TC Electronic NR-I Nova Reverb User manual

NR-1
Nova Reverb
USER’S MANUAL

Introduction
Table of contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Operation
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Knobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Input Level Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Reverb Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Reverb Spill-over . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Setup examples
Mono/Stereo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Send/Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Appendix
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2

Your tone is everything
The sensation of weight, the grandiose design and
overall build quality instinctively tell you that the Nova
pedals aren’t just ordinary stompboxes. They are so
much more – the essence of your tone!
Built upon the legacy and knowledge of TC’s world-
renowned effects processors the Nova pedals raise the
bar for guitar effect pedals and redefine what it means
to be “state-of-the-art”. The NR-1 Nova Reverb offer
uncompromised studio quality effects in a compact
floor-based design.
Similar to the Nova Delay, the Nova Reverb is a
voucher for the undisputed tonal quality only known
from TC products. This pedal offers you 5 different
stereo reverb types from the warm vintage sounding
Classic Spring to the pristine and stunningly realistic
TC Classic Hall. Reverb just doesn’t come any better
than this.
Nova Reverb Main Features:
• 5 studio-quality stereo reverb types
• Two switchable modes: Manual and Preset
• DynaMix™ - dynamic ducking reverb
3
INTRODUCTION
TC Electronic, Sindalsvej 34, DK-8240 Risskov – [email protected] Manual revision 1.0 – SW – V 1.0
Prod. No: E60506812
English Version

4
OVERVIEW
mix level
inv pos
off
hold to STORE
pre delay
inputoutputRRL L power
mono mono
color dynamix decay
algorithm select
plateroom spring hall specials
Guitar Effects Technology
manual preset
tiled concert goldvintage
large classic silver
tin
classic
plain
medium
small
church
medium
small
mod
amb
stomp
NOVA REVERB
PROGRAMMABLE DIGITAL REVERB

5
Connections
1 - Power
The Nova Reverb require 12V DC 300 mA. Use the
power supply provided in the product box or a power
supply with similar specifications.
2 - Inputs
1/4” mono jack connections for signal input. Use left
input for mono signal or use both left and right inputs
for connecting a stereo signal.
3 - Outputs
1/4” mono jack connections for signal output. Use left
output for mono or both outputs for stereo.
Switches
Nova Reverb holds two modes. Preset mode and
Manual mode.
4 - Manual switch
Press to go to manual mode. Manual mode can be
accessed either from bypass state or from preset
mode. Manual mode is “What You See Is What You
Get”-mode. This means that the Nova Reverb will
process exactly according to the current position of the
controls.
5 - Preset switch
Press to go to preset mode. Preset mode can be
accessed either from bypass state or from manual
mode. In preset mode all LEDs will indicate the current
settings, but the 5 knobs may not be positioned
according to the stored values.
As soon as you change the position of a knob the
parameter value is updated according to the position.
Preset Store function:
The current settings can be stored from either preset
or manual mode. It is easy:
- Press and hold the PRESET button for approx. one
second. The preset is now stored.
Note that when storing a preset from manual mode, all
parameters are stored according to the position of the
OVERVIEW

Knobs
6 - Decay
This knob sets the reverb decay time. The decay time
is the time it takes for the reverb diffuse field to decay
60 dB. This is also perceived as the “length” of the
reverb.
7 - Pre-Delay
This knob sets the pre-delay time. Pre-delay is a short
delay placed between the direct signal and the reverb
diffuse field. By using pre-delay the source material is
kept clear and undisturbed from the more diffuse
reverb diffuse field arriving shortly after.
8 - Color
The color parameter is used to enhance/emphasize the
high-end frequencies of the reverb. Too much high-end
may disturb the source signal. Too little can give you
the impression of a too muddy reverb.
9 - Dynamix
A unique feature inherited from the legendary TC 2290
delay. Dynamix allows you to control the level of the
reverb via the dynamics of the input signal.
Turning the control clockwise towards “pos” (positive),
the reverb output is attenuated while you play and
increased in-between phrases. This actually allows you
to play with quite a lot of reverb without clouding or
disturbing your phrases. Turning the control counter-
clockwise towards “inv” (inverse), you can do exactly
the opposite; more reverb applied while playing and
less when you stop playing. With the knob in 12
o’clock position, no dynamix is applied.
10 - Mix Level
Sets the overall mix between the source signal and the
reverb.
6
OPERATION
knobs and LEDs. When storing a preset from preset
mode only the edited parameters are stored.
Bypass
When neither manual nor preset mode LEDs are lit the
pedal is in bypass mode.

Input Level Calibration
Your Nova Reverb pedal is per default set up to work
well right out the box - just as any other stompbox
pedal. However, you can optimize the performance of
your Nova pedals AD/DA converters by calibrating the
input sensitivity. Follow this step-by-step guide:
• Calibration of the input sensitivity should be done
to the max. expected input level. Therefore you
should turn on boosters etc. that are placed prior to
the Nova Reverb pedal in the signal chain.
• Press, hold and release the ROOM button. The 5
LEDs in second row from the bottom is lit.
• Play with the loudest* sound you use for a few
seconds and watch some of the 5 LEDs turn off
one by one. How many that are turned off, depend
on the output of your guitar. When no further
changes seem to appear the pedal is calibrated.
• Press any key to exit.
• The pedal is now calibrated
* By your “loudest” sound we mean the sound with the highest
dynamic content. This is most likely a clean sound as overdrive
sounds per nature are compressed.
Reverb Types
Reverb type and sub-type can be selected using
buttons 11-15.
• Press once to select type.
• Press same selector additional times to select sub-
type. Example: - Sub-types for “Spring” is: Plain,
Classic and Vintage.
11 - Room
Press ROOM to select between the following types of
room reverbs: Small, Medium, Large and Tiled.
Small - Medium - Large
Three variations tuned to reproduce the sound of
differently sized rooms.
Tiled Room
Often you’ll want to get the “bathroom” effect, without
actually wanting it to sound like you’re playing in your
bathroom. The Tiled Room reverb simulates the
qualities of a small to medium sized tiled room with its
many reflections and at the same time it behaves
respectfully towards the original source material. Use it
as an effect that adds quite a bit of color to your sound.
7
OPERATION

12 - Spring
Press SPRING to select between the following types of
spring reverb: Plain, Classic and Vintage.
Plain Spring
This reverb type is the least colored spring emulation
included in the Nova Reverb. Compared to the Classic
Spring and Vintage Spring types, Plain Spring is the
most neutral sounding of the three.
Classic Spring
With the Classic Spring reverb you’ve got one of the
best emulations of a classic spring reverb there is.
We’ve spent a lot of time calculating and reinterpreting
the behavior of a traditional spring reverb.
Vintage Spring
The Vintage Spring emulates the spring reverb types
found in old guitar-amps. It is a bit more grindy
compared to the Classic Spring and gives a very
realistic old-school sound.
8
OPERATION
13 - Hall
Press Hall to select between the following types of hall
reverb: Small, Medium, Church, Classic and Concert.
Small & Medium
Two types of reverb tuned to reproduce the reflection
patterns of small and medium-sized halls.
Church
A highly diffuse reverb that is recognizable for its
emulation of the many hard surfaces of different shapes
found in traditional church rooms.
Classic Hall
The reverb from many legendary TC products that
gives you a rich spacious feel with plenty of air. Perfect
with medium to long decay times. Play with the color
parameter to find the correct blend. If you feel you have
the correct mix level while the reverb lacks significance,
- try increasing color parameter.
Concert Hall
This reverb has become a classic in itself. It simulates
a rather large hall and it’s stunningly good at preserving

the original and natural characteristics of the source
material. If you’re looking for a sound with long decay
times the Concert Hall is excellent and you’ll get a
large and broad sound that is very distinctive.
14 - Plate
Press Plate to select between the following Plate
types: Tin, Silver and Gold
Tin Plate
Recreates the plate reverbs used prior to the digital
era. The Tin Plate reformulates the sound of a large
metallic plate, and gives you a sound that you probably
heard on many recordings from the past. Use the Tin
Plate when you just want the pure and uncolored plate
sound. It is bright and has a diffuse quality that is
perfect for funky rhythm guitar patterns.
Silver Plate
The Silver Plate algorithm is a luxuriously well-
tempered plate reverb, which gives you a perfect
balance between the Tin and Gold Plate reverbs. It’s
got all the qualities of a classic plate reverb, the right
amount of exquisite and gentle coloring with crystalline
brightness and subtle diffusion. Use this reverb for just
about anything, and especially when you want to add
that complete and personal ambience.
Gold Plate
We’ve boosted the full potential of the plate reverbs of
the past, and designed the Gold Plate algorithm to
reflect all the brightness, coloring and diffusion that the
original plate reverbs had to offer. Use this reverb
when you just can’t get “gold” enough on your sound.
15 - Specials
Press Specials to select between the following special
reverb types: Stomp, Amb (ambience), and Mod
(modulated).
Stomp
Quite an extraordinary reverb type reproducing some
of the characteristics from contemporary stompbox
reverbs. This is not a smooth subtle reverb but may be
just what you are looking for if you need a reverb that
is different and can cut through.
9
OPERATION

10
OPERATION
Reverb Spill-over
Smooth transitions when switching from “on” to bypass
mode is best achieved by letting the reverb spill over.
This feature can be applied individually for manual or
preset modes and is easily set up.
• Select the mode to configure. Manual or preset.
• Hold the HALL button for 1 second and release.
• The three LEDs above the HALL button
(vintage, concert and gold), now indicated which
mode you have selected.
- Spill-over mode: the LEDs flash slowly
- Mute mode: the LEDs flash rapidly.
Ambience
With focus on the early reflections that defines the
perception of a room size, the Ambience Reverb type is
typically used on dry recordings simply to emulate a
feeling of environment. Ambience and room definition
are the keywords here.
Modulated
A reverb type where the diffuse field is modulated via
complex LFOs. An excellent choice for vintage style
guitar sounds, Wurlitzer pianos and much more.