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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

1970.0. "Chorus recommendations?" by RAD1::DAVIS () Fri Apr 21 1989 13:36

    Aarrghh! Looks like I managed to fry my old MXR micro-chorus
    yesterday. I was trying to install a mini-jack so I could run it
    off a wallbug instead of batteries and accidentally grounded the
    hot pin to the case. Voila, no more chorus, probably scorched one
    of the ICs/opamps. So ... guess I'm in the market for a new chorus.

    This was used mainly for my guitar. It was kind of a mild chorus
    effect that I left on all the time just to thicken the guitar
    sound a little (didn't even have a depth control, just speed).
    Certainly nothing fancy, but I liked the sound.

    In thinking about replacing it, I was wondering if I could spend a
    bit more and get something like a MidiverbII which could do
    something besides just the chorus. Make it a multi-use effect that
    I could use on synth and drum machine as well as guitar. But,
    looking back at some of the previous notes (#1028), it sounds like
    chorus is not one of the strong points of the MVII. Also, does the
    MVII allow you to combine a chorus and reverb at the same time,
    and are there some variations of this combination? Does it have a
    decent flange?

    I think the Quadraverb and DSP-128 are a little out of my price
    range, I was trying to stay around $200 max. (What's a good price
    for an MVII these days?) Any other opinions on the quality of the
    chorus in the MVII, or other suggestions on a good chorus.

    Rob
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1970.1Not THAT bad...WEFXEM::COTEThe fool screams no more...Fri Apr 21 1989 14:0511
    When I was gigging I used an MVII that defaulted to one of the
    chorus patches (#60). I left it on all the time. #66 was too
    wild for my tastes...
    
    I believe there are 10 different chorus in the MVII.
    
    Since I scored my DEP-5, I only use the MVII for drums and leave
    the chorusing to the Roland, which by the way, will do parralel
    FX but is a bit outta your $ range...
    
    Edd
1970.2MARKER::BUCKLEYI wish it was summertime all year!Fri Apr 21 1989 14:1411
    re. 0
    
    If you liked the sound of the (analog) micro chorus, you could always
    try and find a used version of the big-yellow-box MXR chorus...it
    was a nice unit for what it did.
    
    The DEP-5 does great chorus n reverb effects, but for the price,
    a QR seems like the way to go.  Last time I looked DEP-5's were
    like in the $600. range.
    
    I like the MVII for chorus myself....no quams with it.
1970.3DEP-5s discontinued?NRADM::KARLFri Apr 21 1989 14:3012
    I've heard that DEP-5s are being discontinued (I forget where I
    heard this). I've seen used ones going for around $350.00. This
    may have something to do with the new Quadroverb competition(?))
    
    I've had it about a year and haven't had the time to figure out
    how to program it yet (I'm just using the presets and vary the
    amount of reverb, etc.) I need  a second one, and if the Quad will
    do the same things with less programming hassle - I may spring for
    one of those. But the price is still up there a little for even
    a used DEP-5, depending on how much of a factor this is for you.
    
    Bill
1970.4Boss RCE-10DREGS::BLICKSTEINConliberativeFri Apr 21 1989 15:1428
    I personally don't like the chorus on the MV II although I suspect
    that if you use it for MONO outputs (like most live guitar
    applications) it's "decent".  To my ears, it sounds way too
    out of phase, and it doesn't do anything dramatic with stereo
    
    Stereo chorus can be very dramatic and yet not too "altering".
    That is, it's sorta like an Aural Exciter in that it can make
    it sound a LOT better without making it sound a lot "different".
    
    In my opinion, however, there is a clear winner in the realm
    of choruses.  It's the Boss RCE-10 which is a half-rack true
    stereo chorus.
    
    This is essentially the same chorus sound that made the JC-120
    (Roland Jazz chorus amps) famous.
    
    I don't have one, but I will eventually.  I actually go out of the
    way to borrow one from a friend when I need it.
    
    I don't like to rave about products but I don't think anything else
    comes close.  I think the difference is because it's processed
    in TRUE stereo.  That is, for the most part, there are two sets of 
    everything in the signal chain (one for left, one for right).
    
    Now, $150-$200 is a lot for a box that does only chorus, but I find chorus
    so valuable that I think it's worth it (even if I can't afford it ;-).
    
    	db
1970.5Repair??DNEAST::GREVE_STEVEIf all else fails, take a nap...Fri Apr 21 1989 15:195
    
    
    	Call me a wet blanket, but is it possible that the chorus that
    you "smoked" has some kind of protection circuit (like a fuse, or
    set of diodes) that could be replaced cheaply??
1970.6CE-3, CE-300, RCE-10DRUMS::FEHSKENSFri Apr 21 1989 15:379
    I'll second db's nomination of the RCE-10 as well worth the extra bucks.
    It is an update of the classic CE-300 rack mount chorus, two of
    which I have hung on the outputs of my Super Jupiter.  Talk about
    *FAT* analog sound.  If you're hard pressed for $ and still want that
    Roland chorus sound, you can get a CE-3 stomp box for (I believe) less
    than $100.
    
    len.
    
1970.7Repair? Not likely.RAD1::DAVISFri Apr 21 1989 16:5411
    RE: .5
    
    I actually would be happy to get it repaired (even though it is
    a great excuse to spend some dollars I don't have 8^) ).
    I'm not real optimistic though. I'll probably try to check it out once
    more before I buy something new. But, I'm almost certain there's no
    fuse (no room), and my electronic expertise is pretty limited (just
    enough to be dangerous, as you can probably tell from my current
    situation 8^( ). Thanks for the suggestion.
    
    Rob
1970.8And the winner is ...RAD1::DAVISTue Apr 25 1989 10:1926
    
    Just to follow up on my chorus search ...
    
    I ended up buying a basic digital delay w/ modulation to get
    chorus/flange type effects. I found a used Ibanez DD1000 Dual Delay at
    Daddy's for $170, actually two separate delays in one small rackmount
    box. They wanted $100 for the Boss CE-3 stomp box, so this seemed like
    more processing power for my money. One delay has a short delay range
    and mod for chorus/flange and the other is a one second straight delay
    for echo effects. I can take the output of the echo delay and patch it
    into the chorus/flange side. Fits my style of guitar playing to a "T". 

    An interesting side note for others trying to create chorus effects...
    
    The "mod"ed delay has 3 separate outs for the straight sound, "MIX"ed
    w/ delay signal, and something marked "INV DEL" (out-of-phase delay?).
    Now I've never really played with a stereo chorus, but I started
    trying different combinations of these outs panned to opposite sides,
    and the sound was really a revelation. Best combo that I found was
    with the straight signal panned slightly to one side, and a fairly
    heavy "MIX" panned a bit more to the other side. The "INV DEL" with
    the "MIX" signal was not quite as dramatic. It gave a nice stereo
    image, but actually seemed to deaden the chorus effect.
    
        
    Rob
1970.9YepDREGS::BLICKSTEINConliberativeTue Apr 25 1989 14:1912
>    w/ delay signal, and something marked "INV DEL" (out-of-phase delay?).
    
    Yep: out-of-phase.
    
>    The "INV DEL" with the "MIX" signal was not quite as dramatic. 
    
    Yep, and I'm pretty sure that's what the MIDIverb II does for
    it's chorus which is why I've been so negative about the MV II
    chorus effect.

    	db
    
1970.10give me a TM320 DSP and we talk 'real'LEDDEV::ROSSshiver me timbres....Mon May 01 1989 14:4213
    
    wellllllllll, if ya check the equations or S. O. P. for
    implimentations of chorus vs. flanging for signal mix,
    you find that this is 'correct'.
    
    The issue of deriving "stereo" (actually pseudo-stereo)
    signals to drive TWO CHANNELS is something else you're 
    alluding to, which is usually a function of $COST$.
    
    boom,chakalakalaka....
    
    rr
    
1970.11"Conventional" Chorus?DREGS::BLICKSTEINConliberativeMon May 01 1989 17:089
    I don't know where to "check" for S.O.P. for chorusing and flanging,
    I didn't know there were rules written anywhere.
    
    But I will only tell you this:
    
    	The Roland/Boss units produce a much nicer "chorus-like"
    	effect than anything else I've heard.
    
      db
1970.12Boss CE-300 Price?RICKS::NORCROSSMon Jul 30 1990 14:053
Is $99 a good price for a Boss CE-300?  (single space full-rack mount).

/Mitch
1970.13Probably not a good used priceDREGS::BLICKSTEINThis is your brain on UnixMon Jul 30 1990 14:417
    New or used?
    
    Don't know if that's a good price, but I paid $99 for my RCE (single
    space, but half-width) chorus brand new - the RCE seems to have been
    the replacement for the CE-300.  I'm told they sound the same.
    
    	db
1970.14A Chorus Line?DRUMS::FEHSKENSlen, EMA, LKG2-2/W10, DTN 226-7556Tue Jul 31 1990 15:3213
    Yes, it's a good used price.  I'd grab it if it was in good condition.
    
    I have 3 CE-300's (and 2 RCE-10's), and while the RCE-10 is a great
    chorus the CE-300 is a supergreat chorus.  BTW, $99 for a new RCE-10
    is incredible - they went for about $250 list.  Both the CE-300 and the
    RCE-10 have become very hard to find.  Mine are all dedicated to the
    (sometimes stereo) outputs of my preintegrated-effects analog synths;
    in case you're wondering how I can possibly justify such wretched
    excess, all you have to do is listen.  Can you say fat, Fat, FAT,
    *FAT*?
    
    len.
    
1970.15Echoing Len's commentsDREGS::BLICKSTEINThis is your brain on UnixWed Aug 01 1990 10:0420
    I feel compelled to echo Len's comments.
    
    I think that the chorus design that seems to be common to both the
    RCE and the CE-300 is just one of those rare incredible products.
    
    I was ready to buy as many RCE's as they would sell me for $99. 
    Unfortunately they only had one.
    
    I run quite a bit of stuff through the chorus (most synths sounds,
    crash and rides, a little bit of acoustic guitar, etc.)  That is,
    I almost use it like one might use an Aural Exciter.
    
    One caveat though.  It isn't NEARLY as good if you only run it in
    Mono.  I think the whole point of these particular chorus units as
    that they offer a DRAMATIC stereo psycho-acoustic effect.  As mono
    chorus units, they are perhaps noticeably better than anything else,
    but not likely to induce the raves you hear when they are run in true
    stereo.
    
    	db
1970.16can they be ordered?PNO::HEISERnews: 70 shopping days til no PNOFri Jan 18 1991 12:553
    does anyone know if the CE300 or RCE are out of production?
    
    Mike
1970.17Long gone, but common used. New stuff is more featureful, MIDI controlled, etc.RANGER::EIRIKUREir�kur Hallgr�mssonFri Jan 18 1991 19:385
I think these are long gone.  I got some of the last RCE-10's on sale over a
year ago.

	Eir�kur

1970.18search for the ultimate chorus ;-)UPWARD::HEISERnews: 70 shopping days til no PNOFri Jan 18 1991 22:524
    Do they have a successor with similar circuitry?  If not, who out there
    has a unit of equal quality?
    
    Mike
1970.19Victims of Digital MultieffectsDRUMS::FEHSKENSlen, EMA, LKG2-2/W10, DTN 226-7556Tue Jan 22 1991 10:0144
    re .18 et al. - No successor that I am aware of.  There's a chorus in
    their continuing string of multieffects boxes, but I doubt these use
    the same technology.  The CE-300 and RCE-10 use analog and digital
    approaches, respectively, so they are actually different technologies
    from one another, but the results seem to have been equally good.
    I have no details.  The only dedicated chorus unit I know of that seems
    to be in the same league as these is the TC Electronics unit, but I have
    heard TC Electronics comes and goes as a business entoty, and the unit
    (like the CE-300 and RCE-10) is a bit pricey (around $300?).
    
    For the record, summary of the CE-300 and RCE-10:
    
    CE-300: one rack height, full width
    	effect on/off switch
    	input level pot
    	5 segment signal level led (green, green, yellow, red, red)
    				   (-20db  -10db    0db  +3db +6db)
        modulation rate and depth pots
    	direct mute on/off switch  (i.e., can have effect only output)
    	chorus tone and level pots
    	power on/off
    	1/4" front and rear inputs and dual outputs (A/A+B, B)
    	1/4" rear remote effect on/off switch jack
        AC line powered
    
    RCE-10: one rack height, half width
    	effect on/off switch
    	predelay time pot
    	modulation rate and depth pots
    	effect EQ and level pots
    	power on/off switch
    	1/4" and RCA rear inputs and dual outputs (A/mono, B)
    	1/4" rear remote effect on/off switch
    	rear -10dbm/-20dbm "unigain" switch
    
    My impression of the principal virtues of these choruses - their
    quietness and subtlety.  They can be cranked up to provide egregious
    if not outrageously bizarre effects, but used discreetly they warrant
    the highest complement you can pay to an effect - you don't notice it
    until you turn it off, and then suddenly the sound's just not right.
    
    len.
    
    	
1970.20GLOWS::COCCOLImonitoring realityTue Jan 22 1991 16:216
    
    
      Try Rogue Music. Last time there (2 weeks ago) they had the RCE.
    
    Rich Coccoli