Buck Waller! Hey Shell. I called ISP tech support for questions with my Theta DSP MS and Buck himself picked up! We talked a long while, lots of knowledge and experience there. Buck has been in this game a long time.
I was lucky enough to attend a Stryper sound check and also had a chance to nerd out with Michael Sweet. He showed me his ISP rig and I asked him if he had any sort of crushing rhythm sounds. He says to me, "Like This?" What came out of his onstage cabs was nothing short of INCREDIBLE and he said his patch was part of that unit when you buy it. It was beyond words.
80s tones are the best tones. We know this is true. I've never even heard of this manufacturer before but I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for any examples I should encounter in my travels.
Great demo, sir! I've been demoing ISP gear for years and after 7 years or more of having the ISP Theta Pro, I can still dial in new sounds that catch me off guard and surprise me!
You were squeezing some righteous tones out of it. The dialed in tones were very useable. The super ambient clean was great. It held together well. Thanks!👍
Great demo! Thanks for doing this one. People say this Theta series of floor boards are overpriced, but the sound is the most important consideration, and these Theta DSPs sound great. I have the yellow MS model. It has plenty of features as well. With parametric mids in the pre AND post EQ it could have been made to sound like the IRs for sure. I tried another floorboard with more features...it had a meh looper, lots of other meh stuff too, for a couple hundred cheaper. Didn't sound as good. I sent it back and kept the Theta. With the built in Decimator it gives so much USABLE gain as well...Ive never had this much usable gain. Playing 39 years, and the yellow Theta DSP MS is my favorite device in all that time.
I had the big brother Theta Pro DSP for a while. It's a pretty amazing device. One thing with these and some of the Rocktron stuff is that they solved the digital aliasing issue. Buck Waller, owner of ISP, also started Rocktron. So it's not just ex-Rocktron employees, it's the founders and some top engineering people. BTW Allan Holdsworth actually endorsed the Theta Pro DSP a couple of months before he passed away.
Thanks for doing this excellent demo and reminding me this thing exists. I remember being very interested at the time of launch (the Ethan Brosh demo 8 years ago was great as well). The problem for them is that at this price point there's a lot of competition offering more features, nicer-looking or more compact design, ... but it doesn't take away from this unit sounding incredible. Especially those cleans, doesn't get better than that.
The sound is the most important consideration, and these Theta DSPs sound great. I have the yellow MS model. They have plenty of features as well. I tried another floorboard with more features...it had a meh looper lots of other meh stuff too, for a couple hundred cheaper. Didn't sound as good. I sent it back and kept the Theta.
I had this model, plugged into the Vector FS8... I was dumb enough to sell it in order to get more "vintage" stuff, with all the drawbacks of old valve technology, and I have had remorse ever since .... ISP, with other great makers such as Quilter, Custom Tones, Tech 21, are the guys who will save your back by creating light stuff, but without sacrifying the sound in your head. Great stuff, but sometimes a bit complicated to change some settings ...
When I saw the font on the faceplate I told myself ''who stole Rocktron's font to put on their multi-effect?!''. I was really glad to know that Rocktron legacy is still alive. Seriously when most of my Rocktron stuff died on me years ago I was broken inside: Intelliverb - MIDI Mate - Xpression - Voodoo valve, etc. If it weren't so expensive I would buy the Theta X right away. But for around 1600$ CDN tax included even if I am a Rocktron fanboy, without IR's and not knowing how long the device will last this time compare to what I already lost with the other Rocktron devices I had, I don't think I would pay that much, it is too expensive. Amazing video and playing as always.
I can't recall the last time I watched your incredibly informative videos and not wanted to pick up a guitar. Thanks for inspiration and keep these videos coming! Apropos, loved the Whitesnake and BATM riffs. It seemed the "Wasted Chorus" was "Wasted Years" by Maiden.
@@LeonTodd Agreed! I’ve never heard a more analog sounding chorus on a digital unit than I have here on these Theta Pro DSP’s. It sits so well in the patch. Absolutely to die for. Love your channel bro. Keep up the good work.
Stellar Rocker Tones. I was close to buying one of these around 10 years ago. I am an old man and eschew computers and hours of messing about for days on end for a playable tone. This is cool. I can always tell if someone is gelling with a unit by how they're playing. Looks like you were enjoying The Theta lol.
Really cool. I'm not sure when this model was produced, but it seems like ISP Technologies is still in business, as you noted with the Michael Sweet models. The stock cab tones were definitely lacking, but switching to your IRs made a huge difference. Unfortunately, information is sorely lacking on the website and I can't tell if the new version of this unit has editable cab models. It seems like that is a needed feature.
Nice sounds man , i had a pal on ADA depot Adam Mcclean who used this preamp , i always remember the 80s clean sounds being so crisp ! Just got my ADA 3TM back then and before that id been using a korg ax300g board (not the silver ax3000g) for like a decade , it was pure digital but has some beastly distortion sounds in there ! Tried the ax3000g in between my 300g and ADA and it just didnt have the same distortion which led me to my first tube rig !
Another great review. For what its worth, on some of your demo vids, you do those little quick Synthwave tracks and play the presets in those tracks. It really lets us here how the sounds you demo sit in the mix. Either way, thanks for these wonderful demos. Cheers from California.
I had the bigger Theta board at one point. It was really quite excellent! The effects were the standout part for me. They really sounded nice. I had it for quiet playing around the house, and ultimately wanted a bit more options for that purpose. I decided to try the Headrush Gigboard, and have had since.
Hi Leon. I'm trying to catch up on the vids I missed earlier because of health problems. I had no idea that they used to be Rocktron guys.. Very cool.. I love their products and I've not personally tried one, but I love the tone's I've heard before. I know Michael Sweet uses one I believe.. He has killer tone.. Very cool .. Man, as soon as you started playing I was like.. "Oh yeah".. That preamp sounds awesome! I love floor preamps.. Hence my love for the Fractal that you use and the older model that I like as well for the floor.. I'm still looking at them.. Just trying to decide when to jump in.. I've just not had time to try to negotiate a deal lately.. God that chorus was awesome... especially on that clean setting.. Reminds me of a JC Roland amp clean.. Very cool.. It was really good! Man, when you dialed in the post EQ and used the Chorus and Phaser, etc, with the Theta preamp it sounded glorious. Man, you could gig with that easily! So cool.. I loved it too with your cab IR man.. Sounds great.. It sounded good with their IR, but yours knocked it out of the park man! Very cool.. When you were playing with the sag it reminded me of a Freidman sorta.. Great effects, great distortion, great noise gate.. What more could a person want? Does it have a tuner? Didn't they make just a preamp with no effects I was thinking? That would be cool as a pedal board amp.. Direct, etc.. Very cool brother.. Love it.. Love that PRS too with your playing brother.. Too cool.. Be well and have a great night and better weekend sir! Tim
@@LeonTodd Hey Leon.. after i wrote that above, I fell last Friday and fractured my Tibia and my Patella. It hurt so bad I can't tell you.. 😛 Anyway. I'm on bedrest for 3 months except using a walker because I'm not allowed to use my right leg now so I might not be on much because of physical therapy sir. I'll catch up though soon.. Please be well and safe my friend.. Tim
i hope we are done with the pedal craze soon. and we start seeing stuff like this in rack format. im not crazy about modeling, so hopefully some analog stuff too.
Yes. I own the full sized Theta Pro DSP version. I run it in stereo with 2 Seymour Duncan PowerStage 200’s into 2 2x12 cabs w/ Vintage 30’s and it sounds absolutely massive. That chorus in stereo is beyond impressive. Gives me chills every time!
Yep, I imagine that's probably the intended use case with the speaker sim being a convenient tool to augment that. I think that's how Michael Sweet runs his sig that's and he sounds incredible.
I've always wondered about the ISP gear outside of the Decimator gear. For the price it always seemed like there was something better. I've never seen them in anyone's board. They could use a redesign to bring their image forward. It looks a bit dated. But the sound is 👍
The price seems NUTS I gotta say. For about half that, you can buy an Ampero II with a color touch screen, software editor, dual signal paths etc. and sounds superior as well.
For that price I honestly think a buyer would be better served getting into a used Fractal unit. I see MK II and XL+ units on Reverb or CL all the time for right around that price.
Wait? Was this recorded Di or room mic? Up until the clean tones I couldn’t tell. The high gain tones sound absolutely terrible but the clean chorus tone sounds amazing. Even with delay and reverb the high gain tones sounds distant, IR doesn’t seem like it matters…
Stryper are Mesa guys, everyone knows how good they are. ISP is built like a tank, Radial too. Sounds boxy to me, not in the room, over my speakers. It sounds good though
smokin! I am curious about comparison of theta x and rocktron voodu valve / chameleon stuff. Or may be prophecy or utopia. My theory is that they are almost the same. Can you verify it for us?
Nice, I just scored a used ISP Theta Pro Michael Sweet in near mint condition at a great price. Back in the '80s I was using rack gear (ADA, had the full ADA rig from preamp to cabs), so this will be a great throwback for me! Been tough to find a preamp + effects in a single unit that I think sounds great and has the features I want. I've done the digital modelers (from the original Vox Tonelab, to Fractal, to Helix, to Boss), and I've replaced my modelers with a computer / software rig that works great. I really don't need 100s of models of existing amps, 1000s of IRs, etc., just a preamp with a great EQ and basic effects. But outside the computer rig, I've been going old school with tube amps this year, 50W and 100W that are not practical these days.... ISP Theta Pro is going to be a blast! Should arrive late this week. Cheers!
@@LeonTodd This thing is amazing! I just got the recommended Mission Engineering expression pedal, and the ISP Stealth Pro amp...I've run the stage out (mono) to the Stealth Pro amp into a Marshall 4x12 and Mesa recto 2x12 with the cab/speaker sim off...sounded amazing. The direct outs with cab/speaker sim into my PA with subs also sounds amazing. next up, running the stage outs, L and R, one to each side of my Engl E850/100 tube power amp, out to an Engl E212VHB PRO cab on each side. If it sounds as good as I expect, I'll be looking for an Eventide rack unit, maybe and Eclipse V4. Rack will be back for me. I regret ignoring this for years, comparing the specs and price to digital modelers; it's a preamp with effects not a modeler and is exactly what I was looking for. Also, this thing is Made in USA which is going to increase the price. Cheers!
when you were playing the theta distortion at 9:52 was it still on your custom IR or was that all manually tweaked from the thetaX unit only? I like it OK, $1100 ok? Meh, I can get that stuff on my gfx1, even the heavy harmonics with the right tubes (shuguang square getters) why did they make the stock presets so muddy is it posed to be a gangsta djent box or something, fuggin horrible imho... stuck in the mud . . . thing is you're a pro at dialing these things in . . . you should offer classes... no lol
Finally - Leon found the only "profdessional enough for AOR" digital Stage modeling preamp, so now the cat is out of the bag ;) OK, still one secret left then ...
It’s in there and believe me, it is spot on! I own a Rockman X100 an XP100 and an XPR rack mount. I bought the Theta Pro DSP just because it has that “Boston” patch. Call me crazy, I know! Lol
Your IR sounds much better than the built in cabs……. Do you think this unit can rival any of the fractal tones? You can get an fm3 or the new Headrush cheaper than this , they both sound pretty good…….
*Awesome Design, very sexy! HOWEVER, there are some improvements I could think of off the top that would bring it 2the9's......!! HOLY SH!T THAT CLEAN/CHORUS TONE!!!!*
Without all of the modern features is a one trick pony. Great unit but very limited. Get axe fx iii, helix or Kemper you will get more for your money and free updates.
ISP was founded by the original founder/President of Rocktron, and the engineers came with him after he sold Rocktron.
It shows, those effects make me think of my favourite Rocktron rack units!
Buck Waller! Hey Shell.
I called ISP tech support for questions with my Theta DSP MS and Buck himself picked up! We talked a long while, lots of knowledge and experience there. Buck has been in this game a long time.
I was lucky enough to attend a Stryper sound check and also had a chance to nerd out with Michael Sweet. He showed me his ISP rig and I asked him if he had any sort of crushing rhythm sounds. He says to me, "Like This?"
What came out of his onstage cabs was nothing short of INCREDIBLE and he said his patch was part of that unit when you buy it. It was beyond words.
80's tones ain't nothing to be scoffed at. Righteous.
80s tones are the best tones. We know this is true. I've never even heard of this manufacturer before but I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for any examples I should encounter in my travels.
That red box has been the best kept secret of the business since ... 2 or 3 years now?
@@larslevinberget9558The yellow box is even better!
Finally someone like Leon taking a look at this unit.
Great demo, sir! I've been demoing ISP gear for years and after 7 years or more of having the ISP Theta Pro, I can still dial in new sounds that catch me off guard and surprise me!
I like the fact Theta stuff never sounds harsh. Glad they put new stuff
Really reminds me of the old Rocktron rack stuff
You were squeezing some righteous tones out of it. The dialed in tones were very useable. The super ambient clean was great. It held together well. Thanks!👍
Those cleans NAIL the late 80's rack tone hey
Great demo! Thanks for doing this one.
People say this Theta series of floor boards are overpriced, but the sound is the most important consideration, and these Theta DSPs sound great. I have the yellow MS model.
It has plenty of features as well. With parametric mids in the pre AND post EQ it could have been made to sound like the IRs for sure.
I tried another floorboard with more features...it had a meh looper, lots of other meh stuff too, for a couple hundred cheaper. Didn't sound as good. I sent it back and kept the Theta. With the built in Decimator it gives so much USABLE gain as well...Ive never had this much usable gain. Playing 39 years, and the yellow Theta DSP MS is my favorite device in all that time.
I’m super impressed by this! If presets 1 and 5 are stock, they sound amazing! Perfect blend of chorus and delay on the lead tones with preset 1!
I had the big brother Theta Pro DSP for a while. It's a pretty amazing device. One thing with these and some of the Rocktron stuff is that they solved the digital aliasing issue. Buck Waller, owner of ISP, also started Rocktron. So it's not just ex-Rocktron employees, it's the founders and some top engineering people. BTW Allan Holdsworth actually endorsed the Theta Pro DSP a couple of months before he passed away.
Michael Sweets signature model of this pedal is awesome.
Shhhhhh... ;)
Sounds great. Perfect for a player like myself that only uses 3 tones, clean, crunch, and lead. 😊👍
Thanks for doing this excellent demo and reminding me this thing exists. I remember being very interested at the time of launch (the Ethan Brosh demo 8 years ago was great as well). The problem for them is that at this price point there's a lot of competition offering more features, nicer-looking or more compact design, ... but it doesn't take away from this unit sounding incredible. Especially those cleans, doesn't get better than that.
The sound is the most important consideration, and these Theta DSPs sound great. I have the yellow MS model.
They have plenty of features as well.
I tried another floorboard with more features...it had a meh looper lots of other meh stuff too, for a couple hundred cheaper. Didn't sound as good. I sent it back and kept the Theta.
I had this model, plugged into the Vector FS8... I was dumb enough to sell it in order to get more "vintage" stuff, with all the drawbacks of old valve technology, and I have had remorse ever since .... ISP, with other great makers such as Quilter, Custom Tones, Tech 21, are the guys who will save your back by creating light stuff, but without sacrifying the sound in your head. Great stuff, but sometimes a bit complicated to change some settings ...
FINALLY! Glad you've covered this piece of gear.
Likewise, it was fun rolling in all the grease!
The moment it goes to 80s epic clean ! 😮
That epic clean made me look up some old Whitesnake tabs, so nice
You got a big shoutout from Buck on Facebook today. High praise!
No way!
When I saw the font on the faceplate I told myself ''who stole Rocktron's font to put on their multi-effect?!''. I was really glad to know that Rocktron legacy is still alive. Seriously when most of my Rocktron stuff died on me years ago I was broken inside: Intelliverb - MIDI Mate - Xpression - Voodoo valve, etc. If it weren't so expensive I would buy the Theta X right away. But for around 1600$ CDN tax included even if I am a Rocktron fanboy, without IR's and not knowing how long the device will last this time compare to what I already lost with the other Rocktron devices I had, I don't think I would pay that much, it is too expensive. Amazing video and playing as always.
I can't recall the last time I watched your incredibly informative videos and not wanted to pick up a guitar. Thanks for inspiration and keep these videos coming! Apropos, loved the Whitesnake and BATM riffs. It seemed the "Wasted Chorus" was "Wasted Years" by Maiden.
That means a lot to hear that mate!
There’s a fantastic patch called “Boston” on there if you’re after an excellent Rockman XPR tone.
Tom Scholz would approve of the mids on this
@@LeonTodd Agreed! I’ve never heard a more analog sounding chorus on a digital unit than I have here on these Theta Pro DSP’s. It sits so well in the patch. Absolutely to die for. Love your channel bro. Keep up the good work.
Thanks man! Yeah they've voiced that perfectly for 80's grease @@markjohnson1020
I remember having the Intellifx and pro gap ultra back in 1991. Loving this.
Orig voodu valve. Was killer.
Totally
Stellar Rocker Tones. I was close to buying one of these around 10 years ago. I am an old man and eschew computers and hours of messing about for days on end for a playable tone. This is cool. I can always tell if someone is gelling with a unit by how they're playing. Looks like you were enjoying The Theta lol.
They need to hire you to make their presets!
They know where to find me!
@@LeonTodd You know the information -age Leon ... you got to teach the executives how to tie their shoes (they never learn)
Really cool. I'm not sure when this model was produced, but it seems like ISP Technologies is still in business, as you noted with the Michael Sweet models. The stock cab tones were definitely lacking, but switching to your IRs made a huge difference. Unfortunately, information is sorely lacking on the website and I can't tell if the new version of this unit has editable cab models. It seems like that is a needed feature.
That’s the downfall of this unit. It’s ashame the factory ir’s are so bad.
ISP is great, I have a Theta pedal, totally analog drive, huge sound, it is really my BEST pedal ever!
I love my isp theta. It's awesome.
Nice sounds man , i had a pal on ADA depot Adam Mcclean who used this preamp , i always remember the 80s clean sounds being so crisp ! Just got my ADA 3TM back then and before that id been using a korg ax300g board (not the silver ax3000g) for like a decade , it was pure digital but has some beastly distortion sounds in there ! Tried the ax3000g in between my 300g and ADA and it just didnt have the same distortion which led me to my first tube rig !
Another great review. For what its worth, on some of your demo vids, you do those little quick Synthwave tracks and play the presets in those tracks. It really lets us here how the sounds you demo sit in the mix. Either way, thanks for these wonderful demos. Cheers from California.
I had the bigger Theta board at one point. It was really quite excellent! The effects were the standout part for me. They really sounded nice. I had it for quiet playing around the house, and ultimately wanted a bit more options for that purpose. I decided to try the Headrush Gigboard, and have had since.
Wow sounds awesome. I hope my FX3 can compete to this! I hope a smaller/ affordable version of this would be produced some time.
love the volume swell effect
Awesome videos as always, I have the older Isp red board running through a isp stealth ultra amp,sounds Amazing.
God it sounds infinitely better with your IR's. I was thinking it sounded bloody awful til then.✌
Hi Leon.
I'm trying to catch up on the vids I missed earlier because of health problems.
I had no idea that they used to be Rocktron guys.. Very cool.. I love their products and I've not personally tried one, but I love the tone's I've heard before. I know Michael Sweet uses one I believe.. He has killer tone..
Very cool .. Man, as soon as you started playing I was like.. "Oh yeah".. That preamp sounds awesome! I love floor preamps.. Hence my love for the Fractal that you use and the older model that I like as well for the floor.. I'm still looking at them.. Just trying to decide when to jump in.. I've just not had time to try to negotiate a deal lately..
God that chorus was awesome... especially on that clean setting.. Reminds me of a JC Roland amp clean.. Very cool.. It was really good!
Man, when you dialed in the post EQ and used the Chorus and Phaser, etc, with the Theta preamp it sounded glorious. Man, you could gig with that easily! So cool.. I loved it too with your cab IR man.. Sounds great.. It sounded good with their IR, but yours knocked it out of the park man! Very cool..
When you were playing with the sag it reminded me of a Freidman sorta..
Great effects, great distortion, great noise gate.. What more could a person want? Does it have a tuner?
Didn't they make just a preamp with no effects I was thinking? That would be cool as a pedal board amp.. Direct, etc..
Very cool brother.. Love it.. Love that PRS too with your playing brother.. Too cool..
Be well and have a great night and better weekend sir!
Tim
Hey man I hope you're feeling alright. Happy thanksgiving!
@@LeonTodd Man, I fell and messed up my knee had. Have to get a steel jar out in and about 8 screws doctor says. It hurts bad
. Avery painful.
Brutal man. Sending well wishes from the whole family down here. @@hoosierdaddy2308
@@LeonTodd Hey Leon.. after i wrote that above, I fell last Friday and fractured my Tibia and my Patella. It hurt so bad I can't tell you.. 😛 Anyway. I'm on bedrest for 3 months except using a walker because I'm not allowed to use my right leg now so I might not be on much because of physical therapy sir. I'll catch up though soon.. Please be well and safe my friend..
Tim
Sounded really cool to my ears. 😊
I never heard any modeller as good as that one😮
Great out-of-the-box sound! 🤘
He said big thick 80’s style tones 🤟🏻I’m ready LT does the 80’s in spades…Rock on
All I can think of is Steel Panther and Satchels infamous PG interview, haha. kinda' reminds me of some Rockman tones. You make it sound good!
No5. 80’s Epic Clean is indeed just that ‘EPIC’ holy shit 🙌
This unit sounds good
Always wanted an honest look at this, thanks
It sounds like my old ADA rack 80s gig. With a little digital clean up. Lol.
ISP stuff always sounded great to me. I had the Waller solid state amp for a short stint years ago.
want one of these so bad but cant seem to get it in the UK. Best demo ive seen so far
Much appreciated mate!
These tones makes me want to put on Operation Mindcrime and PLAY IT LOUD 😁🫡🙏🏻
Wonderful! At last! Yes I want one.
Anywhere in EU stocking this?
I have the ISP Theta rackmount preamp, really good. Funny, it's foot controller has almost the same amount of footswitches.
That swell tone
i hope we are done with the pedal craze soon. and we start seeing stuff like this in rack format. im not crazy about modeling, so hopefully some analog stuff too.
Hi Leon great video, can this unit be connected to a power amp and then into cabs?
Yes. I own the full sized Theta Pro DSP version. I run it in stereo with 2 Seymour Duncan PowerStage 200’s into 2 2x12 cabs w/ Vintage 30’s and it sounds absolutely massive. That chorus in stereo is beyond impressive. Gives me chills every time!
👍so I’d go out of the stage out L/R into the power amp?
@@joshuasydnee Yes. Turn off your internal cab sim tho. Or not. Some people like that sound. Lol
Yep, I imagine that's probably the intended use case with the speaker sim being a convenient tool to augment that. I think that's how Michael Sweet runs his sig that's and he sounds incredible.
Sounds absolutely excellent! Hardly surprising, considering the Rocktron pedigree!
Does it only do '80's cleans? Every clean example I heard has a heavy amount of effects on it. Could we hear the clean sound without effects?
I've always wondered about the ISP gear outside of the Decimator gear. For the price it always seemed like there was something better. I've never seen them in anyone's board. They could use a redesign to bring their image forward. It looks a bit dated. But the sound is 👍
80s Epic clean is..... pretty epic.
The price seems NUTS I gotta say. For about half that, you can buy an Ampero II with a color touch screen, software editor, dual signal paths etc. and sounds superior as well.
i cant even play without Chorus, this unit sounds good. I need to get a micro Pitch pedal as the chorus isnt ideal with brutal distortion.
Sounds right!
That Volume Swell preset is just what the doctor ordered. That's the last missing piece before I can write my ultimate 80s power ballad.
The only gear guy on RUclips that I trust! Sold!
I can see the affinity to the ancient rocktron pro gap ❤
wow, very nice sound
@4:42 Hit me with that Lifeson chord, big daddy! I might have made an audible-yet-unintelligible noise at this point... #woof
Yeah…that Malmsteen Riff….you let every Gear sound great 👍🏻
Nice, so stage out with your own IR and it rocks hard.
Their IR's sounded like wet blankets but the amp emulator is pretty bitchin.
For that price I honestly think a buyer would be better served getting into a used Fractal unit. I see MK II and XL+ units on Reverb or CL all the time for right around that price.
That's it. Call it a day. Time to sell my entire pedalboard. This is all I need. That chorus is pure Queensryche goodness.
With the stock cabs it doesn’t sound like it will cut through very well live, well, apart from those awesome cleans
I’m getting some ADA-MP1 vibes from it
Good Lord! $1,100? I'll just keep cranking the knobs on my pedal board 😂
You need to try some of the new Tone Factor IRs. Better than the dyna cabs in my opinion.
Wait? Was this recorded Di or room mic? Up until the clean tones I couldn’t tell. The high gain tones sound absolutely terrible but the clean chorus tone sounds amazing. Even with delay and reverb the high gain tones sounds distant, IR doesn’t seem like it matters…
DI
80s epic clean is great
Love the sounds, but hate building patches.
Tones really reminded me of my Piranha, which I sold to my undying regret. Better cleans, though. And I liked the sounds of the effects.
Loved the parametric mids on the piranha
Stryper are Mesa guys, everyone knows how good they are.
ISP is built like a tank, Radial too. Sounds boxy to me, not in the room, over my speakers.
It sounds good though
smokin! I am curious about comparison of theta x and rocktron voodu valve / chameleon stuff. Or may be prophecy or utopia. My theory is that they are almost the same. Can you verify it for us?
Same engineers
hi..can this gear be connected to sound card (focusrite).... and how.. if u dont mind?
Nice, I just scored a used ISP Theta Pro Michael Sweet in near mint condition at a great price.
Back in the '80s I was using rack gear (ADA, had the full ADA rig from preamp to cabs), so this will be a great throwback for me!
Been tough to find a preamp + effects in a single unit that I think sounds great and has the features I want. I've done the digital modelers (from the original Vox Tonelab, to Fractal, to Helix, to Boss), and I've replaced my modelers with a computer / software rig that works great.
I really don't need 100s of models of existing amps, 1000s of IRs, etc., just a preamp with a great EQ and basic effects.
But outside the computer rig, I've been going old school with tube amps this year, 50W and 100W that are not practical these days....
ISP Theta Pro is going to be a blast! Should arrive late this week.
Cheers!
Keep me posted with how you like it!
@@LeonTodd This thing is amazing!
I just got the recommended Mission Engineering expression pedal, and the ISP Stealth Pro amp...I've run the stage out (mono) to the Stealth Pro amp into a Marshall 4x12 and Mesa recto 2x12 with the cab/speaker sim off...sounded amazing.
The direct outs with cab/speaker sim into my PA with subs also sounds amazing.
next up, running the stage outs, L and R, one to each side of my Engl E850/100 tube power amp, out to an Engl E212VHB PRO cab on each side. If it sounds as good as I expect, I'll be looking for an Eventide rack unit, maybe and Eclipse V4. Rack will be back for me.
I regret ignoring this for years, comparing the specs and price to digital modelers; it's a preamp with effects not a modeler and is exactly what I was looking for.
Also, this thing is Made in USA which is going to increase the price.
Cheers!
I love my theta MS, some goofy pre sets
Θ Χ or The Tax? $1020 to sound like the 80s: you could buy a pile of actual 90s gear or this one device. Sure sounds sweet in this dude’s hands.
Tone is in the labelmaker footswitches \m/
when you were playing the theta distortion at 9:52 was it still on your custom IR or was that all manually tweaked from the thetaX unit only? I like it OK, $1100 ok? Meh, I can get that stuff on my gfx1, even the heavy harmonics with the right tubes (shuguang square getters) why did they make the stock presets so muddy is it posed to be a gangsta djent box or something, fuggin horrible imho... stuck in the mud . . . thing is you're a pro at dialing these things in . . . you should offer classes... no lol
Everything past about 6min is my IR
Finally - Leon found the only "profdessional enough for AOR" digital Stage modeling preamp, so now the cat is out of the bag ;) OK, still one secret left then ...
Sounds like you could pull a good Boston Tom Scholtz tone out of it.
Pretty sure there's a Boston preset in there!
It’s in there and believe me, it is spot on! I own a Rockman X100 an XP100 and an XPR rack mount. I bought the Theta Pro DSP just because it has that “Boston” patch. Call me crazy, I know! Lol
@@markjohnson1020 Not crazy, Tom had his own thing and it was huge!
And really, who doesn't love huge?
Maybe it's me but I am hearing a bit of that Tom Scholz tone from the distortion sustainer combo.....
Big time!
I'm surprised Ethan Brosh didn't have the dirty presets dialed in since he was the big ISP Theta guy.
Your IR sounds much better than the built in cabs……. Do you think this unit can rival any of the fractal tones? You can get an fm3 or the new Headrush cheaper than this , they both sound pretty good…….
The Fractal is way more flexible, has more effects and the amp models are very accurate
ch 1 sounds more like highway child by deep purple than anything Van Halen
Can presets be controlled by an external midi foot controller?
Holy shit, this fucking thing is over one grand, who priced this?
❤
I need to know where your distortion tones come from
Yet again why i feel i never need another IR. I mix tvmix 2 and ...erm ..so long since i even looked that their names 7? Done.
*Awesome Design, very sexy! HOWEVER, there are some improvements I could think of off the top that would bring it 2the9's......!! HOLY SH!T THAT CLEAN/CHORUS TONE!!!!*
🤘🔊
10:36 Does it chungus?
Without all of the modern features is a one trick pony. Great unit but very limited. Get axe fx iii, helix or Kemper you will get more for your money and free updates.
great sounds, looks dated. Why not add a normal color display? Why not add normal buttons to have "snapshots"?