pantherairsoft

[quote name='Thor' timestamp='1332968602' post='1595765'] Yeah - I must admit I was thinking that the other day - I reckon that needs trimming down a tad! [/quote] Strictly a 2-man carry I'd say with that kind of weight!

[quote name='Thor' timestamp='1332967775' post='1595742'] It's getting there - I take that as high praise indeed coming from the board guru - may have to pick your brains soon. [/quote] Lol - Cheers. If I'm the pedalboard guru you HAVE to be the long signature guru! That thing is immense! lol

Cool board dude!

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1332804956' post='1593519'] Totally with you on that, beautiful sounding unit!! They're on the Strymon website for $299 http://www.strymon.net/products/elcapistan/ Seems to be like a smaller version of my Akai Headrush E2 Si [/quote] Pretty awesome ain't it! [quote name='EskimoBassist' timestamp='1332875758' post='1594381'] So to keep going off topic, but are you running your Repeater at 9v? (also this question goes to pantherairsoft re: Nova Delay). I know that both CAN be run at 9v but that input clipping can happen if you're running much boosted into it, which is why 12v is recommended for extra headroom. [/quote] I run mine at 12v with an SupaNova adapter from GigRig for loads of headroom. It worked on 9v but was a little bit noisy (on a shared supply), as such I have stuck with a 12v supply. Each Nova pedal come with a power supply though if you want to use a proper supply for that one.

Thanks bud - if it reads a little bit 'un-forum-like' and a little more formal it's because I wrote it for my website/blog and them copied it over to here :-) I tried to resist the 'this is the best amp ever' type of review. Shep

For the last few years I've been a devoted user of EBS amplification and honestly never thought I'd find something that would tempt me away. The furthest away I'd got was using a Crown XTi 1000 power amp along with an EBS-1 v2 pre amp. Being the owner of an EBS HD350, Fafner and TD650 it was clear to see that I was a BIG fan of the EBS tone. That was until this beauty came to play... The Genz Benz Streamliner 900 (STM-900). [b]SPECIFICATION...[/b] 500w @ 8 Ohms / 900w @ 4 Ohms Class D power amp with Class A 6-stage tube driven pre amp Modified Bandaxall EQ for highs and lows Active tube driven mids with selectable frequency Mute & high gain switches Studio quality DI out 2x Speakon out connections Headphone out, aux out, effects loop & tuner out Advanced switching power supply for use anywhere in the world! [url="http://www.genzbenz.com/?fa=detail&mid=2663&sid=675&cid=95"]Link to manufacturers site.[/url] [i]For the purpose of this review and all gigging/rehearing/recording I've done with it, the amp has been used with my Roscoe Century 6 fretless bass into a Barefaced Big Twin T bass cabinet. I also throw more effects and textures at the amp than you can shake a stick at.[/i] [b]FEATURES & BUILD QUALITY: 9/10[/b] The Streamliner has a great build quality. It's tough and robust with good quality knobs and solid inputs and outputs. The tubes are contained far enough back that an unfortunate drop of the amp wouldn't cause the pots on the front to jerk back and damage them (god forbid) and while that are not set up to be quick to change (removal of a number of screws and the top plate of the amp) the tubes are much more securely seated than those in any tube amp I've owned before. My only niggle with the build is that the additional rack kit (which can be purchased separately) is a horrid rack try set up which weighs a ton and costs far too much, rather than nice rack ears like the Genz Benz 'Shuttle' series of amplifiers. I know it's a minor niggle, but a niggle all the same. Features wise the Streamliner delivers what it set out to do - offer a slick and streamlined approach to bass amplification. it has a minimal EQ set up, but one which is very musical, with a choice of three selectable mid frequencies (220hz, 600hz & 2.5Khz) and shelving-style bass (at 55hz) and treble EQ (a single knob which boosts BOTH 4Khz & 12.5Khz). Compared to most modern high end amplifiers this is a somewhat stripped back approach to EQ, but really does work to the Streamliner's strengths. The amp also has a high gain switch for pushing your tubes into audible overdrive if you desire a classic overdriven rock tone and a mute switch to make the of swapping instruments on stage a little easier (and quieter!). The back panel is somewhat more feature packed than the front sporting a very high quality DI with post/pre EQ, ground lift & mic/line level selectors. It has two Speakon outs for your cabs and will run in both 8 Ohms (at a very decent 500w) or 4 Ohms (at an unbelievable 900w!!!). Yes I said 900w into 4 Ohms. In an amp that weighs less than 3kg!?! LOUD. Need I say more. The amp also offers as auxiliary output, tuner output, headphone output & an effects loop as well as having a rather impressive switching power system - flick the switch and the unit will work in countries with either 230v or 110v mains voltage. Perfect for those on tour who don't want to have to rely on (or remember to use!) a giant power converter. The Streamliner has a cooling system that sucks air in one side and blows it out the other and boasts what Genz Benz call 'P.H.A.T. (Proprietary Heat Abatement Technology) topology'. This is without a doubt the quietest cooling system I have ever had in an amp... to my ear it is totally silent and I have to say that the amp hardly breaks a sweat. I have used this now on some fairly major Drum & Bass/Dubstep gigs and have thrown some huge sub-bass wobbles at it and the amp has never felt anything above lukewarm. I'm impressed. Even my drummer is impressed - and he's a drummer! While it's clear to see that the stripped back EQ may put some people off (Genz Benz make the 'Shuttle' series for people that want a little more), the amp carries almost all the core features of a seious pro bass amp, with the exception of a dual channel set up (the 'Shuttle' series does have a 2-channel option, but the Streamliner does not). [b]TONE/SOUND QUALITY: 9/10[/b] BASS!!! That's the 1st thing that hits you - massive bottom end. Coming form a man that plays Drum & Bass, trust me, that means there is a lot! This is in fact the first amp that I have used in 2 years that I run with the bass EQ at noon/flat. If I was to be playing most genres and playing with a clean bass tone then I honestly think the bass knob would be rolled back to around 10 or 11 o'clock! The overall amp tone is warm and fat with some serious punch. The tubes add some real character to the sound which is obvious from the moment you turn it on (it is worth pointing out that the amp can do the whole 'hi-fi' thing well while remaining very clean and with great clarity) as its natural voice is that of fat finger funk (almost the flip of the 'Shuttle', which has an immediate hi-fi tone but the ability to dial in a warmer fat tone if desired). The musical strength in this set up comes form the mids - the 3 selectable bands have been well thought out and the EQ cut/boost knob is very interactive as tiny increments have quite an effect. When the mids are selected at 220hz overdrive & fuzz pedals really come alive, as well as making the mid EQ become suddenly more interactive when used in conjunction with the bass EQ. Flick the mids over the 2.5Khz point and it comes more interactive when used with the treble EQ allowing you to add some great body to slap tones. In some ways I would personally prefer a broader range of centre EQ's on the mids (like on the EBS amps I have been used to using) but the frequency options here are very musical and well thought out. The treble is lovely sounding, not abrasive or clanky, but smooth and glassy. In all honesty this was one of the reasons I had stuck with EBS for so long as the styles of music I play require a very full range sound with lots of top end clarity (I need to fill the space of a guitar and of synth pad's at times) and I can honestly say that the Genz is the only thing I've used which does it just as well. One thing worth pointing out though, which will not be noticed by many, is that is you have your tube pre amp gain past 1 o'clock and boost the top end as well as playing though a set up with a tweeter (I did say this was not going to effect many people), any dirt you add to the sound attracts some tube compression and grit before the rest of the sound... For most players and set ups you would still hear a solid sound with no change, but the extreme top end does take on a whole new character. Again I stress this is only when you are using sounds and tones not characteristic of traditional bass tones... I must also stress this is not really a negative, rather an interesting tonal characteristic that I am able to exploit due to my amp/cab set up and effects. It just apprears as though the tubes will compress/overdrive super highs (that most cabs won't reproduce) much earlier than the rest of your sound. Finger funk players will love this amp. Hi-fi junkies should be excited by the fact they can get a clear & clean tone while still dabbling with a genuine tube tone when the mood takes them. Many bass player will need to be prepared to do the un-manly thing and roll that bass EQ back though. If you are a little more interested in what the core of this amp's tone sounds like, here is a fantastic review from the Bass Whisperer: [media]http://youtu.be/d-27szg61bw[/media] [b]VALUE FOR MONEY: 9/10[/b] The price - WOW. This is 900w in a tiny box and is selling in the UK at [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Streamliner.html"]Bass Direct[/url] for £689.00 (£589.00 for it's 600w little brother). In today's world of professional amplifiers this represents FANTASTIC value for money, even with its stripped back features section. For an amplifier of this power and build quality you would usually expect to pay double form most big brands. Best bit it though, this is far from a budget amplifier - this is real high end professional stuff. Value for money. Yes. [b]CUSTOMER SUPPORT: 10/10[/b] I'll start this section by saying that I have not needed to contact Genz Benz directly regarding my amp and so I can't score the company with regards to answering emails and solving issues etc. When I first received the amp I did however experience a few pops and bangs when unplugging my jack lead even when using the mute switch on the front panel. I did some googling and could not find anyone experiencing similar issues, but did come across a member on Talkbass.com answering a few questions on other Genz related issues. It so happened that this chap was one of Genz's engineers so I dropped an informal message over on the off chance he may be get back to me. I'm happy to report that within 24 hours I had a reply, direct from someone that deals with these units on a day to day basis with a few things to try and with the suggestion that it was most likely static which had built up from my amp being stored in the cold for a long period of time over winter (which can happen with all electrical equipment and is no way a fault of any unit) - guess what - the weather has got warmer and pops have stopped! He may of been answering as an individual in reply to a casual message outside of work, but was a great example of someone being a true ambassador of the brand they represent. If this that level of service is anything to go by then Genz Benz deserve nothing short of a 10! [b]OVERALL: 9/10[/b] As a long time lover, supporter and owner of EBS amplification (3 amp heads & 1 rack pre amp) I'll start this by saying I no longer own a single EBS amp! In fact the Streamliner is now the ONLY amp I own. I've sold everything else... this does it all. I have gigged with in it, recorded with it and spent day after day in the studio with it and it has done nothing but perform and impress over and over. The Streamliner offers a compact, lightweight, silent running 900w with almost faultless performance. Its versatile, interactive and has more volume that I could ever know what do do with while being happy to take the massive sub octaves and ear splitting LFO wobbles that I throw at it without any sign of struggling, complaining or clipping. Truth be told I'm pretty much in awe of this awesome bit of kit and it will be by my side over the coming year and out European tour which is being planned for October. If anyone interested in trying one of these out I would urge you to do so. Anyone near the Midlands, UK is welcome to get in touch and come try mine out.

How's the Dubscope?

Click on your name at the top of screen and then settings - There are some options for time settings. Possible that you don't have it set to change when the clocks changed at the weekend? Mines fine like Charic...

Anyone got one I can borrow for a few days? I'm considering it to replace a couple of units on my board... I'd be happy to return the favour in lending you anything you like from my extensive set up as well and happy to pay for it to be posted to me. Cheers Shep

In all honesty it's actually quite a nice looking finish...

[quote name='Rayman' timestamp='1332672194' post='1591328'] I couldn't get the USB download to work. Might try it again. [/quote] But the USB worked for the firmware update??

[quote name='EskimoBassist' timestamp='1332672296' post='1591330'] I did figure that was the case. Normally I'll only use 2/3 different delay settings in a set and am used to just having the Boss DD-6, so changing the knobs is no dealbreaker for me - though I can see why it would be for you! At the price point, the Nova Repeater represents ridiculously good value for the money and the Nova Delay is well priced too, I think whichever I manage to score cheap on ebay or on here first will probably make the choice for me. [/quote] Good call! If it's the DD-6 that you are used to then the Repeater would offer you a similar hi-fi sound with loads of extras as well, and is more reasonably priced. I saw Janek Gwizdala not long back and he uses the the Repeaterr over the Delay as he prefers the simplified approach... (he uses the flashback as well but as a looper).

[quote name='EskimoBassist' timestamp='1332671539' post='1591311'] Suweeet. I'm particularly interested in your Nova Delay demo - I'm looking to buy a Nova Repeater soon (when I shift a few pedals I don't use any more) so I'm really interested to hear how the TC stuff sounds with Bass. Also, I'm hoping it will convince me that the Repeater is adequate and that I don't need to shell out extra for the Nova Delay! [/quote] The Repeater is pretty awesome too. It has the same core tones with a little less versatility - tape & analog are a setting of their own on the Repeater, rather than a tonal shift that can be applied to any of the settings on the Delay (So you can have tape reverse and analog reverse etc on the ND-1). The deal breaker for me was the presets. 9 storable presets that save exact BPM and settings... for what I do, thats been a life saver. My Boss DD-20 had 4 presets and I was struggling live to dial in new tempos. This has changed everything. Tonally, both the Repeater and the Delay sound awesome with bass.

In theory - I've never tried via the app...

[quote name='EskimoBassist' timestamp='1332669699' post='1591281'] Nice post on reverb and delay, looking forward to your new video demos too. [/quote] Cheers dude. Doing some final sound samples today and putting together a dummy video. All being well i'll have the 1st one sorted in the next week or so.

Did you update the firmware of both pedals 1st to make them comparable with the newest batch of Toneprints? Update - http://www.tcelectronic.com/flashback-software.asp

[quote name='simwells' timestamp='1332630225' post='1591057'] Fantastic blog once again Shep, out of interest as I am planning on picking up the TC Flashback and Hall of Fame in the next week or so did you find the Flashback needed an isolated supply to avoid the high pitched ringing delays and reverbs can sometimes create? [/quote] Thanks buddy... The Flashback is fantastic and has a low power consumption. It seems perfectly happy to share power supplies. I use it at home as a looper for my home practice as its about the best loop pedal I've ever used as well as a stunning delay (the modulation delay is lush!). It swallows batteries in looped mode when playing back, but other than that is very power friendly (and VERY silent).

New blog post... [url="http://www.sheponbass.co.uk/blog/2012/3/24/signal-chain-bassics-part-v-echo-echo-echo-echo.html"]Shep On Bass - Signal Chain BASSics, Part V: Echo echo echo echo...[/url] The basics of delay & reverb effects.

[quote name='EskimoBassist' timestamp='1332454489' post='1588740'] Shame not to see the full thing with TC corner . Just having a nosey through your FB band page and I stumbled across something very disturbing...someone slopped a pint over your pedalboard?!??!! What the hell did you do?! I trust everything still works fine? I've been so scared on that happening to my gear, how would you go about preventing damage and salvaging your gear? [/quote] You can blame a dodgy internal power section for it lacking TC corner! Yeah that was a rowdy gig. The stage was literally 1cm deep in liquid, so every time I lifted a foot to press a pedal my soaked trainer was soaking the pedals and basically pushing water into the foot switches. I took my hoodie off and stood on that, but 5 minutes later that was soaked right through too... Then a flying pint hit the floor right at the side of the board and it's contents soaked my foogers...! Nothing shorted out. If it had it'd of been gig over an I'm unsure of what I'd of done. We got back to our studio about 1am that morning and I blasted switch cleaner into every footswitch, then went back the next day, cleaned every pedal and the board and switch cleanered the pedals again. The Moog LPF footswitch refused to work so I bought another - by the time the replacement switch arrived the cleaner had eaten all the beer and it was working again. It was an exceptionally rowdy gig - its the show the 2 most recent YouTube vids are from & don't expect such a thing would happen again, though I did realise that if that pint had landed behind the board and gone into all the open jack sockets along the back of the foogers and the power supplies underneath then it would be game over - as such I have bought a 3mm black plexiglass sheet which runs the length of the back of the board and comes up to the hight of the foogers to protect the back (and will soon have 'Our Helical Mind' on it in nice big print!). I figured if we're going to Europe later this year on a gig-a-night basis I can't afford for an accident to screw all my gear up! One thing I do know is that my gig tool box will always contain a can of Servisol Super 10 Switch Cleaner as it fixes everything!

[quote name='Wud' timestamp='1332451256' post='1588685'] Oh yeah, 2x MF-101 would be grand. Two of the Ring mods is crazy bonkers bliss, I can testify in court if required. I do like the TC Nova Dynamics, thought your sumation nailed it really, allthough I know what Bongo is on about. [/quote] Yeah - its pretty immense... Feeding one an LFO and swelling that sound with the 2nd - oh my it's good! I love the Dynamics - very subtle. Not the best stop box style compressor I've used, but the multi-band studio mode is amazing for my application. The noise gate is 1st class as well. [quote name='Wud' timestamp='1332451433' post='1588687'] Also Shep, Have you put anything through the Feedback Insert point on the Cluster Flux ? If you don't have an insert cable, you need to get one ASAP! It is simply...Amazingly Ridiculous. Indeed. [/quote] No, I haven't really played with it. What are you feeding it with and what results does it give?

[quote name='Wud' timestamp='1332450658' post='1588673'] Hey Shep, I kinda feel I could trust you with delicate expensive gear. [/quote] Thanks bud... I currently have PRIME_bass's Moog MF-101 too so I could experiment with 2 low pass filters... Oh man it's amazing!!!!!! Shep

[quote name='Wud' timestamp='1332450463' post='1588668'] A corner of The Chaos as it is currently - [/quote] That is full of serious win...