Cheap verb....

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrStitch
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MrStitch

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So heres the deal...... My band has absolutely NO effects patched to our PA system. Yeah... it's pretty damn dry allright! :)

We're also a band thats flat broke. Well... we actually have about $100. So were lookin into some cheap equipment to add at least SOMETHING to warm it up a bit.

I'm lookin at the ART FX-1 processor, and the Alesis Nanoverb.

Looks like the ART has more to offer, but the Alesis might have more quality.

Does anyone have experience with these two?
 
If I were in your position I would consider a used Lexicon instead, a few different models sell on Ebay close to your price range pretty regularly. I haven't heard the ART FX, though.
 
I don't know if i'm lookin at the right Lexicon, but on musicians friend it has it for sale for 199 bucks.

This item looks like a midi device more than anything. I'm running a simple analog P.A..... you sure that thing is gunna work with it?
 
I think you were looking at the MPX-110.
You don't have to use the midi functions, it would work for your application.
I believe it is an updated version of the
MPX-100 which you can buy on Ebay for around $100.

UPDATE:

I just looked at some HC reviews of the MPX and I'm having second thoughts about it, you should get some more opinions from some of the people here who have actually used the thing in a PA.

I have owned a Lexicon LXP-15, the reverb sounded fine, and you can get them used in your price range. It's easy to use if you stick with the presets, if you want to get deeper into the programming, it's a bit obscure.
 
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TC Electronics M-300 is also a good cheap FX box, $200 new at GC. I'd search ebay for a used MPX110 or an M300 and grab whichever one you can get cheaper. In my experience, the nanoverb sucks big time.-Richie
 
I was busy editing my post when Richard posted. I would listen to him way more than me, if I were you.

I am planning on getting the TC Electronics MP300. By all reviews I've read, it's pretty nice, but I just don't see them much under $200 on Ebay yet.
 
I have an MPX100 which I don't really care for. I just picked up an M300 and it is a very nice unit - it sounds way better than a $200 verb.

I still see used Alesis MIDI verbs (the II's) in the $80 - $100 range, which would not be a bad rack unit (except for the wall wart power supply) . While I agree that the Nano Verb is not one of the best products on the market it shoudl be acceptable for a live rack - however, if you then spend extra money on a rack adapter (since it's only a 1/3 rack unit) - you would then be better off spending a little more on a full rack unit.
 
Hmmm... I'll sum this up a little better then =)

I have 100 bucks, and ONLY 100 bucks. (ok, maybe i could squeak out the 10 bucks for tax)

So the situations still stands. Should I pick the ART, the ALESIS, or nothing at all?
 
I agree with Tduke- those units are not worth $100. You'd be better off spending the $100 at the track- because you might win enough to buy a reverb unit.-Richie
 
I just scored a lexicon lxp5 for $51 off of ebay with no power supply. Got a 9vac wall wart for $2 from an electronic wholesale site. Sounds better than my midiverb II or IV. ymmv.
 
I'm guessing you just want something to add a little ambiance to your vocals in your live mixe. For a live sound system the Art or the Alesis should be fine.

I can't help but think that the negative comments here are biased, perhaps based on what people would used in a recording rack.

For a live rack, likely playing local corner bars, you don't need anything more than a $100 verb.
 
I have to also agree with Mikeh here- most of the 'verbs in all but the best PA's are not that hot anyway. If you were looking for just a live rig, I'm sorry for misleading you, but this is, after all Home *recording*. In a pinch in a live setting, I had some buddies of mine who play Reggae have an old Fender reverb go down mid-gig, and I jacked the lead singer and the backing vocalist through a Korg PXR4 Pandora just for the verb, then amp'd it up with a DMP-3 into the PA, which was really just power amps and cabs, no mixing board. For a club and a bunch of drunks, the Pandora rocked. That's the cool thing about low to midbudget recording/performing. It forces you to use gear in ways its designers never intended. Best of luck.-Richie
 
For live ( and for some recording ), a Behringer Virtualiser will do you just fine - 130 bucks. or find a used one. Not bad.
 
Allright... it's been my experience tho, that overkill is a good thing (in these situations).

So i'm talkin to the band, makin some changes, and just might beable to squeak out some additional cash.

What do you guys think of the Digitech Studio 100.. also known as Digitech S100
 
in honesty, the nano verb isn't as bad as has been portrayed in this thread, or by this BBS in general. i have one. it was the first verb i owned. i now work freelance for a sound re-inforcement company, in fact i just got home from a gig. we have pretty nice gear, Midas consoles, TC and Lexicon FX......, but the nano verb still lives in my toolbox. When i'm mixing monitors and someone asks for some verb, i can patch it in and it works as a reverb should. When i'm hired as a house tech at a shitty club and i walk in only to find a broken Korg sampling delay, the nano verb gets it's cue.
It's small, fast to set up, easy to operate, and mostly idiot proof. It is also slightly on the noisy side, but so are guitar amps, lighting dimmers, drunk people, power amps, graphic EQ's.....so really if you can only get your hands on a nano verb, it is not the end of the world. it will be fine, and i'm pretty sure you will be satisfied.
 
tdukex said:
I would choose nothing.
Click to expand...

Guys......we're talking live here.....not recording.
I've used the nanoverb and for recording it's not good but for live......it does ok and is definitely better than nothing. I suspect the same is true of the Art.
Hell.......even a spring 'verb like in a Peavey or something is better than nothing live.......and those suck for recording.
 
Spring verb? That must be what i got in my cheap Marshall head. If i'm right, isn't it just a long spring run across two points?

If those really suck, that must be why I can't hardly tell any differnce between verb and no verb =)
 
MrStitch said:
Spring verb? That must be what i got in my cheap Marshall head. If i'm right, isn't it just a long spring run across two points?

If those really suck, that must be why I can't hardly tell any differnce between verb and no verb =)
Click to expand...
Yes.....it's a coil spring (usually 2 or 3 or 4 ) run between two transducers. Some sound better than others......the reverb pan (that's the spring unit ) and the circuitry all contribute to the sound. And they seem to vary from unit to unit. I have three Ampegs (all old ones ) and the 'verb on all three sounds way different.
 
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