Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

[James Rock]

Ok if I buy the Nova repeater from a US store it is about 200AUD and is the cheapest of potential delay pedals here are the prices roughly

Nova Repeater 200
Time Machine 240
Stereo Memory Man w HAZ 260
Deja Vu 300

I mainly want dotted eights and the abitlity to get more analog/tape/lo-fi sounds as well as digital (not just BOSS style repeats).
Tap Tempo a MUST
Modulation is nice not essential
Is the Deja Vu worth an extra 100 (about 10 hours working for me!)
Is the difference between digital emulations of analog and the real thing so different it will be notice in a band situation (I've never played real analog other then a BOSS DM-2 which is really different and lo-fi but not the sound Im looking for.

EDIT: If it can be used with a 200mA 9-12 volt power supply (BBE Supa Charger) it would be nice but if it came with a worldwide adaptor and didnt work with the BBE I wouldn't mind. Just don't want to have to fork out money on a wall wart.

 

[wickenspoet]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

I use the BBE Supa Charger as well... and I'm always on the hunt for new tap tempo delay pedals.

You could also maybe consider either the Boss DD-7.

The Time Machine Delay sounds like a cool idea, but it doesn't have trailing repeats when you turn it off, which turned me off from trying it.

I've heard that the TC Nova pedals have buffers of questionable quality but I haven't tried one personally. (and to be fair, I've also heard the same regarding Boss pedals.)

The DLS Echo Tap looked cool, but the input and output jacks are reversed... what's up with that?

I tried the Deja Vu and had hoped it would be my ultimate delay pedal. It had everything I wanted on paper... the tap tempo, analog cirucuitry, modulation, and the tap ratio control. But for me, sadly, I experienced more noise/hiss than from some of the other delay pedals I'd tried in the past. Maybe it's part of the nature of analog, though. I also didn't like the feel of the tap tempo switch.

I loved the Akai Headrush. Super user friendly with an awesome optional loop feature... but I eventually noticed the same problems with hiss.

The Hazarai delay looked too complicated for me... haven't tried it, though.

The Carl Martin Echotone looks neat, but it is super expensive and I've heard reoccuring complaints that the tap tempo doesn't always sync up correctly. Haven't tried one, though. Still looks cool. They also have the 2 Delayla pedals.

T-Rex Replica looks neat, but requires it's own power supply and doesn't have trailing repeats.

The Eventide Timefactor is supposed to be really good, but complicated.

The Empress Delay Pedal looks cool, if you don't mind having a ton of features.

The Pigtronix Echolution is just insane. Way too much for me to handle.

The Boss DD-20 was also too much delay for me... didn't want to scroll through 23 seconds of delay, and I didn't like the feel of the pedal in general.

For me, surprisingly, the Boss DD-7 has been the most quiet of the delay pedals I've personally tried. It has modulation, choices for modulated echoes, darkened analog-inspired echoes, or crisp digital ones. It has the tap tempo input jack (I bought a momentary tap tempo switch from loopmaster.com to use with it), it has the ratio control, and it has trailing repeats. 40 second loop feature with overdub ability. Reverse echo mode (which may or may not be useful). It has also been of of the easiest to tweak for my needs. But I haven't tried them all. Some have complained about the buffer either sucking tone or adding hiss, but for me this pedal has not been as bad as some of the others I've tried.

Some other delay pedals...

I was hopeful for the Malekko 909 delay, but it never came out.

I'm curious about the Analogman ARDX20 Analog Dual Delay, but not sure how they'll work out that tap tempo switch.

I'm also intrigued about the new Tech 21 DLA with Tap Tempo, but haven't gotten around to trying one.

Hope you enjoyed my rambling.


.

 

[man-in-moon]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

i picked up a time machine delay a week ago. so far i like it a lot. it is my first delay pedal with tap tempo. people complain about the repeats not trailing off when you turn it off but that does not bother me.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

I think the Deja Vu is the only one in the bunch with a wet loop. You will have a blast with that if you spend some time messing around with different effects in there. You can also use an expression pedal to control the delay feedback and mix.

If the BBD sound is important to you, the DJV truly has it. One of the prices to pay is slightly higher noise when you pan from digital to analog. It's as quiet as it can be without sacrificing tone. If you want ultra quiet warm delays, pan all the way to digital, then stick a Tube Screamer with the gain low and the tone rolled off (or anything else with a tone knob) in the wet loop.

In the end if you can't justify the price, the other units are great. I'd go with the Nova or Time Machine before the EHX personally.

 

[lousy_player]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

I've had great luck with both the Eventide Time Factor and the TC Nova Delays. Both are great.

 

[lowenzz]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

I tried and returned the Repeater. No problems with the buffer that some mention. Killer features on paper, but it just turned to uneeded fluff. I found the tone to be well, just bland. I truely like the different flavors I am getting with my DL8 Hardwire.

I just found the whole tap tempo thing overrated, seemed hard to be accurate. More than likely it is all me there. I just didn't feel it was usefull for me. Hype told me I needed tap tempo. Remove the tap tempo from the Repeater and along with the bland tone IMO and the DL8 wins hands down for me.

 

[dani]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

i had the nova delay and it won't run on the bbe. the repeater has similar power requirements and it should come with a 110v/12v power supply if you buy from a store in the usa. that won't work with the 230v in aus.

just so you know.

 

[lowenzz]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

Repeater was 9V or 12V printed right on the casing. Ran fine for me from a 1spot.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

Repeater was 9V or 12V printed right on the casing. Ran fine for me from a 1spot.

It needs 300mA which the BBE doesn't give and the one spot can.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

the repeater has similar power requirements and it should come with a 110v/12v power supply if you buy from a store in the usa. that won't work with the 230v in aus.

I thought the power supply was one of those switching supplies like the one spot that can work on anything between 110v and 230v. I could have just misread the information on the site though.

If the BBD sound is important to you, the DJV truly has it. One of the prices to pay is slightly higher noise when you pan from digital to analog. It's as quiet as it can be without sacrificing tone. If you want ultra quiet warm delays, pan all the way to digital, then stick a Tube Screamer with the gain low and the tone rolled off (or anything else with a tone knob) in the wet loop.

I guess this would allow me to use an EQ pedal on the repeats and get the low bandwidth dub kinda delay with little lows and highs.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

I didnt realise how cheap the Digitech was. Is it comparable sound wise. I use similar tap tempo (holding down for 2 seconds etc) on my phaser and it is a bit annoying but I can cope with it.

 

[dani]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

i've read and heard folks who ran a nova delay with a pedal power 2+. apparently, the pp2+ provided 250ma on 9v. the supa-charger provides 200ma max. i used to run a nova delay and other pedals with a one-spot but upgraded to the supa-charger and the nova delay had to go due to inadequate ma supplied.

iirc, the adapter provided with the nova delay i ordered from the states for use here in singapore (230v) is strictly 110v. maybe now things has change? best to check with tc electronic though.

regarding the insert, yes, you can run an eq through it for the dub sound. add a phaser/flanger for more fun while you are at it.

fwiw, i am still trying to bond with the deja vu while missing the nova delay.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

I just found the whole tap tempo thing overrated, seemed hard to be accurate. More than likely it is all me there. I just didn't feel it was usefull for me. Hype told me I needed tap tempo.

I love tap tempo... adore it really... but i've been using it for years on dig live SR rigs. Have little use for predetermined musical intervals... leave it on quarter notes and tap it where I want the delays to fall.

Wicken... if you find the Pigtronix too deep then don't even look at the Eventide. That's too much for all but the most extreme delay builders IMO. Both are great boxes though... seriously no compromise stuff.

 

[lowenzz]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

I love tap tempo... adore it really... but i've been using it for years on dig live SR rigs. Have little use for predetermined musical intervals... leave it on quarter notes and tap it where I want the delays to fall.

Wicken... if you find the Pigtronix too deep then don't even look at the Eventide. That's too much for all but the most extreme delay builders IMO. Both are great boxes though... seriously no compromise stuff.

I hear what your saying, I don't play out anymore and like anything else it would just take some practice on my part. I see the purpose no doubt. I just basically use 2 delay types, slapbackish with my Tele and about 300ms 3-4 repeats, with about 40% mix, just some ambiance, works out to about 1/4 notes for the riffs I'm messing with. A tweak on the time and mix level and I can try to fake a bit of Gilmore as well.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

Bringing this thread back from the dead as there are now two other cool looking delays the Strymon and the Blackstar delay that look cool. Never played it first hand but the things in clips I;ve heard of the deja vu is that the blended tones kinda sound off like the two delays different delays rather then a cross between and the analog sound wasn't clear enough for my liking but in person it may be better. The Strymon is really sounding good nice mod sound and a the bucket control but it is 299 rrp which is a bit higher then others. I'm thinking maybe I'll settle for the Deluxe Memory Boy and just live with lo-fi ish analog sounds.

 

[briggleman]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

I too am looking at the Stryman, (see my other thread about comparison with Deja Vu). It may be the cats meow and seems to give a little more control flexibility in terms of sensitivity of the knobs. I also like the expression pedal ability to control any of the 5 parameters. (Just two on the Deja).

Now you also showed interest in the Hardwire Delay. I have played with this pedal and have one on the way. It does a lot and although, I did not fully appreciate its tone on the simulated analog side its other features more than make up for it. Once I get it, I will give it a better workout and let you know if I can make the Lo Fi work.

 

[briggleman]

Re: Nova Repeater or Deja Vu (and points in between)

Never played it first hand but the things in clips I;ve heard of the deja vu is that the blended tones kinda sound off like the two delays different delays rather then a cross between and the analog sound wasn't clear enough for my liking but in person it may be better. The Strymon is really sounding good nice mod sound and a the bucket control but it is 299 rrp which is a bit higher then others. I'm thinking maybe I'll settle for the Deluxe Memory Boy and just live with lo-fi ish analog sounds.

Wanted to comment on your impression of the Deja Vu. I have not experienced the "two different delays" sound you refer too. It is very smooth to me and in my opinion does a great job of blending the two. I really think its a marvel of engineering and design the way they combined the two. I have also played with the Deluxe Memory boy and .... well... for me it did not do the trick for me. I am a real anal retentive person when it comes to tone and effects on my sounds and Memory boy changed it ever so slightly. I do beat my head against the wall sometimes. I even notice differences in the same pedals so take my advice with a grain of salt. I am way too picky sometimes.