Guitar Effects Processor - TC G System or Eventide Eclipse?

[eso]

I am trying to decide which guitar effects processor to choose for live (and studio) use. I am thinking of getting either a TC Electronic G System or a 2nd-hand Eventide Eclipse. I've used Eventide before (I have a GTR4000 and have also used the H3000 and DSP 4000 in studios) and it's great and I also like the TC Electronic mulit-fx for their ease and speed of editing and range of sounds (I have a TC G Force, and Fireworx).

I've tried the G System briefly and it sounds pretty good, with seamless patch changes (and delays that ramp down on change of patch) but I prefer an effects unit that gives me more freedom with the algorithms and routing. I haven't been able to try out an Eventide Eclipse yet, so I was wondering if they suffer from the same loading time (on some patches) that prevents me from using the GTR4000 live?

Has anyone here used both? Or are there any other suggestions for a multi-fx box? Price range is about £1000/$1800...

[eso]

Anyone...?

[eso]

BTW - I am currently using a Digitech 2101 Studio Ltd Edition version (dual processor) with programmable patch morphing (on single processor programs), but desperately want to upgrade.

In my experience, testing a unit in a shop is often not long or quiet enough to find/hear all of the units flaws and limitations, or really assess the sound (when not on own amp, and with half a dozen other guitarists simply trying to show off, instead of actually assessing the gear they are trying).

My signal chain is direct into amp, through the FX loop to Multi-fx and back. I use far too many patches, bizarre effects, and realtime modulation of effects (both with expression pedal and using onboard generators) to rely on pedals alone, with too many patch changes during songs to put up with patch loading time, glitches on patch change, etc, etc.

I didn't ever adopt using the TC G Force on guitar, because besides the flexible algorithms and ability to actually chain a few effects together without overloading DSP (unlike the Fireworx), it didn't impress enough.

Ideally, I want an Eventide which changes patch instantly and can morph delays, etc, across patch changes. Can the Eclipse do this? There is nowhere local to me where I can try this out.

Or, does anything else with these capabilities (and a good sound) exist? I want complete flexibility in the algorithms, as far as possible. Not just a question of serial vs parallel.

Anyone able to give a little insight from their own experiences?

[jerryC]

I`m using Eclipse in my guitar rig and I`m quite pleased with it. At first I had the problems u mentioned conserning patch changes. It had a coupple of second of "loading time" for each patch change. This was very anoing and It limited its liveuse.. I was almost about to sell it when Eventide lauched an software update for eclipse (V.2.00). Then things got better... The patches changed quicker...

Their courrent version, V3.00, is even quicker... The patches change almost instantly, atleast fast enough for me. Its not like turning a stompbox on/off, but still.... fast enough for me.

Anyway... U should really try this thing.. Great reverbs, great delays... Thousand possibilities if u like to tweake endlessly...

oh, and it does a great morph between patches as well...

[Blast9]

Hey.. Its worth doing a search over at thegearpage.net

There's a huge thread there somewhere about the new TC unit... Well worth a read!

Actually, try this thread

[j2020533]

...JERRYC ??
u come from TAIWAN???

[jerryC]

Taiwan?? What gave u that idea?... No I am from Norway..

[j2020533]

SORRY ~HA...I think u come from TAIWAN that's because ur username is the same of someone in TAIWAN ~~ SO It's a misunderstanding~

[eso]

Thanks for the links and information. When you say "almost" instant patch changes on the current software version of the Eclipse, do you mean that there is still an audible silence, and is patch morphing only available on certain patches?

If there's a gap of any kind then it's going to make the timing of the playing seem late...

I did quite like the TC G System when I tried it - the flexibility of where to put the different pedals and amp in the chain are welcomed (I use a pedal distortion as well as amp), but I know the lack of routing options will frustrate me.