ToadWorks Redux 1st Impressions (56k warning)

[warwick.hoy]

I will probably post an "official" review after I get better acquainted with it.

There are people on these boards that are very likely better qualified to review a piece of equipment than I. Folks with a better understanding of components and functions. Perhaps those of you who are more knowledgeable can help me along with this. For now I'll give the college try.

I present to you the ToadWorks Redux Asynchronous Delay.



This is my first delay. Originally I was going to get a DD-3 or thereabouts but this came up on Craigslist so I jumped on it. I traded my Sansamp BDDI Programmable straight across for it. There are two versions of this pedal and the one shown on the ToadWorks website reads "Modulated Echo". I'm currently in contact with the guys at ToadWorks to determine which version I have.

Construction: I'm not sure what qualifies for a "Boutique Pedal" but this seems to hob knob with the best out there as far as construction goes.





Here is the AC adapter jack and input jack. I'm not sure what manufacture of jacks these are (switchcraft, etc.) Seems solid in comparison with other pedals. The adapter jack seems to be better than the norm. On the topic of AC adapter, It is recommended that this pedal is used with a Godlyke Powerall. I used it with a Danelectro AC-DC adapter (9.6v VDC/200mA). This seems to work fine. I have yet to try it with the G-BUS-8 on my pedalboard. Will comment on that after rehearsal tomorrow.





Here are the innards and circuit board. I'm not savvy enough to determine the make of the pots, but they seem quality enough. This is a hand-wired pedal. Wires are neatly arranged and solders are clean and professional seeming to me.

There is definitely a learning curve with this pedal. I've found sounds ranging from echo to delay to reverb and some knob fildling has turned up some interesting squeals and DJ scratch like sounds.

Quotes from the manual.

The Delay knob controls the time delay in ms.

Simple enough and self explanatory.

Repeat knob controls the speed with which the delay signal decays.

Here is what I like. Turn this repeat knob wide open and you get an almost infinite delayed signal.

The Offset knob controls the difference in in delay time between the primary and secondary delay signals.

Hmmmm....read on.

The Mix knob controls the delayed signal to clean ratio.

This is like a wet/dry blend knob.

There is a little audible noise on this pedal but it is hard to differentiate between engaged and bypass.

While this pedal has plenty of usable tones. I'm not too sure I'm "getting" the offset switch. There is a detent where the switch turns off and at that setting I'm getting no effect at all, whilst the user manual lists a "slap back" setting in which the offset knob is switched off. I do get some volume changes on the Mix knob. I'm currently in contact with the makers concerning this. Again it could be a matter of what version it is and me needing to experiment more. Also; perhaps it is something to do with the power supply.

I have read that the makers will upgrade you to the newer version at no extra charge save shipping. Of course I can take it to the shop since I live in the same town where the unit is made. So I may not even have to pay for shipping.

Conclusions? I have yet to come to any but my initial impression is that it is a cool and versatile pedal that will probably have a home on my board once issues are worked out and I learn more about. I will keep you posted.

EDIT: Noise is there without the pedal in my signal path. Probably RF interference or something similar.

[warwick.hoy]

I've started to really coax some cool sounds. Those DJ scratches I mentioned before....I found a more accurate analogy. With the repeat knob wide open you can sweep the delay knob and the offset knob and get these warbly sped up and slowed down cassette tape effects (Is that what a tape echo does?)

Okay; Offset knob....I'm starting to get the hang of this. I previously described a detent where the offset knob is switched completely off; effectively turning the effect off. Turning it to about 8 or 9 o'clock provides what I would describe as a single delay. Any further than that and you start to create some out of phase sounds. In researching it; I've seen it described as the same effect as using two delays at once.

Cool trick. With the Repeat knob wide open and a delayed signal going on; if you turn the effect off either at the offset knob, or with the footswitch and turn it back on, that delayed signal returns, even though you may not be playing any notes. (I hope that make sense ). I'm sure there is a limit to that though. I doubt the repeats would last from intro to outro (unless you write 19 second long songs).

Worked fine with the G-BUS-8 Power Supply on my pedalboard. I've seen that others have used it with no problems with the Voodoo Lab PPII.

I plugged it in with my other pedals. I plays nicely with the Nano Clone* and the Digitech Synth Wah, although I had it after the SW I'm curious to see what it does before the SW .

Please note that I've been trying this pedal out on my practice amp at home which is an Ashdown Perfect 10 30 watt guy. I'll have some better ideas after I check it out through my much louder and better sounding stage rig. More to come for sure.

*I know what your thinking....Nano Clone . Yes, Yes I know. I'll be throwing it in a drawer for something better sooner or later.

[bassteban]

Hey, nice review. I want to say also, don't be discouraged by not being the *best* guy for the job. We can't all be Bongomania or MysticBoo, and it's good to hear a fellow non-super-techno-savvy players' thoughts on a box.

[Mark Olson]

As far as I understand it the offset knob is to give you multi-tap delay capabilities, or in other words, you can get different rhythms on the repeats than just echoes with the same amount of time between each of them. If you could play around with the offset knob and see if that's the effect it has on your sound. And thanks for the review! I appreciate it!

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Mark Olson

As far as I understand it the offset knob is to give you multi-tap delay capabilities, or in other words, you can get different rhythms on the repeats than just echoes with the same amount of time between each of them. If you could play around with the offset knob and see if that's the effect it has on your sound. And thanks for the review! I appreciate it!

This is the only delay I've ever had a chance to really experiment with so I don't have a lot to go on as far as comparing and contrasting. That being said I think I've got a gem on my hands.

I researched multi tap (found a soundclip on HC). That's a pretty accurate description of whats going on there. Thanks Mark.

With the offset knob right on that detent but not past it I'm getting that sorta slap back single delay. With the offset turned up past that is when it starts getting those interesting textured rhythms approaching sonic mayhem.

What I really like about this pedal is that destroyed cassette tape sound I'm getting whilst fiddling with knobs. I think an RC-2 or other simple looper pedal would be great with this guy for opening up those sounds.

The mix knob is a nice touch as well. Finding Unity gain is a little tricky. I consulted the TW's website for more info on that. This one it is around 9 o'clock.

I guess I should answer a big question....Low End Loss/Volume Drop. With the mix knob set right there is neither; at home practice volume. I'll post further on that and other settings from the mix knob when I have an opportunity to play it at rehearsal volume (tomorrow).

Let me also mention that this is an "analog voiced" digital delay.

I'm liking this pedal more and more. The music I play is getting into a lot more ambient/sound-scape/post-rock type stuff so this guy looks to have a permanent home on my board. It will be cool to do some knob twisting at a show.

[lousybassist]

Interesting read, thanks for sharing your impressions! I've only just recently become aware of this pedal, and it really tickles my fancy. I might just need one.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by lousybassist

Interesting read, thanks for sharing your impressions! I've only just recently become aware of this pedal, and it really tickles my fancy. I might just need one.

I'm really stoked on this pedal. Hopefully the novelty doesn't wear off. In a bass application it is a great pedal in an ambient noise/post-rock environment. If you are in a straight up rock band or cover band, this may not be too much delay for your situation.

Here is a reply I received from Ryan Dunn at TWs.

Hi James

That's the current version.

The "Offset" control is for the 2nd delay - the primary delay should always be on. If turning off the Offset control eliminates all the delay effect, there's something wrong with it.

Where did you buy it from?

cheers
Ryan

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2008 3:36 PM
Subject: Contact Form - Redux Asynchronus Delay



Name #: James Hoy
Email:
Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Message: Hey guys.

I wanted to contact you to get some more information on a Redux I recently acquired. I'm wondering if you can tell me what version it is.

http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s...B/DSCN1273.jpg

The above should be a direct link to a photo of the circuit board. Let me know if you do not receive it. I can attach one via e-mail

I'm not too sure I'm "getting" the offset switch. There is a detent where the switch turns off and at that setting I'm getting no effect at all; whilst the user manual lists a "slap back" setting in which the offset knob
is switched off. I do get some volume changes on the Mix knob. Also I'm using a Danelctro AC-DC adapter 9.6v VDC 200mA. Perhaps that is my issue?

Look forward to hearing from you

~James

As you can see it is the current version. Kudos to Ryan for a quick response on a Sunday no less. I'm currently in contact for repair which I may not do if it affects that stretched tape effect I like so much.

[lousybassist]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

In a bass application it is a great pedal in an ambient noise/post-rock environment.

That's pretty much where I'm at, and I would probably mostly use it for my solo bass vi/baritone guitar playing anyway. The warbly cassette like quality especially sounds like something I'd like, and could use.

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

If you are in a straight up rock band or cover band, this may not be too much delay for your situation.

Actually, I've never felt a need for a delay (or, to be brutally honest, most any effect, except maybe for compression ) in any band situation I've been in. But that doesn't keep me from wanting more, and more delay pedals. It's probably my favourite effect.

[warwick.hoy]

Tried it out with the rehearsal rig last night. No complaints. I put a looper before so I could experiment with it and a got some really usable tones. I didn't get as much as much time to mess with it but I found a use for it in one of our songs already. I just gotta write the settings down once we get the tempo right.

I haven't heard back from Ryan but expect an e-mail waiting when I get back from work. Cheers.

[warwick.hoy]

Tell you what, go ahead and drop it off at Mark’s Guitar Shop on Garland St. They will forward it to us and I’ll get it fixed up for you.



-Ryan

[warwick.hoy]

Not much to update on, I got it to the guitar shop today finally so we will see how long it takes to get fixed and how it works when I get it back.

[warwick.hoy]

Received this e-mail today.

Hey, it’s been repaired, and returned to Marks… it’s there waiting for you…. Maybe you can buy some pics & strings while you’re there J

Took two weeks but that is understandable. With this crappy weather and the holidays I'm not sure I'll be getting up to Mark's Guitar Shop this week. We'll see.

Kudos to Ryan and the guys for good communication and good customer service.

[mrsquishy]

hey there thanks for the review. havent heard much about the toadworks delay. care to put up some clips? that would be very useful too!

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by mrsquishy

hey there thanks for the review. havent heard much about the toadworks delay. care to put up some clips? that would be very useful too!

Unfortunately I have no way to record any soundclips. I'd really like to get some sound clips up becuase that seems to be the best way to describe whats going on with this pedal. I've been thinking about getting a Yamaha Pocketrak CX to record band practices, but perhaps there is a more economical way to record sound clips (freeware and a computer mic?). Any suggestions would be nice.

I picked it up from Mark's Guitar shop only a week ago so I haven't had much time with it. I definitely have more knob twisting to do but I really really like this pedal.

The original issue is that the Offset was not affecting the original delay signal. With that issue cleared up the fun can begin. It is hard to describe but the original delay signal is asymmetrically doubled and creates a bit of a wobbly affect as the signal decays. I'm sure more sonic mayhem can be coaxed out of this box with more noodlery.

I will say that to my ears; it is a very transparent sounding delay with livable noise issues that could very well be a practice amp that doesn't like this pedal. Sometimes a little speaker distortion occurs but bear in mind that this is a 30 watt, single 10 in speaker, glorified practice amp. My stage/rehearsal rig may be a different story.

Also you can see they did some work to clean up the inside while it was in the shop.

Before:


After:


I'm really stoked on the way I was treated and the Free repair even though I didn't even pay for this unit. I will definitely be going back to ToadWorks when I go for a better compressor (Mr. Squishy). I also find that they are a local company to be very attractive as well.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by mrsquishy

hey there thanks for the review. havent heard much about the toadworks delay. care to put up some clips? that would be very useful too!

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Unfortunately I have no way to record any soundclips.

[/end quoting of myself]

I figured it out.

These are just rudimentary clips that I recorded quickly, they are short and to the point. This was my first attempt at recording soundclips.

I also documented the settings in photographs. They should show up in small form next to the song files in the following links. Bigger pictures upon request.

The 1st bit I recorded a clean signal then a simple non-offset delay

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7256730

The next one is with the Repeat (Regen) and Offset all the way up.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7256736

The last one illustrates that tape effect I was referring to in earlier posts.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7256741

Let me know how I did on these, if they work in illustrating the effect and if I can do any better in the future. My ultimate goal is to start contributing soundclips to the wiki.

EDIT: I'll make sure to noodle around more with the mix knob and some other settings too. Between getting the recording to the soundcard figured out, then encoding to mp3, then figuring out which site to host them on, this was the best I could do for now. It's running on midnight my time and this is the only thing I've done other than cook dinner and ignore the wife.

[Mark Olson]

Hey man, thanks for the clips! Much appreciated!

[warwick.hoy]

Another sound clip...It does reverb too.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7258863

[warwick.hoy]

I made some more soundclips using a recently acquired MicroKorg. Click on the links below the pics.

The first clip is of just the MicroKORG on Program b.57 to give you an idea of how it sounds without any external FX. I used a Boss LMB-3 for a little volume boost and compression.



MicroKORG Dry

The Next Clip is with the offset at 12'o'clock. This should give you an idea of the multitap capabilities.



MicroKORG + ToadWorks Redux offset at 12'o'clock

The Next Clip is with the offset almost all the way up.



MicroKORG + ToadWorks Redux offset almost pegged

Finally; Knob Twiddling. Careful this one gets a little loud and crazy, my not agree with your speakers, or those around you.



Knob Twiddling

I'm finding the Redux more capable with this synth and my make a separate "pedalboard" for the MicroKORG with the Redux on it and replace that with a simpler delay for my bass pedalboard.

EDIT: Bass Guitar forum. I know; but I intend to use the Korg to fill synth bass duties in a new project I'm working on.

[warwick.hoy]

Before it gets to the bottom of the page here is another soundclip with a different program on the MicroKORG.

It's about 5 minutes long and I give each control a go....

Program A.67 + Redux Knob Twisting. Get your mind out of the gutter.