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Rocktron Blue Thunder

L

Lenko

May 3, 2003
256
0
40
Slovenia
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#1
Hi guys!
Is anyone here using Roctron Blue Thunder? I can't find any reviews of it; what does it sound like? How noisy is it? Any info would do...
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Features:
selectable hi-pass effects filter
Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Reverb, Distortion, Dynamic Compression, Tap Delay and Rate Control
ultra transparent processing, direct recording and direct connection capabilites, speaker Exiter with Sonic Clarity and Sonic Boom controls
4 band EQ with 2 bands of full parametric
stereo output
rackmountable
 
#6
Bump!

I'm kinda interested in this thing too. I'm currently looking into my options for a rack mount effects processor with reverb, chorus and distortion at least. Anyone have any info here or can anyone point me in the right direction?:confused:
 
#8
Here is one review:

The Rocktron Blue Thunder is the only bass preamp I've ever seen that has it all.

The effects are voiced for bass rather than the way most bass effects are just dumbed-down guitar effects. The EQ is second to none. How many preamps have you seen with a built-in cabinet simulator? The bass gizmos that do have them have a tendency to list them by brand-name and they sound like crap. The cab simulator in my BT has them listed by speaker size...and they sound amazing; which is what counts right?

This unit is designed so I can walk into a recording studio or on a stage and maintain my sound's integrity. It's also got a brilliant *Hush*chip that is great for eliminating noise. Overall the thing is top notch and sounds really good. This bass preamp is on the level of say...a highend Lexicon device.

Dann
Click to expand...

Thats from Dann Glenn over at basslinks, another bass forum I am a part of.

Here is something from Harmony Central about it:

The Blue Thunder bass preamp from Rocktron is a digital preamp specifically designed and voiced for bass as both a live and studio tool. Pre-Loaded with 128 presets custom designed for bass, a Selectable Hi-Pass Effects Filter allows you to determine the frequency range being passed through the digital effects.

Built-in distortion designed specifically for bass can be added to a dry bass signal and effect path independently as desired. The Blue Thunder's bass effects include flanger, phaser and tremolo, plus Rocktron's Dynamic Compression, multi-voiced delay and chorus. Rocktron's SIMbiotic 4-Band Parametric EQ with 2 bands of full Parametric EQ is included as a tool for tonal shaping. Speaker Exciter with Sonic Clarity and Sonic Boom controls provide a new dimension of tone for live sound along with Cabinet Simulator for direct recording and direct connection to a PA System.

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Click to expand...
 
#9
I picked one up a few months ago. I like it and it complements my SVP-Pro very well.

As a preamp, it has a very nice, well-rounded sound which, though obviously digital, is pretty transparent. The EQ on it is also pretty versatile.

As for the effects, this is my first multieffects unit and I haven't gotten into the mire of programming my own presets yet (I use only the factory presets thus far) but they sound very, very good and there are almost too many things that you can do with it.

The unit is very quiet; however, with the unit on +4db and the gate off, if your pickups are noisy that will come through.

I tried recording direct from the BT into my Minidisc and it was dead quiet, even with the switch set at +4db.

Downsides? Well, the only quibbles I have are minor ones. "That digital sound" just may not be your thing (it is mine). The input jack is on the back, which is a bit of a grumble for me, but makes sense if you're using the unit solely as an FX unit. Also, that blinking blue LED has the potential to get annoying, as there is no way to turn it off.

All in all, a ridiculously low price for such a versatile unit. YMMV of course.
 
#11
I still like it a lot! This unit really is quite a bargain.

There are several presets that combine chorus and reverb. IMO, all of the effects are studio quality, although a few of the presets fall into the "what were they thinking?" zone.

The overdrive sounds pretty good, but it's not as warm-sounding as an analog unit.

If you're only interested in the effects, you may want to look elsewhere, but IMO it's the extra stuff like the preamp features, compression, gate, speaker simulator etc, that push this unit over the top.
 
#13
DEVILMAN said:
@thrash jazz,

Can you eq the fx you choose?

Does it keep all the lows or filter them out?

Does it have a footswitch/board to change channels/fx while you're playing?

thanks,
~S~
Click to expand...

Yes, you can EQ the effects! The EQ on it sounds pretty good, but not as versatile as some other, more straightforward units.

There is a low-pass filter for the effects - but you can adjust that to the setting you like (IIRC, the selections run from 80-300 Hz, but I'm not 100% sure about that), or turn it off. The effects sound excellent IMO, even on the low B.

The unit is MIDI-controlled - it doesn't include a board, but Rocktron does sell a compatible unit (as I recall, it's about $200 CDN). I don't own the board so I couldn't tell you much more than that...

Hope this helps! :)
 
#16
dunno anything about this, but I use a Rocktron Replifex and absolutely love it. Great sounding effects -- digital or not. It sounds amazing on bass. My only complaint is that if you send too much low end through it with the fx on it will scream a little, but that can be a good sound too.

Special bonus for rocktron customer service and manuals, which were great at least a couple years ago.

--JES
 
#17
if the US prices are similiar to that canadian price with the curent exchange rate...the unit seems like a bargain! esp for being a good rack multi efx unit with compressor, delay, para-eq (esp since the unit is supposed to be transparent and clean) and chorus, and the occasion phaser doesnt hurt

add to it a vol pedal and wah, and you're set...i might have to forgo a digitech bnx3 if i can try one of these out somewhere
 
#18
I'm still on the quest for the perfect rackmount bass preamp w/ effects. The Blue Thunder is the most likely contender right now but I can't find one in any stores to test it out. Here's what I'm looking for.

1. Truly wicked distortion. Right now I'm using a Rocktron PRO Gap with the gain turned up to about 63 (out of 70). Most distortion units don't have enough gain. I'm not looking for overdrivey/edgy/fuzzy/driven tone. I'm looking for hellish ammounts of mountin moving terror gain. I used to use a Danelectro FabTone if you know what I mean? I like how the Blue Thunder lets you blend in the clean tone with the distorted tone but I need lots and lots of gain. What do you think?

2. Fast MIDI switching between presets. Our sequencer does all our patch changes for us during the songs (lots of dynamic quick changes) and I can't have a noticable pause or hiccup when I'm going from some faux disney quiet part to soul shattering loud part.

Ok, what do you think?
 
#19
I ordered mine and should have it in a few days (France, 399€). I'll post some feedback in this thread after I come back from Vatican City on the 26th.

Why did they not include a pitch shift function in the Blue Thunder though?

Any thoughts on Eventide stuff for Bass? I thought of Eclipse or H3000SE, the latter being cheap to get now ...
 
#20
I finally got the unit, here's some feedback after about 2 weeks of Rocktron use, but with the following disclaimer: I only used it with Genelec 1031A monitors and headphones, I'm lacking a poweramp right now ... but this will be fixed in about 10 days :p and I'll tell you how it sounds through an EBS 410!

Construction: seems sturdy, subject to scratching though, the knobs are painted plastic and the front is plexiglass. Powered by a big wall wart :hmm:

Ease of use: fairly straightforward, read the manual though, some features/labeling are not clear on the unit.

Features: there's a lot for the buck, fairly decent EQ (GT6B seems slightly better), distortion (more like fuzz), compression (a bit weak there, you can't set the compression ratio & it lacks character), delay, reverb (no predelay setting :hmm: ), tremolo, cool phaser, decent flanger, nice chorus (GT6B is better), decent speaker simulation (better than GT6B imho, let's say more useable)

Overall the sound is less digital, better rounded than on the GT6B, and you don't have to crawl on all fours to set your sound. If you compare the digital signal without effects to the "true hardware bypass", there is no audible difference which is amazing! It seems very useable on the Genelecs, but better compression and a few more parameters wouldn't hurt. And I could not find an octaver even though I looked hard :smug:

I've emailed Rocktron about the software quibbles above, hope they're still planing new firmware releases and have enough rom to add a few things.

I'll give it a good test on Friday during rehersal, this time on a (modest) rig. :cool:
 

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