TC Electronic RPT-I NOVA User manual

RPT-1
NOVA Repeater
USER’S MANUAL

INTRODUCTION
Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
SETUP EXAMPLES
Mono/Stereo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Send/Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
OPERATION
Front View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
APPENDIX
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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EN
TC Electronic, Sindalsvej 34, DK-8240 Risskov – [email protected] Manual revision 1.0 – SW – V 1.0
E60515011
English Version

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The brand new NOVA Repeater delay pedal
NOVA Repeater is our new “no-frills-with-a-sound-that-
kills” delay pedal. It’s just the right pedal for you if you
are a demanding guitarist who wants instant, high
quality and unique results, without any of the fuss! It
features the same great sound quality that made our
NOVA Delay the first choice delay pedal for Paul
Gilbert, Doug Aldrich, Nils Lofgren and Allen Hinds.
However, after listening to our guitar-playing
community we have trimmed out any excess baggage
while including additional features over the NOVA
Delay. Finally, we wrapped all this power into a
streamlined and very easy to use interface. In short:
NOVA Repeater is the essential lean, mean, delay-
machine!
Simple, yet effective
NOVA Repeater is all about simplicity. There are no
hidden features or complicated functions – you just get
the world’s best delays in an affordable and easy-to-
use package. Yet it is also feature-rich; being the only
pedal in its price range that has a dedicated tap tempo
switch and our amazing audio tapping technology that
lets you set the tempo with your playing. And with six
types of TC-quality delays and an unsurpassed feature
set, NOVA Repeater is quite simply a bargain.
All new features
NOVA Repeater has three delay time ranges labeled
for min, mid and max positions. These delay times
have been carefully chosen to match the “sweet spot”
times used by most guitar players, making it much
easier for you to dial in the perfect delay time – even
without a display.
The NOVA Repeater features two inputs for instrument
or line level signals – which means you can use it
equally well in front of your amp or in an effects loop. It
also has a “KillDry” switch that makes it possible to use
the pedal in a parallel effect loop. This is also a great
feature for guitar players who use a mixer to prevent
their dry sound from being processed. An FX.Level pot
lets you adjust the wet level of your signal, which
means that you won’t get annoying level drops on your
dry sound – a common problem with other pedals.
INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION
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EN
NOVA Repeater has a new multi-function knob that lets
you control the amount of modulation as well as turn
the modulation effect on/off. The chorus has been re-
tuned making more dramatic modulation effects
possible and, on top of that, a brand new vibrato mode
has been added. This was a major request among
NOVA Delay users and makes it possible to emulate
classic tape delay wow-and-flutter or create lush
modulated pads with a volume pedal.
Again, following numerous user requests, we added a
new dual delay types such as 1/4 and 1/8 notes. This
stereo delay is one of the secrets behind Steve
Lukather famous 80’s sound – just be sure to set the
delay time to exactly 400 ms.
NOVA Repeater also features a brand new adaptive
dynamic delay that automatically sets the perfect
threshold for ducking. No calibration is required – even
if you decide to turn up the volume during a solo,
NOVA Repeater will automatically adjust the threshold
on the fly.
The bottom line
NOVA Repeater lets you focus on playing and always
delivers exactly what you are looking for. Great sound,
simple to use and more features than any other pedal
at this price – what more could you ask for?

SETUP EXAMPLE: MONO/STEREO
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This setup illustrates how to use NOVA Repeater
in a mono setup (one amp only) or in a stereo
setup (two amps). Effects such as reverb and
delay are usually placed as the last signal
processors before the amplifier. Therefore, you
should place all drive and modulation effects
prior to NOVA Repeater.
If you use your amp(s) to create
overdrive, see the “SEND/RETURN”
example on the following page.

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EN
SETUP EXAMPLE: SEND/RETURN
This example shows how to connect your
NOVA Repeater pedal as a send/return effect
in an effects loop. This is the correct
approach if you use the pre-amp section of
the amp to generate overdrive.
You can expand this to a stereo setup by
connecting NOVA Repeater’s right output to
the return (power-amp in) of a second amp.
For parallel effects loops use the kill-
dry function.

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OVERVIEW

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EN
or just one are being used. Use the left output in a
mono setup. In this case, the stereo-sensing feature
will send delay repeats intended for both outputs to the
left output when the right output is left unplugged.
Connections
1 – Power
NOVA Repeater requires 9-12V DC 300 mA. We
recommend using the supplied 12V power-supply or a
power-supply with identical specifications. Please note
that NOVA Repeater’s dynamic input range is reduced
if only 9V are supplied. This is only an issue if you use
a drive or boost pedal prior to NOVA Repeater and
crank the output of that pedal hard.
2/3 – HI IN & LO IN – Inputs
NOVA Repeater has two input options: LO and HI.
Which input to use depends on how “hot” a signal you
connect. If the signal has passed a preamp or a hot
boost/drive pedal, use HI. Otherwise, use LO. But you
can simply try both and let your ears decide.
4 – R OUT & L OUT – Outputs
These are 1/4" mono jack connectors. Use both
outputs for stereo or the left output if you only need a
mono signal. The outputs have a stereo-sensing
feature that automatically detects whether both outputs
Controls
5/10 – DELAY Knob and DELAY RANGE Table
The DELAY knob adjusts the delay time. Turn counter-
clockwise to reduce and clockwise to increase the
delay time. The maximum delay time varies depending
on the selected delay range. You can step through the
three delay ranges by clicking the RANGE button. The
options are:
6 – FEEDBACK Knob
The FEEDBACK knob sets the amount of delay
returned to the input of the delay line. The higher the
setting, the more repeats you get.
OPERATION

7 – TONE Knob
Here, the “twelve o’clock” position is the default
suggested by TC Electronic. By turning the knob
counter-clockwise, the high-end frequencies are
attenuated. In most cases, this allows the repeats to
blend better with the overall sound.
The TONE knob is not just a regular bass/treble
controller. Its function and effect on your sound
depends on the selected delay type. Typically, you will
have a range from “grindy” to “studio quality” at your
disposal when going from counter-clockwise to
clockwise.
8 – MOD Knob
With the MOD knob, you can add modulation to the
delay repeats. Two modulation types are available:
Vibrato (VIB) and Chorus (CHO). Turn the knob
clockwise to gradually add lush chorus or counter-
clockwise to add vibrato. This easy-to-use feature
ensures that only the delay repeats are being
modulated.
9 – FX.LEVEL Knob
With the FX.LEVEL knob, you only adjust the level of
the delay repeats – not the dry signal. The dry source
signal is always passed 1:1 through the pedal (unless
you turn it off using the KillDry function).
Please note that with the FX LEVEL knob
turned fully clockwise, the sum of the delay and
the dry signal can boost your signal by up to 6
dB.
11/16 – TYPE Indicator and Button
Use the TYPE button to select between six different
delay types. To hear the default settings for each delay
type, set all knobs of the NOVA Repeater to 12 o’clock
position.
“Studio”: This is a standard high-quality delay line,
inspired by the legendary TC 2290. Try our suggested
defaults for a cool studio delay by setting TONE and
MOD controls to the 12 o’clock position.
“Analog”: The popular analog delay type is easily
recognizable by a slight coloration of tone and soft
clipping of the high-end frequencies. It is very easy to
make the analog delay type blend in the mix, even with
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OPERATION

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EN
the FX.LEVEL set high. Also note how the tone
coloration follows the set delay time: Just as with old
school analog delays, slow delay times produce clear
delay repeats, whereas faster delay times will result in
darker-sounding repeats.
“Tape”: This delay provides authentic reproductions of
tape-based delays, including the “clipping” sound that
occurs at high input levels. Try experimenting with a
high Feedback level, combined with the TONE control
turned counter-clockwise. You may want to add some
modulation as well.
“Dynamic”: Dynamic Delay is a feature that was initially
introduced in the legendary TC 2290. It allows the
dynamics of the input level to reduce the delay output
level while you play, increasing the delay level when
you stop playing. The result is a clear and undisturbed
source signal while playing and a significant increase
in delay level when pausing between phrases. The
adaptive threshold in NOVA Repeater automatically
sets the optimal threshold for this effect.
“Reverse”: The Reverse delay is a great effect when a
more mysterious, exotic delay style is required. The
input signal is sampled and played in reverse. With
high delay level settings, this will sound as if you were
playing “backwards”.
“PingPong”: The PingPong delay causes the delay to
alternate between the left and right channels, resulting
in a very nice stereo feel.
12/17 – DIVISION Knob and Subdivision Display
The subdivision options relate to the tapped tempo.
Tap the tempo in quarter notes and then select the
subdivision of your choice. To select a subdivision
setting, press the TYPE button and toggle through the
different types.
Here are a few suggestions for the various settings.
Use these as a starting point and be sure to
experiment and find your own.
OPERATION

Quarter Note: Delay repeats play quarter notes
according to the tapped tempo. So if you tap
quarter notes at a tempo of 120 beats per
minute (BPM), the delay time will be also be set
to 120 BPM (500 ms per repeat).
Dotted Eighth Note: This is a subdivision type
often used when the delay repeats add to the
actual guitar rhythm. Try playing quarter notes
with the delay level set relatively high.
Eighth Note Triplets: This is excellent for fifties-
style 6/8 rhythms where you play only on the
fourth beat.
The following delay types are dual delay types and
provide different subdivisions for left and right outputs.
Three combinations are available.
Left output: Quarter notes
Right output: Dotted eighths
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OPERATION
Left output: Quarter notes
Right output: Eighth note triplets
Left output: Quarter notes
Right output: Eighths
When you are only using the left output and a
dual delay mode is used, the left and right delay
signals are summed and played over the left
output.
13 – SPILLOVER Button
When you activate the Spillover function by pressing
the SPILLOVER button, the delay repeats will continue
to ring out naturally when you bypass the pedal. If you
prefer to cut off (stop) delay repeats when you bypass
the pedal, turn the spillover function off.
14 – KILL DRY Button
When using NOVA Repeater in a parallel effects loop or
in setups where a line-mixer is used, you should
activate Kill Dry mode by pressing the KILL DRY
button.

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EN
With Kill Dry active, the dry signal is removed
completely from NOVA Repeater’s signal path.
15 – RANGE Button
The delay time is set using the DELAY knob. For best
and most accurate control of the delay time, we have
split the available Delay time range in three sections.
Press the RANGE button to toggle between 20-400
ms, 300 to 600 ms and 500 to 1200 ms.
Please note that although you cannot dial in
more than 1200 ms of delay time, you can tap
up to 2290 ms.
16 – TYPE Button
Press the TYPE button to toggle between the various
delay types. See also “11/16 – TYPE Indicator and
Button” on page 10.
17 – DIVISION Button
Press the DIVISION button to toggle between the
OPERATION
various sub-division types. See also “12/17 – DIVISION
Knob and Subdivision Display” on page 11.
18 – ON/OFF Switch and LED
This is the ON/OFF switch for NOVA Repeater. A red
LED just above the switch indicates the pedal’s status.
When it is lit, the pedal is active.
19 – TAP Switch and LED
There are several ways to set the NOVA Repeater’s
delay time. The easiest way is turning the DELAY knob
to set the delay time within the selected delay range.
However, you can also set the delay time using the Tap
tempo and subdivision function, which is very intuitive.
The Tap tempo can be entered in two different ways:
• by rhythmically tapping the TAP/TEMPO switch
• by using the Audio Tap Tempo™ feature.
continued.........

Example:
Tapping the tempo using the TAP/TEMPO switch
• Tap quarter notes on the TAP TEMPO switch.
The TAP/TEMPO LED indicates the tapped tempo,
and the delay repeats will play according to the
subdivision set with the DIVISION button.
You can also tap the tempo this way when the pedal is
bypassed, which comes in handy when you want to
change the tempo for an upcoming song.
Example: Audio-tapping the tempo:
• Press and hold the TAP/TEMPO switch. When the
outputs are muted, play steady short quarter notes
on your instrument.
The TAP/TEMPO LED indicates the tapped tempo.
• Release the TAP/TEMPO again.
The delay repeats will play according to the
subdivision set with the DIVISION button.
That’s it – you have now entered the global tempo by
audio.
OPERATION
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Thank you for spending time reading this manual.
We hope that you are well on your way with NOVA
Repeater and enjoy using it already!
Should this manual leave any of your questions
unanswered, please use the TC Support service,
which you can access from www.tcelectronic.com.
Over a period of time, we will collect the most
frequently asked questions and update the manual
accordingly. Manual updates are available for
download on our website in PDF format. You will find
the current manual revision number at the bottom of
page 3.

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EN
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Due to continuous development, these
specifications are subject to change
without notice.
Analog Inputs
Connectors:
Input Type:
Impedance:
Max. Input Level:
Analog Outputs
Connectors:
Max. Output Level:
Output Type:
Impedance:
Sense Input Impedance:
Overall Data
D to A Conversion:
A to A Delay:
Dynamic Range:
THD:
Frequency Response:
Crosstalk:
EMC
Complies with:
¼" phone jacks w. mono-sense
Single ended
1 MOhm
10 dBu @ 12V supply
¼" phone jacks w. mono-sense
10 dBu @ 12V supply
Balanced/Single ended w. ground sense
0 Ohm
225 Ohm
24 bit, 128 x oversampling bitstream
1.65 ms
106/98 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
@ Input level 16/-2 dBu, not A-weighted
< -90 dB (0.0032 %) @ 1 kHz, I/O Level
16 dBu, Load > 2400 Ohm
+0.1/-0.2 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
< -100 dB, 20 Hz to 7 kHz, < -94 dB,
7 kHz to 20 kHz
EN 55103-1 and EN 55103-2 FCC Part 15,
Class B, CISPR 22, Class B
Environment
Operating Temperature:
Storage Temperature:
Humidity:
General
Finish:
Dimensions:
Weight:
Mains Voltage:
Power Consumption:
Warranty
Parts and labor:
32° F to 122° F (0° C to 50° C)
-22° F to 167° F (-30° C to 70° C)
Max. 90 % non-condensing
Anodized aluminum front
Plated and painted steel end caps
130 x 130 x 55 mm
765 g
100 to 240 VAC, 50 to 60 Hz
(auto-select) AC wall adapter.
AC adapter supplies 12 VDC
minimum 0.3 A to pedal.
<5 W
1 year