Eventide
Eventide TimeFactor | Reviews
99
Connectivity and expressive control on the TimeFactor
The TimeFactor offers a very
comprehensive array of
connections for such a
compact unit. It has USB for
user upgrade of its operating
system and MIDI In, Out and
Thru, plus an aux switch input
and expression pedal input/
headphone jack. Over MIDI,
the TimeFactor can receive
MIDI clock, send and receive
program change messages and
transmit/receive MIDI CC
messages to/from other MIDI
devices as well as being able
to back up presets to a DAW.
This level of connectivity is
very welcome indeed!
Further to this, you can also
connect an expression pedal
via the headphone jack that
can be quickly assigned to
practically any of the front
panel dial functions for total
hands-free control.
An aux switch input is also
provided to give you further
control over certain parameters,
and it’s possible to connect to
the three auxiliary switches via
the one stereo jack input. Note
that you can only connect
momentary on/off type
switches here, but these can
be assigned to many different
functions including Tap Tempo,
Delay Mix, Bank/Preset Select,
Looper Play, Record and Stop
or any of the other 10 front
panel dial functions.
Another nice touch is the ‘kill dry’
option (accessed from the system
menu), which pulls the dry sound
completely out of the wet/dry mix. This
can help when using the unit with a
send/return effects loop.
Selecting presets is a breeze using
the preset encoder dial and it’s nice
that this button can also be pressed for
saving and to reveal the current tempo
of the delay being used.
The Xnob’s function changes
depending on the type of delay
selected. For example, when using the
Vintage Delay it can increase or
decrease the bit depth for emulating
old analogue delay pedals with nasty
converters! In the Tape Echo mode, the
Xnob adds hiss and in the Band Delay
mode it changes the fi lter resonance.
Fancy footwork
The three sturdy footswitch selectors on
the front can function differently
according to the mode you’re in. In
main play mode the active switch kicks
the effect on and off (note that there
are several different bypass modes as
well, for those of you who like true
bypass where the electronics of the
pedal are completely bypassed so as
not to lose any quality).
The middle switch labelled Repeat
will instantly capture the sound that the
pedal is currently making and loop that
infi nitely, while the tap tempo does
exactly what you’d expect. Further to
this is the 12-second Looper mode that
works like a dream. The three foot
switches function as transport controls
in this mode for recording, playing,
overdubbing and stopping. Very
handy indeed.
So how do the effects sound? I’d
have to say that in general the vibe is
warm, natural and classy; in fact, it’s
everything I’ve come to expect from
high-end Eventide effect units. The
only real downside is that it’s diffi cult
to get any serious grit out of the box.
(Another issue is that there’s no option
to battery power it.)
However, the range of delays offered
is very comprehensive and should suit
any style of music or instrument you
can think of. They all sound great in
mono, mono/stereo or stereo and are
very wide and musical – they’re
beautiful, in fact! Also, the delays really
do sound like you expect them to. The
Vintage Delay sounds suitably old
(especially when crushing the bit rate)
and I love the fact you can dial in
the amount of hiss/wow/fl utter in the
Tape Echo mode.
The Mod and Filter Delays are
stunning – the Mod Delay can add
subtle chorusing
right through to
wobbling mayhem.
The chorusing/
mod sounds both
lush and very
analogue in
texture, as do
the fi lters.
Really, there’s nothing digital-
sounding about this box. There are no
weak delay types in the TimeFactor –
this is just one high-quality, great-
sounding and versatile pedal.
SPECS
Display:
Large dot matrix
Encoders:
10 parameter dials and one
multi-function dial
Footswitches:
Three. Functions depend on
mode used
Inputs:
Mono or stereo
Outputs:
Mono or stereo
Expression pedal
connector:
Mono jack
Aux switch connector:
Stereo jack
USB:
Type B socket for use with
USB 2.0 cables only
MIDI:
In/Out/Thru with send/
receive of sysex, presets,
MIDI clock and MIDI CCs
Delay types:
Digital Delay, Vintage Delay,
Tape Echo, Mod Delay,
Ducked Delay, Band Delay,
FilterPong, MultiTap,
Reverse, Looper
Dimensions:
190 x 54 x 122mm
Weight:
1kg
ALTERNATIVES
Moog 104z Delay
$729
Analogue Moogerfooger,
with revered Bob Moog-
designed gooey sound, drive
control and lots of external
expression control.
moogmusic.com
Boss Re-20
Space Echo
£129
Authentic-sounding Tape
Echo emulator with delay
and reverb.
bossus.com
Line 6 DL4
Delay Modeller
around £200
Models several classic
delays such as the Space
Echo and Echoplex.
line6.com
VERDICT
BUILD
VALUE
EASE OF USE
VERSATILITY
RESULTS
Eventide have made a well
thought-out, versatile and great-
sounding pedal at a good price.
Operation of the TimeFactor is
simplicity itself. Its a very hands-on
box and a real tweakers delight
FMU198.rev_even 99 29/1/08 16:05:03