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TC Electronic Nova System BASS Users Club

#43
Hello All,

Well after a month of waiting I got my G System.

First Impressions:

Big. Heavy. SOLID. Smooooth switches, control knobs - it is very well made and never feels cheap, plastic or compromised.

Beautiful color and easy layout, it took me about a half an hour to figure out how to modify settings on patches, EQ, global settings and save them. Very similar to the Nova System, which I was used to.

It has a lot of the same parameters as the Nova System (EQ is the same - 3 band parametric), but a lot of settings have an advanced panel that lets you fine tune the parameters.

I've connected a Darkglass Vintage Ultra v2 in the preamp loop, and am running it with overdrive on, but it's very subtle.

I had to tweak the EQ and the routing to get the bass the way I wanted (semi 2 routing "killdry" on), and I've added some compression and chorus.

Here's a sample of me noodling around, slightly out of tune (lol) and recording the G-System with the Darkglass in the preamp loop, going into a Scarlett Focusrite 2i2 and Garageband (no amp sim, no effects in GB).

Sounds pretty good for my first preset, there isn't any appreciable roll off of the low B, but then I'm pumping the Darkglass pretty hard and I've got the parametric geared for low end. I'm going to experiment by putting the Darkglass unit before and after the G System, so if there's anything appreciable about it I'll post it.

I think I'm gonna love this thing, but TBH, I don't think anyone should trade in their Nova System for one.

G System + Darkglass.jpg


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#44
On a side note, I had a miserable time trying to get the input levels right - it would overdrive like crazy even when I set the input volume to its lowest setting -8db. The compressor wouldn't kick in and the sound would overdrive like mad (but then I was using the Darkglass as the preamp and it's an active-preamp bass).

I finally figured out that the best way to deal with it is not to decrease the input level, but to INCREASE it. That sounds counter intuitive, but it works as long as you're using the compressor. When I had the input volume set too low, the compressor wouldn't kick in, but raising the input level to +3 db, and lowering my bass's volume a bit and the Darkglass output, the compressor kicked in an keeps things from overdriving in a bad way. I was, essentially, starving the compressor. Feeding it some volume, while lowering the bass's volume and the Darkglass output helped IMMENSELY.

I still get a spike once in awhile, but the compressor keeps everything nice and manageable, even when I hit it hard.

I'm looking forward to playing with the other modulation and filter effects, as there is SO much that the G System can do.

I will be adding a second distortion pedal in one of the 3 remaining loops for gnarly noise when needed (having 3 output loops that can be powered from the G System is awesome).

There are some things that are not so good. The octaver obviously doesn't work one octave down using the bass (it's just muddy digital noise), the "Intelligent pitch shift" is hit or miss, and the tuner doesn't work but with harmonics for the E and below - but I've got a Pitchblack tuner anyway, so who cares.

It works really well for bass guitar, even extended range basses. I wished TC pushed it more to bassists (they should've done that with the Nova System, too), but the chorus and flanger are without equal - the unit is soooooo crystal clear and noiseless it's amazing.

One thing that is noticeably better is patch switching. I had a G Switch with my Nova System, and it was still a bit unreliable when switching patches (for me anyways). This thing is right on the money when switching patches - no delay at all.

I'll keep updating this thread as I work through it, but Dave LaRue and John Taylor used it, so how bad could it be? :)
 
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#45
Oly Spart said:
Hello, I could buy one second hand for 250€ but I'd like to know how is the compressor before I take the decision.
What are the parameters on the compressor?
Thanks in advance for your answers.
Click to expand...
Hey!

While I had a Nova System, I posted my compression settings earlier in the thread - check them out. The compressor works really well, I never needed another one with the Nova.

Cheers!
 
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#47
Well well...

I worked with the lovely G-System for about 3 months, and it was not a good fit. I had a great sound with it, but I couldn't adjust things like the Nova System has in Preset mode, which gave me lots of flexibility, Same 3 band parametric EQ. Most of the settings between the G-System and the Nova are duplicated, but TBH the Nova is much more flexible.

So i sold my drop dead gorgeous G-System and instead went back to my Nova System with a G-Switch, use the fantastic Electro-Harmonix Tri-Parallel mixer pedal which is absolutely brilliant and a Darkglass VintageUltra V2 as an "always on" pedal with its great eq, and a nearly-always-on bass overdrive.


Sounds amazing.

98982452-9A01-4A79-9137-DF28B6DC0A07.jpeg
 
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#52
Hi you all:
I'm using NS with 5str bass (learnin' to play) and about mod effects settings I found a chorused sound, but can't get phaser... Anybody?
For the comp, eq and chorus Ineed is enough, could be I can't hear correctly the others in bass freqs 'cause I'm learning it, a phaser setting that you think is good/nice with a strong effect sound to compare, could be a big help. The sound i've heard are long from NS, even in guitars NS gives another taste (Iknow that).
Thanks!!
 
#53
Barcza said:
I’m thinking to get a Nova System, I see some nice deals....
Octaver effect is very important for me, how good the octaver effect in this unit for bass? I like growly organ like octaver sounds, polyphonic is not so important....
Click to expand...
I've been using NS for years with guitar (now with 5str Bass -learning to play) and the pitch section is AWFUL. The better results was in soloing with Pitch shifter, intelli pitch or detune modes in monophonic sounds, otherwise you can hear "sound artifacts" with confuse results. With low freqs I don't like this section either, confussion's increased when lower (is a guitar processor, even tuner works very bad with guitars dropped), Idon't like sounds thru amp or DAW (but DAW's bassamp sim sounds good, not the same-then... not the tool)
All time I've read in some places is better you buy a dedicated processor for pitch's work, search for a poliphonic unit, lots of guitar players (frequetly octaver/shifters users) said it.
 
#55
This is a nice multieffects for Bass if; you don't expect it to do everything, can appreciate the nature of all analog effects with digital control, can hear the quality of the TC effects like Delay, Reverb, Modulation and are able to get something useful if not 100% accomadated in every aspect and generally have a creative streek, access user presets with the Switch 3 and don't rely totally on the unit to be MORE than it is for +/- $200 currently with or without a Switch 3.

Dave Larue uses it with a G System...
IMG_20220109_115643019_HDR.jpg

...but not for EVERYTHING!
 
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#56
I see this is a quite old thread but…just got my Nova System a week ago.
I wanted a cheap all in one multieffects unit for rehearsals, they allows me to leave at home my 10kg pedalboard.
Got this from a very nice guy at €130 so I pulled the trigger.
I didn’t played so much with it but one thing I can say, the modulation effects are awesome!
 
#57
I’m not smart enough to understand all of the details available in the settings. Hell, I don’t even know how to create a home-base setting, or subsequent settings. It seems like it’s designed for an audio or electronics engineer rather than a guitar player. Even though I think mine is a y terrific unit in every respect I’m frustrated with it.

I’d like to set up:
1. a punchy, “thump” jazz sound with compression.
2. A deep bass with sustain
3. A sizzling tone with reverb and or delay
4. Same with deeper , mellow bass

Stuff like that , but damn, the crazy stuff that comes up when you release a foot switch is daunting
 

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