffers in front of the Timefactor, but none of those helped the gain loss. Every control switch and knob combination on the Timefactor was explored as well.

Using a Loooper.com mono true bypass box, I placed the Timefactor and a Jauernig Gristle King in the bypass loop. By using the clean boost function on the Gristle King, I was able to compensate properly for the gain loss. However, to do this in stereo was going to cost more than the Timefactor, and add three unwanted pedals to my board.

You guys might be right. Maybe I had a defective unit. However, every other function of my Timefactor worked flawlessly.

It definitely sounds like you have an isolated issue there, maybe a broken unit. I have no volume drop in mono nor stereo also using NMV tube amps. In fact, I had the opposite at first - the effect when engaged was too loud but this was easily balanced with the mix knob. I find I need to set it much lower than I would with most delays - around 44% or so. Any higher and it's a bit overbearing for me.

[Alex Law]

Sounds like the consensus is that the TF is rock-solid through an effects loop, is that right? I'd not used my effects loop before, but tried it this morning and it's not going to be an issue... In which case, I think the TF will work out for me. Roll on Wednesday!

[zenfreud]

My hat's also off to Starfish for a great review, it's a pleasure to read an in-depth report on a powerful new effects box that you have obviously used and understand. The Eventide may have more depth than I need, I'll probably demo a Nova delay after the dust has settled, am in no rush.

Starfish, if you're motivated (and have the time) I can imagine that you'd be a great beta tester for efx builders.

Good luck with the noise issue, I hope for all of our sakes that it gets licked. Well, given the reports of materials used in some Chinese-sourced products, maybe not licked, but solved!

[placebo62]

Just had my TF for a couple of days. No noise issues at all when running in front of my Dr. Z MAZ Jr. Also, didn't notice any drop in signal level at all from bypass to delay effect.

Man, I'd love to hear some clips of the TF through your Maz if possible.

[starfish]

My hat's also off to Starfish for a great review, it's a pleasure to read an in-depth report on a powerful new effects box that you have obviously used and understand. The Eventide may have more depth than I need, I'll probably demo a Nova delay after the dust has settled, am in no rush.

Starfish, if you're motivated (and have the time) I can imagine that you'd be a great beta tester for efx builders.

Good luck with the noise issue, I hope for all of our sakes that it gets licked. Well, given the reports of materials used in some Chinese-sourced products, maybe not licked, but solved!

Hey thanks!:cool: I've been a programmer for longer than I care to mention so for me beta testing is like falling out of a tree. I would love to get on one or two tourboxes though. It would be nice to try a few effects before the buzz is so large that the waiting lists grow to months or YEARS!

I got into guitar effects quite early in my 22 years of guitar playing. My heroes were punk/post punk who were experimenting and pushing the boundaries of "rock" music with sound textures as much as with angst. The Cocteau Twins emerged like a Van Gogh amongst Thomas Kincaids in the early 80's UK scene. The godfathers of shoegaze. I've been a delay addict ever since. But I sure am a fanatic of many great musical movements, from the Beatles to Jimi to Husker Du to alt country to jazz, Fripp, Sylvian, you name it. If it has heart, soul AND brains, I'm in.

[starfish]

Dotted 8th nuts - no offense rather the contrary, I'm king nut when it comes to beat subdivisions. I spent some time late this afternoon playing with the note subdivisions of the Timefactor. Yesterday and this morning, I go so lost in the noise issue, then presets and just noodling around with the great delays that I haven't even touched note subdivisions until late today. We'll have I got GREAT news, this far exceeds my expectations, not only are dotted 8th notes possible but all of these too:

(* = dotted note)
(*** = triplet)

no delay
1/64
1/32***
1/64*
1/32
1/16***
1/32*
1/16
1/8***
1/16*
1/8
1/4***
1/8*
1/4
5/8
1/2***
1/4*
7/16
1/2
9/16
10/16
whole***
11/16
1/2*
13/16
14/16
15/16
whole

Not only that, but each channel (L/R) or each delay line has its own dedicated beat subdivision AND you can mix both delay lines together if you run a mono rig. This is beyond cool. Try a 1/8*** in one delay and a 1/2*** in the other. Cool rhythmic possibilities. You can really shape this delay to fit your compositions. This feature was smart and will get tons of use by me. Why this list isn't present in the manual is beyond me. ...???

Now if they can fix the background noise issue, I'll be on cloud 9. For now it's on my board after a couple buffers and the noise is negligible. But I'd like to be able to use the TF by itself into an amp for highest fidelity while tracking without using a noise gate on my mix.

[radcliff]

The screen turns invisible in the sun....

And for some reason, when I switch from play Mode to Bank Mode and then back to Play Mode, whatever I had setup on Play Mode is completely different.

My units only problem is in keeping whats in Playing mode constant....does anyone else have this problem?

When I have the Lopper on in Play mode, and switch to Bank and then back, I'm on the type of delay that was on in Bank Mode...

Hmmmm...

[radcliff]

Also, the noise the pedal makes is an absolute non issue at a gig.

This is like DL4 noise here.

Delays sound great, but I wish the delay time wouldnt make those Pitch bending type noises when you tap in a new tempo....

[popinvasion]

it really sounds like the timefactor is better than 90% of the delays out there, but it also sounds like it wasn't ready for release, like it still has some work to be where it needs to be. I am sure the firmware upgrades will be cool, but it also seems like there might need to be more upgrades than that to make it "the best" delay out there. So maybe a timefactor V2 will be the one. But until then it sounds like TC got the nova right. Sure it lacks the features over the Timefactor, but for the price and compared to everything else it sounds like its just right and perfect as is. No need for upgrades at all. Maybe a future Nova plus with some added features, but as is the NOVA seems on paper to be "it".

[starfish]

The only fly in the ointment is there are several reports that the Nova is noisy in an amp effects loop. It looks like we just can't win here. :(

[popinvasion]

I guess if thats true with the loop problem on the nova then the choice is really to deal with the quirks of either and be unhappy until a new version comes out.

I love the edge, so loops means nothing. I am not a loop fan, or a fan of high gain amps that need loops. That fusion style has never been me. But I understand that as a complaint for others, bummer.

[starfish]

Also, the noise the pedal makes is an absolute non issue at a gig.

This is like DL4 noise here.

Delays sound great, but I wish the delay time wouldnt make those Pitch bending type noises when you tap in a new tempo....

I haven't played with the catchup mode yet. Isn't this supposed to minimize the pitch bending when changing tempo?

[starfish]

I guess if thats true with the loop problem on the nova then the choice is really to deal with the quirks of either and be unhappy until a new version comes out.

I love the edge, so loops means nothing. I am not a loop fan, or a fan of high gain amps that need loops. That fusion style has never been me. But I understand that as a complaint for others, bummer.

I agree, I'm a vintage amp fanatic and always put pedals in front.

[radcliff]

The Catchup mode can make it a pain to change parameters...the parameter is locked until you turn the knob to where it WAS set.

I changed out of this mode during the gig....making these programming changes is getting real easy tho....the menu stuff isnt bad.

[placebo62]

so is it possible to layer loops? or can it only playback 1 loop at a time?

[javahut]

The screen turns invisible in the sun....
I kinda figured that was gonna happen. Not really an issue for me since I don't plan on ever playing in the sun... too damn hot in the shade even. :D
And for some reason, when I switch from play Mode to Bank Mode and then back to Play Mode, whatever I had setup on Play Mode is completely different.

My units only problem is in keeping whats in Playing mode constant....does anyone else have this problem?

When I have the Lopper on in Play mode, and switch to Bank and then back, I'm on the type of delay that was on in Bank Mode...
Yeah, that's a problem to me. It appears it's in the software design of the functions. What happens when you're in Play mode is... when you set the tap tempo, you're actually resetting the tempo of the last Bank mode program you were in when you switched to Play mode. Then when you go back to Bank mode... your preset no longer has the pre-programmed tempo, but instead has the tap tempo you just set. Then if you change to any other preset/program, you switch back to the preset's tempo. Unfortunately, every time, this also removes your previous tap tempo. The next time you go into tap mode, it starts out at whatever your current preset's tempo is and you have to tap in the tempo all over again. That's because the tap tempo mode has no memory of it's own... you're actually only temporarily changing the last preset's tempo.

This is majorly stupifying as to why they made it work this way. They said they sent units on the road to beta and took the players input as to how the functions should work. Their beta testers were obviously players that don't know how delay devices should work for performance, and/or use delays only sporadically or minimally as a background effect. I play dub/ electronica and use delay prominently... the current tap tempo function of the TimeFactor is just about a killer for me in terms of live performance. I detailed in an earlier post how this should work, and sent an email to Eventide about it. Again, it's just mind boggling stupifying why they made tap tempo with no memory of it's own. The only option is to set tap tempo as global... but then you're stuck with no preprogrammed tempos... which also is a big no go.

And while I'm ranting... they also got how you change from Bank to Play mode totally backwards. Changing banks is not a function that needs to be performed immediately... yet it occurs immediately by a single tap of the Play/Bank mode switch. What does need to occur immediately is switching from Bank mode to Play mode and back again... yet you have to hold the Play/Bank switch down for 2 seconds to get in and back out of Play mode.

The way this function should work is...

1) Press and hold the Play Mode/Bank Mode to toggle up and scroll through the banks.

2) Press and release the Play Mode/Bank Mode to switch to Play Mode and the most recent tapped-in tempo. Also optimum would be that if you press and release the Play Mode/Bank Mode switch more than once within the maximum 3 second audio delay time... after the first tap, the unit should immediately and simultaneously switch to Play Mode and Tap Tempo, and start calculating what the new tapped tempo should be relative to each subsequent tap that occurs after the first tap. If only 1 tap is detected, then the unit switches to Play mode and uses the most recent tapped-in tempo.

They must have had some 15 minutes of fame indie rock band beta testing the functions of this thing on the road, as whoever did it had no idea of how switching between program and tap tempo functions should work.
:jo

As good as this unit sounds, I'm trying to think of a way I can get around this flawed functioning to keep using it... and kind of debating whether the sound quality is worth keeping it because of this. Like I said, I sent emails to Eventide, but I really don't expect any quick action on fixing this, if ever.

It's a shame... they're so close to having the end all, be all of pedal delays... yet still so far if they don't get the basics of it's functions right.:cool:

[starfish]

I would look at the whole concept of presets just like the old standard. When you change a preset and haven't saved your changes, you haven't saved your changes. This includes patch tempo.

I'm not trying to belittle your frustration but let's spin this around for a moment. If tempo worked as you would like, what happens when I'm out on tour on a dark stage and I'm recalling my presets for performance. Should I suddenly be stuck with the memory of the last tempo I was noodling on back in my bedroom? Should I need to tap a new tempo every time I load a preset because it appears that is what I would have to do if memory tempo were a feature.

I would have 2 big problems with that feature set. My songs aren't all at the same tempo, and if I'm trying to perform a song in 45bpm, and I've already saved the tempo to the preset, then I don't want to have to monkey with tapping it in on stage. But, if I need to adjust to the rhythm of the drummer, the tap tempo feature is there right when I need it. From my perspective, the concept of presets is tried and true. Save it for later recall.

I will agree with the play/bank thing. It should be easier to get back into play mode without having to add an aux. switch to the unit like others are using.

[javahut]

I would look at the whole concept of presets just like the old standard. When you change a preset and haven't saved your changes, you haven't saved your changes. This includes patch tempo.

I'm not trying to belittle your frustration but let's spin this around for a moment. If tempo worked as you would like, what happens when I'm out on tour on a dark stage and I'm recalling my presets for performance. Should I suddenly be stuck with the memory of the last tempo I was noodling on back in my bedroom? Should I need to tap a new tempo every time I load a preset because it appears that is what I would have to do if memory tempo were a feature.

I would have 2 big problems with that feature set. My songs aren't all at the same tempo, and if I'm trying to perform a song in 45bpm, and I've already saved the tempo to the preset, then I don't want to have to monkey with tapping it in on stage. But, if I need to adjust to the rhythm of the drummer, the tap tempo feature is there right when I need it. From my perspective, the concept of presets is tried and true. Save it for later recall.

I will agree with the play/bank thing. It should be easier to get back into play mode without having to add an aux. switch to the unit like others are using.
You're misunderstanding the problem. I want the tempos of all the presets to stay exactly as you program it... all the time. I want the tempo of tap tempo to be whatever I tapped in... and stay that way... all the time.

The way it is now... if you switch to tap tempo... every time you go into it... it's gonna match the preset you were just in... until you tap in a new tempo. Then when you switch back to your preset... your preset's tempo doesn't come back... it stays at the tempo you just tapped in... until you switch to a different preset.

I can see your point... somewhat... but there's a better way to do it. The way it works now... that's the only thing tap tempo is good for... micro adjusting your preset on the fly... or, matching a tempo quickly to save as a preset.

However, what it really sux for is performance. If you like to start a song by tapping in a tempo to match the beat, then switch out of the tempo match for some ambient delays or effects, and go back in to the tapped tempo match at other points in the song... can't be done... because every time you get out of tap tempo mode and go to a different preset... your tapped tempo is gone... you have to retap it every single time you want tempo match within the song (unless you use Global, which then nullifies all preset tempos, which sux even more).

On the other hand, with the way it should work... in your scenario... if you're on a dark stage... you'd never have to "monkey with" the saved tempo if it's right... but if it's not quite right... you've got to tap in a new tempo anyway... you'd never be "stuck with the last tempo" you tapped in... because you would start tapping in the correct tempo on your first tap of the switch when you changed to tap tempo (if the thing worked like it should). Then it would stay that way throughout the entire song... unless you switched back to a preset. Then the tempo would match the preset you saved (if the thing worked like it should). Then if you again switch back to tap tempo mode... the tempo would again match what you had previously tapped in... unless you tapped in a different one this time (if the thing worked like it should).

But it doesn't do that now. The way it works now.. once you tap it in... your saved preset tempo is gone, out the door, never to be seen or heard from again... even when you switch back to it, it matches the new tap tempo instead... you have to switch to another preset, then back to the original preset to get the original saved tempo back. That's just a total fumbling, non-logical, round about way to get back out of the tapped tempo mode... makes no sense.

All I can say is, see DLS Echo Tap for the way tap tempo should logically work. They got it right. Eventide got it way wrong.

[starfish]

Maybe I just don't use presets like that, switching constantly between several in a single song. I have other delays on tap. But maybe others should weigh in too. We're only 2 people out of potential hundreds to begin using this unit. We just happen to have different usage habits and needs.

But I can't really think of another unit even rack that would work the way you describe UNLESS you switch to a global tempo setting. The DLS sounds perfect for what you are trying to achieve but I don't think that unit has presets and certainly not the breadth of available sounds nor the depth of editing, beat subdivisions, etc. The DLS and Eventide are really 2 different animals.

What you describe might not exist yet but there's probably no time like the present to try to get someone to create this feature set. I would think to solve this you would need a way to switch in and out of global tempo mode on the fly so that you can load a preset change tempo globally and then load a new preset but with the global tempo applied. Seems like a reasonable request and one that should be done in a firmware change.

[radcliff]

They could make Global assigned to each actual preset, instead on a Global Global.....this might solve the prob.

I'm still working through the different System modes, seeing if I can find solutions to my gripes.... like the Play and Bank switching thing.

[javahut]

I would think to solve this you would need a way to switch in and out of global tempo mode on the fly so that you can load a preset change tempo globally and then load a new preset but with the global tempo applied. Seems like a reasonable request and one that should be done in a firmware change.
You're making it way more complicated than it is. All you need are 2 things.

1) a memory slot for the tapped tempo

2) when you switch back to a preset... switch back to the preset exactly as it was preset... not a different tempo of the same preset.

I certainly know the DLS doesn't have presets... save for one... the tempo you tapped in. Once you tap it in, the tapped tempo stays at the tapped tempo until you tap in another tempo. If you switch back to manual mode on the fly, you can change manual mode tempo all you want to your heart's delight. But when you then switch back to tapped tempo mode, the last tempo you put in is still there. And I certainly know the DLS doesn't have the depth of available sounds. I have one. But that's not the point. The point is how a tap tempo function should be laid out logically to make the most use of it.

If I wanted the tapped tempo to be changing, I would change it... not have the tapped tempo arbitrarily changed to whatever the current preset is... I already have that tempo in a preset. I don't need another one just like it in tapped tempo mode. The whole point of tapped tempo is to have a tapped tempo on hand when you want it. If it's changing to something else all the time, what's the point?

I do think another poster on here commented on not understanding why the tapped tempo was changing all the time... so it's not just me. And that's what I was originally responding to.

[javahut]

I'm thinking TC's Nova delay probably works more like what I'm talking about (the way tapped tempo should work :) ). Is there anyone here with Nova experience that can tell what the hell I'm talkin about and know if the Nova works like this.

Or in other words... does the Nova remember the last tapped tempo if you switch back and forth between preset and tap tempos?

And, is switching between preset and tapped tempos on the fly possible?

If so, I may be jumping ship.

[starfish]

You're making it way more complicated than it is. All you need are 2 things.

1) a memory slot for the tapped tempo

2) when you switch back to a preset... switch back to the preset exactly as it was preset... not a different tempo of the same preset.



I don't know. It seems like a "memory slot" would be the complicated route especially for a unit that is designed, packaged and on the market. I'm sure to achieve this you need a ram buffer. Good luck getting one added. It will be hard enough to convince Eventide or TC to do it at all since rack units I have used don't operate with a memory buffer for saving on-the-fly tap tempo while changing between presets, unless it is a plain global override.

I think what Radcliff and I have suggested - a way to manipulate global tempo to achieve your desired result is probably the path of least resistance. In fact, the feature is already there, they just need to apply it to solve your specific issues.

Ask Lou V about the TC and whether it will do this, he has one at the moment.

[javahut]

I don't know. It seems like a "memory slot" would be the complicated route especially for a unit that is designed, packaged and on the market. I'm sure to achieve this you need a ram buffer. Good luck getting one added. It will be hard enough to convince Eventide or TC to do it at all since rack units I have used don't operate with a memory buffer for saving on-the-fly tap tempo while changing between presets, unless it is a plain global override.

I think what Radcliff and I have suggested - a way to manipulate global tempo to achieve your desired result is probably the path of least resistance. In fact, the feature is already there, they just need to apply it to solve your specific issues.

Ask Lou V about the TC and whether it will do this, he has one at the moment.
I'll agree you could probably get to the right solution by merely turning on and off Global every time you go into and out of tap mode, if that was an option. But you're still gonna need memory to save what the last Global tempo was every time you go in and out of it.

[Angle Loss]

Are you guys using an external controller with it? After reading the manual (mine is coming in a couple of days still), it seems like it would be pretty hard to get by with just the footswitches on the unit itself. Having to switch to Bank mode to a different preset, and then to Play mode to adjust the tempo seems a pain when you could have both at immediate access with the extra controllers footswitches (I've heard some using a Digitech FS300 and the newer model--though I think I will be building a footswitch).

Second, I may need to read the manual again but can you have global tap tempo without global mix? That seems like it would suit my purposes the best, but I'm wondering if it can be done. Thanks guys for your comments, previous and future, I'm enjoying it.

[starfish]

I contacted Eventide support today about three issues that I would like to see addressed with the Timefactor. We all know about the first issue - there is some minor, but annoying, background noise when using the TF in front of an amp with the guitar connected directly to the TF, or no buffers upstream. Eventide wants to RMA my unit, free shipping back to Eventide, to "repair" it. I wonder if they have found the source of the issue.

The other 2 issues I have are functional, one is a big deal for me - the looper, and the other was tempo-related, the first part being an activation issue and the other was javahut's idea, which I passed along to Eventide support.

Here's what I sent Eventide support verbatim on issues #2 & #3:

2.) Looper mode - Is there a way to use the looper like the Line6 DL-4, meaning, when I close a loop it is not quantized to a beat or to the closest second? No matter what I do, the loop has a gap of silence present on playback when reaching the loop start point on the first and all subsequent playbacks. The mode is set to P-all. I have used about every looper ever made (I own or owned an Echoplex, Looperlative, various Boss models, DL4, etc.), and have never had this problem where I can't freeform the loop end point and have it play seamlessly on playback without gaps of silence between the loop endpoint and start point.

3.) Tempo mode - Two issues here. a.) Can tempo be enabled by default when entering playback mode? Right now it requires a push of the encoder knob every time I enter playback mode. (Clarification - BPM tempo mode). b.) Is there a way to make tap tempo persist while I'm switching from one preset to another. For instance, I load a preset which I saved to 50bpm. During performance it requires a tap tempo correction to 54 bpm, which I achieve by using tap tempo. Then, I switch to another preset, also saved to 50bpm, but my performance corrected tempo is lost. I don't want to achieve a persistent tempo with global because then all of my presets go with the recent global tempo which can be way off for other presets, i.e. 120 bpm or 40 bpm, etc.

[mild]

I await their response with baited breath... my Timefactor order is currently straddling the fence.

Thanks for doing all this starfish - you're a champ. :)

[radcliff]

I agree, that I wish global was something tied to each preset, instead of the entire unit.

[JoshuaLogan]

I contacted Eventide support today about three issues that I would like to see addressed with the Timefactor. We all know about the first issue - there is some minor, but annoying, background noise when using the TF in front of an amp with the guitar connected directly to the TF, or no buffers upstream. Eventide wants to RMA my unit, free shipping back to Eventide, to "repair" it. I wonder if they have found the source of the issue.

The other 2 issues I have are functional, one is a big deal for me - the looper, and the other was tempo-related, the first part being an activation issue and the other was javahut's idea, which I passed along to Eventide support.

Here's what I sent Eventide support verbatim on issues #2 & #3:

2.) Looper mode - Is there a way to use the looper like the Line6 DL-4, meaning, when I close a loop it is not quantized to a beat or to the closest second? No matter what I do, the loop has a gap of silence present on playback when reaching the loop start point on the first and all subsequent playbacks. The mode is set to P-all. I have used about every looper ever made (I own or owned an Echoplex, Looperlative, various Boss models, DL4, etc.), and have never had this problem where I can't freeform the loop end point and have it play seamlessly on playback without gaps of silence between the loop endpoint and start point.

3.) Tempo mode - Two issues here. a.) Can tempo be enabled by default when entering playback mode? Right now it requires a push of the encoder knob every time I enter playback mode. (Clarification - BPM tempo mode). b.) Is there a way to make tap tempo persist while I'm switching from one preset to another. For instance, I load a preset which I saved to 50bpm. During performance it requires a tap tempo correction to 54 bpm, which I achieve by using tap tempo. Then, I switch to another preset, also saved to 50bpm, but my performance corrected tempo is lost. I don't want to achieve a persistent tempo with global because then all of my presets go with the recent global tempo which can be way off for other presets, i.e. 120 bpm or 40 bpm, etc.

Oh, man. I'd like to hear more people commenting on this problem with the looper. That is a BIG problem...

[radcliff]

The looper on my TF works like the DL4. I have not chaged any settings, I leave it as it is. I also dont tap a beat in before looping....

[teefus]

my timefactor arrived yesterday. the serial number is in the 260's, iirc. i took it home and hooked it up and was totally floored by how great it sounded. very lush and full. i meant to put it through it's paces but ended up getting stuck on the ducking delay set for 1/4 triplets. this setting nailed the early u2 galloping delay sound. i ran through some of the other delay types and was equally impressed. no real noise issues here. i ran it in front of the amp (valvetech hayseed custom) with no pedals in front or behind it, in and out levels set for instrument. it was quieter than my byoc delay and about as quiet as a dls echotap. i put my strobostomp tuner in front of the timefactor and it made it a little quieter, just noticeably so (note, the tuner was set for true bypass). i tried the timefactor in the fx loop with the levels set accordingly and it peaked a little more and i thought it sounded better in front of the amp. approximate volume was approaching rehearsal level with a 4 piece band. i plan on messing more with it tonight and will comment further.

[starfish]

Here's what I sent Eventide support verbatim on issues #2 & #3:

2.) Looper mode - Is there a way to use the looper like the Line6 DL-4, meaning, when I close a loop it is not quantized to a beat or to the closest second? No matter what I do, the loop has a gap of silence present on playback when reaching the loop start point on the first and all subsequent playbacks. The mode is set to P-all. I have used about every looper ever made (I own or owned an Echoplex, Looperlative, various Boss models, DL4, etc.), and have never had this problem where I can't freeform the loop end point and have it play seamlessly on playback without gaps of silence between the loop endpoint and start point.

3.) Tempo mode - Two issues here. a.) Can tempo be enabled by default when entering playback mode? Right now it requires a push of the encoder knob every time I enter playback mode. (Clarification - BPM tempo mode). b.) Is there a way to make tap tempo persist while I'm switching from one preset to another. For instance, I load a preset which I saved to 50bpm. During performance it requires a tap tempo correction to 54 bpm, which I achieve by using tap tempo. Then, I switch to another preset, also saved to 50bpm, but my performance corrected tempo is lost. I don't want to achieve a persistent tempo with global because then all of my presets go with the recent global tempo which can be way off for other presets, i.e. 120 bpm or 40 bpm, etc.

I got these issues addressed. Tempo can be defeated in looper mode so that it does not quantize to a beat. Tempo state can be saved with the preset (i.e. bpm tempo mode can be saved with a preset so you do not have to press the encoder to enable it after recalling the preset.

Eventide is adding Global Tempo state saved per preset to the V. 2.0 wish list!!! If they deliver this will be a great feature. Javahut's idea - credit where credit is due!

I'm still going back and forth on the noise issue. I'm trying to get them to reproduce it on a unit already in their possession. I really don't want to send mine back when this issue is so widespread, and well I really dig the TimeFactor. I got lost in space for hours last night. Issues aside, I don't think anything raised here should put people off from buying one. It sounds damn good and you can workaround the minor noise issue we have been reporting. I just stuck it on my pedalboard for now and it's quiet in that configuration and sounds just stellar. Dirt sounds fantastic through this delay!!!

[agentcooper2001]

i've been running my timefactor in front of the amp since i got it and i don't have any noise at all like you guys are talking about. i don't have a effects loop, so i have no idea how it would sound that way.

[lifeinsong]

I've had mine(#154) for about a week now, running it in front of a Bad Cat 30R Combo...noise is minimal, very user-friendly(excellent manual), sound quality is PHENOMINAL! I'm sure that Eventide will address the few problems that have been discussed in the near future with their initial software update. Other than the TC 2290 and higher end Eventide stuff, the TimeFactor is probably the best delay unit out there...GET ONE!

[mild]

I wonder if the noise issue has been addressed in the latest runs... its certainly starting to sound that way. (No pun intended...)
:)

[starfish]

I don't think so. Another poster here PM'd me that he has 2 units from different runs and they both exhibit the issue. But lifeinsong sums it up - it is minimal noise. It just bothers the pure-signal sensitive types, like me! My guess is 9/10 who buy the TF won't even know there is noise. :)

[jmckeown88]

I was just wondering who out there is using external foot controllers/switches to give you more flexibility on the fly.

My thought is to leave the actual TF in 'Bank' mode, allowing easy switching of presets, then run 2 Boss FS-U's off of a stereo to dual mono splitter and using one as "on/off" and the other as "Tap Tempo"

I'm assuming this will work, yes?

[starfish]

Here's something interesting, I tried Eventide's suggested fix for getting the looper timing correct and it seems to be backwards!?! But it works great.

I was having problems getting a freeform loop without a gap of silence, a la DL-4 style looping. You hit record then play when you're done and you have a seamless loop regardless of imperfect meter/timing. Eventide told me to disable tap tempo during looping, but when I went to do that I found that I had been using it that way all along. So I enabled tempo, the opposite of their instructions, and it works great - hit record to start the loop and play to close it and it is seamless.

Here's the best part IMO - the sound quality in 1x mode buries the DL-4. Plus the overall tone of the TF when bypassed in relay bypass mode is great comapred to the DL-4. I plugged into the DL-4 to loop a band delay and it was immediately apparent that when I plugged into the DL-4 it sounded like I added a blanket to my tone. This was before I even started recording.

Just thought I'd pass this along - looping appears to be a-ok though I only plan to use that feature occasionally when a dedicated looper isn't on hand.

[starfish]

I was just wondering who out there is using external foot controllers/switches to give you more flexibility on the fly.

My thought is to leave the actual TF in 'Bank' mode, allowing easy switching of presets, then run 2 Boss FS-U's off of a stereo to dual mono splitter and using one as "on/off" and the other as "Tap Tempo"

I'm assuming this will work, yes?

I don't want any more on my board at the moment so I'm going to try it without extra pedals. I did add a Roland EV-5 though and feel an expression pedal is invaluable.

[vinney57]

Thanks for this thread everybody. Great info.

[radcliff]

I'm trying the Digitech three button footswitch tonight....but I have also had success with using a 25k Ernie Ball volume pedal as an Exp, and a Loop-master switch for tap tempo.

[halted]

Here's the best part IMO - the sound quality in 1x mode buries the DL-4. Plus the overall tone of the TF when bypassed in relay bypass mode is great comapred to the DL-4. I plugged into the DL-4 to loop a band delay and it was immediately apparent that when I plugged into the DL-4 it sounded like I added a blanket to my tone. This was before I even started recording.



What's your opinion on the sound quality in 1/2x and 1/4x mode? And what's the VariSpeed quality like when you record at 1x or 1/2x and change the tempo to play the loop at half speed?

[starfish]

What's your opinion on the sound quality in 1/2x and 1/4x mode? And what's the VariSpeed quality like when you record at 1x or 1/2x and change the tempo to play the loop at half speed?

1/2 is acceptable quality, starts to sound like the DL-4. 1/4 is too grainy but it's easy to play over it because the grainy loop can sit back better in a mix.

I'll experiment with the varispeed tomorrow. I have an expression pedal hooked up and I'll set it to control speed and see what happens. Until then....

[jmckeown88]

my God I need money in a bad way. I've got the itch for this pedal like you don't believe.

[popinvasion]

is the timefactor true bypass? if not is it analog or digital when in bypass? meaning is it being converted. Is it a digital dry signal when the delay is on or analog? Is it converting the dry signal to digital as well as the wet signal?

[teefus]

is the timefactor true bypass? if not is it analog or digital when in bypass? meaning is it being converted. Is it a digital dry signal when the delay is on or analog? Is it converting the dry signal to digital as well as the wet signal?
i just checked the faq on eventide's stompbox site. it looks like both the timefactor and the nova delay convert the dry signal to digital.

[halted]

1/2 is acceptable quality, starts to sound like the DL-4. 1/4 is too grainy but it's easy to play over it because the grainy loop can sit back better in a mix.

I'll experiment with the varispeed tomorrow. I have an expression pedal hooked up and I'll set it to control speed and see what happens. Until then....

Thanks for doing this, it's much appreciated. :BEER

[Alex Law]

I'll give my impressions of a recently shipped TF today, mine arrives in a few hours. I have a Boss FV-500L and a Digitech FS300 arriving tomorrow with which to test the external control features.

[jmckeown88]

radcliffe and alex,

let me know how the footswitches work. I am VERY interested in knowing how well it works.

[Ian]

Hi Guy!

I've got a couple of questions about the new TF. I'm in Canada, and haven't seen these here yet.

My guitar setup is mono, and I'm trying to figure out if I need only one Time Factor or two of them.

Basically, I need 2 separate and independent delay lines, and I want to route each of them in parallel with my dry tone using a loop switcher and a small mixer.

Questions:
1. Based on what I have read in the product info, I can use the Left input / output for one delay, and the right input / output for the other delay.......is this corect?

2. I usually dedicate one delay line to a tempo for rhythm, and I like to have a separate delay line dedicated for solos with maybe a bit more level. Can I accomplish this with one TF pedal, or would two TF pedals be required?

3. Can I control each of the delay levels with a midi pedal in real time? Can I assign each one separately to a different midi pedal?

Thanks for the help!! :)

[teefus]

Hi Guy!

I've got a couple of questions about the new TF. I'm in Canada, and haven't seen these here yet.

My guitar setup is mono, and I'm trying to figure out if I need only one Time Factor or two of them.

Basically, I need 2 separate and independent delay lines, and I want to route each of them in parallel with my dry tone using a loop switcher and a small mixer.

Questions:
1. Based on what I have read in the product info, I can use the Left input / output for one delay, and the right input / output for the other delay.......is this corect?

2. I usually dedicate one delay line to a tempo for rhythm, and I like to have a separate delay line dedicated for solos with maybe a bit more level. Can I accomplish this with one TF pedal, or would two TF pedals be required?

3. Can I control each of the delay levels with a midi pedal in real time? Can I assign each one separately to a different midi pedal?

Thanks for the help!! :)




1. i think you can do that but you can't have different delay types for each side, i.e., ducking on one side and multitap on the other.

2. you can do this if you can set the a/b delay blend/mix control up for an expression pedal. i would have to check the manual about this one to be sure.

3. i think there is only one expression pedal jack, so i would guess no. unless, #2 is correct and you can set the blend with one exp pedal and the level with another.

[Alex Law]

OK folks, good initial report.

I've only had the beastie long enough to play with it for half an hour, and I'm not experiencing any issues with noise, static, or tone suckage.

Strat -> TF -> Maz 18 Jr -> Marshall 4x12

Not using the effects loop. Amp is set clean and loud.

If there were something to be clearly irritated by, I'd be irritated - I'm pretty picky.

Comments:

Knobs feel a bit flimsy, but otherwise the unit looks reasonably sturdy. Doesn't scream "amazing quality", but really quite acceptable. Nice descriptive big display.

Delay quality, simply outstanding. Really, outstanding in an I-didn't-know-what-I-was-missing kinda way. I've had various delays including the Memory Lane and DD20, and this simply kills.

As a first impression, because that's all I have so far, overall very pleased.

[Roodboy]

I'm using it with the Line 6 expression pedal and it works great. No calibration/pot value type issues at all.

[Ian]

1. i think you can do that but you can't have different delay types for each side, i.e., ducking on one side and multitap on the other.

2. you can do this if you can set the a/b delay blend/mix control up for an expression pedal. i would have to check the manual about this one to be sure.

3. i think there is only one expression pedal jack, so i would guess no. unless, #2 is correct and you can set the blend with one exp pedal and the level with another.

Thanks so much for the help! :)

I have tried the TC Nova Delay at a friend's place the other day, and I loved the sound of it......including the tone when the unit was in the amp's loop (aylor SD60) with no delay on......I thought it was MORE than fine! I'm looking forward to the TF as well....I only need it for its midi functionality realy, and I ma end up using both a TF and Nova together.

Thanks again!

[jivebaby]

I used the digitech fs3x which worked fine but I ended up returning and ordering a tech 21 midi mouse. I really need the ability to switch programs up or down. You can do this with the three button setup but you cant have both and bank selection. Midimouse seems like the best option. Plus when you get the eventive Modfactor you can control both pedals :)

Mike Byrne

radcliffe and alex,

let me know how the footswitches work. I am VERY interested in knowing how well it works.

[NoFi]

I also got mine today...
When it's alone between the guitar and amp, there's definitely some "static" noise going on.
Workaround : using a buffer OR pluging the guitar in the NON-mono input, and use the "dsp" or "dsp + delay" bypass (the relay bypass wont work when plugged in that way). No more annoying "static" thing, just the hiss... yes there's hiss too.:D But i guess it's unevitable when packing that many things in a small enclosure, and it's too low to be a real problem.
To me the "static" issue really seems to be a flaw in the design or in the make of some units. Maybe the input jack is too close to some noisy components or something. Maybe it's a shielding/grounding problem. Did you notice when the tempo led flashes, the noise seems to be in tempo with the tempo led lol ?

Anyway, i'd be interested to see more serial numbers posted to see if beyond a certain point, the static issue disappears.

Another small thing that i tend to dislike, sometimes the switches are noisy. Especially in DSP + delay bypass, when switching an effect off, you hear the "click" of the switch trailing off with the delay... click click click click.

Otherwise, nice sounding... and i've only scatched the surface.

[teefus]

i messed around with the timefactor some more. i honestly can't detect any tone loss with the unit engaged or bypassed. there is a slight amount of background noise with the unit in front of the amp but it is negligible, imho, and about as much as any delay would add to the signal chain. the unit sounds fantastic. i was messing around with 2 different delay times, subdivisions and feedback settings. it should be pretty easy to get the streets have no name type thing going on with a little tinkering. the ducking delay, vintage delay, digital delay, pingpong delay and modulated delays are my favorites. i can see the reverse delay being really cool with a little work too.



edited to add, i can't imagine anyone not being happy with this unit for $400.

here is the run down of delays i have owned/used recently.....
sib echodrive (red, non-slam model), very, very musical sounding. big, heavy no subdivisions, but great sound
guyatone md-2 and md-3, not very musical sounding, thin case, easily destroyed, hard to tweak with small, twitchy knobs
korg 301dl, very good delay quality, incredibly cheap build quality, didn't last very long and frequently freaked out
dls echotap, excellent delay sounds, very well made, not very precise on the preset delay times and i was not very accurate at tapping tempo in
boss dd-5/dd-6, pretty good delay sounds, a little tone suck in the signal chain, overall not too bad
byoc dd80, very good delay sounds, very tweakable at the build level for customization
yamaha d(x) stomp, wow, very difficult to figure out and actually use, very tweakable but at the price of sanity, sounded very good when set up right, big and heavy
t-rex, excellent sound, maybe a little dark overall, subdivisions feature was very nice, a little pricey for what you get
eh dmm, very nice delay sounds, very lush with lots of modulation to thicken it up, no subdivisions, big, a little noisy and some tone suck, peaked very easily and tended to add gain/distortion
maxon ad-80, nice sounds, not a lot of time available (300ms, right?), hard to get galloping u2 type effect, kind of pricey
line 6 dl4, o.k. delay sounds, can be unreliable, pretty easy to tweak, no sub-d features, nice wall wart (on a cord)
korg sdd2000, (rack), excellent delay sounds, a little unreliable if not treated with kid gloves, get them while you can


there might be more, i have to think about it.

[Alex Law]

Mine's #240-something...

[NoFi]

Well... :crazy I'm fighting an urge to open the unit and try and fix it myself.

Another thing, when i'm in play mode, let's say i'm in looper mode.
Then i go into bank mode (i hold the tap switch), i select preset 1.1 (i press the active switch)... it doesn't work. The led is stuck in looper mode and i'm still in looper mode. I need to go to bank 1.2 (repeat switch) and then back to 1.1 for it to work.
If i do the same thing and go from play mode to bank 1.2 (and all other banks except 1.1) they work immediately, and the green status led goes to whatever delay mode is used in the preset bank. Anyone else got this problem with bank 1.1 ?

[hbentley]

mine is quiet in true bypass mode, but not in the dsp and dsp+dly modes. i'm also getting some throb noises from the tempo even with the unit is bypassed ( not when using true bypass mode though). is anyone else experiencing this? mine is around serial # 250 i think.

[Alex Law]

Weird. I wonder what the determining factor is between those who have problems and those who don't... I completely expected to have issues, and was pleasantly shocked that I can't make it do *any* of the things wrong that some of you are experiencing. Out of the box, too. I haven't changed a single setting.

[NoFi]

When the effect is bypassed, there's some hiss in dsp and dsp + delay modes since the signal goes through the dsp. It's possible to hear the noise levels in realtime while setting the bypass mode, and relay bypass is definitely quieter.
When the effect is engaged, the hiss stays about the same as in bypass dsp or bypass dsp + delay, sometimes more depending on the delay mode.
And yes the tempo adds some noise.

But i can only hear it when my ears are at the same height level as the speakers, i dont think it's the type of noise that would be a problem for recording.

The static issue is much much worse. The noise can really be heard under the playing.

[hbentley]

hmmm. glad to hear someone else is hearing what i'm hearing. it's not a deal breaker, but i wish i could use it in the trails mode. i don't seem to have the static issue though.

[lv]

When the effect is bypassed, there's some hiss in dsp and dsp + delay modes since the signal goes through the dsp. It's possible to hear the noise levels in realtime while setting the bypass mode, and relay bypass is definitely quieter.
When the effect is engaged, the hiss stays about the same as in bypass dsp or bypass dsp + delay, sometimes more depending on the delay mode.
And yes the tempo adds some noise.

But i can only hear it when my ears are at the same height level as the speakers, i dont think it's the type of noise that would be a problem for recording.

The static issue is much much worse. The noise can really be heard under the playing.

hmm, I got the static the most when in true bypass mode (which I thought was strange) but it actually makes some sense since I could get the static to go away by using a buffer before it, and when the unit is engaged it has a buffer, thus the noise going away.


For anyone who does not have the static noise, are you running the pedal all by itself in true bypass mode and is your amp turned up more than low volumes?

[NoFi]

Lou, the above comments were made from listening to the pedal when using a buffer or pluging the guitar in the NON mono (2) input jack. No static.
When used alone (guitar > timefactor > amp), and when pluging in the mono input, i get the static, and i get it in relay bypass mode too. It's also here in dsp bypass modes, maybe a little less, but still here...

[lv]

btw, you can clearly hear the eventide static on this demo, listen closely and turn your speakers up:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=120568&songID=5678156

[lv]

Lou, the above comments were made from listening to the pedal when using a buffer or pluging the guitar in the NON mono input jack. No static.
When used alone, or when pluging in the right input, i get the static, and i get it in relay bypass mode too.

ah, ok. I had the same results.

[Alex Law]

For anyone who does not have the static noise, are you running the pedal all by itself in true bypass mode and is your amp turned up more than low volumes?

I turned the Maz up pretty loud to try to hear some sort of a problem, but it was really quite clean... DSP mode, out-of-the-box configuration.

[Alex Law]

OK, I take it back to some extent - if I crank the amp *all* the way up, when plugged in directly there's next to no noise, but if I plug the TF in there's some noise. I didn't turn up the guitar volume at all - would be too damn loud.

Maybe in the fx loop it would be completely silent, or maybe if I played live I'd use a gate (or a rack delay!), but at even reasonably loud volumes it wasn't noticable, so... For my purposes it's fine.

[lv]

I turned the Maz up pretty loud to try to hear some sort of a problem, but it was really quite clean... DSP mode, out-of-the-box configuration.

Have you tried it in true bypass mode? That was really when it was the worst. Either way, glad it is working out for you.

[hbentley]

lou, that's strange, because true bypass mode is really the only usable mode for me. the others are noisy.

[lv]

lou, that's strange, because true bypass mode is really the only usable mode for me. the others are noisy.

At this point I'm just happy people are getting them to work with their rigs because it is really a cool delay.
:BEER

[hbentley]

yeah, the tones are quite good. all things considered, i'm still happy i bought it.

[Alex Law]

Have you tried it in true bypass mode? That was really when it was the worst. Either way, glad it is working out for you.

I haven't tried true bypass mode yet - the manual explicitly says not to! :messedup

[ruezzz]

Hi all, I'm new here (from Holland)

Well, I ordered a TimeFactor a while ago.
Takes a little longer in Europe I guess.

Two questions:

- Having read the manual online, it seems the unit can send MIDI messages. Can I use the TimeFactor to switch my amps channels? (using a device like the Nobels MS-4)

Example:
Program 01 on TimeFactor > amp clean
Program 02 on TimeFactor > amp lead

- Second issue: as far as I know the unit consists of two independant delays.
Can I use the first delay in before the amp (Analog-style-modulation-delay for U2-like stuff) and the second delay in the loop of the amp (Digital-delay for leads)? When the lead-delay is used I want to set the delay that's before the amp on bypass and vice versa... Is this possible?
Will there be any ground-issues?

[Alex Law]

Hmmm. OK, now I want my ModFactor, damnit. December? Seems so far away...

[starfish]

Today, I received the following update:

"Thank you kindly for your patience. As you know I have escalated your issue to the development team, and they have identified the issue. At this time they are working on a fix. They expect to deliver steps towars a resolution by late next week.

I will keep you informed to the outcome"

This is great news. I hope there will be a solution.

I must say I have had extremely great customer service from the Eventide help desk. I sent in a list of issues on Monday including a detailed description of the static noise issue, which occurs while in true bypass mode, with the TF in front of the amp and no other pedals connected. My list of issues also included a couple user-related issues, like the looper and tempo, etc. All but one of my user issues were solved within one business day. The one that was not solved has been added to a V 2.0 software wish list.

All along I have received prompt and courteous communication and follow-up on the noise issue.

[Angle Loss]

Thanks for the update Starfish. I have just made a thread as an open letter to Eventide regarding Software Updates in the future. Please check this thread out and post what you wish they would fix or change in future updates.
Thanks!

http://thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=283314

[Plexihead]

Starfish - Definitely keep us informed if you hear anything more. I'm still undecided as whether to purchase one or not.

[NoFi]

Yes please keep us informed. :BEER

[halted]

Today, I received the following update:

"Thank you kindly for your patience. As you know I have escalated your issue to the development team, and they have identified the issue. At this time they are working on a fix. They expect to deliver steps towars a resolution by late next week.

I will keep you informed to the outcome"


Any more information from Eventide re the noise issue? Anyone?

[KRosser]

Any more information from Eventide re the noise issue? Anyone?

I just received an e-mail that the engineers believe they have it fixed but it's going through final testing, and they should be in contact soon to let me know how to get mine upgraded.

[radcliff]

Thanks Ken for the update, wouldnt mine having mine upgraded as well.

[agentcooper2001]

i tried my timefactor as the only pedal between my guitar and amp in all 3 bypass modes and i still am not hearing any static or noise. On my pedalboard, the Korg DT-10 tuner is the only buffered pedal before it in the chain.

are they saying this is a problem with all timefactors or just some of them?

[halted]

I just received an e-mail that the engineers believe they have it fixed but it's going through final testing, and they should be in contact soon to let me know how to get mine upgraded.

Thanks for the update. Looks like their customer service will be setting the standard. :AOK

[The Pup]

Hmmmm.

[Spellbound]

does anyone know if the next batch coming into zzounds on oct 8th will be upgraded with the new software fix? thanks

[Alex Law]

Do we know that it's a software rather than a hardware fix?

In other news, I've ordered a second TF. I've decided that two would be very useful. One as a looper and one as a delay, for example.

[drolling]

Do we know that it's a software rather than a hardware fix?

In other news, I've ordered a second TF. I've decided that two would be very useful. One as a looper and one as a delay, for example.Hey Alex, IIRC, you were one of the early proponents of the Diamond delay.. Mine (#008)'s still on board as I wait (and wait) for an Echoczar, but I'm getting more & more curious about these new *analog* voiced digital delays (TC Nova, too..) How'd you compare the Eventide to the MemoryLane??

[Alex Law]

Hey Alex, IIRC, you were one of the early proponents of the Diamond delay.. Mine (#008)'s still on board as I wait (and wait) for an Echoczar, but I'm getting more & more curious about these new *analog* voiced digital delays (TC Nova, too..) How'd you compare the Eventide to the MemoryLane??

Good memory! That was a while ago... So many pedals have come and gone... :crazy

I no longer have the ML, so it wouldn't be fair to offer a comparison based upon my memory of the pedal. The ML is top-notch, and the Diamond folks were great to deal with.

Regarding the TF, my opinion is that the difference between it and the previous generation of digital delays (analog voiced or otherwise) is like night and day.

It sounds great in it's own right and I won't be buying an analog delay any time soon. With the DD-20, I knew I was making a compromise. I don't feel that way about the TF.

Hope that helps!

[Eventide]

Eventide has identified the source of noise that has been reported by a small number of Time Factor users.

We have found that when certain guitars with very high impedance pickups are connected directly to TimeFactor’s input, the input circuit becomes sensitive to stray noise. This noise does not occur with all guitars nor when TimeFactor is preceded by another pedal or connected in the amp’s effects loop.

This issue has been resolved by adding shielding to the input circuitry to protect it from outside noise. This shield will be a standard part of all TimeFactors, and effective immediately, all new units will ship with this shielding installed.

If you are experiencing this noise issue and wish to have the shielding installed in your unit, please contact the Eventide support department to schedule the installation. Eventide will provide this retrofit at any time during the lifetime of the product.

We are currently awaiting the arrival of the shields from our supplier, and expect to begin retrofitting units in early October. Unfortunately, the installation can only be performed by our factory technicians and will therefore require shipping your unit to Eventide. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

[Andre357]

Eventide has identified the source of noise that has been reported by a small number of Time Factor users.

We have found that when certain guitars with very high impedance pickups are connected directly to TimeFactor’s input, the input circuit becomes sensitive to stray noise. This noise does not occur with all guitars nor when TimeFactor is preceded by another pedal or connected in the amp’s effects loop.

This issue has been resolved by adding shielding to the input circuitry to protect it from outside noise. This shield will be a standard part of all TimeFactors, and effective immediately, all new units will ship with this shielding installed.

If you are experiencing this noise issue and wish to have the shielding installed in your unit, please contact the Eventide support department to schedule the installation. Eventide will provide this retrofit at any time during the lifetime of the product.

We are currently awaiting the arrival of the shields from our supplier, and expect to begin retrofitting units in early October. Unfortunately, the installation can only be performed by our factory technicians and will therefore require shipping your unit to Eventide. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.


Thank you for your honesty regarding this issue. Could you please let us know when the new units with sheilding will begin hitting stores. Or from what serial number on will be the enhanced model ?

Are there any unsheilded units that will be released and shipped that may already have gone through the manufacturing process ??

[Plexihead]

Could you please let us know when the new units with sheilding will begin hitting stores.

Or from what serial number on will be the enhanced model ?

Are there any unsheilded units that will be released and shipped that may already have gone through the manufacturing process ??

Good questions!

[starfish]

I received this same update from Eventide. So far, the support has been stellar. I asked them to be sure adding the shielding will not have any negative impact on tone, since I'm otherwise very happy with the sound quality and transparency of the unit. It handles dirt pedals very well too. My burst Eternity sounds amazing through this delay.

[radcliff]

I've had alot of contact with Eventide support, and everything has been great, really A+

[thisfire]

Anyone know when they're planning on implementing the downloadable patches?

[Eventide]

No units will leave our factory without the shields installed. The next batch of TimeFactors to hit stores will have shields installed in them. Look for these in early October.

[The Pup]

Interesting...it made noise with all of the guitars I tried (I have 22 guitars...all in perfect order) and I had pedals in front and behind (buffered) with many different amps. I believe the noise would not be an issue (or highly noticeable) to most users. I have some very quiet amps, and the Timefactor stood out as having a rather poor noise floor (noisier than I expected or could live with).

Saying the noise is associative with only certain (read limited) guitar pickups and only in limited configurations was not my experience. However, I absolutely applaud Eventide for standing-up and taking immediate steps to satisfy its customers. Having said that, I also believe the Timefactor wasn't quite ready for prime-time.

Note: When I first placed the Timefactor in my bypass loop...I believe the noise was masked by an ISP Decimator.

If the noise issues are all fixed...I'm back in; but I'll wait until the TGP folks have spoken first...I've learned my lesson with the Timefactor.

S/N TF-00118: 90-day wait for a $399.00 great sounding highly capable but noisy delay pedal...no thanks. Returned for a full refund.

[JoshuaLogan]

Interesting...it made noise with all of the guitars I tried (I have 22 guitars...all in perfect order) and I had pedals in front and behind (buffered) with many different amps. I believe the noise would not be an issue (or highly noticeable) to most users. I have some very quiet amps, and the Timefactor stood out as having a rather poor noise floor (noisier than I expected or could live with).

Saying the noise is associative with only certain (read limited) guitar pickups and only in limited configurations was not my experience. However, I absolutely applaud Eventide for standing-up and taking immediate steps to satisfy its customers. Having said that, I also believe the Timefactor wasn't quite ready for prime-time.

Note: When I first placed the Timefactor in my bypass loop...I believe the noise was masked by an ISP Decimator.

If the noise issues are all fixed...I'm back in; but I'll wait until the TGP folks have spoken first...I've learned my lesson with the Timefactor.

S/N TF-00118: 90-day wait for a $399.00 great sounding highly capable but noisy delay pedal...no thanks. Returned for a full refund.

lol.... people were saying the same thing about the nova pedals, and mine are completely silent...

[The Pup]

lol.... people were saying the same thing about the nova pedals, and mine are completely silent...I want to try a Nova too. Did you try a Timefactor? How do you like your Nova?

[Axe_78th]

lol.... people were saying the same thing about the nova pedals, and mine are completely silent...


Josh,

If you have a true bypass loop box connect your Nova in the loop, place it in front of your amp, turn the amp up loud and click the Nova in and out of the signal path. If you have no added hiss then mine must be defective. The noise I speak of is there engaged or bypassed. It's funny, I have a t.c. chorus that has some line hiss even bypassed. I sent it back to t.c. to check out a few years back and they said it was working normally. Man it was gone a long time too.
I'm just not convinced there's that much discrepancies in the shipped units. However I may be wrong. My Nova's line noise isn't bad enough to keep me from using it. When someone describes a pedal as being dead quiet, to me that means zero added noise. So if you put yours in a loop and switch it in and out of the signal path without any added hiss then there is something up with mine.

[lv]

Josh,

If you have a true bypass loop box connect your Nova in the loop, place it in front of your amp, turn the amp up loud and click the Nova in and out of the signal path. If you have no added hiss then mine must be defective. The noise I speak of is there engaged or bypassed. It's funny, I have a t.c. chorus that has some line hiss even bypassed. I sent it back to t.c. to check out a few years back and they said it was working normally. Man it was gone a long time too.
I'm just not convinced there's that much discrepancies in the shipped units. However I may be wrong. My Nova's line noise isn't bad enough to keep me from using it. When someone describes a pedal as being dead quiet, to me that means zero added noise. So if you put yours in a loop and switch it in and out of the signal path without any added hiss then there is something up with mine.

I get some slight white noise as well - my Bruno is dead quiet when I plug directly in. I do not believe any claims that the Nova is dead quiet - people saying that must have noisy amps to begin with and are used to it - but put it in line and then take it out and it is obvious.

That said, it isn't a dealbreaker, I still love the echoes.

Glad Eventide is fixing the TF. I also do not believe the issue was with "some" guitars, I believe it was with ALL guitars. I spoke to a few guys on the phone who got the same static I was getting - and putting pedals before or after did not help if theye were true-bypass, and in bypass. Only having some kind of buffer in the system would eliminate the static. My Landy boost did not make the static go away until I turned it on (it has a buffer when turned on).

[zer151]

Today my TF has arrive(I'm stay in Thailand)

I test with Gibson custom plug the TF infront of the amp
and No noise
may be the Eventide has Fixed it!

Sound great but I would like to know how to tap the tempo in bank mode?
Thank

[Alex Law]

If you buy a Digitech FS300 (external footswitch), you'll be able to extend the functionality of the TimeFactor greatly - including being able to tap tempo whilst in bank mode.