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I've been slowing upgrading my project studio for the past 10 years or so. Because I record my own solo material, I decided to spend my money on studio pieces that I can use for as long as I live. So, I'm buying higher end rack stuff to round out my Pro-Tools LE system.

Now'm ready to add to my recording rig. Here's a rundown of what I have.

Manley Dual Mic Pre
Stereo Distressor
Fasto Jr
Speck EQ
Royer R-121
Soundelux U195
Digi 002
Rosetta 200
TC M-One
MacBook Intel (not core duo)

Right now I would like to upgrade the effects unit . I'm mainly concerned with reverb and I don't want to use up CPU power on plugin reverb.

So, the question is... Eventide Eclipse 3.0, Lexicon PCM 91, or TC Electronic Reverb 4000?

I record vocals, acoustic guitar, mic'd Fender Virbo Champ (G & L ASAT, Gibson Studio Les Paul, etc), some hand percussions and use BFD for drums.

I'm going for more of a 'real' vibe for the vocal tone of my music. The tone of the other instruments and styles vary. So, that might help make the decision.

All you guys in all the forums have always helped steer me in right direction. So, what do you guys think?

Comments

AudioGaff Tue, 11/21/2006 - 23:07

For reverb, it is real hard for me to pick only one as reverbs, at least to me, are much like mic's and preamps so I need to have have several to choose from. The Lexicon has it sound, and it is well known. The TC4000 also has it's own reverb sound. I find that I can't live without either reverb and usually use both on every project I do as well as an Eventide or two. For me, my Eventide's are certainly the most flexable and with the most amount of variety and inspiring effects that is often better used as a multi-effects chain that inlcudes reverb and the TC/Lexicon for most of the straight reverb work.

So I guess the bottom line is that you'll just have to have all three, and maybe even a few more...

anonymous Wed, 11/22/2006 - 00:02

Hmm... More Gear, GOOD!!

But I like the idea about the inspiring effects of the Eventide. When I first started to gettng interested in recording, I remeber seeing the Eventides on display at the local GC and I thought they were the coolest thigs ever.

I've come to believe that really good gear is all really good. They're just a different flavor of good.

As for the purchase, maybe the multi-effect box is the best thing to get first. I'll stop buying gear only when I die! So, maybe it should be a '1-2-3' kind of plan.

Of course, this totaly goes against what my original post stated (mainly for reverb)!

Any other opinions?

BDFitz Wed, 11/29/2006 - 18:21

This is a constant battle and I am fortunate enough to own a Lexicon MXP-1, an Eclipse and a TC4000. The Lex PCM 91 and the TC4000 are in a separate category. These are PURE reverbs, not multi-FX units and the TC4000 is a true stereo reverb, not to be overlooked.

Starting out with a multi-fx unit is fine and will educate you to both but untimately leave you yearning for each in their full power. The Eclipse offers great bang for the buck and the reverbs are lush and servicable.

The difference (to my ears) between the LEX PCM 91 and the TC4000 is the LEX offers creamier, very smooth and silky reverbs that melt around the sound source and mesh beautifully but are not as transparent as the TC4000 which can create mixes soaked in reverb and still offer clarity to the individual instruments in a very complex mix. The LEX may tend to be richer on some sources but I opted for the lush TC4000 and the clarity in the mix even though it cost twice as much.

The Eclipse is worth every penny and is an extremely powerful and creative machine. I'd opt for the Eclipse and one of the reverbs mentioned. As you mentioned reverb as being the critical upgrade you can't go wrong with the PCM-91 with the exception that the TC4000 is more legacy friendly concerning dig/analog connections.

anonymous Tue, 12/12/2006 - 18:01

Well, I should probably get a reverb machine like I planned from the beginning.

One thing I'm realizing that is very important from a computer recording standpoint is the ability to edit the param's from the computer. That way, I can save the settings in the ProTools "song" folder along with all the other song specific files.

I've got a mac. Does anyone have experience with the TC editing software. That would be a big plus in the everyday usage of any outboard reverb unit I'd use.

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