TC Nova Delay

[fenderbender07]

Hey what can anyone tell me about the TC Nova Delay? I'm considering replacing my DD-20 with it, and I wanted to know as much about the good, the bad, and the uglies as I can. Specifically, I am looking for transparency and features. Thanks!

 

[lanesmat]

I just ordered one online from Music123 for $174 shipped. They are still running an instant rebate special ($75 off a $250+ purchase - had to add a pack of picks to get my order to +250). I'm curious about any feedback on this unit too. Too good of deal to pass up for me.

Scott L.

 

[dk_ace]

I did the Music123 deal as well. I already have a DL4, and I just picked up a DD-20 in the Emporium. They both should get here this week for me to compare. I was only going to keep one, but I'm considering the possibility of keeping two delays on the board. We'll see...

D

 

[Last Nerve]

Do a search for "nova AND delay," or just "nova."
It should pull up a LOT of info.
FWIW, I'm not a huge delay freak, so no double-delays or two pedals on my board. However, the Nova is amazing. I do like tap-tempo delay, which the Nova has. And the tone of the pedal really is amazing. Interface is easy to learn, nine presets, you can add modulation if you like.
All in all, the best delay out there, IMO.
I'm eagerly awaiting the Modulator's release.

 

[giggedy]

me too on the modulator release. I really want to get a small stone or clone, or something, but I think I'm just going to wait for the modulator since it can do all of those things.

 

[Vegas Bob]

The Nova has really good sound quality. The controls take a while to understand. You should also check out the Boss...

 

[Sniper-V]

Tons of reviews on delays especially the Nova and DD-20.

I have them both and the DD-20 still has more advantages over the Nova for me. Probably why I have it for sale...

 

[giggedy]

what advantages would you say the dd-20 has over the nova?

 

[giggedy]

bump

 

[Sniper-V]

what advantages would you say the dd-20 has over the nova?

There are a few I have but the biggest one for me is that the DD-20 has the ability to be the most flexible live on the fly setup. Once you add the FS-5U external switch you can have 3 switches:

• 1.) On/Off
• 2.) Memory Bank
• 3.) TAP Tempo

The Looper feature is very handy and I use it a lot.

I dig the modulation tones and color over the Nova's.

 

[StompBoxBlues]

I don't know the DD-20, but have a lot of other delays, and the Nova is in a class by itself.

A couple of excellent features:
- calibration. This "fine tunes" the input A/D converters, and allows me to use it in hot effects loop (rackmount levels), but also helps get you the best signal-noise for whatever setup you use. Big plus.

- Dynamic delay. This is GREAT. "Ducks" the delay when you are playing, and it comes up again as soon as you stop...also very important that you calibrate (calibration takes just a few seconds).

-the presets. nice thinking on this, that you can limit (it has up to nine presets) how many are available, you can have 1, or 1 and 2, or 1,2, and 3, etc.. Which is very nice for live play, so you can have only the number of presets you really need and don't need to "scroll" by unused ones to get to another.

- Presets also allow you to choose if you want to use whatever the current delay time is or have it automatically choose the one in the preset. This is done on a preset to preset basis so you can have preset 2 use whatever delay time happens to be set, and preset 3 automatically choose 220 ms, or whatever. Same thing with preset being so that when you turn off the pedal the delays continut til they die out.

I'm impressed with the user interface, but like any complex multi-function box, you do need to get used to it, and work with it to get it to be inuitive.

I think they did a great job. Also love the ability to set the delay time by hitting notes on the guitar.

BAD points... unless I am missing it, there is NO WAY to tell what a preset has each parameter set to when it comes to the knobs. This is amazingly stupid, as sometimes you find a wonderful setting by accident, or want to tweak a great setting for the environment, but just a small tweak, and you just can't know without having written down what the settings were.

That is just insane.

 

[Bongo Jonny]

Can anyone compare the Nova to the DMM? I am looking for a smaller more versatile delay to replace my DMM, but I am scared to lose the great analog modulated delay that the DMM provides

 

[StompBoxBlues]

Just to update on my one "bad point" on the Nova Delay, I have a question in to TC Electronics now, and hope to have a definitive answer within a day or so about finding where knobs/parameters are set in presets (factory presets are written in the back of the manual, and there is no way to get it back to "factory default" other than setting by hand...but I am more interested in presets I made, so I could use them again as start points for other presets...like a delay where I want the mix higher but everything else same as is in a preset I made already).

 

[Daniel-San]

I have the Nova too and I love it....but it'll never replace my DMM.

 

[racktifier]

Can anyone compare the Nova to the DMM? I am looking for a smaller more versatile delay to replace my DMM, but I am scared to lose the great analog modulated delay that the DMM provides

it's a tradeoff between sound and features. I sold my DMM after buying a memory lane and I've since bought a Nova as well. Neither can quite nail the sweet modulation of the DMM.

 

[Dendog]

I don't know the DD-20, but have a lot of other delays, and the Nova is in a class by itself.

A couple of excellent features:
- calibration. This "fine tunes" the input A/D converters, and allows me to use it in hot effects loop (rackmount levels), but also helps get you the best signal-noise for whatever setup you use. Big plus.

- Dynamic delay. This is GREAT. "Ducks" the delay when you are playing, and it comes up again as soon as you stop...also very important that you calibrate (calibration takes just a few seconds).

-the presets. nice thinking on this, that you can limit (it has up to nine presets) how many are available, you can have 1, or 1 and 2, or 1,2, and 3, etc.. Which is very nice for live play, so you can have only the number of presets you really need and don't need to "scroll" by unused ones to get to another.

- Presets also allow you to choose if you want to use whatever the current delay time is or have it automatically choose the one in the preset. This is done on a preset to preset basis so you can have preset 2 use whatever delay time happens to be set, and preset 3 automatically choose 220 ms, or whatever. Same thing with preset being so that when you turn off the pedal the delays continut til they die out.

I'm impressed with the user interface, but like any complex multi-function box, you do need to get used to it, and work with it to get it to be inuitive.

I think they did a great job. Also love the ability to set the delay time by hitting notes on the guitar.

BAD points... unless I am missing it, there is NO WAY to tell what a preset has each parameter set to when it comes to the knobs. This is amazingly stupid, as sometimes you find a wonderful setting by accident, or want to tweak a great setting for the environment, but just a small tweak, and you just can't know without having written down what the settings were.

That is just insane.

Completely agree. Especially the part about not knowing the parameters of your presets. Nevertheless, it does sound fantastic.

 

[mprvise]

The only other cool/negative thing I've found is if you accidentally bump the delay time knob from center it starts counting up or down and doesn't stop until you tell it to. This can be very cool if that's what you're going for, or not so much if it's purely an accident. At one of the last few gigs I looked down when something didn't seem right and I see the ms going up incrementally and well over 1000.

 

[StompBoxBlues]

The only other cool/negative thing I've found is if you accidentally bump the delay time knob from center it starts counting up or down and doesn't stop until you tell it to. This can be very cool if that's what you're going for, or not so much if it's purely an accident. At one of the last few gigs I looked down when something didn't seem right and I see the ms going up incrementally and well over 1000.

I can't figure out how one bumps it though...I mean accidentally, being up on the upper left side and all. Did you bump it with your foot?

 

[Daniel-San]

The only other cool/negative thing I've found is if you accidentally bump the delay time knob from center it starts counting up or down and doesn't stop until you tell it to. This can be very cool if that's what you're going for, or not so much if it's purely an accident. At one of the last few gigs I looked down when something didn't seem right and I see the ms going up incrementally and well over 1000.

I had the same problem with the feedback-knob. It was pretty fun actually becouse it fitted into the song...

 

[mprvise]

I can't figure out how one bumps it though...I mean accidentally, being up on the upper left side and all. Did you bump it with your foot?

Yes - very tight eight pedal board, with two pedals above the Nova. Pretty sure I was going for a quick trem on/off for a held chord when it happened.