TC Electronic vintage Guitar Pedal Bundle

TC Electronic pedals are ubiquitous these days: you don’t see many pedalboards without at least one of them, the PolyTune and Flashback Delay being particularly popular. There was a time, though, when TC’s pedals were not so common. We’re talking about 40 years ago – and these are now pretty much collector’s items, commanding robust prices. To buy a set of original TC hardware pedals comprising the SCF, Booster, Dual EQ, Sustainer and XII Phaser could set you back a lot of money, should you find them.

Software, though, is a different matter as TC has just released the Vintage Guitar Pedal Bundle featuring all five recreated as plug-ins with modelling, based on the original circuit diagrams. For use in your DAW, the pedals come in the standard plug-in formats (AU, AAX and VST), are downloaded from the TC site and copyprotected by iLok. All of the plug-ins have very nice graphics depicting a vintage pedal that’s been knocked about a bit, none have any associated factory presets, but all have knobs and switches that are easily tweaked with your mouse.

Sounds

The SCF offers modulation effects, including chorus, pitch modulation and flanger modes, all with control over Speed, Width and Intensity, and a multifunctional knob that determines the chorus and pitch modulation effects mix and flanger feedback. All sound good, the flanger being particularly impressive for Electric Mistress-style hollow metallic sounds with the feedback turned up.

More modulation is on offer from the XII Phaser, which offers classic 1970s phaser tones at various strengths courtesy of three filter settings (4, 8 and 12) with Speed and Width control and a Function knob that morphs from Peak to Notch for positive or negative sweeps.

The Booster+ Line Driver and Distortion, to give it its full name, offers a choice of a clean boost or distortion with knobs to control Volume, Bass, Treble and Distortion. As a booster, it’s really good when placed before a decent amp sim, as is the Classic Sustainer + Parametric EQ, which combines compression with a parametric EQ. With control over Sustain (compression) and Gain (output), it’s a cool tool for adding sustain and changing note attack with EQ to focus where it’s needed. It can also add a useful touch of distortion via a toggle switch.

Finally, the Dual Equalizer is a very useful tone sculptor, offering two overlapping bands of parametric EQ (20Hz to 2kHz; 100Hz to 10kHz), each with 16dB of cut or boost and a choice of a wide one-octave band or narrow 1/10th octave band, plus a Treble knob.

Verdict

Anyone who records using a computerbased DAW relies on plug-ins, and building up a range of them increases sonic versatility no end. If you record guitar, these plug-ins will increase your sonic options by delivering vintage TC Electronic flavour, whether you play live through them in conjunction with amp sims, or apply them to previously recorded guitar tracks. [TC]