How does the TC electronics nova delay compare with the Boss DD20?

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

I really kind of like the Boss but wonder if there are any advantages to the TC Nova delay?

[ben_allison]

Oh Tweedy.

There are literally 15 threads on here asking the exact same question.

[gtrnstuff]

Originally Posted by ben_allison

Oh Tweedy.

There are literally 15 threads on here asking the exact same question.

Yeah, but MY opinions weren't in any of them:-)

Nova:
my fave features
Smaller, lighter. 9 presets, each can store tempo or use the global tempo. Dynamic (ducking) delay. Combo delays include 1/4 + dot 8th
BUT no 1/8 ! Have to set tempo x2
Tempo dial only controls rate of change, harder to hit what you want.

DD-20:
Easier to dial tempo precisely. Fewer presets, but quicker access to them. Mod delay is true vibrato, not a TC cho.

I prefer both pedals to be in a true-bypass loop, but they don't suck too much tone on their own.

[StompBoxBlues]

Also, you better know going in, the Nova Delay has NO way to see where things are set in your presets. It's like blind presets.

My Nova (and maybe they have worked out the bugs, but I read of too many others as well ) is glitchy. Catch it in the wrong mood, all lights flash and hangs, or preset doesn't load quite right. Things they did wonderfully were enable you to choose how many presets (up to 9) to use, so you don't have to cycle through ALL to go the previous one. Also calibration is great, and the delays are very nice.

Never played a DD-20 so on that I can't comment.

[treeuh]

Originally Posted by StompBoxBlues

Also, you better know going in, the Nova Delay has NO way to see where things are set in your presets. It's like blind presets.

My Nova (and maybe they have worked out the bugs, but I read of too many others as well ) is glitchy. Catch it in the wrong mood, all lights flash and hangs, or preset doesn't load quite right. Things they did wonderfully were enable you to choose how many presets (up to 9) to use, so you don't have to cycle through ALL to go the previous one. Also calibration is great, and the delays are very nice.

Never played a DD-20 so on that I can't comment.

My DD-20 was my first real pedal purchase (I'm pretty new... kinda)- so I can't imagine not having it... that said, I was starting to get Nova Delay GAS a while back, and I considered trading it for the ND... maybe just for a change, but nonetheless.. it's stuff like this that makes me just stick with what I got. I've never had one problem with it- or any Boss pedal for that matter...

[blood5150]

Just wait a little longer for this... will be 100 bucks less than the nova delay with most of the same features....

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

Very good info. I think I like my DD20 more than ever now.

[Andy J.]

No experience with the Boss delay, just wanted to chime in with my experience with the Nova: I've had mine pretty much since they became available in Europe, and haven't experienced any glitches in it's operation thus far; it's been totally reliable.

The preset thing IS stupid, though. I solved it by printing out forms where I've written down my settings and keep those with my pedalboard at all times. Whenever I change a preset, I write it down. ...ain't it grand, living in a digital age?

[dk_ace]

My thoughts are in other threads, but it will suffice to say that the Nova was IMO the clear winner over the DD20, DL4, and SMMH in my shootouts unless you're real interest is the oddball, quirky things the SMMH and DL4 do that the others don't.

D

[Chadley]

They are both solid pedals and will perform great in a professional guitar rig. The Boss does feature an all analog signal path or your uneffected guitar signal while the Nova converts your entire signal to digital (both dry and effected). The conversion quality is quite good though and won't bother most people.

[Tibbonds]

The sound quality on the Nova is infinitely better, and it can do a couple of different dual delays too, which is nice. More presets, smaller footprint and easier to use - IE no hidden menus to access modulation settings etc.

The DD-20 may not sound as good, but it's miles more versatile. It does the tape and analogue sounds pretty well, which the Nova does not. Also way more versatile on the modulation, having depth and rate controls to fine tune it - the modulation on the Nova is very 80s chorus sounding, no matter what you set it to. Also worth noting is the DD-20 has 10 times as much delay time, and a basic looper. The Warp and Twist modes are interesting-ish, and being able to hook up an external tap tempo switch is a definite plus.

Both great pedals, but they excel in different areas. Try them both out to decide which you prefer.

[ben_allison]

Originally Posted by Chadley

They are both solid pedals and will perform great in a professional guitar rig. The Boss does feature an all analog signal path or your uneffected guitar signal while the Nova converts your entire signal to digital (both dry and effected). The conversion quality is quite good though and won't bother most people.

I was looking at the specs today, and the Nova is way overbuilt. It's studio class (24 bit, completely flat frequency response, and THD well below anything audible).

On paper anyway, it's impossible to beat.

[TenneyThe2nd]

I've owned a Nova for almost two years now, and I really like it. I haven't tried the DD20 at all. The Nova excels IMO at digital, front-of-the-mix, delays. It can do sort of anologey sounds, but the repeats are never subtle unless you turn the mix way down. There is something about real analog delay about how the repeats can sound subtle even with the mix turned up a bit more. I plan on getting a Malekko 600D to complement the Nova. The 600D will be an on-all-the-time delay that just adds depth to the signal, similar to a reverb. The Nova will be reserved for front mix delay sounds like EDGE 2290 .1/8 delays, long modulated delays for laying down volume swells, and reverse or psuedo reverse for writing a cool pad/loop type sound.

I'm pretty confident that the Malekko 600D/Nova Delay combo will be killer... when I finally have the cash for the malekko...

[TenneyThe2nd]

Oh, and I think the Nova Repeater will not have presets... although I'm curious to see if the vibrato modulation sounds any different than the Nova Delay, and I'm curious to see if the Tape and Analog buttons will be more realistic than the color knob on the Nova Delay.

[TenneyThe2nd]

Oh, and I think the Nova Repeater will not have presets... although I'm curious to see if the vibrato modulation sounds any different than the Nova Delay, and I'm curious to see if the Tape and Analog buttons will be more realistic than the color knob on the Nova Delay.