New for NAMM 2016, TC Electronic has some shiny new stompboxes in the form of a pedalboard buffer, a new looper pedal, and a multi-band bass compressor! There’s some exciting stuff coming down the pike, so let’s have a look.
BonaFide Buffer
While not a stompbox in and of itself, the BonaFide Buffer can enhance the sound of your existing stompboxes, especially if they have true bypass and live on a pedalboard with lots of snaking cables. Using an all-analog buffer, the BonaFide takes the high-impedance signal from your guitar, and transforms it into a low-impedance signal. Low-impedance signals hold up better in long cable runs, and won’t load up. This way, your tone retains more high-end information and dynamics, and it won’t lose its edge with the added resistance from cables and other pedals. Somewhat ironically, this buffer has a built-in true-bypass relay circuit that will still pass your signal through in case the buffer loses power. This little guy is sized to fit on crowded pedalboards—where it will probably help the most—so give it a look if you want to improve your tone!
Ditto X4 Looper
You want a supersized Ditto pedal? Now you’ve got one. Offering not one but two independent loops, the Ditto X4 may be the solo performer’s best friend. The discrete loops can be configured for simultaneous looping, stereo looping, or even sequential looping for “verse-chorus” arrangements. Perhaps a more universally appreciable feature is the ability to save loops and export them to a DAW over USB. When used this way, you can save your loop sequences or impromptu song ideas to flesh out into full song arrangements later. For more advanced users, an effects section can be utilized, while MIDI connectivity for control and tempo sync can also be achieved. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your looping rig, or looking for a simple, yet fully featured solution, the Ditto X4 could be worth a shot.
SpectraComp Bass Compressor
Can a big-sounding compressor be tiny? You bet! TC Electronic broke the SpectraComp compressor out of its bass amplifiers and stuffed it into a diminutive metal chassis. While it only has a single knob, the SpectraComp is a multi-band compressor that applies gain reduction based on frequency information, improving dynamic response in high and low registers, while providing that evened-out sound with increased sustain. Now that it’s available in a pedal, you can put this guy in front of any brand of bass amp you like, or use it in the studio. It may be small, but the little blue SpectraComp pedal can help you move some serious air.
For complete coverage of NAMM 2016 and all the product announcements, please click here.
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