I got one of these yesterday and I have to say I really love it. Of course, your video was a great introduction and tutorial on the inner workings of the pedal...thanks for that. Three words best describe this pedal for me: Small but Mighty. :) Thanks again for the video.
My Plethora X3 should come in the mail tomorrow, and I can't wait. Your video was a great introduction and I feel like I know the pedal already. Thanks!
This is one of the best review/user videos i have seen. I dont know if that is because the x3 is just a very intuitive tool, or you are a particularly skilled tutor. A bit of both, i suspect. New subscriber.
Love your videos! Is there a way to split the signal in the X3 so you can run a mono in/out to the right and then stereo in/out to the left. (ie. Say I wanted to run chorus in and out of the amp FX loop in the mono side and then the sub-n-up via the stereo side to the front of the amp?) I’m attempting to run a 4CM method understanding the X3 does not have an FX loop. Thank you in advance for your help 🙂
Super helpful! You move kind of fast but I'll refer back to this numerous times I'm sure after I get one! Going to add this after my Torpedo Cab M+ coupled with my amplifier for cab sims connected to a mixer with studio monitors and an audio interface for recording to supply all of it's awesome effects. Thanks again!
Hi and thanks for all great videos! I'm an acoustic guitar player within old timey blues and country as well as some singer songwriting stuff when I work as a studio musician. I switched to Plethora 5X on my small pedalboard because I love TC's modulations and I've had all of their pedals in physical form. Now they're gone and I combine the 5X with three other pedal in the loop and and expression pedal - off we go and I don't have a clue yet 🙂 Well it's cool to experiment and also cool to notice all differences compared to the previous unit I used, the BOSS MS-3. I still love that one amd it goes with me to rehearsals or smaller gigs or jams, just paired with a preamp. Anyway, I'll be binge watching your other videos prior to a gig this weekend, need to configure the X5 the best way possible. Cheers!
I have the Plethorax3 and as an old guy you have done a good job of explaining the pedal ,,,,, I will be playing this with a collings dreadnaught guitar on a worship team ,,,,,, I'm really interested in any board combos that will give me an ambient sound and one other setting I would like to use is the dotted 8th note ,,,,, I'm thinking of buying the HX Stomp from Line Six to complement the x3 and it will give me some things yours doesn't , like a preamp ! I would like your opinion on adding the Line 6 ,,,,,,
Thanks so much for the video! I’m planning on getting a Boss Space Echo and a Digitech Plethora for my delay and reverb, so I’m planning on using the Plethora purely as my modulation station and running stereo out from there. :)
Correct only 3 adjustable parameters if editing on the plethora. However, if you edit on your app or pc there are loads and loads of parameters you can edit.
Try this: th-cam.com/video/N0ukWiah5bU/w-d-xo.html. Take away the setups that depend on the FX loop that the PX3 doesn't have, and everything else is valid. 😉 If you meant other pedals on the Plethora itself, I have a whole playlist of messing around with the X5, which sounds exactly the same.
Great informative video, thanks! I get that the X3 isn't meant to cover over drive/distortion applications, but it would have been great if TC added the Rush volume boost feature to this unit. If you can increase the volume with the compressor it would seem possible just to have a circuit to simply boost the volume a few db. In my opinion it is hard to beat a good stand-alone analog box but this unit does a better job than other digital options I've tried.
Thanks for the nice review! My son just got one of these and we are both loving it. There is one issue that I’m stumped by however: Switching between boards via the buttons. I heard people suggest this was possible. I watched you do it with my own eyes. But when we try to do this, it simply turns the two pedals on or off, it does not switch boards. What are we missing here?
I like my X3. Nice compact size and good sounds. I don't miss 2 slots or the send/return, but would love the expression pedal to control Delay mix. I gigged it last night and did find I hit 2 switches at once a couple of times so had some patch change surprises mid song!
Please tell us more about midi implementation and its limitations! I'm planning on changing my Synesthesia for this but first i need to know the flaws. Thanks for the video!
Very late to the Plethora party....love it........and thank you for your comprehensive guidance to get me started. One question (sorry).....Can you change what the display shows?...maybe you want to say "slow phase" or "dotted 8th" rather than it just saying PHASER and DELAY....this would be so helpful when you have multiple boards. Thanks anyone that can help
Thanks for good explaining 👍 one question. Lets say i use on board 30 reverb and delay. And i want also push in a flanger, which is on board 31. Is it possible, that reverb and delay stays on when i change board to 31? Normally the effect goes away when you switch the board. Its important for me for playing live. I need maybe 5-6 effects that i can change - but reverb and delay has to be on most the time
Thanks for this video. I'd like to buy one, and use it for adding stereo capabilities to my Amped1. I'd like to connect X3 to the Amped1 FX Loop, and then use the X3 cab rig to go directly in stereo to the PA or to the PC interface. May this config be ok? Is it possible to load 3rd party IR on the X3? Many thanks
Can you turn all three effects on at once in one stomp? If I want to create a complex tone using all three switches (like an H90), and just want to hit them all at once on/off would be amazing.
"Honey, I Shrunk the pedal" 😅😅😅 Well... It seems to me that it's a great pedal (or pedalboard), no matter it is smaller than the x5. Thank you for another great video 👌
Informative vid dude.👍 So this is the modern Line 6 M5/M9 would you say? I'm looking for that swiss army knife for extra effects. I run a, wah, comp, muff, OD, and OD with a TC HOF mini and Flashback in the loop....but maybe I'll need a flanger one time, an octave one time, tremolo, chorus etc. This is more expensive than an M5 obviously. I could run this in the loop with the two other TCs right?
Thank you! And yes, you can easily integrate this into the loop with the other pedals and get a very versatile board in a relatively small real estate :)
Wow. I was thinking of replacing my Line 6 M5 with an HX Effects, but after watching your video I figured it would be a better solution for me. A perfect unit for plugging into loops and controlling via MIDI.
I got one yesterday. Used to use a Helix Floor/Powercab, but recently returned to amp (Roland Blues Cube Stage) and pedals. This looks like a great solution (mainly playing weddings and functions) and very well designed. Having amps sims means I can use the pedal as an emergency back up at gigs rather than have a spare amp in the boot. Having a looper and tuner are nice extras, and the unit so far seems very intuitive and sounds great. Have used the Toneprint app, but at present there don't seem to be any toneprints on it for this model yet - hopefully that will change soon.
It is a great compact solution, but it doesn't have amp sims, only cab sims - but you can easily solve that with a nice separate preamp pedal and still keep your board really compact. 😄
@@PedalPlatform Yeah, spotted that on a comment below just after posting! No worries, and will probably buy a preamp pedal at some point. Thanks for the vids btw- super clear and helpful!
Super helpful. Thanks! I find the board switching and tap tempo a little clunky on my X5 but still prefer the overall ease of use to the Strymon stuff I used prior to switching.
if I were to use this it would be honestly for touring in a small band. I like an amp with an fx loop and this pedal would really let me clean up my tone. Cool idea, had no idea about it till now lol! Love the flashback II and hyper gravity, this is cool and could replace those 2 since I rarely use the mash. (with it had the same tuner function as fb I)
HI! great video! is there a way to insert a external pedal (OD for example) between two X3 effects? like Grt > X3-Phaser > OD Pedal > X3-Delay ? thanks!
Hey great video! As someone who’s very new to guitar, this is super appealing because I can learn about so many effects, how to stack pedals, and discover sounds that I like. However I’m worried that there are almost too many options… option paralysis. I’d be worried that I’d spend more time messing with the board than playing guitar. What are your thoughts? Either way, much cooler time to be learning guitar than when I was in high school!
Thanks Tom! 🙏🏻 Option paralysis is always a risk with a multi fx unit, but because the Plethora doesn't have amp sims or drive pedals - which is usually where other multi fx tend to go overboard with 200 or so variants of the same amp 🤦🏻♂️, things get simplified here. There's still a lot to explore, but usually even the default toneprints that load up with each effect sound great, so you don't have to dive too deep to get great sounds. And if / when you do want to dive deeper, there's a whole world of creating your own toneprints waiting for you 😁
A bit late on this, Will the X3 work with a Preamp pedal instead of an amp? I'm trying to make a fly rig and I already have a preamp pedal in mind and this looks like the perfect FX unit to complement my high gain rig. Signal chain should be: 1. Booster 2. Preamp pedal 3. X3 4. Wah pedal 5. External Gate. Just wondering if no FX loop is going to be a problem with this unit.
I believe it'll work fine, the FX loop is a nice thing to have on the X5 but the lack of it isn't a deal breaker. Just wondering if you have any specific reasons to keep the wah and external gate after the X3? For my particular use case I'd probably have them just before the X3...
This has my interest, but here's the big question. Can i program boards with only the quintessence function, but each board with different parameters like KEY/SCALE/HARMONY and even some custom toneprints. It's a bit overkill to use only one effect but I haven't found a harmonizer which can switch with different presets.
Yup, absolutely. And you can even put 3 per board and stack them if you want to create really complex stuff. But don't forget that they'll work in series, so each one will harmonize the harmonized output of the previous one ;)
Great video! TC is definitely lucky to have you as their beta tester! :) Before I go and watch the x5 video (which I didnt see, because I was not too interested in x5) - do you cover the midi side of things for X5 in detail? And do these two devices share same MIDI features? In particular, I was upset to find out that the X3 omits the Expression pedal input. I know, I know, MASH and all of that, but… So, can I have MIDI control over CC parameters with an expression pedal?
Thank you! I haven't yet covered the MIDI side of the Plethoras in video, but I'm already working on it and hope to publish within the week. Either way, to answer your question, you can have CC control over the Hotknobz, so you can map whichever effect parameter you want to control to a hotknob, and control that with a MIDI connected Exp Pedal. 👍🏻
hey dude, awesome vid. Quick question, can you assign individual effects to be either a momentary or toggle on/off function? For example running a delay and reverb in toggle so they stay on, but momentary switch on an octave for a certain phrase etc?
As usual with the Plethora: no, and yes. 😆 Expanding: - No; all footswitches are latching, some with secondary functions, but there's no momentary option; - Yes; you can cheekily create toneprints for any effect that you want temporary, and assign the MASH switch to control the effect level only (this parameter will vary from effect to effect), on a steep curve that goes from 0 to 100% from one step to the next. This way you can leave the effect slot on at all times without it affecting your sound, until you step on it. Release the pressure, and the effect will stay on but without affecting the sound. Hope this helps!
I wanted the X5 but couldn't afford it, so the X3 works a lot. Since I have the hall of fame, flashback 2 and the corona, I'm gonna swap them for the X3 and use the reverb delay and mod from my meris Enzo if needed and get more FX combos.
As always, this video is amazing. Even more, as TC doesn't care any more to provide manual user with their products. I need some help about the bluetooth connection. I use IOs devices (ipad , iphone, McBook Air) and any of those gears can't be connected with the PX3 (the PX3 doesn't appear on availabe bluetooth devices list ...) Is there a trick ? Thank you for your help !
Yup! I was going to point you the direction of my video on this subject (old but still valid: th-cam.com/video/z-Pc7re7Zzc/w-d-xo.html), but I'm glad you found the answer! Caveat: it only works on mobile devices. Laptops and desktops can only connect via cable. 😕
There is no full manual, but I do have a couple of older videos demoing almost all the functions in the Plethora playlist. As for the MIDI implementation, you can get it from the Settings menu (check this video for reference: th-cam.com/video/NrsOYkBgfXg/w-d-xo.html) 👍🏻👍🏻
Had my eye on the X5 since it came out. Wondering if the limitation of just 3 effects at any one time with X3 is actually a limitation (how often would I want/need 4 or 5?)
In my opinion it depends on the rest of your rig, if you already have one. If you're starting from scratch, the PX5 can be an excellent pedal to build a rig around (th-cam.com/video/N0ukWiah5bU/w-d-xo.html). You can use 3 slots for something like compressor, delay, reverb, and still have another two extra for modulations, pitch effects, etc. If on the other hand you already have most of what you need and just want some variety thrown in, or want an utility pedal that will allow you to retire a few other that you only use once in a blue moon, the PX3 is an excellent, more compact choice.
Hi Great video. I’m eyeing this a while ago and this video helped me a lot. Can you confirm one thing though? When you use the looper and you loop a sound, will the next pedal (let’s say a reverb pedal) effect the looped sound as well as the live input sound? Thanks
Yes! The Plethora's signal chain is always in series, so the pedals down the line always effect the ones before, just like with a regular stand-alone looper.
Apparently the tuner can be set up for a triple tap to engage it. Can anyone tell me how to configure it that way instead of holding down the Toneprint knob for 3 seconds? Thanks!
Pop to edit mode, scroll down to Settings > Global > Product Settings > FSW Activate Tuner, then activate Triple Tap FSW 5. With that, you can access the tuner both ways (long press the TP knob, or triple tap switch 5). Live long and prosper. 🖖🏻
@@PedalPlatform That was easy!! You have now been promoted to Co-Science Officer. Please report to requisitions and petty officer Betty Bubbles will get you fitted for a new uniform👍
Hi there, just got my plethora X3 and your videos have been really helpful. QQ) How do you rename a board - cant find anything in pedal settings - thanks
@@PedalPlatform Thanks - eventually found the well hidden, mystery "slide to re-name" in the app. Now working through the pedal - so much to learn but your channel and videos have been super helpful. An immediate observation is that scrolling through the Toneprints can be a drag for effects that have lots already loaded. Is there a way to delete ones you don't want to make selection easier
Hi I don't suppose you know if you can still do a whammy dive bomb using the brainwaves mash button on the x3? I use my brainwaves just for the intro to lonely boy by the black keys. It would be cool to replace it with the x3.
Hi, you can absolutely program the X3's brainwaves to do the mash divebomb. If you can't find a factory toneprint that does it, it's easy enough to create one that does :)
Great video thanks. I am stuck on one task. When duplicating a board it isn't possible to select a new location out of the 127? It will only allow to duplicating to the next ascending slot? I am using a midi foot controller and I would like to locate in a non ascending position, I am guessing this isn't possible?
Great review! Thinking of getting the X5 but I think X3 is better for me coz of its small size and it's cheaper. Lol. I'm just wondering if the plethora can be used as an audio interface and connect it in a PC? Haven't seen any reviews about it. Thank you for the video! It's really helpful!
Thank you 🙏🏻 Yeah, both are great choices, but the PX3 form factor and price make it easier to integrate everywhere 😁 That said, the FX loop and expression pedal on the X5 are also very interesting... if you haven't yet, take a look at this and see if the extra FX loop of the X5 is something you'd use, or if you can do without it: th-cam.com/video/N0ukWiah5bU/w-d-xo.html. As for audio interface, nope. As it stands, USB port is for data connection only. I know some users asked if that could be integrated in a future firmware, but I don't know if it's even on the roadmap.
Quick questions: - is the looper in the Plethora X3 based on the recent TC Ditto+ (which offers the possibility of dual parallel loops of different length) ? - OR: is it based on the TC Jam X2 (which follows tempo changes)? - OR... both? Thanks for cool review!
The looper in the Plethora is not necessarily based on either of those. It's a simple "rec / play / overdub", mono / stereo ram based looper, that you can load into as many slots as you want, and they all run in free sync, i.e. you can't sync start / stop points between them at this point, or change the tempo, etc. There are user requests to be able to sync them, so let's see where that goes.
@@PedalPlatform Thanks for precisions! - so the pedal contains a "one button looper" kind of based on the first Ditto looper. - "as many slots as you want" meaning you are able to choose up to 3 times the looper (3 ditto loop pedals in serie!?!)? - and if so, as of now, these 3 pedals are not in sync with one another. => is this correct?
thank you for your videos. without you plethora would have a very steep learning curve...my apologies if this has already been answered before, but when I select different toneprints for a pedal the hot knob settings are retained from previous toneprint. is that intentional or am I missing a setting somewhere? thank you
Thank you! 🙏🏻 Yes, the toneprints always read the position of the knobs when loading, and translate that position to the value of the parameter according to the mapping curve inside the toneprint. 👍🏻 If you want to create your own toneprints that always load with "preset" values, you'll have to "flat map" the curves to the values you want - that way the position of the knob doesn't matter. th-cam.com/video/aAS0BAeMwTQ/w-d-xo.html)
I’m curious about your signal flow during the demo portion of your video. We’re you using the X3’s cab simulator? Were you feeding the X3 into an miked amp or direct into an interface? Was the Vox pedal first in the chain? Please advise
Hi! No amps were involved in the making of this video 😉 I'm using the Vox in preamp mode, which is really wonderful, and the X3's cab sims. With the "full" board the signal path is Guitar > DOD Looking Glass > Vox > Boss EQ200 > Plethora X3 > Flashback II X4 > Hall of Fame 2 X4 > audio interface. From the Plethora onwards everything is stereo. On the "fly rig", it's just the Vox into the Plethora X3, and out in stereo to the interface.
I did the whole demo plugged into a 500 mA power supply without any problems, but your mileage may vary. The X3 doesn't seem to be as power hungry as the XT, so you might be okay.
As with a lot of things with the Plethora, the answer is both no and yes: - you can't use the hotknobz to swap between toneprints; - but you can create a custom toneprint with two or three "presets" according to the position of the pots, then map the hotknob to those pots. This is a lot harder to explain in words than it is to show, so take a look at this video where I do something similar: th-cam.com/video/GSLmxaXSvLc/w-d-xo.html. After setting up the toneprint, you'd have to load it up on the board, then map the hotknob to the respective pots. Hope this helps!
@@PedalPlatform Thanks for your reply. I checked out your video. You have put a lot of thought into this strategy. My current setup uses a Flashback 1. When I get the X3 I'll check out your edit.
You need to use X3 specific toneprints, but most if not all the original factory ones have been (or will be) ported to the X3. If you're using your own custom toneprints, you'll have to remake them as currently there isn't an automatic way of porting them.
Hi! Yes, there is, and I go over it on this follow-up video: th-cam.com/video/NrsOYkBgfXg/w-d-xo.html. It's only a fraction of a second, but definitely noticeable - especially if you're using the built in cab sims.
If it had three tiny knobs (like th fly rig) above each pedal to control parameters that would help. I thought the hx effects was a perfect solution for me but it sucked tone like crazy. The search continues for a solution to my big expensive noisy tap dancing pedal board.
That could indeed be an option, but I kind of like the option of "hiding" that level of editing behind a switch and having the knobs in play mode just doing one function that I get to pick. But then again, I'm used to it by now, so I don't even notice it anymore :)
The short answer is: yes, you'll need a computer / phone / something that can run the toneprint app, but... ... the long answer is you can use the toneprint editor to assign up to three modulation parameters to one pot / MASH switch, then assign the pot to a hotknob or use the MASH switch and have that control from the pedal. 👍🏻
Which one do you want / need? A truly excellent analog delay pedal, or a brilliant multi function tool with tons of effects that also includes a superb analog delay emulation, as well as modulations, compressor, gate, etc? :)
Nope... there's a complete board reset when switching boards / presets, so no trails when changing. Only when toggling effects on / off within the same board.
Sweet thank you I’m working on making a smaller board but it’s between this pedal or the mod 11 by ehx. My other board has a strymon mobious on it and it looks like they made this pedal a lot easier to use
Would be nice to see and in depth about the cab sim built in. If it's usable on a pedalboard (without amp sims) to go straight to a PA, at least for rehersals.
The built in cab sims are relatively simple, but definitely usable - all of the sound examples in this video were recorded using them, with the Vox Copperhead as the preamp. I'm not sure that I would use them without the preamp / amp sim, but if you have a preamp style pedal, you should be perfectly fine. 👍🏻
Try checking Settings / Global / Product Settings and see if you have board switching on switches 1+2 / 2+3 active, as it conflicts with quick swap. Only one of them can be active at a time.
The Spark Boost is an all analog drive, and currently TC don't have a digital equivalent, so... not sure that'll happen. On the other hand, you can use the Hypergravity as a Boost / EQ: th-cam.com/video/6MVdyRiBzE8/w-d-xo.html. 😉 As for the Infinite Sustainer... yeah, I think it's a bit too new to be included in a hurry, but I might be wrong! 🤷🏻♂️
Where is the parallel pedal order? Why does everything have to go into each other, all the time? So much potential lost. I don't JUST only use parallel lines but aditionally have them with low and high pass filters for the top end of one effect and the Low end of another effect. rIGHT NOW its limiting for no apparent reason. When they make an update allowing all three or 2 -1 parallel with High, Bandpass, Low pass filter crossfading I will concider it. In my opinion it IS good, but Awesom? Not yet and I am very very sad.
Get your gear from Thomann.de and help me make more videos: redir.love/sYpGIUd3
Can you have a deep dive on X5 effects that drop volume when engaged and how to adjust for that?
Out of stock for 3-4 weeks :(
I ordered it before I found your page. I found this informative, thank you.
I got one of these yesterday and I have to say I really love it. Of course, your video was a great introduction and tutorial on the inner workings of the pedal...thanks for that. Three words best describe this pedal for me: Small but Mighty. :) Thanks again for the video.
Great stuff, I hope you enjoy it! 🙏🏻
My Plethora X3 should come in the mail tomorrow, and I can't wait. Your video was a great introduction and I feel like I know the pedal already. Thanks!
Awesome, hope you enjoy it! 🙏🏻
Thanks!
Thank you! 🙏🏻
This is one of the best review/user videos i have seen. I dont know if that is because the x3 is just a very intuitive tool, or you are a particularly skilled tutor. A bit of both, i suspect. New subscriber.
Thanks you! There’s no manual that describes the detail that you cover.. a very articulate and helpful tutorial, thank you!
Love your videos! Is there a way to split the signal in the X3 so you can run a mono in/out to the right and then stereo in/out to the left. (ie. Say I wanted to run chorus in and out of the amp FX loop in the mono side and then the sub-n-up via the stereo side to the front of the amp?) I’m attempting to run a 4CM method understanding the X3 does not have an FX loop. Thank you in advance for your help 🙂
this is FANTASTIC. Thank you very much for taking the time to make this video!
You're very welcome! 😃
Thank you so much for you Plethora instructions. Very well done and they make my setups so much easier!
Glad to help, and thank you for your support! 🙏🏻
Super helpful! You move kind of fast but I'll refer back to this numerous times I'm sure after I get one! Going to add this after my Torpedo Cab M+ coupled with my amplifier for cab sims connected to a mixer with studio monitors and an audio interface for recording to supply all of it's awesome effects. Thanks again!
Hi and thanks for all great videos! I'm an acoustic guitar player within old timey blues and country as well as some singer songwriting stuff when I work as a studio musician. I switched to Plethora 5X on my small pedalboard because I love TC's modulations and I've had all of their pedals in physical form. Now they're gone and I combine the 5X with three other pedal in the loop and and expression pedal - off we go and I don't have a clue yet 🙂 Well it's cool to experiment and also cool to notice all differences compared to the previous unit I used, the BOSS MS-3. I still love that one amd it goes with me to rehearsals or smaller gigs or jams, just paired with a preamp. Anyway, I'll be binge watching your other videos prior to a gig this weekend, need to configure the X5 the best way possible.
Cheers!
I have the Plethorax3 and as an old guy you have done a good job of explaining the pedal ,,,,, I will be playing this with a collings dreadnaught guitar on a worship team ,,,,,, I'm really interested in any board combos that will give me an ambient sound and one other setting I would like to use is the dotted 8th note ,,,,, I'm thinking of buying the HX Stomp from Line Six to complement the x3 and it will give me some things yours doesn't , like a preamp ! I would like your opinion on adding the Line 6 ,,,,,,
2nd time around a few months after purchase and use this vid makes much more sense. Thanks amigo. Hope ur well.
Thanks so much for the video! I’m planning on getting a Boss Space Echo and a Digitech Plethora for my delay and reverb, so I’m planning on using the Plethora purely as my modulation station and running stereo out from there. :)
Can you engage all three effects in one click ?
Man & holy smoke! that Vox od sounded gorgeous
Thanks for this video.
Q: Are there only 3 adjustable parameters per effect or can you access more parameters beyond the 3 knobs?
Correct only 3 adjustable parameters if editing on the plethora. However, if you edit on your app or pc there are loads and loads of parameters you can edit.
Fantastic coverage of menu nav; would have preferred sound demo w/o other pedals in the signal chain.
Try this: th-cam.com/video/N0ukWiah5bU/w-d-xo.html. Take away the setups that depend on the FX loop that the PX3 doesn't have, and everything else is valid. 😉 If you meant other pedals on the Plethora itself, I have a whole playlist of messing around with the X5, which sounds exactly the same.
Great informative video, thanks! I get that the X3 isn't meant to cover over drive/distortion applications, but it would have been great if TC added the Rush volume boost feature to this unit. If you can increase the volume with the compressor it would seem possible just to have a circuit to simply boost the volume a few db. In my opinion it is hard to beat a good stand-alone analog box but this unit does a better job than other digital options I've tried.
Thank you so much for your explanation, very effective
Liked and subscribed. Incredibly helpful. Thanks!
Thank you! 🙏🏻
Thanks for the nice review! My son just got one of these and we are both loving it. There is one issue that I’m stumped by however: Switching between boards via the buttons. I heard people suggest this was possible. I watched you do it with my own eyes. But when we try to do this, it simply turns the two pedals on or off, it does not switch boards. What are we missing here?
I like my X3. Nice compact size and good sounds. I don't miss 2 slots or the send/return, but would love the expression pedal to control Delay mix. I gigged it last night and did find I hit 2 switches at once a couple of times so had some patch change surprises mid song!
Please tell us more about midi implementation and its limitations! I'm planning on changing my Synesthesia for this but first i need to know the flaws. Thanks for the video!
It's coming as soon as I can get it in the camera 😁
Very late to the Plethora party....love it........and thank you for your comprehensive guidance to get me started. One question (sorry).....Can you change what the display shows?...maybe you want to say "slow phase" or "dotted 8th" rather than it just saying PHASER and DELAY....this would be so helpful when you have multiple boards. Thanks anyone that can help
Thanks for good explaining 👍 one question. Lets say i use on board 30 reverb and delay. And i want also push in a flanger, which is on board 31. Is it possible, that reverb and delay stays on when i change board to 31? Normally the effect goes away when you switch the board. Its important for me for playing live. I need maybe 5-6 effects that i can change - but reverb and delay has to be on most the time
Unfortunately that's not possible, as the Plethora resets all the effects when changing boards. 🫤
Thats sad.. but thank you @Pedal for help and answer 🙏👍
DUDE!!! Thank YOU!! Just got mine today and I am not a manual reader.. I guess I am now.. But this REALLY helped.
Great stuff, welcome to the Plethora family 😉
How do we change frequency in Tuner. Example 432hz.
Thanks for this video. I'd like to buy one, and use it for adding stereo capabilities to my Amped1. I'd like to connect X3 to the Amped1 FX Loop, and then use the X3 cab rig to go directly in stereo to the PA or to the PC interface. May this config be ok? Is it possible to load 3rd party IR on the X3? Many thanks
Can you turn all three effects on at once in one stomp? If I want to create a complex tone using all three switches (like an H90), and just want to hit them all at once on/off would be amazing.
When you change the direction of in and out does that effect it in the send/return direction as well??
Great video. Does it have bass cab sim?
Hello! I have the x5. Is there a way to know if the input to the plethora or the signal in the pethora itself is peaking? thanks!
"Honey, I Shrunk the pedal" 😅😅😅
Well... It seems to me that it's a great pedal (or pedalboard), no matter it is smaller than the x5.
Thank you for another great video 👌
Thank you! 🙏🏻
Informative vid dude.👍
So this is the modern Line 6 M5/M9 would you say? I'm looking for that swiss army knife for extra effects. I run a, wah, comp, muff, OD, and OD with a TC HOF mini and Flashback in the loop....but maybe I'll need a flanger one time, an octave one time, tremolo, chorus etc. This is more expensive than an M5 obviously. I could run this in the loop with the two other TCs right?
Thank you! And yes, you can easily integrate this into the loop with the other pedals and get a very versatile board in a relatively small real estate :)
Wow. I was thinking of replacing my Line 6 M5 with an HX Effects, but after watching your video I figured it would be a better solution for me. A perfect unit for plugging into loops and controlling via MIDI.
Yup!
I'm just selling my HX effects (great unit but options paralysis!) & looking to replace with either the X3 or X5.
Getting one soon, thanks!
Thank you for a great video. I have already X5 and it is a bit too big for me. Perhaps I will switch to X3.
You're very welcome!
I got one yesterday. Used to use a Helix Floor/Powercab, but recently returned to amp (Roland Blues Cube Stage) and pedals. This looks like a great solution (mainly playing weddings and functions) and very well designed. Having amps sims means I can use the pedal as an emergency back up at gigs rather than have a spare amp in the boot. Having a looper and tuner are nice extras, and the unit so far seems very intuitive and sounds great. Have used the Toneprint app, but at present there don't seem to be any toneprints on it for this model yet - hopefully that will change soon.
It is a great compact solution, but it doesn't have amp sims, only cab sims - but you can easily solve that with a nice separate preamp pedal and still keep your board really compact. 😄
@@PedalPlatform Yeah, spotted that on a comment below just after posting! No worries, and will probably buy a preamp pedal at some point. Thanks for the vids btw- super clear and helpful!
Thank *you* for the kind comments! 🙏🏻
Super helpful. Thanks! I find the board switching and tap tempo a little clunky on my X5 but still prefer the overall ease of use to the Strymon stuff I used prior to switching.
Glad it helped!
You went from strymon, to the plethora?? Just curious how the effects compare in your words? Tha KS
I bought it, I love it. So much more intuitive/simple for me over HX stomp. Cheers :)
Glad you liked it! 🙏🏻
Anyway to kill the loop without making re record a part ?
thanks for sharing but i am having a big problem with noise gate, can You help? how to use? thanks
if I were to use this it would be honestly for touring in a small band. I like an amp with an fx loop and this pedal would really let me clean up my tone. Cool idea, had no idea about it till now lol!
Love the flashback II and hyper gravity, this is cool and could replace those 2 since I rarely use the mash. (with it had the same tuner function as fb I)
HI! great video! is there a way to insert a external pedal (OD for example) between two X3 effects? like Grt > X3-Phaser > OD Pedal > X3-Delay ? thanks!
Not on the X3, sorry, need an X5 for that as it has an effects loop.
@@PedalPlatform I see. Thanks!
Hey great video! As someone who’s very new to guitar, this is super appealing because I can learn about so many effects, how to stack pedals, and discover sounds that I like. However I’m worried that there are almost too many options… option paralysis. I’d be worried that I’d spend more time messing with the board than playing guitar. What are your thoughts? Either way, much cooler time to be learning guitar than when I was in high school!
Thanks Tom! 🙏🏻 Option paralysis is always a risk with a multi fx unit, but because the Plethora doesn't have amp sims or drive pedals - which is usually where other multi fx tend to go overboard with 200 or so variants of the same amp 🤦🏻♂️, things get simplified here. There's still a lot to explore, but usually even the default toneprints that load up with each effect sound great, so you don't have to dive too deep to get great sounds. And if / when you do want to dive deeper, there's a whole world of creating your own toneprints waiting for you 😁
I'm going for classy rev and delay over guit solo. ty 4 vid explanation. Helpful bruh.
A bit late on this,
Will the X3 work with a Preamp pedal instead of an amp?
I'm trying to make a fly rig and I already have a preamp pedal in mind and this looks like the perfect FX unit to complement my high gain rig.
Signal chain should be:
1. Booster
2. Preamp pedal
3. X3
4. Wah pedal
5. External Gate.
Just wondering if no FX loop is going to be a problem with this unit.
I believe it'll work fine, the FX loop is a nice thing to have on the X5 but the lack of it isn't a deal breaker. Just wondering if you have any specific reasons to keep the wah and external gate after the X3? For my particular use case I'd probably have them just before the X3...
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you !!
This has my interest, but here's the big question.
Can i program boards with only the quintessence function, but each board with different parameters like KEY/SCALE/HARMONY
and even some custom toneprints.
It's a bit overkill to use only one effect but I haven't found a harmonizer which can switch with different presets.
Yup, absolutely. And you can even put 3 per board and stack them if you want to create really complex stuff. But don't forget that they'll work in series, so each one will harmonize the harmonized output of the previous one ;)
Has anyone been able to produce a usable Hammond organ sound with the Plethora?
Great video! TC is definitely lucky to have you as their beta tester! :) Before I go and watch the x5 video (which I didnt see, because I was not too interested in x5) - do you cover the midi side of things for X5 in detail? And do these two devices share same MIDI features?
In particular, I was upset to find out that the X3 omits the Expression pedal input. I know, I know, MASH and all of that, but… So, can I have MIDI control over CC parameters with an expression pedal?
Thank you! I haven't yet covered the MIDI side of the Plethoras in video, but I'm already working on it and hope to publish within the week. Either way, to answer your question, you can have CC control over the Hotknobz, so you can map whichever effect parameter you want to control to a hotknob, and control that with a MIDI connected Exp Pedal. 👍🏻
@@PedalPlatform Thanks, sounds like a great way to circumvent the lack of Expectation jack.
Aww man, that's the best autocorrect ever! 😁
@@PedalPlatform LMAO!!!
hey dude, awesome vid. Quick question, can you assign individual effects to be either a momentary or toggle on/off function? For example running a delay and reverb in toggle so they stay on, but momentary switch on an octave for a certain phrase etc?
As usual with the Plethora: no, and yes. 😆 Expanding:
- No; all footswitches are latching, some with secondary functions, but there's no momentary option;
- Yes; you can cheekily create toneprints for any effect that you want temporary, and assign the MASH switch to control the effect level only (this parameter will vary from effect to effect), on a steep curve that goes from 0 to 100% from one step to the next. This way you can leave the effect slot on at all times without it affecting your sound, until you step on it. Release the pressure, and the effect will stay on but without affecting the sound.
Hope this helps!
Does this have better quality effects than a line6 M13?
how do u set like 1/4 note or 1/8 notes in the delay settigs?
Can you please tell me how to edit the boards names?
You can do it with the TonePrint Editor, on the board management tab. 👍🏻
@@PedalPlatform Will try. Thanks
I wanted the X5 but couldn't afford it, so the X3 works a lot. Since I have the hall of fame, flashback 2 and the corona, I'm gonna swap them for the X3 and use the reverb delay and mod from my meris Enzo if needed and get more FX combos.
Sounds like a great plan 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
As always, this video is amazing. Even more, as TC doesn't care any more to provide manual user with their products. I need some help about the bluetooth connection. I use IOs devices (ipad , iphone, McBook Air) and any of those gears can't be connected with the PX3 (the PX3 doesn't appear on availabe bluetooth devices list ...) Is there a trick ?
Thank you for your help !
I solved the enigma : you have to connect trought the TonePrint App, and not with devices bluetooth menu ...
Yup! I was going to point you the direction of my video on this subject (old but still valid: th-cam.com/video/z-Pc7re7Zzc/w-d-xo.html), but I'm glad you found the answer! Caveat: it only works on mobile devices. Laptops and desktops can only connect via cable. 😕
@@PedalPlatform thanks !!
Plethora full Manual and midi implementation? Someone? At the webpage I’ve only found QuickStart guides… thanks
There is no full manual, but I do have a couple of older videos demoing almost all the functions in the Plethora playlist. As for the MIDI implementation, you can get it from the Settings menu (check this video for reference: th-cam.com/video/NrsOYkBgfXg/w-d-xo.html) 👍🏻👍🏻
Can you use it in 4 cable method and assign some FX before the amp and other FX in the amp's FX loop? thanks
Nope, it's missing the FX loop that would be needed for that, and only the PX5 has.
Had my eye on the X5 since it came out. Wondering if the limitation of just 3 effects at any one time with X3 is actually a limitation (how often would I want/need 4 or 5?)
In my opinion it depends on the rest of your rig, if you already have one. If you're starting from scratch, the PX5 can be an excellent pedal to build a rig around (th-cam.com/video/N0ukWiah5bU/w-d-xo.html). You can use 3 slots for something like compressor, delay, reverb, and still have another two extra for modulations, pitch effects, etc. If on the other hand you already have most of what you need and just want some variety thrown in, or want an utility pedal that will allow you to retire a few other that you only use once in a blue moon, the PX3 is an excellent, more compact choice.
@@PedalPlatform leaning towards X5 - great advice, thanks
Hi
Great video. I’m eyeing this a while ago and this video helped me a lot. Can you confirm one thing though?
When you use the looper and you loop a sound, will the next pedal (let’s say a reverb pedal) effect the looped sound as well as the live input sound?
Thanks
Yes! The Plethora's signal chain is always in series, so the pedals down the line always effect the ones before, just like with a regular stand-alone looper.
Apparently the tuner can be set up for a triple tap to engage it. Can anyone tell me how to configure it that way instead of holding down the Toneprint knob for 3 seconds? Thanks!
Pop to edit mode, scroll down to Settings > Global > Product Settings > FSW Activate Tuner, then activate Triple Tap FSW 5.
With that, you can access the tuner both ways (long press the TP knob, or triple tap switch 5).
Live long and prosper. 🖖🏻
@@PedalPlatform That was easy!! You have now been promoted to Co-Science Officer. Please report to requisitions and petty officer Betty Bubbles will get you fitted for a new uniform👍
How do I edit the name of the boards?
Hi there, just got my plethora X3 and your videos have been really helpful. QQ) How do you rename a board - cant find anything in pedal settings - thanks
Hi Ian, thank you! You can rename boards from the TonePrint Editor app. 👍🏻
@@PedalPlatform Thanks - eventually found the well hidden, mystery "slide to re-name" in the app. Now working through the pedal - so much to learn but your channel and videos have been super helpful. An immediate observation is that scrolling through the Toneprints can be a drag for effects that have lots already loaded. Is there a way to delete ones you don't want to make selection easier
Glad to be of service! 🙏🏻
Hi
I don't suppose you know if you can still do a whammy dive bomb using the brainwaves mash button on the x3? I use my brainwaves just for the intro to lonely boy by the black keys. It would be cool to replace it with the x3.
Hi, you can absolutely program the X3's brainwaves to do the mash divebomb. If you can't find a factory toneprint that does it, it's easy enough to create one that does :)
@@PedalPlatform that's excellent, thanks for your help!
You're very welcome!
Great video thanks. I am stuck on one task. When duplicating a board it isn't possible to select a new location out of the 127? It will only allow to duplicating to the next ascending slot? I am using a midi foot controller and I would like to locate in a non ascending position, I am guessing this isn't possible?
You can do it from a computer with the TonePrint Editor, in the board manager section. 👍🏻
@@PedalPlatform Thanks for the reply. I did watch your midi video and I will try the Tone Print Editor.
Great review! Thinking of getting the X5 but I think X3 is better for me coz of its small size and it's cheaper. Lol. I'm just wondering if the plethora can be used as an audio interface and connect it in a PC? Haven't seen any reviews about it. Thank you for the video! It's really helpful!
Thank you 🙏🏻 Yeah, both are great choices, but the PX3 form factor and price make it easier to integrate everywhere 😁 That said, the FX loop and expression pedal on the X5 are also very interesting... if you haven't yet, take a look at this and see if the extra FX loop of the X5 is something you'd use, or if you can do without it: th-cam.com/video/N0ukWiah5bU/w-d-xo.html.
As for audio interface, nope. As it stands, USB port is for data connection only. I know some users asked if that could be integrated in a future firmware, but I don't know if it's even on the roadmap.
@@PedalPlatform Another helpful vid! Very informative. Thank you so much! 🙏🙏🙏
Quick questions:
- is the looper in the Plethora X3 based on the recent TC Ditto+ (which offers the possibility of dual parallel loops of different length) ?
- OR: is it based on the TC Jam X2 (which follows tempo changes)?
- OR... both?
Thanks for cool review!
The looper in the Plethora is not necessarily based on either of those. It's a simple "rec / play / overdub", mono / stereo ram based looper, that you can load into as many slots as you want, and they all run in free sync, i.e. you can't sync start / stop points between them at this point, or change the tempo, etc. There are user requests to be able to sync them, so let's see where that goes.
@@PedalPlatform Thanks for precisions!
- so the pedal contains a "one button looper" kind of based on the first Ditto looper.
- "as many slots as you want" meaning you are able to choose up to 3 times the looper (3 ditto loop pedals in serie!?!)?
- and if so, as of now, these 3 pedals are not in sync with one another.
=> is this correct?
Is there a way to set tap tempo so that it syncs all pedals to the same tempo?
Nope, it's a long standing user request.
Have you noticed any issues running the X3 in an amp FX loop?
thank you for your videos. without you plethora would have a very steep learning curve...my apologies if this has already been answered before, but when I select different toneprints for a pedal the hot knob settings are retained from previous toneprint. is that intentional or am I missing a setting somewhere? thank you
Thank you! 🙏🏻 Yes, the toneprints always read the position of the knobs when loading, and translate that position to the value of the parameter according to the mapping curve inside the toneprint. 👍🏻 If you want to create your own toneprints that always load with "preset" values, you'll have to "flat map" the curves to the values you want - that way the position of the knob doesn't matter. th-cam.com/video/aAS0BAeMwTQ/w-d-xo.html)
Excellent Video as always... thanks. The Bodyrez does not have a toneprint so does that mean TC will never add it to the X3?
Thank you! 🙏🏻 I guess you're right, I don't know the Plethora roadmap, but I'm guessing that if it isn't toneprint, it won't be on it. 😕
My pedal power has 9v 500ma outputs. Would that work with the x3?
Mine does.
Love my PX5. They should have kept the exp pedal feature.
No preset save, I'd like for some one who prefers this and why to chime in?
I don't necessarily prefer it, but I think it aligns with the ethos of this pedal.
I just picked this up and putting it on a bass pedal board (yes they do exist). It will be Bass > Spectracomp > Le Bass > Plethora X3 > Cab M+
Perfect combination, if you ask me. And how awesome is that Cab M+? 😍
I’m curious about your signal flow during the demo portion of your video. We’re you using the X3’s cab simulator? Were you feeding the X3 into an miked amp or direct into an interface? Was the Vox pedal first in the chain? Please advise
Hi! No amps were involved in the making of this video 😉 I'm using the Vox in preamp mode, which is really wonderful, and the X3's cab sims.
With the "full" board the signal path is Guitar > DOD Looking Glass > Vox > Boss EQ200 > Plethora X3 > Flashback II X4 > Hall of Fame 2 X4 > audio interface. From the Plethora onwards everything is stereo.
On the "fly rig", it's just the Vox into the Plethora X3, and out in stereo to the interface.
@@PedalPlatform Thank you so much for your detailed explanation. It truly helps.
So I ordered this not knowing that it used 9V 600ma. I have on my board 9V 500ma. What did you use to power it. Wondering if 9V 500ma is enough
I did the whole demo plugged into a 500 mA power supply without any problems, but your mileage may vary. The X3 doesn't seem to be as power hungry as the XT, so you might be okay.
Any chance you can run some effects in an effects loop(of an amp) and others out front?
You need to run 4 cable method, and need an effects loop on the unit itself. The plethora x3 does not have that, but the x5 does.
Could you set the quick edit knobs to change from mod to slapback for the flashback delay?
As with a lot of things with the Plethora, the answer is both no and yes:
- you can't use the hotknobz to swap between toneprints;
- but you can create a custom toneprint with two or three "presets" according to the position of the pots, then map the hotknob to those pots.
This is a lot harder to explain in words than it is to show, so take a look at this video where I do something similar: th-cam.com/video/GSLmxaXSvLc/w-d-xo.html. After setting up the toneprint, you'd have to load it up on the board, then map the hotknob to the respective pots. Hope this helps!
@@PedalPlatform Thanks for your reply. I checked out your video. You have put a lot of thought into this strategy. My current setup uses a Flashback 1. When I get the X3 I'll check out your edit.
Hi, can anyone help me please?
Can I apply a high pass filter to the reverb?? And how?
Thanks :)
Not as such, but you can tweak the LoColor parameter with the TonePrint Editor. Check this in the EQ section: th-cam.com/video/UQpmwjN6l_A/w-d-xo.html
@@PedalPlatform thanks this was helpful…
Also are there any way of setting the tuner to BASS it will not recognise my low B string :(
Can you use the standard tone prints for Sat the Hall of Fame 2 or do you have to use just the Plethora 3 ones in the app?
You need to use X3 specific toneprints, but most if not all the original factory ones have been (or will be) ported to the X3. If you're using your own custom toneprints, you'll have to remake them as currently there isn't an automatic way of porting them.
@@PedalPlatform great thank you
Are the effects in the X5 and the X3 the same ? Cause I read that the X3 has the Mimiq Doubler and I can see nowhere, if the X5 has it or not.
They're the same, the X5 also has it. 😉
@@PedalPlatform Thanks !!!
Is there a time gap when switching from one board to another? If so, is this so if you're using a MIDI controller?
Hi! Yes, there is, and I go over it on this follow-up video: th-cam.com/video/NrsOYkBgfXg/w-d-xo.html. It's only a fraction of a second, but definitely noticeable - especially if you're using the built in cab sims.
If it had three tiny knobs (like th fly rig) above each pedal to control parameters that would help. I thought the hx effects was a perfect solution for me but it sucked tone like crazy. The search continues for a solution to my big expensive noisy tap dancing pedal board.
That could indeed be an option, but I kind of like the option of "hiding" that level of editing behind a switch and having the knobs in play mode just doing one function that I get to pick. But then again, I'm used to it by now, so I don't even notice it anymore :)
I like that!
Can you alter delay modulation from the hot switches or are you still having to edit these on a pc
The short answer is: yes, you'll need a computer / phone / something that can run the toneprint app, but...
... the long answer is you can use the toneprint editor to assign up to three modulation parameters to one pot / MASH switch, then assign the pot to a hotknob or use the MASH switch and have that control from the pedal. 👍🏻
Great demo! I wish it had drives.
Thank you! 🙏🏻
MXR carbon copy delay vs plethora - what do you think?
Which one do you want / need? A truly excellent analog delay pedal, or a brilliant multi function tool with tons of effects that also includes a superb analog delay emulation, as well as modulations, compressor, gate, etc? :)
@@PedalPlatform Sounds like plethora is more for me, thanks :)
So only 3 effects per board?
Yup. Does exactly what it says on the tin.
Okay, you can add cab sim on top of that without counting as an effect. 😉
Is there trails on delays/reverbs when switching presets?
Nope... there's a complete board reset when switching boards / presets, so no trails when changing. Only when toggling effects on / off within the same board.
Can this be used for bass ?
Yup!
Sweet thank you I’m working on making a smaller board but it’s between this pedal or the mod 11 by ehx. My other board has a strymon mobious on it and it looks like they made this pedal a lot easier to use
Hello sir, how can I contact you?
There's an email address on the About tab. 👍🏻
Would be nice to see and in depth about the cab sim built in. If it's usable on a pedalboard (without amp sims) to go straight to a PA, at least for rehersals.
The built in cab sims are relatively simple, but definitely usable - all of the sound examples in this video were recorded using them, with the Vox Copperhead as the preamp. I'm not sure that I would use them without the preamp / amp sim, but if you have a preamp style pedal, you should be perfectly fine. 👍🏻
with the new update quick swap not works
Try checking Settings / Global / Product Settings and see if you have board switching on switches 1+2 / 2+3 active, as it conflicts with quick swap. Only one of them can be active at a time.
@@PedalPlatform thanks!! yes the 1+2 was on.....thanks again Caribbean viewer....watching your review on the DiMarizo Liquifier PU review...
No manual yet.
Too bad I can't use tap tempo and mash at the same time (somehow...).
Yeah, it would be nice, but they are mutually exclusive due to their "press and hold to activate" nature... 🤷🏻♂️
maybe add infinite sustainer and spark boost
The Spark Boost is an all analog drive, and currently TC don't have a digital equivalent, so... not sure that'll happen. On the other hand, you can use the Hypergravity as a Boost / EQ: th-cam.com/video/6MVdyRiBzE8/w-d-xo.html. 😉
As for the Infinite Sustainer... yeah, I think it's a bit too new to be included in a hurry, but I might be wrong! 🤷🏻♂️
Where is the parallel pedal order? Why does everything have to go into each other, all the time? So much potential lost. I don't JUST only use parallel lines but aditionally have them with low and high pass filters for the top end of one effect and the Low end of another effect. rIGHT NOW its limiting for no apparent reason. When they make an update allowing all three or 2 -1 parallel with High, Bandpass, Low pass filter crossfading I will concider it. In my opinion it IS good, but Awesom? Not yet and I am very very sad.