nice to see a good ole fashioned multi fx pedal that isn't all worried about amp modeling. I already have amps, just need a nice multi fx unit instead of a complicated/expensive pedalboard.
I have one and it’s AWESOME. I hate the digital drive options on other effect boards so this just fits me perfectly. I also think people should consider this as an alternative to all your effect pedals (in one box) rather than comparing it to a regular multi effect board as that’s not what it is trying to be.
Hey man, can you tell me if there is a setting that makes this like an amp footswitch in the way of of If i am playing and using effect 1, is there a setting so that if I select effect 2 it will shut off effect 1. And if I go back to effect 1 it'll shut off effect 2. Like only able to use one effect at a time.....?
Exactly what I think. I'm still hesitating between the plethora X5 and the new X3. Can you tell me if the X5 has the Mimiq Doubler ? Cause I read that the X3 has it.
@@alexpelegrini5657 Thanks Alex ! I bought the X5 2 month ago and I like the Doubler. It's not a pedal I would have bought but it's great for single note riffs or a few solo parts.
Super cool versatile unit. A great solution for limiting the amount of cables and clutter on your pedalboard. Same quality of TC individual pedals. Tons of expression pedal parameters. Excellent value for the price point.
Anyone considering getting one of these…. Do it! Had one a few months now and it is so good! I run it in to a victory duchess v4 with a MXR micro amp and JHS morning glory for drives. Sounds great!
My guitarist has one as well, one issue he is faced is when you use the four cable method using the internal effects loop it will completely bypass the loop if anything goes wrong instead of killing the sound. This is a major problem because if there's any connection issue with the preamp section of your amp in the loop, if something goes wrong you have a full volume signal going directly into your power amp which will essentially blow out a venue.
I really want one of these. I like my drive-setup but want a bit more versatility from other effects. I keep watching reviews, hoping that someone will tell me it's rubbish so I will stop being tempted to spend money. But every video confirms my suspicions that this is the machine for me
Nice video. Just wanted to let you know that by default the signal flow is left to right. So when you say the FX loop is last at 10:58, it's actually first (hence the numbering of 1 to 5). A recent FW update, 1.3, enables you to change this. Just wanted to let you know. Also, 1.3. added the Vintage Echo and other stuff. Should check it out.
Ok this is starting to make more sense. Initially I thought this was a half ass developed product but I see what it does that many other more packed floor modelers don’t do. It replaces bulky pedal board routing loopers, allows more analog pedals to be mixed in. Excluding drive stage is kinda smart now that I think of it, of all the great pedals TC is known for, their drive pedals aren’t so much. A few built in pre amp models and ir would have been nice, just in case in a rig pinch.
Just watched the Dragged Under live video for Hypochondria. Sounded amazing, Fluff. I was totally blown away. Everyone, stop reading this and go check it out. You won't be sorry.
I plan on running this with my ToneX pedal. Since th Tonex has compressor, noise gate, ECT (and reverb!) I can free up those slots here for some univibe, phaser, chorus, pitch FX... hopefully :D
It’s awesome, but it’s just too big for me to fit on my pedal board. Trying to decide between the smaller X3 version, or just going with the tried and true Wampler Terraform.
I'm late to this game but this is the first pedal I found in a while that comes with just the essentials for everything I'd want to do. I want to use my amp distortion and clean channels. Is there a way I can route certain effects to the fx loop of the amp (like delays, compressors, noise gates, etc.) and others to the front? (Like phasers/wahs/etc?)
please tell me this is compatible with line level FX loops. My Jet City 50 watt head has a soldano type circuit and won't take most pedals well. TC electronic is known for being able to adjust to that, iirc. If this one does the same thing I'm 100% in.
Why not include the drives? This is a hard sell over a hx stomp or boss core, or any other multi effects that has so much more included for a similar price point
'Cause those drives are analog. This is a digital device. To include the drives in this format, they'd first need to invent them. One way or another, that's a different project.
@@JonathanKillstring ok but why would you buy this over the hx stomp? You could use the stomp on the same way as just a digital effects unit plus have all the other I/o and added features that come with it for a similar price
@@hworshipInstrumentals I mean, the HX Stomp is a wonderful piece of kit. The HX FX is more comparable, but they're all valid questions. I would say that you'd do that for one of a couple reasons: One, you like having multiple stomps in front of you. Even when I had a midi controller for it, the HX Stomp isn't great for that (Tho the HXFX is!) Two, you like the sound of TC's stuff. If you already have a Flashback, HOF, and Tap Trem on your board at once (I have historically been that guy), then this is cheaper and more flexible. For your purposes (guessing from the username), HX series effects are kind of the sound of modern worship music (that or Strymon, yeah?) So if you like what's on tap, there's really no reason to go for this over something in Line 6's family. If you were kinda 'meh' on the reverbs and modulation (I am), and those sounds are important to you, this might be the way to go. But from a pure value proposition, nothing beats the HX Stomp. It's a lovely piece of kit.
@@JonathanKillstring yeah we play a lot of ambient sounds and lead riffs. I’m trying to find a good solution for a small go rig that’s portable and easy to use. Trying to look at multiple options. I though it funny that @fluff just did a pedal board run down with @Sweetwater and said he mainly used Helix for his travel rig, then does a sponsored video for a piece of gear he doesn’t use himself 😂
Potentially you've got effects in the Plethora that you want before your drive (maybe a compressor, or the octaver) whereas others would come after the drive like time-based effects, modulation etc. That is the reason.
@@AlecBourneMidiMadScientist not sure, that is why I was asking. In most multi FX there is a very clear Latch vs Momentary mode (e.g. Line 6 HX, or Boss GT 1000, etc). I've never seen it explicitly mention for Plethora....
@@AlecBourneMidiMadScientist Thanks, looking forward to hearing about it. On a different note, how good is the pitch shifter in Plethora for polyphonic chords?
@@jacekfz99 i Guess the question is compared to what ? To me all poly shifters tend to have their own “character” the poly stuff in plethora holds up but there are definitely artifacts, sometimes you can live with it, I think the new helix stuff beats it but at a huge cost for DSP consumption. It should be more advanced now in helix than say the Digitech drop ( made by the Same team and all that ). The X5 I think does an ok job of it. I use variax instead which has no latency with the hex pickups and even that to me sounds a bit off, better in headphones or loud enough to mask the acoustic noise off the strings.
Not a fan of the Plethora effects being ordered left to right... the opposite of modern pedal signal chain order (right to left). It would just annoy the crap out of me.
I just bought one. Too much latency and pops in between board switches. This will only be a way to add a bunch of pedals, not replace them. Needs an “all off” switch
How much latency? You should be able to measure if you use a splitter in front of the Pleth going into your DAW and to the Pleth, and another DAW channel after the Pleth, hit record and play a sharp sound. you should be able to see a delay between your pre and post channels in the DAW and actually measure it. (an oscilloscope works too :-) ) I measured approx. 3ms on my Hypergravity. Not great, considering my old GT-10 with compressor and digital OD engaged measured in at 2.2ms.
Man I love this channel but I have to get this off my chest. I own the Hall Of Fame, Vicious Vibe and the Polytune by TC Electronics and all of the mini foot switches failed on every one within a yr on all pedals. I probably engaged the vicious vibe 10-15 times and it failed. The Polytune within a week and the Hall Of Fame lasted about 1 yr. No gigs, all home use in a climate controlled area. I know there is a tedious fix for these but I think TC should honor a warranty or exchange on these known faulty switches which they do not. That being said I will never buy anything TC Electronic again.
Off topic...but you are the ONLY other person that "had" the DOD, either "Juice it" or "Grunge" amp...most horrid "thing" ever!!! The look on your face as you're miking it...explains it all...
Hi, I've already have 2 drive pedals and processor(boss gt1). But I wanted to create an analog setup so decided to buy phase90, hall of fame, flasback 2 etc.. Since I've seen plethora x5, I'm a bit confused. Which one is sensible? Buying these pedals separately or selling gt1 to buy plethora x5? When I use gt-1, eventhough I use fx loop with amp, I feel some digital sound and it kills lamp amp sound. All I want is get rid of digitality. Thanks now :)
Digital modulation and time based effects through the loop drive and boost in the front. If you’re using a digital drive sound that’s normally the cause because noise gates sometimes get added making it sound artificial. Pedals vs multi fx my take is pedals sound good but!!! If the power supply in your house is not great it can produce noise in the signal path that means getting an expensive isolated power supply. Poor quality patch cables can cause problems that take time to find and fix if you have a fault and if you get a really big pedal board then switcher’s are needed to reduce the crazy tap dancing and good ones are expensive. Multi fx solves the cable, power and switching issues and because you can have ridiculous choices of effects it’s a lot cheaper then buying individual pedals. The cons to multi fx is you may not like the sounds of the effects. Digital drive sounds tend to be artificial and players tend to be really fussy about drive. Also if you have a guitar amp and cab or combo you often get a lot of amp sims and cab sims that are not needed unless you’re recording or playing live straight into house PA. My take is have a small fx unit with some nice delay, reverb, modulation such as chorus etc running into the fx loop of your amp and then spend your money on a nice drive, boost and maybe compressor in the front to keep your rig simple. You’ll cover a hell of a lot of ground with that kinda setup. The rig I’m building has the plethora x3 in the loop, in the front for drive a Origin effects revival drive hot rod compact, ep boost and sometimes a wah. At the moment amps I’m using a Bluguitar amp1 mercury 100watt into a Marshall 2x12 and an Orange Super Crush 100 into a closed back ppc112 loaded with a celestion redback 150watt speaker.
Hey Fluff, What do you think is an advantage of using this over say a line 6 PODGO? I mean they are both $500 bucks, I feel like you get the added benefit of the modeling amps. Would this be more for someone with a physical amp? Thanks love the channel!
Think of this as a 'digital pedal board' rather than a traditional multi fx unit like the line 6 pod series. Your right that it's designed mainly to be used with an amp. It's just a way to have all of tc electronics pedals available in one housing that gives you the option to have tons of different board layouts available quickly.
nice to see a good ole fashioned multi fx pedal that isn't all worried about amp modeling. I already have amps, just need a nice multi fx unit instead of a complicated/expensive pedalboard.
Actually it does have some amp models built in as well as EQ capabilities, a Tuner and basic looping, pretty versatile Pedal Combo unit.
Thank you@@lancecox8084
I have one and it’s AWESOME. I hate the digital drive options on other effect boards so this just fits me perfectly.
I also think people should consider this as an alternative to all your effect pedals (in one box) rather than comparing it to a regular multi effect board as that’s not what it is trying to be.
Hey man, can you tell me if there is a setting that makes this like an amp footswitch in the way of of If i am playing and using effect 1, is there a setting so that if I select effect 2 it will shut off effect 1. And if I go back to effect 1 it'll shut off effect 2. Like only able to use one effect at a time.....?
@@kingpants8764 From What i know there isn’t. It works like if you have 5 different pedals, just in one box
Exactly what I think. I'm still hesitating between the plethora X5 and the new X3.
Can you tell me if the X5 has the Mimiq Doubler ? Cause I read that the X3 has it.
@@ElvisPricelessyes! It has!
@@alexpelegrini5657 Thanks Alex ! I bought the X5 2 month ago and I like the Doubler. It's not a pedal I would have bought but it's great for single note riffs or a few solo parts.
Super cool versatile unit. A great solution for limiting the amount of cables and clutter on your pedalboard. Same quality of TC individual pedals. Tons of expression pedal parameters. Excellent value for the price point.
Anyone considering getting one of these…. Do it! Had one a few months now and it is so good! I run it in to a victory duchess v4 with a MXR micro amp and JHS morning glory for drives. Sounds great!
My guitarist has one as well, one issue he is faced is when you use the four cable method using the internal effects loop it will completely bypass the loop if anything goes wrong instead of killing the sound. This is a major problem because if there's any connection issue with the preamp section of your amp in the loop, if something goes wrong you have a full volume signal going directly into your power amp which will essentially blow out a venue.
I have had the same issue!
Good to know, been having issues with this as well
I really want one of these. I like my drive-setup but want a bit more versatility from other effects.
I keep watching reviews, hoping that someone will tell me it's rubbish so I will stop being tempted to spend money. But every video confirms my suspicions that this is the machine for me
Biggest complaint about it is it’s too big to fit on compact boards.
3:11 - your left is my left. :) I had to pause and rethink my whole life before I realized this.
Nice video. Just wanted to let you know that by default the signal flow is left to right. So when you say the FX loop is last at 10:58, it's actually first (hence the numbering of 1 to 5). A recent FW update, 1.3, enables you to change this. Just wanted to let you know.
Also, 1.3. added the Vintage Echo and other stuff. Should check it out.
I got one of these when they were $400 at Christmas. I use it with my synths
I used to have one. I swapped for a Boss MS-3 and I’m happier.
Talk about an impressive price tag. I honestly expected this would go for at least a grand.
I have PLETHORA and use it for acoustic gigs. ITS GREAT!!!!!
Do you use anything else or just this? Are their IR’s for DI acoustic? Does the looper store loops?
Ok this is starting to make more sense. Initially I thought this was a half ass developed product but I see what it does that many other more packed floor modelers don’t do. It replaces bulky pedal board routing loopers, allows more analog pedals to be mixed in. Excluding drive stage is kinda smart now that I think of it, of all the great pedals TC is known for, their drive pedals aren’t so much. A few built in pre amp models and ir would have been nice, just in case in a rig pinch.
And add another couple hundred bucks to the price for them lol
There actually are some cabinet simulations in the settings of the pedal.
Just watched the Dragged Under live video for Hypochondria. Sounded amazing, Fluff. I was totally blown away. Everyone, stop reading this and go check it out. You won't be sorry.
Congrats you have been selected among our shortlisted winners, Contact the number above Happy new year.
I plan on running this with my ToneX pedal. Since th Tonex has compressor, noise gate, ECT (and reverb!) I can free up those slots here for some univibe, phaser, chorus, pitch FX... hopefully :D
I have one as well, killer pedal and the tone print library is awesome 👍
For some reason in your intro scene, you looking out your front door made me laugh.
Have you tried the TC Trinity reverb pedal? Well worth a look in!
How many effects loops?
Mind if I say a word.
Sure, go ahead.
Plethora…
Thanks, that means a lot. 😆
I wish strymon would do this
Finally a new episode of rev spears and gear
It’s awesome, but it’s just too big for me to fit on my pedal board. Trying to decide between the smaller X3 version, or just going with the tried and true Wampler Terraform.
I’m going x3 because I only need a couple of delays, sometimes modulation and a looper for fun.
I usually need a subtle Compressor before my Drive, so it has to be an X5 for me.The Effects Loop.
that Sabre though!
It’s $900 where I live. I could buy an HX Stomp and get everything plus amps.
I am curious to know how I might use this creatively with my Tonex pedal. Hmm.
Great job as always Ryan !! :)
Damn I really wish they included the June-60 chorus :(
JUNE-60 is analog
If im not mistaken , one could use this bad boy as a midi controller / dsp expansion for something like an hx stomp
I'm late to this game but this is the first pedal I found in a while that comes with just the essentials for everything I'd want to do.
I want to use my amp distortion and clean channels. Is there a way I can route certain effects to the fx loop of the amp (like delays, compressors, noise gates, etc.) and others to the front? (Like phasers/wahs/etc?)
How to use the sentry noise gate if you have a separate overdrive? Noise gate shud be put before the drive pedals right?
I cannot read the word 'plethora' without wondering where the pinatas are.
Yaaaassss, El Guapo.
Jefe, do you know what a ‘plethora’ is?
Anyone know if the signal path within the board run L-R or R-L?
Not bad on price big question is that amount enough to really take away from the main competition of line 6.
please tell me this is compatible with line level FX loops. My Jet City 50 watt head has a soldano type circuit and won't take most pedals well. TC electronic is known for being able to adjust to that, iirc. If this one does the same thing I'm 100% in.
It is yep
@@RiffsAndBeards And there go my next savings. Thanks for the info man :)
Hey Fluff, do you think there is a difference pre and post Behringer take over?
This seems a bit like the HX effects. That unit has some nice delays and verbs but is confusing.
Does it keep the dry original guitar signal safe and allows you to add wet / effects to it?? Mix? Thnxx brother ❤
It is digital not analog so no but its not too bad really
Is the Viscus Vibe included in this board? Would be interested in the X3, but need to have a loop slot.
It was added in an update
Is the Sub n’ Up available on the Plethora?
Yes. Pausing at 1:44 shows what TC pedals are inside.
So all fx are in front of the amp? U cant like leave rev n delay in fxloop of an amo?
Why not include the drives? This is a hard sell over a hx stomp or boss core, or any other multi effects that has so much more included for a similar price point
'Cause those drives are analog. This is a digital device. To include the drives in this format, they'd first need to invent them.
One way or another, that's a different project.
@@JonathanKillstring ok but why would you buy this over the hx stomp? You could use the stomp on the same way as just a digital effects unit plus have all the other I/o and added features that come with it for a similar price
@@hworshipInstrumentals I mean, the HX Stomp is a wonderful piece of kit. The HX FX is more comparable, but they're all valid questions.
I would say that you'd do that for one of a couple reasons:
One, you like having multiple stomps in front of you. Even when I had a midi controller for it, the HX Stomp isn't great for that (Tho the HXFX is!)
Two, you like the sound of TC's stuff. If you already have a Flashback, HOF, and Tap Trem on your board at once (I have historically been that guy), then this is cheaper and more flexible.
For your purposes (guessing from the username), HX series effects are kind of the sound of modern worship music (that or Strymon, yeah?) So if you like what's on tap, there's really no reason to go for this over something in Line 6's family.
If you were kinda 'meh' on the reverbs and modulation (I am), and those sounds are important to you, this might be the way to go.
But from a pure value proposition, nothing beats the HX Stomp. It's a lovely piece of kit.
@@JonathanKillstring yeah we play a lot of ambient sounds and lead riffs. I’m trying to find a good solution for a small go rig that’s portable and easy to use. Trying to look at multiple options. I though it funny that @fluff just did a pedal board run down with @Sweetwater and said he mainly used Helix for his travel rig, then does a sponsored video for a piece of gear he doesn’t use himself 😂
@@hworshipInstrumentals Yeah, you'll not go far wrong with the HX Stomp if you want a portable all-in-one rig. They're just unreasonably good.
500$, no distortion or OD, not for me. However if you have a ton of reverbs, delay, chorus, etc this would be great
Are you able to turn off all the effects at once with one button?
Nope
@@RiffsAndBeards Bummer, I was sold if that was the case!
why waste a slot on the board with an fx loop for a drive? why not just put the drive before the plethora unit?
Potentially you've got effects in the Plethora that you want before your drive (maybe a compressor, or the octaver) whereas others would come after the drive like time-based effects, modulation etc. That is the reason.
@@YetiOnGuitar right, I just noticed he had the fx loop for the drive in the front is all
Add a polytune and some od/distortion option and then take my money :)
Check out the Elektron Analog Drive. 3 white pedals, midi, and you are done.
Does it have a momentary vs latch mode for any of the FX? Or is it always latch on/off?
You could use mash for momentary functions like that no ?
@@AlecBourneMidiMadScientist not sure, that is why I was asking. In most multi FX there is a very clear Latch vs Momentary mode (e.g. Line 6 HX, or Boss GT 1000, etc). I've never seen it explicitly mention for Plethora....
@@jacekfz99 will give It a try this weekend and let you know.
@@AlecBourneMidiMadScientist Thanks, looking forward to hearing about it.
On a different note, how good is the pitch shifter in Plethora for polyphonic chords?
@@jacekfz99 i Guess the question is compared to what ? To me all poly shifters tend to have their own “character” the poly stuff in plethora holds up but there are definitely artifacts, sometimes you can live with it, I think the new helix stuff beats it but at a huge cost for DSP consumption. It should be more advanced now in helix than say the Digitech drop ( made by the Same team and all that ). The X5 I think does an ok job of it. I use variax instead which has no latency with the hex pickups and even that to me sounds a bit off, better in headphones or loud enough to mask the acoustic noise off the strings.
Can the x5 be used as a whammy?
You can load up the pitch shifter, attach a expression pedal, and set it to the appropriate parm and bam, whammy.
Not a fan of the Plethora effects being ordered left to right... the opposite of modern pedal signal chain order (right to left). It would just annoy the crap out of me.
They just released an update which adds on option in the settings to switch it! Yeah it annoyed me too
True. However, most digital multi-effects units with screens display the chain left to right also, by default. (Boss GT units, Helix, Headrush, etc)
no tap tempo?
Yep there is I show it
Just don’t unplug it while firmware is updating or you’ll brick it
I just bought one. Too much latency and pops in between board switches. This will only be a way to add a bunch of pedals, not replace them. Needs an “all off” switch
How much latency? You should be able to measure if you use a splitter in front of the Pleth going into your DAW and to the Pleth, and another DAW channel after the Pleth, hit record and play a sharp sound. you should be able to see a delay between your pre and post channels in the DAW and actually measure it. (an oscilloscope works too :-) ) I measured approx. 3ms on my Hypergravity. Not great, considering my old GT-10 with compressor and digital OD engaged measured in at 2.2ms.
Man I love this channel but I have to get this off my chest. I own the Hall Of Fame, Vicious Vibe and the Polytune by TC Electronics and all of the mini foot switches failed on every one within a yr on all pedals. I probably engaged the vicious vibe 10-15 times and it failed. The Polytune within a week and the Hall Of Fame lasted about 1 yr. No gigs, all home use in a climate controlled area. I know there is a tedious fix for these but I think TC should honor a warranty or exchange on these known faulty switches which they do not. That being said I will never buy anything TC Electronic again.
Is he going into a plug-in direct or….what amp ?
Jupiter FX Ohmmacht, shows it at 4:57.
Off topic...but you are the ONLY other person that "had" the DOD, either "Juice it" or "Grunge" amp...most horrid "thing" ever!!! The look on your face as you're miking it...explains it all...
I absolutely love mine, but the lack of overdrive distortion or fuzz is the only thing preventing it from being my complete pedal board for bass
Digital drives and fuzz aren’t quite the same as an analog pedal. But digital delays, reverb etc are flawless these days.
Not being able to switch the banks up and down, makes it not practical for live gigs.
I was thinking the same- major oversight?
competition for HX effects
Hi, I've already have 2 drive pedals and processor(boss gt1). But I wanted to create an analog setup so decided to buy phase90, hall of fame, flasback 2 etc.. Since I've seen plethora x5, I'm a bit confused. Which one is sensible? Buying these pedals separately or selling gt1 to buy plethora x5? When I use gt-1, eventhough I use fx loop with amp, I feel some digital sound and it kills lamp amp sound. All I want is get rid of digitality. Thanks now :)
Digital modulation and time based effects through the loop drive and boost in the front. If you’re using a digital drive sound that’s normally the cause because noise gates sometimes get added making it sound artificial. Pedals vs multi fx my take is pedals sound good but!!! If the power supply in your house is not great it can produce noise in the signal path that means getting an expensive isolated power supply. Poor quality patch cables can cause problems that take time to find and fix if you have a fault and if you get a really big pedal board then switcher’s are needed to reduce the crazy tap dancing and good ones are expensive.
Multi fx solves the cable, power and switching issues and because you can have ridiculous choices of effects it’s a lot cheaper then buying individual pedals. The cons to multi fx is you may not like the sounds of the effects. Digital drive sounds tend to be artificial and players tend to be really fussy about drive. Also if you have a guitar amp and cab or combo you often get a lot of amp sims and cab sims that are not needed unless you’re recording or playing live straight into house PA.
My take is have a small fx unit with some nice delay, reverb, modulation such as chorus etc running into the fx loop of your amp and then spend your money on a nice drive, boost and maybe compressor in the front to keep your rig simple. You’ll cover a hell of a lot of ground with that kinda setup. The rig I’m building has the plethora x3 in the loop, in the front for drive a Origin effects revival drive hot rod compact, ep boost and sometimes a wah. At the moment amps I’m using a Bluguitar amp1 mercury 100watt into a Marshall 2x12 and an Orange Super Crush 100 into a closed back ppc112 loaded with a celestion redback 150watt speaker.
I’ve been interested in this for a while but it seems a bit overpriced.
Hey Fluff,
What do you think is an advantage of using this over say a line 6 PODGO? I mean they are both $500 bucks, I feel like you get the added benefit of the modeling amps. Would this be more for someone with a physical amp? Thanks love the channel!
Podgo supports line 6, tc does not. Thats why i use tc
Think of this as a 'digital pedal board' rather than a traditional multi fx unit like the line 6 pod series. Your right that it's designed mainly to be used with an amp. It's just a way to have all of tc electronics pedals available in one housing that gives you the option to have tons of different board layouts available quickly.
Interesting, however it is not something I would use.
But $1100 no over drive or distortion really
Imo the "this is for those who already have a drive pedal" point is stupid, I tought you get a multi effect so you don't need to buy pedals.
My only point was if you are buying this you likely already have other pedals :)