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TC Electronic presents SpectraDrive Bass Preamp & Line Driver
- Thread starter TalkBass
- Start date
Both compressor and drive uses toneprint, and the TC retails for almost $100 less than the Plex. It's also highly unlikely that TC will have the same or similar issues with firmware as GK has, since CV they've been in this type for game for a lot longer. Considering all that, pound for pound, it's pretty close to being a Plex killer if you ask me.
I love my TC amp! But I would love a preamp DI pedal for the amp-less gigs - straight to FOH with my TC tone. But then I'll also have to buy the tuner pedal and a chorus pedal too. I may as well just buy the Hartke preamp for half the price until TC release a version 2, or just use the BH250 head.
Are you taking about the bass attack? It has fewer features and tone shaping capabilities than this does... You'd still have to buy a chorus pedal and a tuner, plus now you'd need a compressor too, so you're in for more than you'd spend on the TC preamp in the first place. Except for the Zoom B3 series, there are zero pedal-format bass preamps on the market that offer built in effects, so you're kinda giving TC crap for something that nobody else has done.
I still say that dollar for dollar, this pedal seems like a pretty great deal as compared to something like the Plex.
They are never going to release a pedal that gives you access to all of the different toneprints. Not without it costing $500. It's one thing to do it on an amp, it's another thing to do it on a pedal.
Interesting... so, this family of products use different frequencies on the cut vs. boost side of each eq control? I'm curious how effective people find that in real-world scenarios? It's certainly unusual, but maybe it works great?
I think the idea is to be able to cut frequencies that are usually trouble spots and to be able to boost frequencies that are in sweet spots.
As for how it works, I've had a TC BG250 combo for years with this type EQ and it works fine. Granted I've only used it for home practice so others may have better answers about how it works in a gig setting.
Are you taking about the bass attack? It has fewer features and tone shaping capabilities than this does... You'd still have to buy a chorus pedal and a tuner, plus now you'd need a compressor too, so you're in for more than you'd spend on the TC preamp in the first place. Except for the Zoom B3 series, there are zero pedal-format bass preamps on the market that offer built in effects, so you're kinda giving TC crap for something that nobody else has done.
I agree the Hartke Bass Attack is missing the compressor but it is half the price. And yes I would still have to buy a compressor and chorus to get my desired sound.
I love my TC amp and their uniqueness in pushing the boundaries. I'm just disappointed in what they came up with being so similar to other pedals. The GK Plex has compressor and drive, the EHX Battalion has compressor and drive, the Hotone B Station does compressor and drive ... etc I'ld say it's been done! TC could do so much more!
TC answered on FB to the question about the possibilities of the TonePrint editor:
"Since this pedal is based on the bass amps (BH550 and BH800) it is not supported by the editor, unfortunately."
So you can't even load up your own Spectracomp TonePrints , neither editing anything?!
IMHO they missed a chance. Being able to edit the EQ's frequencies and Q whould be so cool. An adjustable ultra-low-cut would be very useful. An editable overdrive whould make it a no brainer...
In their live kick-off videosession they said that they had to leave out many things because of limited space on the enclosure. OK, but why do they leave out so many features which could be realized by software?
The only consolation to me is the chance that there will be new TonePrints for TubeDrive which could be "backported" to the BG & BH amps.
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I think you can upload Tubedrive toneprints and Spectracomb toneprints, just you cannot define your own with the editor.So you can't even load up your own Spectracomp TonePrints , neither editing anything?!
Ahhhh, the old TALKBASS double standard.
If fuzzrocious (whom I love) or Broughton (who are equally awesome) had released a pedal with this functionality - there would have been dancing in the streets.
But not for TC.
If fuzzrocious (whom I love) or Broughton (who are equally awesome) had released a pedal with this functionality - there would have been dancing in the streets.
But not for TC.
My assumption is that the SpectraDrive only accepts TonePrints from it's own section, and no TonePrints originally for the SpectraComp Bass Compressor. So there's no chance to use my own customized SpectraComp TonePrints on the SpectraDrive.
I use a SpectraComp and none of the factory-TonePrints work out of the box for me. But with customized settings it's great.
In my opinion the SpectraDrive would be a better product if I had the option (not the necessity) to edit.
My point exactly. I kind of understand why TC doesn't include editing functions in their heads/combos, but lifting the preamp from their heads and putting it in a pedal format is a whole other deal. For the amps there is actually incentive to buy pedals. You try some toneprints, like them, want some more functionality and buy the pedal. With a preamp pedal you try to keep your footprint minimal, so adding additional pedals is always a pain unless you're building a big pedalboard.
Since everyone is doing preamp pedals, you would guess TC would grab every opportunity to stand out and editable toneprint effects would have been the thing that lets them do just that. Shame, since I'm guessing development costs could be kept low even when borrowing tech from their toneprint pedals (if it's really different from the tech they use in amps).
Exactly, only Toneprints from TC, not your own, but according to what you are saying it will only be new ones created specifically for the SpectraDrive. Shame... Maybe in future firmware release...
Well, that kills it for me.
I was so excited when I just found out about this a few minutes ago. Now, I'm crestfallen.
When I first saw this, I was lamenting my recent purchase of my SansAmp VT. Now, after reading through the thread, not so much. I have a TC Subnup which is pretty cool in the way it makes use of Toneprints (and the excellent tracking even on the low B). I see a lot of potential for the Toneprint technology. Perhaps it just needs to mature a bit more.
