Question:
What do you people think about the DigiTech RP-series?
Answer:
Yuck. If you can stay away from them, then do.
Answer:
I had the RP-2000, I assume the RP-80 is the same "engine" as far as effects and modeling goes. The thing is well constructed, the pedal is all metal and should hold up very well. The RP series is like 6 or 7 years old though... Like any multi FX, the presets are garbage - exaggerated, overly effected/distorted/compressed that were put together to impress kids in music stores. If you want it to sound good, start from scratch. As far as effects, they are decent to excellent. I'm not a big chorus/flange user, but they sound OK to me. The Tremelo is excellent, reverb is ok, delay is good, wah is decent. The models are OK, not as good as more recent stuff I'm sure. If you want to use the models for distortion thru a guitar amp you have to turn off the amp sim, and then eq the model - in that way some are decent, but of course that is not the purpose or proper application of the modeling. I ran sound one night for a cover band - both guitarists used RP2000's and no amp - they sounded pretty good in the context of the live mix. I used mine as an FX unit in front of a tube amp, and I believe it was pretty transparent, and the effects were at least good enuf. They did get a good review in GP mag for what that's worth.
In general, IMO, recent multi-FX to a large extent will sound about as good as the person creating the patches is able to make them. Many players give bad reviews of the multi's, but never mention specifics - how did they use it - amp, direct, what? Did they just use the presets? Did they audition it in the store thru a guitar amp with modeling patches made for direct to a board, and then declare how bad it sucked? DId they set the unit's level so it drove the amp properly, or did they let it over-saturate the amp with too hot of a signal? etc., etc. Without the specific context, and details, If I were you I would discount any review good or bad. They can be used for a variety of applications, and need to be programmed correctly for each one.
All in all - for the $, not a bad unit. The built in tuner and volume pedal alone would cost you that much... I personally like the performance friendly versions that have the switches to toggle individual effects on or off within each patch - like the RP2000. The problem with multi's with just the up/down buttons is that if you want to have a couple or few settings within a tune, you have to scroll thru that many patches that you had previously programmed. For example, if you wanted delay for the chorus of a song, and a lead boost for a solo with the RP2000 you would just toggle on/off the delay, and stomp on the compressor (set for a clean boost) for the solo. With the Rp80 you would need 3 separate patches and have to shift between them in the tune....
Answer:
Waaooooo!
Thanks man.
That was helpful.
Answer:
Originally Posted by sKaRoCkS What do you people think about the DigiTech RP-series?
I have the RP50- the reason I said 'yuck' was how unimpressed I am with the overall thing. (the RP50 is the same as the RP80, without a volume/wah control)
Given that I had the one with the pedal, I might have had a more positive view of the pedal, but nonetheless, I found it overly hard to get a really good sound. The clean amp models weren't bad at all. Distortion, although somewhat sterile and 'digital' feeling, wasn't horrible... usable in the right situations. I mostly had problems with the inbetween. A light overdrive was very hard to dial in and sound 'real'... and that is mostly what I use.
Moving on, I found the modulation effects (flanger, phasor, chorus, etc) nearly completely useless. You can only change one parameter- the speed - between 9 preset values. You can't control anything other than that... no depth control, nothing. This really stunk IMO.
That said, the reverb and delay are very good (if my memory serves me right). Still don't have a lot of control over those, but they are much more redeeming than the modulation effecs.
Also, the built in tuner was nice, and I did enjoy how channels/presets you can save. That is one thing I miss now that I've switched my setup to using a Vox modeling amp, but I'll never go back.
Answer:
Moving on, I found the modulation effects (flanger, phasor, chorus, etc) nearly completely useless. You can only change one parameter- the speed - between 9 preset values.
Interesting...the Rp2000 was not that way, it does have the usual modulation controls. Its interesting how mfr's use the same exact guts for several products, and basically make certain functionalities unavailable on the lower priced models... Sounds like if you want it for Chorus/Flange/whatever, you should probably look elsewhere.