VMSD vs. Timefactor (yes, another)

[Songman]

Hi Folks!

I will likely pull the trigger tomorrow and need your help!
Vintage Modified Super Delay vs. Timefactor.


I know this is like my 3rd or 4th post about a delay...and maybe this is driving some of you crazy. However I would still appreciated if you can participate and share your experience or opinion to these two delays that I"m looking at as they are very $$$.

Yes, I have searched and read numerous threads about VMSD and Timefactor and still can make up my mind.

I have had DD-20 and Timeline. I gave the DD-20 to a youth member at our church and sold the Timeline due to it's size.

I have read that VMSD sounds great but does not click well for tap tempo and presets are pain to use...on the flip side, it sounds really nice.

On the other corner, Timefactor seems to get praise for it's functions and endless options...but some states that it sounds cold...or thin.

So yes, I use tap tempo, dotted 8th and presets. However I also play at home by my self. I would say the ratio is 60% home and 40% church.

Please vote on the poll and share your thoughts.

[Nork]

do you have the chance to play'em yourself? 'cause in actuality you've described two things that everyone finds about them, but really you're the only one who can make the decision for yourself, unfortunately. whether the VSMD works for you and you can wrap your head around it or whether the TF sounds good to you.

it sounds like you've done enough reading. now go play'em if you can!

[Arlo]

Originally Posted by Songman

Hi Folks!

I will likely pull the trigger tomorrow and need your help!
Vintage Modified Super Delay vs. Timefactor.


I know this is like my 3rd or 4th post about a delay...and maybe this is driving some of you crazy. However I would still appreciated if you can participate and share your experience or opinion to these two delays that I"m looking at as they are very $$$.

Yes, I have searched and read numerous threads about VMSD and Timefactor and still can make up my mind.

I have had DD-20 and Timeline. I gave the DD-20 to a youth member at our church and sold the Timeline due to it's size.

I have read that VMSD sounds great but does not click well for tap tempo and presets are pain to use...on the flip side, it sounds really nice.

On the other corner, Timefactor seems to get praise for it's functions and endless options...but some states that it sounds cold...or thin.

So yes, I use tap tempo, dotted 8th and presets. However I also play at home by my self. I would say the ratio is 60% home and 40% church.

Please vote on the poll and share your thoughts.

I voted TF because I have one and I love it's sounds, and thin is not a word which pops into my little head when I use it. I also love the two ins and two outs (making it oh so useful in the studio) and all the little bells and whistles and it's upgradeability.

Don't agonize, anyhoo. Buy something and play it.

[Alex Law]

DML2.

[SteveO]

The TF can be very warm or very digital, depending on how you set the filter. It can also mimic a fairly decent reverb and can do a nice chorus without delay. I haven't delved into all the features on mine, I have found the settings I like just by fine-tuning the presets a little bit. I haven't even downloaded the latest upgrades yet, as I am pretty happy with it the way it is right now.

[crxshdxmmy]

I bought my first Superdelay in July '08. Loved it... but then had what I now call 'the Timefactor temptation' sometime mid-October. There were some lingering questions from when I opted to get a Superdelay instead and I wanted to appease my curiosity. So I traded for one. Had that for 2 months and, while it sounded good, didn't have the same warmth as the Superdelay and, for my uses, was just a pain in the ass mostly.

To really utilize that thing the way I wanted, I wound up having to add one of those stupid 3-button footswitches — and by that point, the thing had eaten up so much of my board that it was beyond ridiculous. As stereo delay isn't something that I can/would utilize, I really wound up despising most of the features that the TF offered.

So that, on top of the sound thing, convinced me that the Superdelay was where it was at. (It's not that the TF didn't sound good... and I wouldn't call it "sterile" ... it just didn't have the same warmth to my ears. Filtering assistance or not.)

So, I had another SD by January. Switched over to the VM when they came out because I liked the idea of more intense modulation and darker repeats. This was when SD's had just started to drop in value, but I was still able to sell mine for $400... so the upgrade was $50, which I think was worth it. But for you, buying fresh, it may not matter. Unless you think you might not want the VM, whereby you could save some cash scoring a used standard. I've seen a couple go for as low as $350 — and that's a darn good deal IMO.

[WeOnlyHaveLime]

FWIW, I've got a good friend who gigs a TF regularly and just recently played a Superdelay out of curiosity (He'd been wanting one for a while). He said he was very impressed with the sound, but found it a bit difficult to work with the presets. He's getting great sounds from his TF and says the interface is very easy to use. It has a lot of features that he's liking as well (namely a "hold" function and MIDI functionality).

I think they're both phenomenal delays, and you won't hate either. With my current knowledge of the pedals, I'd say I'd grab the Superdelay if I spent most of my time at home and the TF if I gigged. For you, it's kind of a toss-up. As said earlier, if you have any kind of opportunity to play either, then take it.

[ShaneV]

I love the factor pedals so much, the TF would be my choice in a heartbeat.

[Boosted]

TF. got one. use one. love em.

//end discussion.

[Aran]

Originally Posted by Boosted

TF. got one. use one. love em.

//end discussion.

Not likely.


Buy what you want. Both are viable and have strength and weaknesses.

[carljoensson]

The tap on vmsd works just fine. Never tried TF, never will. /c

[Songman]

Anyone have both? and use both?

[trickness]

I've owned both, sold the Timefactor. Owned a Skreddy too, and a T-Rex Reptile.

If you care about musicality, how it sounds, the VMSD is the winner hands down. If you are a super tweaker, the Timefactor is great. But the Timefactor, IMHO, has no soul. The VMSD does. YMMV.

[Songman]

I"m not much of a tweaker...infact I don't even like concept of pedals. I wish I can just plug and play but delay sound is a must for me. I love delay sound.

Which of these delay can I just play with not much tweak? or I should be asking which of these delay requires less reading manuals and studying them? Or which of these do I least tap dance with on stage doing presets and tap tempo?

bit contradicting to say I don't like tweaking yet seeking tap tempo/preset usage.

[Songman]

I'm the type of person who:

-Use Iphone for only phone,wether, check e-mails.
-Have a nice notebook computer but only use it for MS word, internet.
-Bought a fancy blue ray dvd player with all these streaming capability to get movies, youtube, etc but ONLY USE IT TO play DVD. I didn't get it for those functions but I guess it just domes with alll the DVD players these day.

Yes, I'm not the person who takes the time learning and using all the up to date technology. NOW, If I HAD to learn, I can sit there and study the manuals but really rather not. And even then, I would want that to be minimal.

Just like above, I don't like to study music theory...just like playing what sounds good.


So perhaps modulation on VMSD not tweakable is a good thing for someone like me.

Which pedal is more intuitive and less blending knobs and tweaking button/switch to make it sound good?