The TC M1 offers good value for the money. While it offers a digital parametric eq that is likely to be much better than a cheap analog one, it's strength is in it's effects, like reverb & chorus. The M2000 is an older design that is still very good with a user interface I find very quick and easy to use. If I could find one as cheap as a M1 I think I would rather I have it.

If you talking reverb mostly or only, I'd shop for a used Lexicon PCM70.

Thank you Gaff,

I forgot to mention, I am looking at XL version. Is it sonically different from M1?
The EQ option would be nice. I am running Protools 6.0. In your opinion would be RTAS EQ plugin give the same quality as the EQ in M1? Sorry for this question--I think it was discussed before, but I cannot find it right now.

Yeah, the cheapest PCM70 on Ebay went for $620. I cannot stretch my budget to that.

I believe that the XL version was just an update to offer XLR connectors. It might have had some new presets, some clean up and bugs fixed in the OS as well. May not be a big deal or worth more money to a lot of people.

As for the plug vs M1 for eq? I don't really know. I would guess the plug may have the advantage. But the eq plug sure doesn't have effects?

Well, there is a reverb plug as well, and here is probably the biggest question--is it worth to spend $425 out the store (or about $300 off Ebay) and get outboard reverb, when I already have a plug with all set of features I need for my application (i.e. reverb only, with adjustable parameters)?

My only concern is a sonic difference, and I use reverb only in the mastering stage.
I would greatly appreciate any insights on that.

Three or four years ago, the common wisdom was that software reverbs aren't anywhere near as good as outboard dedicated units. For the most part, they weren't. They have caught up, however. Reverb One is great, and I've heard very good things about the Waves new IR-1 or whatever their
convolution reverb is called.

I like TC's reverbs as opposed to say, the Waves True Verb or Renaissance Reverb plugins. Even the TC reverb plugs have a "glassier" sound to me. The benefit of using a plugin, as opposed to outboard hardware is that you're not crossing over your A/D/D/A converters or picking up noise from an analog unit. Of course, if the unit has digital I/O, that problem is mitigated.

The Lexicon LXP-100 has algorithms lifted directly from their high-end 480 (I think it was the 480 and not the 960). Inside the LXP-100 is a Lexichip. Lexicons do that "Lexicon-Thing" that's very hard to describe. If you're looking for a low-cost outboard unit, I'd give that a side-to-side comparo with the TC unit, if possible. I like both TC and Lexicon reverbs generally, but neither unit will prove great on everything.

m-0ne xl

i used m-one xl on a big project for 2 months and it worked great. it has two engines and mix knob betwen the two on the front. you can combine different efx together (reverb-room, reverb-ddl, chorus room etc). its very straightforward to program and i got very good results from it. it also has spdif in and out, so you just go digital from daw and back, record the reverb and go to next track . parametric eq is very usable for basic tweaking, it did everything i needed. if you consider the price for good reverb plugin tc is very good value and you get a additional stereo pair of o.k. converters you can use with your daw. i think it still has much better sound than most plugins.

As for the plugs I've heard so far, I find you really have to get up there in price to get the same quality as a stand-alone unit.I have a TC M-one XL and it is one of the better sounding reverbs... especially for the money.I'm not a person that really likes heavy intrusive verb and the TC stuff is very transparent.What makes this a drawback for some people is their inabilities to hear a transparent verb and this has been the only negative comments I've heard on these.For classical and acoustic music in general, the TC is a very very good choice due to its transparency.The EQ is quite useable but I myself would always use the White you have.These things are great and have been one of my favorites for years.The PCM 70 is an industry standard but ,for me, it sounds like a Lexicon.And while theres nothing bad about this, its a bit more invasive in a way that can get in the way of some applications.But they are great.The difference in the M-one and the XL is some of the programs.The XL doesnt really have a lot of the trashy drum verb programs the M-one has.I love those 60's basement/garage snare verbs and the M-one has em all.

Also, the reverb algorythms have been updated in the XL version...the reverb tails especially have been smoothed out considerably according to TC.

Thank you Gentlemen for your insights!

I own the M-one and a Lex 550. Each have different strong points. You mentioned a budget of $500, I believe the Lex is right there. You may put that one into your research. Ed

I´ve compared M-One and M-One XL on Genelec 1029s, and I must say that XL versions tail actually does sound smoother.

Marik wrote: Folks,

I need your opinion. I am thinking of buying TC M one reverb. What about its parametric EQ section? Is it a good quality one, or should I get a stand alone? Which one? Currently I am using White Instruments LC passive graphic octave band.
Also, I would be open to suggestions for other reverbs. My budget is $500 max. I don't mind getting second hand unit. I record classical music--mostly piano, violin, cello and voice.
What about TC M2000? Thank you

I use a TC Electronics M2000 with my Pro Tool LE 6.2.3 rig, via SPDIF in and out. I also use the Waves Gold Bundle and the two of the McDSP plugs (Filterbank and MC2000). You will need to compare the TC M One programs with those of the M2000 yourself (see the TC Electronics website), but as I remember, many of them are the same in both units, others are not.

I like the TC M2000 better for reverb, chorus and delay than the plugins I own. Conversely, I like the Waves and McDsp eqs and compressors better than those offered in the M2000. As far as reverbs I don't own go, I like Altiverb and Waves IR-1 better than the M2000 verbs, but a big part of that is the user interface and ease of use. The M2000 verbs can be great, but take a bit more tweaking to get there.

I use my system only to record solo acoustic fingerstyle guitar, so YMMV for other sources or for more complex mixes.