Digitech Timebender? OR what's a PDS/RDS/DFX alternative?

[doommeow]

I'm thinking about getting a Timebender (again )...

Does it do the magic pitchshifting in the looper or hold functions the way the the PDS series can? Y'know, play something, capture the sound, drop the delay time down and turn it into low grumbling evil?

Somehow I either never tried this or have forgotten from when I owned one before....

[HeavyXIII]

I haven't be able to get active pitchshifting with mine... yet. I don't know if it will do multiple harmonies on the looper unless you set the harmony/pitchshifter before each layer.

I've been able to do octave down loops and then octave up loops on top of those separately. Not sure if this really answers your question.

[JamesSGBrown]

Get DOD FX9!

[doommeow]

I've been able to do octave down loops and then octave up loops on top of those separately. Not sure if this really answers your question.

Maybe...

Once you've recorded a loop or have something locked in with the Hold function, what happens when you turn down (or up) the delay time?

[doommeow]

Get DOD FX9!

I just got a PDS2000 and I'm actually eyeing a DFX94 (IIRC, that's the DOD with the longest delay time), which made me think about the Timebender again. I liked it alot when I had it, but I was also in the middle of a not entirely well directed gear buying frenzy, trying anything that caught my eye - something like the TB that requires deep mediation to grok with fullness was easy to overlook and move to the trade bait pile.

So I'm back kinda sorta looking for a delay, and wondering if the Timebender might be if not the right one at least the best of all possible worlds. A pedal that could a) cure my Particle lust, b) satiate my multifunction delay GAS, and c) not force me to drastically rethink everything else on my board to make it fit, something I'd only be willing to do if I was wowed by something and I really haven't been by much of anything...

If the Timebender did the PDS time/pitch shifting thing, I could flip the PDS2000, be able to put my secret Satan gift on my board without a complete remodel (and it's going on the board goddamn it) (,and maybe even fit a DFX94 too cuz I can't help myself ).

Yeah.

[HeavyXIII]

I've been able to do octave down loops and then octave up loops on top of those separately. Not sure if this really answers your question.

Maybe...

Once you've recorded a loop or have something locked in with the Hold function, what happens when you turn down (or up) the delay time?

The delay time knob is not functional AFAIK when in looper mode. Let me double check right quickly.

[HeavyXIII]

It DOES slow down/speed up when a regular delay is in HOLD mode, but does nothing on the looper. Apparently you can also modulate the loops in real time, for whatever that's worth.

For crazy octave harmonies and delays and shit the Timebender is tough to beat. It knocked all the other regular delays off my board, the PS-3 esque sounds with short octave up digital delay are fucking magical. It's enough for me. The looper is extremely solid, although very simple. I needed a dedicated looper for delay in my loops, so I jumped up to a Ditto X2 and never looked back. Just depends on what sounds are "essential" for you.

[rfurtkamp]

Yea, in hold mode, it speeds up/down on the Timebender based on what mode is set (the method of the shifting varies by whether it's a tape or analog or digital delay). It's not like a PDS/RDS where you can also LFO shape the loop nondestructively afterwards - but the added harmonizer/pitch shifting and other neat stuff (the hold function alone is to die for, really) makes it worth its weight and size in gold.

If you want a PDS etc. just get a RDS rackmount and call it good, buy a 1/4" Echoplex-standard-type footswitch, and go to crazytown.

There's a reason I still have two of the RDS units in the rack.

That said, if I had to pick between the Timebender and a RDS rackmount, I'd go with the Timebender every time. Over a PDS pedal....no contest at all, I wouldn't even feel sorry.