Mar 19, 2012 Digitech when you going to release a proper editor for the older units? I have some sysex patches and dumps if anyone wants them, ie metalica, u2, stones, maroon 5, jamie walters, blondie, crowded house, tears for fears Since this unit is from 1997.
I bought this a few years ago for about $1000. I was looking for something other then stompboxes to give me some good effects. Now i realize that not everything in life is that easy. The 2120 does make some stuff easier how you can program patches and switch not just a effect on and off but actually program patches to the. So im gonna get a k-7 and some more stomp boxes to add to what the 2120 lacks in on sound.I like how you can create a sound for what part of your song, and then say another sound for a chorus of the same song and just tap one button and switch between 2 or more completely different effect chains and settings. Programmable foot pedal is also a plus.
And the design of the case, nobs and user interface.Okay heres where i get nasty. #1 if you gonna state that heavier artists are using your equipment like NIN, Korn and various other metal musicians make sure your distortion lives up to that title. Becuase the solid state distortion sucks. And the tubes suck too.
I like my set up to sound like fear factory. And without an additional boss metal zone that would be completely impossible.
So if your more into clean sounding effects and light distortions this is a great piece and crystal clear. If your looking to go nuts wiht brutal metal the distortion is lacking and adding too many effects at once in this unit is gonna give you a problem. The manual sucks, very very very vague leaving you puzzled and questioning what hey were trying to say.Solid. No problems at all with quality issues.
But then again its a rackmount piece. How much abuse can it possible be given? It sits in a case and the nobs get turned, plugged in and turned on.lol But yea solid metal casing, metal nobs (sometimes dont respond right if your moving them too slowely to fine tune something) is common to any of the digitech s.Okay like i said before, if your doing ya know jazz,country,rock,r&b or anything on the lighter side of music this piece is wonderful. Now if your gonna go alternative styles of music like industrial,metal,death metal,hardcore, or anything that is heavy you might wanna invest in some other pieces that are giving you the sound you want before you add this into the mix. Right now im gonna invest in some more stomp boxes and then mix it wiht this piece if that doesnt work you might be able to buy it from me on ebay.This review was originally published on. I HAD PURCHASED THIS ITEM AFTER PLAYING THOUGH ONE IN A BAKERSFIELD MUSIC STORE WHILE ON THE PROWL TO FIND SOME GEAR FOR MY RACK. I HAD READ ABOUT THEM IN MUSICIANS FRIEND CATALOG AND WAS INTRIGUED.
I WAS ALREADY PLAYING THROUGH A DIGITECH PRO 21GSP THAT WAS UPGRADED WITH A LEGEND CHIP. BUT I WANTED THE TREMELO SOUND WITHOUT HAVING TO ADD EXTRA FLOOR PEDALS. AFTER PLAYING THIS 'COOL LITTLE BEAUTY' I HAD TO HAVE IT,BUT I COULDN'T AFFORD TO SPEND THE $949.00 FORM MUSICIANS FRIEND.
SO I TURNED TO E-BAY AND FOUND SEVERAL. I STARTED BIDDING ON ONE UNTIL I COULDN'T AFORD TO GO ANY MORE. I HIT ON ONE FOR $700.00 PLUS SHIPPING.THE SOUNDS ON THIS ARE REALLY COOL. PLUS I LIKED THE FACT THAT I COULD KEEP MY SOUND IN THE TUBE REALM.
I HAD PLAYED FOR YEARS SOLID STATE,AND WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE WAY MY SOUND WAS COMING OUT SO I GOT RID OF THE TWO COMBO AMPS, AND BOUGHT A PEAVEY 60/60 STEREO RACK AMP. HEAVEN AGAIN; SINCE I STARTED PLAYING WHEN TUBES WERE THE ONLY THING AVAILABLE.DUAL DISTORTION PATHS (TUBE & SOLID STATE) GAVE ME AN EDGE THAT BLEW AWAY MY BUDDIES! I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE MANY PRESETS THIS UNIT HAD TO OFFER.I COULD PLAY THE SURF SOUNDS AGAIN.OR SOME NASTY BLUES,COUNTRY,OR MODERN ROCK. SOUND LIKE BRIAN MAY FROM QUEEN;IF WANTED TO.OR BB KING. NAME IT I COULD DO IT.I WASN'T TOO THRILLED ABOUT HAVING TO MAKE A SHORT PATCH CORD TO CONNECT THE DIGITECH'S INPUT FROM THE FRONT. ALL THE REST OF MY CONNECTIONS ARE IN THE REAR. NOR WAS I PLEASED WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO RANDOMLY ACCESS PATCHES ON THE FLY LIKE MY GSP.
HEAR THAT DIGITECH! ALSO THE MANUAL IS TOO VAGUE.EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS UNIT IS A MAJOR PLUS. EASY ACCESS IN THE REAR. LOTS OF CONTROLS ON THE FRONT PANEL.JUST WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A HIGH PRICED PROCESSOR.PLUS THE ADDS A LITTLE COLOR TO MY RACK.I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE WANTING TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THEIR OWN SOUND WITH ALL THE EFFECTS AVAILABLE IN THIS UNIT WITHOUT HAVING TO DO THE 'FRED ASTAIR TOE TAP DANCE'. AS ONE WOULD DO WITH STOMP BOXES. YOU JUST HAVE TO TRY IT FOR YOURSELF AND SEE.This review was originally published on.
Tube amp and transistor; in my case two 12AX7 mesaPower is more than enough to get into an amp or console2Quit XLR with switch cabinet simulation2 output jacksan effects loopMIDI input + throughtThe settings are very complicated cars they obey the law of algorithms. We must create an algorithm that contains effect modules connected by some mixers.
We also modify existing algorithms (simple bcp) to have better vau a notice anyway. The effects are excellent, chorus, phasers, reverbs are great. The distortion are typed hischool but rather an excellent dynamicUTILIZATIONThe configuration is painful. Need to fiddle about in the manual if it is guaranteed to crash, especially if one wants to create characters alogorythmes.The presets are excellent, some changes to make and they sound of thunderyes the manual is clear but should be read in french it's easierSOUNDSThis amp is very versatile and very punchy and it fits my guitars' Vigier Excalibur or jackson sl1) with delightThe clean sounds are superb with Reverb The phaser is amazing. Its clear.The distortion is excellent in a hard rock record of the year 80/90I love all the sounds that come out of this preamp is without exception the most versatile I've ownedOVERALL OPINIONI use it for 3 months.
I was put off by his side had a factory gazj'ai Quadraverb coupled with a boss or a G700 I found the settings + easyI had a pod live a ^ I thought briefly get out without too galleys, well it is not wonAt present the value for money is excellent. Nothing to do with the crank gear level simulators amp. The sound is richer deeper + dynamic mix of short out easily it's heavy, coupled with the pedal is the topAll that's missing a publisher that works properly under Vista and allows us to do all the chaining and the changes it wants without taking the head.I am now convinced by this type of stuff so the idea to take another seems to me not stupid, or try the prophesy for example.
I think we did in the preceding notice an update on its characteristics. The doc is quite easily 'findable' to realize. It's serious and even more for the time of its release.UTILIZATIONFor the uninitiated, rack focus will spend some time with the good doc but must not be rocket science to create patches. The screen makes it easy and with a minimum of time you become familiar with the manipulation of databases.To fully exploit the possibilities of the machine is something else.
Routing is couillu a song and we really wide action.SOUNDSI used to when I was in a rack config. I used the preamp section and effect. On reflection I think it would better serve only Vallue effects.
The preamp is very light for me who had a big lead in potato. Even by combining the tube and the state it lacks dynamic sounds pretty cold. In clean and crunch is a regal but distortion is really like. More is still a bit light for lovers of big sounds.The effects are very thin and provide broad possibilities also seen that they can be up one block after another.
Only the reverb did not satisfy me. I put an average score as a preamp / multi-effects preamp section I relied a lot on which disappointed me. Too flat and all seems cold.OVERALL OPINIONListening to live taken and I did at the time, I think it was a good machine but to combine with a preamp at the level of concern because the dynamics does not solve that easily. If the effects section is of good quality, better seriously consider the additional purchase of a preamp, especially if it is to use live.Given the current price it can be found in the € 650 is an interesting stuff for those who do not work too much lead or at least not in large distortion. Effects: they are all, without exception.This rack does everything and does it well.What technology is used?
Analog numrique lamp transistor also.Are ditables? Via a PC editor? YES OF COURSE! With excellent RPED (which far surpasses the 'Chameleon Voodu Sysex Editor' for racks with rocktron)UTILIZATIONUse: Once again, this rack far surpasses any other I've tried (among other, the valve voodu with his ridiculous little catch calculator)Widescreen, bright, prcis, with little drawings of the chain of effects from the input jack between until the release.The edition sound effects or is it easy? Trs!The manual is clear and sufficient? Well, go, I will say that this cot is not perfect, I find nothing more than what dduis the direct use of the rack (to be said that the 'widescreen makes good) but hey, I put even when using 10/10 because you can not have any problem to use.
Same for edit sounds in PC, it's simple, just plug a MIDI cable in, another out, all on the sound card and you're jou were very fortunate to see the curves graphic EQ and you can save all sounds best on a PC.SOUNDSSaying anything, PRO quality.It is true that the price of the bte, it was better.We found there in the end and I like the sound trs own (although the mean finger on the strings.)Again, I compare against other prampli: the (which also has two 12AX7 type lamps). We can say that the 2120VGS at least as good sound quality but that can refine even more with the graphic EQ and / or parameter.
In addition, there is a choice with the digitech to go through the lamps (tubes) or channel transistor (solid state).OVERALL OPINIONDSOL to 10/10 still has not trssrieux, but when you get any satisfaction in a product, we can finally concentrate fully practice the guitar without thinking we could have better sound (well you can always be better, but what price?: for those who think mesaboogie eg. We would lose can be more versatile) What a pleasure to finally play with the sounds we love. In short, it's a double pramp a multi-purpose high quality of trs.I think it is no longer available for about a year, will be difficult for digitech to do better, and if you have the opportunity to listen the sound that comes out, jump on the OCCAZ. Effects: All.Technology: Light + TransistorNot ditableConnectors: JackUTILIZATIONSetup is simple and intuitive.Nothing to do with the such as.The manual is clear enough!SOUNDSThe effects are effective trs!But they must be very utiliss modration.The effects are most utliles equalizer until 31 bands!
That can be doubled and more!The trs trs distos can be powerful with the equalizer.The whammy is when happily sounding the same digitech crateur.The reverbs and dlais trs own.My only complaint: The Wah-Wah sounds little.OVERALL OPINIONI use it for 3 years.I love the programming is simple.I too dtest its versatility. You can do everything.Big BMOL quickly we lose the momentum!
Let's face it, some of us still have love for these 'ol Digitech classic rack units! Some of you have probably kept them rather then selling! They may be hiding in the closet (along with our spandex pants, that we claim to know nothing about, and should probably sell to Steel Panther:lol ). For some of us, there are patches that we can call part of our sound, and I know I certainly come back to it's tube & grunge distortions and I LOVE it's quad chorus! The CC distortion morph ability on the 2120 is also cool. Sure they're tone suckers, but sometimes this distortion added to the flavor, and helped shape the sound in a good way.
I personally ran my JSX/H&K amps (Lerxst fan boy here) and used the GSP-2101 for my effects for years, and then later kept it for just some (Whammy/Grunge/Booster/Chorus).With my MK II unit on it's way, I am excited and yet anxious. I'm really looking forward to hearing what it can do, but also 'freshening up' some of my older sounds.
At the same time, I'm worried about loosing some of my old. From searching, I see that DLM had kindly ported 10 or so of his favorite patches ( Thanks man!). I also see requests for a 'grunge' model/replicate for the drive section, but unsure if anyone ever sufficiently managed doing.So as I'm obviously going to be porting many of my 2101/etc. Patches to the the Axe-FX2. Thus I'm curious if there is community interest & requests for these?
I literally have all of these in my rack, and will be meticulously comparing and tone shaping them. (My GSP-2101 is a dual S-disc w/20Mhz modification & 2120 is the latest Artist Version.) While I don't plan to replicate the tube pre-amp section as I'm sure that's well covered in amp models, I do want to try and mimic the analog circuit distortions. Since I'm just getting my unit, they will likely be based on the Rev 17.X FW.Let me know! I still have my fully loaded GSP 2101 Artist with the PPC card and f/w 3.x as well as the foot controller. My Axe XL covers pretty much all the ground I need to cover, though I do admit to not being able to convincingly cover the synthy sounding GSP patches for a couple of the string swells I really liked.
I know the XL can do em, but I'm still working out how. As for the tube pre-amp section, it was more gimmicky than anything else. I swapped those tubes out with a variety of Ruby's, Sovtek's and even a Mullard and there was no appreciable difference.
No matter, I used my 2101 for nearly 20 years before retiring it when I got the Axe and still can't quite bring myself to sell it. I did much the same, from Tung-sol, JJ's, GTs, etc.and never found the tube pre to be anything beyond passible. What I liked, is the 2101 let me bypass that section (4CM), and let me use the FX with my JSX. On the patches where I DID use distortion, it was always the Grunge for really raunchy crunch.
I've never been a pedal guy, so I really don't know what emulated drive pedals would come close to such. I own a modded TS-9 and that's it for pedals! Bottom line, I'm not sure I'll be able to re-create those patches.The swells were also very nice and smooth on these units, great on song intros!I've tried other gear since '98 to replace the 2101.each time, I tried to port my sounds, and they simply didn't cut it. What I found, is just because you call an effect something, doesn't mean the algorithm will be/sound the same, or have the same parameters.
Units like TC G-Major/2 somewhat fit the bill, especially for reducing coloration, but the way their chorus/phaser/flanger sounded was not the same.so it became a dedicated verb/delay box. So I kept going back to Digitech, only to find their newer units not living up. I tried the GSP1101, and was wholly disappointed.
Seems the 2101 & 2120 came from their golden age, and went downhill after that.So here comes the Axe FX, with low SNR & huge customization of FX. I sold a mint JP6 Mystic Dream to afford it, and now I'm giddy as a schoolgirl for it's arrival tomorrow!
When it does, the first test will be to port some of patches, and then drool at the clear lusciousness of 20+ year newer technology! You're gonna love the Axe. There's a bit of a learning curve, but if you created patches on the GSP's you shouldn't have much trouble - the Axe's are pretty intuitive actually. Just be aware that these boxes have a LOT more tweakability than the Digitech's ever did. Take your time with it, RTFM, read up here in the forum and Fractal Wiki page - tons of helpful info on those sources.
It's a great community of dedicated tone junkies. I had been seriously leaning towards getting an Axe due to the various sound clips on the web site but, yeah, Cooper's vids showcasing every preset sealed the deal for me.As for re-creating actual analog gear, you might be surprised.
There are two TS options in the Drive block - the original and the modded - that are pretty darn convincing. In any case, half the fun of the Axe's isn't so much re-creating tones from the past, but creating the cool tones of the future. You have every conceivable brush and pallet available to you to paint with. I've had my XL for about 6 months now and I'm still finding ways to create tones I've only ever had in my head. It's way more fun than a grown man should be allowed to have. Lol, you may be right indeed!
Still, when your playing your own stuff from the past, it's good recreate the sound from the album. So I'm sure there will be at least a few, and they'll sound like a rusty car that was perfectly restored, waxed, and shiny! While I'm positive I'll find new inspirations on this unit, the old sounds will likely still feel like 'home' for a while.In preparation though, I've bought a weeks supply of water, snacks, wet naps, strings, and other perishables.I don't know how long I'll be held up in the studio, but I'm sure Dubstep will be out of style by the time I get out. I get where you're coming from.
Many of us were in the same place once, eagerly waiting for our very first Fractal box to arrive, flush with plans to recreate the patches from our previous gear. For me, it was the Roland GP-100. Then the package arrives, you fire it up, play it a bit, and then you say, 'Oh.' You feel and hear what it can do, and you start thinking in terms of 'better than before' instead of 'the same as before.' I still duplicated the effects chains from a couple of my presets, leaning toward the same tones, but I quickly realized the value in starting over from scratch.But who knows?
Your journey may be different. You're not me, and vice-versa. Maybe many tone dupes are in your future. But after four years on the forum, duplicating tones from other processors is a topic that rarely comes up. Nostalgia for the old gear?
I still miss that gold-tone panel looking at me from my rack. But I fired it up recently, scrolled through some of my old patches, and.nah.Bottom line: don't let anybody tell you what to do with your Axe-Fx. Certainly not me.
I'm pretty set on my clean/mid-gain tone on my JSX, and high gain on my H&K amps, that I'll still be using (mostly). So I'll likely follow your advice and ignore porting any analog distortions and focus on the FX patch ports for now. When I've done blind audit tests of Amps vs. Axe FX, I guessed the amp versions correctly 90% of the time. I'm not a tube amp purist, though I do love a good one.
I tend to go with whatever is pleasing to my ear. The 'grunge' from the 2101 sounded great through the clean channel of my JSX, and is one of my primary 'go to' lead tones when I don't need dynamics.What would be cool, for those circuit geeks among us, if we could build a virtual circuit (like in a form of LabView or other sim), compile the model, and load it into the unit to audition it. Then tweek diodes / Op-Amps, caps, etc. Would be cool and very educational. I can see 'modelers' being the future, and instead of companies releasing physical pedals, they release virtual models. Sold my 2101LE used from 2003 to 2011 after acquisition of the ULTRA in 2011.
Then bought back another a few months later as I had a very long and steep learning curve with the ULTRA but finally resold it 3 months later before it would value only the weight of it's screws. Am on Axe II since 2012 and wouldn't get back to my digitech anymore now. The 2101 would work perfect with combo amps as with the Axe Fx II I definitely changed to FRFR amplification. 2101 even at 20 years age remains a great unit but cannot come close enough to the Axe FX II to keep it IMHO. Changed the tubes to JJ's and found the clean or soft distorted sounds were way better to the ear.Cheers. Interesting, what specifically drove you to go FRFR?
Both live & recording? Whilst I plan to do so recording, for live I intend to still use the Axe-FX in 4CM. (Mainly so I can choose to use the Tube Amp pre, or the model in the Axe). That along with my Tube Amps (x2 for stereo) power amp section and my 2x(2x12) Marshall Celestian Greenback cabs. Obviously I'd have a global to turn off cab-emulation when doing so, and will have to look at disabling the power amp portion of the amp model.BTW, my unit arrived last night!
Least to say I didn't much sleep last night, and only managed to evaluate 50 presets! Thus far, I'm really impressed with many of the models and the clarity on cleans! I'm just auditioning with headphones for now. I haven't had the day-time hours to audition it on my FRFRs (Yamaha MT10s). I've found at least two amps I've never played before, that I would love to own!:encouragement:Tonight I plan to port at least a few from the 'ol Digi. Interesting, what specifically drove you to go FRFR? Both live & recording?
Whilst I plan to do so recording, for live I intend to still use the Axe-FX in 4CM. (Mainly so I can choose to use the Tube Amp pre, or the model in the Axe). That along with my Tube Amps (x2 for stereo) power amp section and my 2x(2x12) Marshall Celestian Greenback cabs.
Obviously I'd have a global to turn off cab-emulation when doing so, and will have to look at disabling the power amp portion of the amp model.BTW, my unit arrived last night! Least to say I didn't much sleep last night, and only managed to evaluate 50 presets!
Thus far, I'm really impressed with many of the models and the clarity on cleans! I'm just auditioning with headphones for now. I haven't had the day-time hours to audition it on my FRFRs (Yamaha MT10s). I've found at least two amps I've never played before, that I would love to own!:encouragement:Tonight I plan to port at least a few from the 'ol Digi.
What pushed me was that with my combo amps (Fender DLR and another tweed amp) I simply didn't get a fine sound from the Axe Fx and I found it limiting not to be able to profit of all Axe FX power amp simulations live or in reahearsal. Further got pissed by carrying heavy combo amps while a good floor monitor will do the job better with the Axe FX.As for porting 2101LE patches to Axe Fx, I tried for half a year - in fact until I digged the functionning of the Axe FX matrix layout as from the LE2101 it was a long way. but then found it way easier to get my sounds by dialing in directly on Axe Fx. I can appreciate the sentiment that the Digitech 2101-2120 units still receive. I went through every Digitech 2100 series unit possible and thought nothing would ever come close. Did the GSP1101 thing as well (thought the Digitech Control 2 was built like a tank - too bad it's proprietary).
However, I also am a Digitech to Fractal convert; sold three Artist units to help pay for my first Ultra. After struggling a little with the Fractal signal chain philosophy and extreme level of control over every parameter on every link in the signal chain, it took me about 10 minutes to view the Axe units as the 'Second Coming' of rack-based preamp/effects units. Not that the Digitech units were toys, just that the level of functionality, control, versatile, flexibility and real-world replication of so many amps/cabs/effects were head and shoulders above anything I thought possible (or ever experienced with the Digitech units).
I'm sure many ex-Digitech users remember 'Dieter' that may still be the last human on earth to program the PPC and firmware chips - to call him 2100 series genius and superior 2100 player is an understatement. I wonder if he's considered or made the Axe-FX transition?
I can appreciate the sentiment that the Digitech 2101-2120 units still receive. I went through every Digitech 2100 series unit possible and thought nothing would ever come close. Did the GSP1101 thing as well (thought the Digitech Control 2 was built like a tank - too bad it's proprietary). However, I also am a Digitech to Fractal convert; sold three Artist units to help pay for my first Ultra. After struggling a little with the Fractal signal chain philosophy and extreme level of control over every parameter on every link in the signal chain, it took me about 10 minutes to view the Axe units as the 'Second Coming' of rack-based preamp/effects units. Not that the Digitech units were toys, just that the level of functionality, control, versatile, flexibility and real-world replication of so many amps/cabs/effects were head and shoulders above anything I thought possible (or ever experienced with the Digitech units). I'm sure many ex-Digitech users remember 'Dieter' that may still be the last human on earth to program the PPC and firmware chips - to call him 2100 series genius and superior 2100 player is an understatement.
I wonder if he's considered or made the Axe-FX transition? Thumbs up for all of that, Dieter, who doesn't know Dieter when having a 2101 Unit.
Got from him several FW upgrades and repair advices when my unit broke down in Asia '6000 miles' away. I also wondered if he'd made the step to Axe Fx; he could have.Never tried another Digitech after the LE2101, always thought they made a strategic error when switching to those cheaper units and floorboards. Did get myself an RP255 lately though for being able to play during professionnal travelling, a toy but fun anyway. Well, during the holiday, I've begun to port the following;1-Cuccurillo Lead2-Mayzing Chorus3-Funkenstein4-Step it upI also just added two more in a later post:5- String Volume Swell6- Synth Pad SwellI must admit, I'm having a difficult time translating the 'ol Digitech mixers. When the mix is a 100% from previous block plus 100% of the current block, it's easy, just make the mix 50%. The problems I'm running into are:1)the way multiple previous block signals will each run parallel to ahead blocks, then mixing.so you could have the output of effect A, mixing with effect B, and effect C.
Take a look at Alg 20 (picture below).2)The way the 2101 can split the L & R channel so an effect block only inputs that channel (don't know how to take the stereo input line in Axe-edit and make the input L or R to a new fx block.3)The digital fx stage of the GSP-2101 sums wet/dry at the very end, which is like having a line from the cab, go all the way to a mixer at the end.I know the shunts/lines are stereo in Axe-FX, but I need most blocks to have an 'input-select.' I noticed some did in fact have this, but not all?
When I can't use the output mix to replicate the 3x1 and higher 'mixers' by using the mixer block, but only two are allowed, and some digitech algorithms use 4+. The algorithm pic above is just one example. Then since any time two shunts meet, they sum, I'm also running out of independent mix path/shunt lines.4-rows isn't always enough.Soooo maybe because I'm new, and though I've refered back to the manual often, I'm just not easily able to replicate all the complex 'mixers' digitech used. Due to this I can't get the FXs to mimic the original patch perfectly. I've attached two below, so that you can check them out and maybe slap me up the head, and tell me what I'm doing wrong, or over complicating things!
Any Feedback welcomed! Two of the mixer blocks in Alg 20 can be eliminated by using the mixers built into the individual effects (the Digi doesn't have that capability). Use the previous effect's BALANCE control to set its relative left/right levels, then use the current effect's MIX control to blend the signals together.Many of the mixer inputs in Alg 20 are separate lefts and rights for a single effect. BALANCE and MIX can reduce that count.Alg 20 can be reduced to three rows, one Mixer block, and the output mixer.
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