M9 vs. Nova System

[jisham]

Ok, I'm putting together a new rig and need to do something for FX. In the past, I've pretty much used G Major rack units with a MIDI floor controller. While I'm open to doing that again, I'm also interested in finding out about people's experiences with the Line 6 M9 and the TC Electronic Nova System.

One thing I've always loved about the G Major (and the Nova has it too) is the solo boost function. I plan to run whatever I get in my amp's serial loop, so does the M9 have anything that will boost solos?

Any info anyone can share will be much appreciated. Thanks.

[polara]

I can only comment on the NovaSystem, but I've gigged with one for a year or more. It is very sturdy and the effects are all top shelf. The compressor is great, the distortion (analog) is killer. Tuner is accurate and simple.

The downsides are significant, though I've learned to live with them. First, it's tricky to program but if you like the G Major it'll be simple. Second, the MIDI clock is not accurate but that would only affect you if you're using it as a MIDI controller to run other stuff. The effects activate when you step OFF, not on, so you need to re-learn how to stomp. Finally, switching up and down if you store stuff in banks takes some learning. I just save a couple favorite settings for each effect and use it as a bunch of stomp boxes, each with some presets.

I think it is worth dealing with the quirks as the sounds are far better than the Boss GT-8 I had for a few months before. Once you learn the logic of the system it's pretty cool. The other guitarist in one of my bands has a NovaSystem and a G-System and uses the Nova, as it sounds as good and is simpler and more portable.

[jisham]

Thanks. I talked with DavidE about the M9 and he loves it. I'm not sure what to do yet but I'm very interested in the Nova System although I'll run it the loop as I won't need the distortion since I'll use my amp's two channels. When you say "tricky to program," what do you find the most challenging?

[RCM78]

I would check out the M13... It has an effects loop enabling you to use the four cable method. Even though you said you dont need distortion it's nice to have the option, plus you can run any effect you like in front of the amp as well as after the pre. Some effects sound better in front of the amp...

[velorush]

I get all worked up about the Nova System about once a year, but I've never bit. The only thing I've ever heard negative about it is that it's not configured for the 'four cable' option RCM78 noted for the M13. I most recently went through the GAS for it when these videos popped up earlier this year.

There are a couple more posted in this series. I thought they were pretty impressive.

[jisham]

Yeah those videos on the Nova are awesome.

[sixesandsevens]

I get all worked up about the Nova System about once a year, but I've never bit. The only thing I've ever heard negative about it is that it's not configured for the 'four cable' option RCM78 noted for the M13. I most recently went through the GAS for it when these videos popped up earlier this year.

There are a couple more posted in this series. I thought they were pretty impressive.

Oh no... GAS building...

I've got an M13 and it's got a lot of great variety. I think it's absolutely perfect if you've got a few effects you're really into and you love and then you've got the M13 for "anything else" you might need. However, if you're a tone stickler, Line6's effects are seldom top-notch in my experience.

The drives are widely un-celebrated (if you catch my drift - not reviled, but not praised) but it is crazy flexible and has some cool stuff it can do. For example, I wrote up a post at TGP about how you can con it into doing 3 voice smart harmonies - including an additional effect per alternate voice - with a simple Boss LS-2 or other line mixer and clever use of the loop inserts. It's got whacked out synthy stuff too and some cool step sequencer trem and wah type effects (like the seek-wah from z.vex), ditto with wah models and even a sim of the Whammy if I recall.

Great stuff, and probably fine in a real music situation where everything is more important than the tone of your third insert effect, but if you're going to be judging it playing solo in your basement, it might leave you flat.

$0.02.

[jisham]

After much thought, I ordered a Nova System so we'll see how it goes. Thanks everyone.

[DavidE]

I decided to browse again since it's been a while. I had actually looked at buying a Nova system for $250 locally in the last month, so I had a decent understanding between it and the M13 which is what I use, though I also have an M9 for tiny stages.

There were several reasons I passed on the Nova:

No 4 cable method. That's ok, but it's not ideal if I decide to use a channel switching amp.

I set up the M13 like a pedalboard with 12 different effects on it. Now that pedalboard includes 3 gain pedals in column one, chorus, phase shifter and leslie in column 2, 3 different delays in column 3 and comp boost, trem and spring reverb in column 3. I also use a wah and two analog gain boxes (right now a Timmy and a Lovepedal OD11 but I'll probably go back to the Amp11). I can get through any gig without changing my virtual pedalboard (unless we play a U2 tune and then I turn to the EDGE preset virtual pedalboard). I can't do this with the Nova.

My understanding is that each preset on the Nova (the equivalent of a virtual pedalboard) will give me access to one gain sound, one modulation sound, one delay etc... So, if everything is perfect but I want to switch to a more pronounced delay during a song or maybe a more gainy distortion, I have to change to a completely different preset which changes EVERYTHING. My mind just doesn't work that way and it makes absolutely no sense to me. I really can't work in terms of presets.

Also, my understanding is that the Nova will do one delay, one modulation effect, one distortion etc... at a time. I could do 4 delays at a time on the M13. ( "The Edge" virtual pedalboard on the M13 is a great example of using multiple delays together.) Perhaps my understanding is incorrect, but there's only one button that says 'delay'.

And say what you will, but those clips don't sound any better than my M13 and there are plenty of clips of guys getting incredible tones out of the M13. Plus, the M13 is stupid easy to operate which is perfect for me. ;-)

They each have their advantages, but the M13 seems a lot more versatile and works the way I work.

[silentman]

David: If you were using the nova couldn't you program one preset the way you want, copy it to another, then tweak the delay etc you needed to change on the new patch? Then you could switch between them. Sounds like too much of a pain for you?

[DavidE]

David: If you were using the nova couldn't you program one preset the way you want, copy it to another, then tweak the delay etc you needed to change on the new patch? Then you could switch between them. Sounds like too much of a pain for you?

Yes. A much more complicated setup from the start and it wouldn't work for me at a gig.

Let's say I set that patch up with the chorus off, but I have it on during the song. Then I decide that for some reason, be it the room or the p.a. or the band or just my mood, I want a stronger delay. I switch to the other patch but then the chorus is off.

No thank you. :-)

[Hamer95USA]

Hey jisham,

I considered buying either the TC Electronics Nova System or the Line 6 M9 stompbox modeler. I wanted to eliminate my pedals (Xotic AC Booster, Boss CS-2 compressor, MXR EVH Phase 90, and a Keeley modded TR-2 tremolo pedal), Peak PGR 4 audio switcher, and an older Voodoo Lab Pedal Power, DC/audio cabling off of my sliding shelf. I bought a used M9 off of Craig's List for $275.00. I like the sounds that I can get it from so far, doesn't take up much space or requires DC/audio cables. I mainly use mine for modulation, filtering, and some overdrive presets going into the amp input. The MIDI implementation requires that you have to use a MIDI controller that can send CC (continuous controller) MIDI messages to access the folders/scenes (aka banks/presets).

I ended up trading in my DMC Ground Control original v2.4 MIDI controller and a beat up Rocktron Intellifex/cash at the local Guitar Center to buy a Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro MIDI controller. I can program the Ground Control Pro for 4 presets/IA and use the IA (individual access) buttons to turn the effects on/off like a stompbox plus I can program CC MIDI messages to M9. Way better than my old Ground Control original. My Ground Control Pro MIDI controller arrives next week. As soon as I get the programming done, I'm going to take it to a few rehearsals and my cover band gigs next year to test out how it sounds with the bands I work with. I can share my results with all of you once I get my Ground Control Pro by next week.

Guitar George

[jisham]

I've been setting up my Nova System for about a week now and for what I want it to do, it's bad ass. I have no need for four delays at once or whatever and the four cable thing isn't an issue for me as I don't need drive/distortion effects. I use the Nova System in my amp's loop and it sounds incredible. Others like DavidE prefer the M13 (or M9) so it's all good in my opinion.

[Armitage]

Most of the time, I'm just a "plug into the amp with a delay in the loop," kind'a guy... sometimes I just want a Retro-Sonic Phaser (vintage Phase 90 clone w/true bypass), but it depends on what I have to do.

After having a Line 6 M13 on loan for a couple weeks, I bought it.

Not because of what it does, but for what it does for me.

I wanted something I could just step on when I wanted, laid out in front of me like a traditional pedal board, with;

A Crybaby Q-Filter, set up for that Michael Schenker cocked wah tone.

Another Crybaby Q-Filter, set up for more that Kerry King cocked wah tone.

A Phase 90 set slow.

Another Phase 90 set a bit faster.

Another 'different' phaser tone set faster and deeper for clean.

An octave below effect, (I use the Growler, but a recent update added a full Harmonizer).

A "ducking" tap delay.

Another tap delay set for those big warm TADA TADA TADA!

Sometimes the stereo chorus and Ping Pong delay when using two amps.

That's all I need before my head. I don't need any of the other stuff, and don't care. I don't get upset I'm not using the other 70 pedals, I don't care. I want tone and convenience. I didn't want "tone sucking," clicks or switching noise, I wanted to hear the tails of echos, with no pauses between changes, and it has to be quiet. I also am sick of tons of cables and power supplies. Oh, and after playing for over 35 years, I don't want to bend down between songs anymore. Oof!

While I don't doubt I couldn't get a better tone out of 10 pedals (including the duplicates, at a $1,000 or so) and a VooDoo Labs floor switching system and rack router ($800+), plus cables, power supplies and pedal board to mount them ($300+)... the M13 at under $500 is killer. It's got a great tuner too, (I hate the one in my G-Major). And while I don't claim the Phase 90 for e.g. sounds exactly like a real Phase 90, it sure sounds closer then the generic phaser in the Korg/Zoom/Boss floor boards.

And if I really need the exact tone of a particular pedal, I just use the real pedal in the M13's loop, or before or after it. I do use a real wah once and a while because I simply haven't got the expression pedal to use the ones the recent update added to it.

[Armitage]

I like having one whole "scene" set up, but being able to not only swich from one whole set-up to another, but just select another single pedal on or off, or have different versions of the same pedal with different settings.