All Your Eggs in One Basket
Using the VIRTUALIZER DSP 2024 to it's fullest potential.
An old adage states that you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket, lest you fumble said basket and produce something of an impromptu sidewalk omelet. Wise, to a point, but I think it's OK to carry all your eggs in one basket as long as you do so cautiously and thoughtfully. This will also save you the time and energy that could have been spent on multiple trips to the chickenhouse; it's all about efficiency.
The VIRTUALIZER rack-mount multi-effect processor is a prime example that lays this old adage to rest. Featuring no less than 71 different effect algorithms, this device is a one-stop-shop for studio effect processing needs; eliminating the need to purchase multiple specialized rackmount effects.
I recently took a VIRTUALIZER home for a couple days (Thanks, Leanne!) and put it through its paces. My favorite aspect of the VIRTUALIZER is not in regards to any particular effect, but instead the device's intuitive ease of use. My rule of thumb regarding User Interface is this: if I want the machine to perform feature "X," the first effort I intuitively take to get "X" to happen should be the one that works. That's exactly how this device performs, every time.
Not like some of the competition's "hidden feature" layouts - "Hold this button, then tap that one, then stand on one leg and pray," know what I mean? The large control knob on the right selects presets/user patches and effect categories, and then the smaller 4 controls are used to modify effect parameters like delay time, gain, and EQ. Once you have dialed in a sound you really like, the "Store" button writes it to a user section with a single touch. The next step? Create another patch and store it, too! Repeat x 98.
The VIRTUALIZER is a piece of rack-mount gear that is perfectly at home in the studio or on the stage. It features an array of bread-and-butter effects like delay (echo), reverb, compression, and distortion, but also features even more esoteric special effects like psychoacoustic processing, a wave designer, and a ring modulator! Many of these effects can be combined upon one another for truly innovative sonic possibilities.
For live applications, the best locale in the signal path for the VIRTUALIZER is in the effects loop of your guitar amp. For studio use, I recommend placing the VIRTUALIZER in the channel insert stage if you are using its compression, gate, or expansion settings. Otherwise, it will be right at home in the FX send path of your mixer.
MIDI implementation is a breeze - which, as any MIDI junkie would know, is a rarity in the MIDI world. Simply connect your FCB1010 to the Virtualizer's MIDI IN port, and program its pedal buttons to match the patches you have saved in the VIRTUALIZER. Then you can call up your stored settings with a quick stomp. This is a great way to save multiple settings for different songs - enough for an entire setlist! Variable settings like delay rate and filter cutoff can be assigned to the 2 expression pedals on the FCB1010 as well.
When it comes to bang-for-the-buck, the VIRTUALIZER is hard to beat. Dedicated reverb units from the competition can soar in cost to several times the VIRTUALIZER's price point - and you're only getting reverb! I mean, reverb's cool and all, but with the VIRTUALIZER 2024, you're getting a lot more functionality for a lot less cash.
An old adage states that you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket, lest you fumble said basket and produce something of an impromptu sidewalk omelet. Wise, to a point, but I think it's OK to carry all your eggs in one basket as long as you do so cautiously and thoughtfully. This will also save you the time and energy that could have been spent on multiple trips to the chickenhouse; it's all about efficiency.
The VIRTUALIZER rack-mount multi-effect processor is a prime example that lays this old adage to rest. Featuring no less than 71 different effect algorithms, this device is a one-stop-shop for studio effect processing needs; eliminating the need to purchase multiple specialized rackmount effects.
I recently took a VIRTUALIZER home for a couple days (Thanks, Leanne!) and put it through its paces. My favorite aspect of the VIRTUALIZER is not in regards to any particular effect, but instead the device's intuitive ease of use. My rule of thumb regarding User Interface is this: if I want the machine to perform feature "X," the first effort I intuitively take to get "X" to happen should be the one that works. That's exactly how this device performs, every time.
Not like some of the competition's "hidden feature" layouts - "Hold this button, then tap that one, then stand on one leg and pray," know what I mean? The large control knob on the right selects presets/user patches and effect categories, and then the smaller 4 controls are used to modify effect parameters like delay time, gain, and EQ. Once you have dialed in a sound you really like, the "Store" button writes it to a user section with a single touch. The next step? Create another patch and store it, too! Repeat x 98.
The VIRTUALIZER is a piece of rack-mount gear that is perfectly at home in the studio or on the stage. It features an array of bread-and-butter effects like delay (echo), reverb, compression, and distortion, but also features even more esoteric special effects like psychoacoustic processing, a wave designer, and a ring modulator! Many of these effects can be combined upon one another for truly innovative sonic possibilities.
For live applications, the best locale in the signal path for the VIRTUALIZER is in the effects loop of your guitar amp. For studio use, I recommend placing the VIRTUALIZER in the channel insert stage if you are using its compression, gate, or expansion settings. Otherwise, it will be right at home in the FX send path of your mixer.
MIDI implementation is a breeze - which, as any MIDI junkie would know, is a rarity in the MIDI world. Simply connect your FCB1010 to the Virtualizer's MIDI IN port, and program its pedal buttons to match the patches you have saved in the VIRTUALIZER. Then you can call up your stored settings with a quick stomp. This is a great way to save multiple settings for different songs - enough for an entire setlist! Variable settings like delay rate and filter cutoff can be assigned to the 2 expression pedals on the FCB1010 as well.When it comes to bang-for-the-buck, the VIRTUALIZER is hard to beat. Dedicated reverb units from the competition can soar in cost to several times the VIRTUALIZER's price point - and you're only getting reverb! I mean, reverb's cool and all, but with the VIRTUALIZER 2024, you're getting a lot more functionality for a lot less cash.
Labels: behringer, DSP2024, FCB1010, midi controller
posted by Ryan Roullard at
5:05 PM
