Digitech Time Bender alternatives?

[frigid midget]

Okay, so this is sort of a spin-off thread, cause I recently asked about pedal recommendations for drone/ambient/noise tunes...

Came to the conclusion that other than maybe a dedicated looper or a reverb pedal, I'm pretty much set.

But as I was checking clips and reviews and all that, I stumbled upon a digital delay pedal that till now always managed to stay under my radar.

I'm kinda set on waiting/looking for a good deal on a timebender, but since I'm sorta out of the loop when it comes to delay, I figured it makes sense to check if there's maybe another delay pedal I'm overlooking? Anything out there that rivals the timebender? The timebender seems to have a bunch of unconventional tricks up its sleeve that I don't see on any other delay pedals in that price range. Especially nothing that compact, which is sorta a requirement for me.

The goal is to end up with a dedicated looper that's not as limited as my DL-8, somekind of digital delay modeler that's not as limited as the DL-8, and one analog delay. The latter isn't an issue, I've got an ES-2 that's working great for me.

I used to have a DL-4 (sounded just 'okay', meh build quality/reliability, huge, too quiet) and a VMSD (the opposite of the DL4 in every way but a gigantic pain in the ass to operate). I don't have strymon/eventide/pigtronix monies, and like I said I don't have board space for anything for anything bigger than a timebender or a DD-20. The DD-20 won't cut it btw, everything points at the direction of it being a more limited less wacky version of the timebender.

Oh, and though I usually welcome all reverse spam proposals, I'll have to flip a couple others things first before I'm ready for a fresh toy...

[D.o.S.]

the timebender is usually the alternative.

[fcknoise]

....no

EDIT: actually, there are alternatives for the specific things, but they are all different and some more expensive. Digitech PDS/RDS-series for hold mode, maybe a pitchfactor for pitch shifted delays, there are a few arpeggiators on the market. They all do the stuff the TB does differently and in some ways better. But seriously, the Timebender is as far as I know a one of a kind thing. Now let's not raise the prices of it, shut this thread down

[D.o.S.]

OTOH the Headrush is awesome and will be cheaper.

[tremolo3]

Timefactor can be had for ~$250 if you keep an eye (alerts) on ebay or reverb.com
That's $100 more than the Timebender but totally worth it from what I know the Timebender does. But you don't have the space you said...

Source audio is coming with a multi-delay in the next few months for a good price too, I think it's going to be smaller than a DD20/Timebender.

Memory Man with Hazarai has some neat tricks too, but it requires a lot of hand job to get the most of it

[The_Active_Conundrum]

flashback x4. deep edits.

but really. if its a timebender you're looking for, that's really the answer.

[frigid midget]

....no

EDIT: actually, there are alternatives for the specific things, but they are all different and some more expensive. Digitech PDS/RDS-series for hold mode, maybe a pitchfactor for pitch shifted delays, there are a few arpeggiators on the market. They all do the stuff the TB does differently and in some ways better. But seriously, the Timebender is as far as I know a one of a kind thing. Now let's not raise the prices of it, shut this thread down

Yeah, I'm starting to get the same impression here. So yes, lets shut this motherfucker down before the timebender goes all XP300 on us

[ThurberMingus]

I used to have a DL-4 (sounded just 'okay', meh build quality/reliability, huge, too quiet) and a VMSD (the opposite of the DL4 in every way but a gigantic pain in the ass to operate). I don't have strymon/eventide/pigtronix monies, and like I said I don't have board space for anything for anything bigger than a timebender or a DD-20. The DD-20 won't cut it btw, everything points at the direction of it being a more limited less wacky version of the timebender.

I came in here to recommend a TimeLine or a PitchFactor until I saw this post. Sell all your pedals, buy those two, live happy ever after. That's what I did

Srsly though, after getting a PitchFactor I don't miss my Count to Five, Pog, or Whammy.

Also: I don't have anywhere.near Stymon/Eventide money, I seriously work two part-time jobs that pay $9 or less/hour. You've just gotta save up, and play your cards when you have a decent hand, and right now I have a PitchFactor, TimeLine, and Blue Sky. Three pedals I though I could never afford.

[tremolo3]

I came in here to recommend a TimeLine or a PitchFactor until I saw this post. Sell all your pedals, buy those two, live happy ever after. That's what I did

Srsly though, after getting a PitchFactor I don't miss my Count to Five, Pog, or Whammy.

That is kinda what I did.
Sold a lot of stuff after the Pitchfactor.
And sold the Pitchfactor to get the H9 standard loaded with 4 of the Pitchfactor algorithms + few other stuff (Ultratap and Undulator are teh shiet)

Still have the Timeline but I don't care for the delay sounds, it's just really useful to have delay + looper in one box.

[Dandolin]

My take--

Stay patient and you will score a good used TB for 125 USD if you're in the States.

I do believe there is incomplete Venn overlap between TimeFactor (or substitute megadelay of choice) and TimeBender--each will do some things the other won't.

Making a decision on features outside of cost/size would imho require some serious breaking down of all dem features, and prioritizing--which one has the one or two "killer apps" for you? I have nothing against the TimeFactor--I'd very happily rock one, and I know it'd make me smile a lot, but I don't think your aim is pure best regardless of cost anyway, is it?

I can tell you I have a TB and Timeline and, in terms of both creative use and real-time fun factor, imho the TB slays the Timeline dolla for dolla. If I couldn't hold onto both I would totally sell the Timeline and hold onto the TB all around win (and I may get there quite soon if things keep going the way they have). And I wouldn't shed a tear because I'd be getting too much joy from the Timebender. In fact, unless I very soon decide to commit to a Molten Lava add-on that will allow me to use the TimeLine as both a full featured "normal" looper and wring some glitch/stutter capacity from it, the TimeLine will be gone.

Both the S.A. Nemesis and the new Boss DD-500 look to be quite secchsy--I think the Boss will have the edge on tweak factor, the S.A. on price and *maybe* price/performance. In general I have been quite anti-Boss, or at least a-Boss, for a long time, but recent experience has taught me the error of my ways to an extent, and the control factor built into the DD-500 is truly impressive. Still, it may be a while before they're available used for cheaper than the TimeFactor, and those Factor prices are headed downtown as the H9 continues to gain ground.

As for Source--I have the Dimension reverb and it is all kinds of awesome, cheap for what you get and largely overlooked from what I can tell--I would expect the Nemesis to offer great value, functionality, tweakability, tone and creative juice. But where/when you gonna find one for $125?

Can't help much on the other mega-delay alternatives. I used a DL4 for years and only relatively recently learned what I had been missing. There are definitely a lot to choose from out there these days, but the TimeBender occupies a pretty prime position for bang-for-buck action, and not much out there but more top dolla stuff has turned my head for a while now. I'm more about glitchies/lofis anyway because of current personal predilection and because my "normal" delay action is fixed.

I do think first gen Echolutions are very cool delays and can be had for crazy low moneez if you keep an eye out and pounce. Again, though, I would and did go TimeBender.

The Zoom MS-70CDR and Digitech RP-360 are probably worth checking out in the sub-$100 used range if you're really strapped, but again, I TimeBender'd it (even at twice the price for one of those used) because I think the TB is more adjustable on the fly and just find it to be a really creative platform and easy to "misuse" in creative ways. The MS70CDR in particular though makes a point of copping significant aspects of what TimeFactor and TimLine do, if that interests you. And it is tiny.

As you also know, I'm sure, there are myriad other tiny Asian-made things that have an astonishing array of features for crazy low prices (Nux Time Core f'rinstance), but they aren't going to inspire you more than the Line 6 somethings you've used and you'll probably be looking to move on sooner than later....

OK, wordblizzard mode off--good fortune on the search!

And everybody but OP--ignore me--I'm crazy. TimeBender is coated in slow-onset neurotoxin and will end you--just stay away from it if you have any sense of self-preservation. If you do happen to own one, don tyvek protective gear and dispose of it at your local toxic tech diposal center/EBay-connected pawn brokerage.

[frigid midget]

Been checking clips and specs of all posible candidates the last hour or so, and every time the conclusion is..."Seems awesome, but it's no timebender"

It's not even that I'm hung up on two or three particular modes or features, but the whole package just stands out in terms of bang for the buck. *if* I can indeed track one down for $125-ish, or the euro equivalent of that in my case. If it weren't for the price and size I'd just go with a timefactor, but I've just started to look around for a timebender, so I'm not going for plan B just yet...

[fcknoise]

Dude, just get it. I saw one in Sweden for 100€ locally and if that happens again ill PM you.

[frigid midget]

Dude, just get it. I saw one in Sweden for 100€ locally and if that happens again ill PM you.

[rfurtkamp]

And to think for the longest time people thought I was insane re:timebender.

You could get them for $100ish all day long until very recently (the last ones went for $150 new before the closeouts).

I paid full "when new" price for mine..$250. I'd have paid more for what it does.

[frigid midget]

I may have found a store that has one brand new one left. I hardly ever NOT buy used though, especially not in the >$150 range.

They want 200Euro for it, which equals about 220USD. Can't say I'm not tempted, my GAS is standing in the way of my patience and common sense...:s

Otoh, for all I know the prices will indeed skyrocket in the near future and I'll kick myself for not grabbing this chance...:s

Decisions, decisions

Update:

I talked em down to $200, inc shipping

I'll try stalling it a bit in case I can manage to find a used one within a week or so, and than I'll just fucking pull the trigger.