ACS1 VS. DREAM! Which do YOU CHOOSE?

Here is the Walrus Audio ACS1 vs. the Universal Audio Dream. Both of these petals are killer, but they do have major differences, tonally and functionally. Which unit works best with your context? Let me know in the comments below!
GUITAR: Veritas Portlander
TIME MAP:
0:00 Intro and First Comparisons
1:48 CLEAN | ACS1 VS. Dream
3:10 DRIVE | ACS1 VS. Dream
3:40 DISTORTION | ACS1 VS. Dream
4:04 Stereo Amps ACS1
4:20 DELAY | ACS1 VS. Dream
4:58 AMBIENT REVERB | ACS1 VS. Dream
7:34 Final Thoughts
#acs1 #dream

[@dillanagpoon]

I can't live without the stereo amps in the ACS1 - thanks for the vid!

[@nobesmusic]

I know that’s my main thing! You’d have to buy two different units. I see some guys do that but I don’t have the cash or the space for that

[@AlexKashner]

Thanks for making this! Literally both amp in a box pedals I’ve been debating on getting. Both are great. ACS1 seems warmer and more amp-like for sure which I like more for delay & reverbs. But I think the Dream took distortion better.

[@nobesmusic]

@@AlexKashner totally! Well said. That’s for watching 🙏🏽

[@ThatDamFly]

This is a great comparison! Thank you for doing this.

[@nobesmusic]

Thanks for watching! With all the content out there, I just really wanted to do it in my context

[@MikeLee479]

I know you’re demoing the “amp in a box” style pedals here but the delays and reverb tones you’re getting are amazing!

[@nobesmusic]

Haha thanks a lot man! Love the D1 and Slöer units. They are killer!

[@mpeskett]

The winner for me is the D1! Man that sounds sweet.

[@nobesmusic]

Haha right?! Absolutely love the D1

[@Andreas_tropicalwinter]

They both are sounding great. I´ve got myself the ACS1, but I´m always on the AC30. All all do sounds great but it basically comes down to personal preference. Either one has different advantages, but the thing where the ACS1 is more useful to me is having a mids knob and a great sounding headphone jack. It´s just so convinient for a quick late-night noodeling.

[@nobesmusic]

Yes totally!! That’s my whole point of the video too. Even though they sound different they both sound great and shine in their own ways. When it comes to choosing the best one for you, nobody can make that decision but you 🤙🏽

[@eternalvernal1286]

Interesting. All I use is the Fender 😎

[@Andreas_tropicalwinter]

@@eternalvernal1286 I don't know why. Everyone that uses Fender sounds just great. When I use a Fender amps I can't get them to sound like I want when I add distortion Pedals. So something I do is clearly wrong... 😅

[@eddieftw]

Great video. The tones sound sick. The Dream does feel more like a Fender amp to me - glassier somehow. (Or that’s just my brain telling me that because it’s a UA product. Hahaha!)

[@nobesmusic]

You’re right though! That’s a great word to describe it. “Glassier” kind of more hi-fi, clean, clear fender tone

[@seanbatterberry]

Doesn’t sound like you can go wrong with either of those options. They both sound great 👍🏻

[@nobesmusic]

Correct!! That’s the whole point. It all goes down to application and functionality.

[@taboolexicon]

Both pedals sounded great in this video. The ACS1 sounded like it had a good bit more low end during this video. I'm a fan of mine. That said, I could be tempted away by the UA Lion if I could control it with MIDI.

[@nobesmusic]

I totally agree they both have great things about them. The Lion with midi would be crazy!

[@huckleberryfinn1018]

nice comparison, good tones. I assume this is already the newer firmware for acs 1? I made the switch from acs1 to dream last year because i was mostly using the fullerton anyway and liked the dream sound a little more. But the functionality combined with the small footprint of the acs1 is phenomenal.

[@nobesmusic]

Yea they both have some great sounds! And yea it’s the 2.0 firmware update. I really enjoy the fender sound from the Dream, but yea that stereo amp thing is super important to me

[@rianelliott1]

Nice video and some solid tones there. If I had to choose, the flexibility of the ACS1 is clearly my preference, but after going through the journey on my own board, I chose Tonex. Great tones, more options. So my question is this…with the new Tonex One that’s not only tiny but also only $179, why would you not just use two of these? I think they’ll end up crushing everything else out there.

[@nobesmusic]

Thanks a lot! Yea I totally feel you on that with what the ACS1 can do. And yea! The new ToneX One is killer! Getting two of them would definitely compete well the ACS1. You’d just have to power both and would have to manually change each instead of recalling a preset. But it’s killer!

[@ZachariahConnor]

I’ve had both, the dream wins for me by a lot. But the ACS1 might be better value for some people

[@nobesmusic]

Yea totally! Like if you want the trem and onboard reverb the Dream is it. But if you value the stereo amp and amp choices the ACS1 has in one unit, then it’s the ACS1. But you’re right it’s all about what each player values! That’s what makes it the best for them

[@christopherrusch]

have you updated to the V2 firmware too?

[@dcastillogzz]

ACS1 hands down!

[@nobesmusic]

✨

[@tiuditto]

Can you try comparing different preamps? Would make for a great video, nobody has done a comprehensive V2 comparison to the Dream, Ruby, Dream + Ruby, Tonex, Lion, etc

[@nobesmusic]

If I could get my hands on all of those I would! That’d be killer

[@jb909jb]

ACS1, wow.

[@nobesmusic]

✨

[@tiuditto]

Where do you put your ACS1 in the signal chain? Edit: Btw, I have some overdrive pedals, but your video is tempting me to buy the lamb. Do you think it would be redundant buying it already having the Bluesbreaker, Silver horse (klon), and bonsai? Or should I just get the Lion? Or both 😅

[@nobesmusic]

I have it before my delay and reverb! And man tonally you can achieve a similar thing, but what’s great about the Jet stuff is that you have presets with different clipping options. So it’s like having those different pedals in one while having the ability to recall them with a switch of a button. I do love the functionality of that when I use those pedals

[@miguelferreira6351]

I have an acs1 and I think it's incredible, it clears my doubts, which Ir's are you using?

[@nobesmusic]

Same! I’m using the Tone Factor IRs from the 2.0 firmware update

[@BourkeTommy]

Quick question for you. Is there an audio drop when changing presets on the acs1? Trying to figure out what to get that has midi control and have an element of gain staging, but I’ve noticed most stuff has a brief audio drop when changing presets which would be pretty noticeable if I were to run it after wet effects. Great review 🤙

[@nobesmusic]

Hey! I don’t believe there is, or at least I haven’t noticed one. I have my ACS1 running before my wet effects

[@BourkeTommy]

@@nobesmusic Great! Thanks!

[@nobesmusic]

@@BourkeTommy for sure!

[@johnhennessey5]

If you could only pick one, which one would you choose? I’m considering one of these to replace my 60 pound hot rot deville that I use as a clean pedal platform amp and I get my drive with pedals

[@nobesmusic]

I would pick the ACS1 because of the IRs and the ability to have different stereo amps, but your application would be different. I think if you really just like fender amps, that UA Dream model would be very familiar for you. That might be a great option for you, but if you could try both at a store I definitely would. It all goes down to how you feel as they react to your playing

[@rpickrel4]

would you mind sharing your amp settings on the ACS1, specifically your Red preset?

[@nobesmusic]

Sure thing! I have full video on my presets for the ACS1 on my channel 🤙🏽 m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKDEiYGMosqHq5I

[@rpickrel4]

@@nobesmusic gotcha. But, you fender settings you are using prior to the Res preset are shown? Big scooping of the mids, vs your other video that have the mids closer to noon?

[@nobesmusic]

@@rpickrel4 oh! I don’t have that recorded anywhere. The mids weren’t scooped that much I think I must have hit the knob before filming. I saved a quick preset on the green channel that was closer to my favorite setting on the dream, but that red preset is my main preset on the ACS1 with the stereo amps

[@eternalvernal1286]

:32 The ACS1 has reverb....it's a Room reverb. Its actually awesome.

[@nobesmusic]

Yes! It does have that knob, but it’s not necessarily reverb sounding. More like a mic effect in the bigger room if that makes sense. Hard to explain but The Dream has a full on reverb sound where your direct signal still sounds the same and gets reverberated rather than a room ambience simulation. But I do love that the ACS1 has that. It gives more of a real recording feel

[@user-iu1ol1pc6g]

It’s not possible on the dream to simulate the room like the ACS 1 ? I think when you are playing on stage, it’s great to have the « room feeling » inside the ear monitor, it’s feel more realistic ?!

[@gustavoramone1513]

Nice video. Whats Delay you using in 4:50 min?

[@nobesmusic]

That’s the D1 V2 by Walrus Audio!

[@gustavoramone1513]

@@nobesmusic is a ping pong mod?

[@nobesmusic]

@@gustavoramone1513 yep! A preset I made with the dual delay setting

[@user-iu1ol1pc6g]

Hi, Thanks for your video, does your ACS1 use the 2.0 firmware update or no?

[@nobesmusic]

Yes! The 2.0 Firmware update is crucial. I have a video comparing the two side by side on my channel. Check it out!

[@user-iu1ol1pc6g]

Yes but it’s that video right ? On this video your ACS use the 2.0 firmware right ? Sorry for my English !

[@user-iu1ol1pc6g]

By the way.. what do you think about tech 21 sans amp character pedals, like the blonde model or screaming blond just purely considering only the preamp as well as the amp simulation? ACS 1 or UAD is more realistic ?

[@nobesmusic]

@@user-iu1ol1pc6g I actually haven’t tried those out, but I’d say these are the top of the list for sure

[@nobesmusic]

@@user-iu1ol1pc6g all good! Yes, I’m both videos I have the 2.0 Firmware. This one compares 2.0 ACS1 with Dream and the other video has two ACS1s. Comparing the original and the 2.0 Firmware update

[@stevelife8505]

Universal Audio wins over any other modelers hands down. There's something about UA pedals that make them interact with your playing and pedals that no other pedal or studio rack can quite get. I've tried nearly everything and keep going back to UA. Have you tried the Lion?

[@nobesmusic]

That’s awesome! I dig it too. Glad you found something that really fits you and your sound. I haven’t tried the Lion but heard it’s killer!

[@liontone]

I love the Dream, but the Iridium with York IRs is just as good (own both). I think the Dream reacts a little more dynamically amp like, but the Iridium sits in a mix better. (And let’s not forget the Marshall and Vox sounds). Dream live, Iridium in sessions… my take.

[@FakeGlasses]

@@liontone I tend to prefer the UAD pedals overall, but both the Dream and Ruby have issues with digital clipping when you send too much gain/level into them. It's a shame.

[@mooseymoose]

I choose Quilter Superblock US since it has xlr out and actual power amp sections.

[@nobesmusic]

Nice! I gotta try that out sometime

[@brianaaland5263]

If I have no need for a power amp, is this still worth checking out?

[@mooseymoose]

@@brianaaland5263 Sure, though I might go with something else at that point like an Ethos.

[@studio072008]

It sounds as if you have more mid in the ACS1. Try rolling it back just a bit. That might get it much closer to the Dream. Just a thought.

[@nobesmusic]

Great take! I thought the same thing. The ACS1 definitely has more mids naturally. I brought it lower but it’s definitely large component to the ACS1. The dream also didn’t have a mid knob to bring up

[@mikem.1203]

@@nobesmusic FYI, you can boost the mids on the Dream by switching to Lead mod and turning the dial to around 10-12 o'clock. From the manual: "Lead mod: Removes the bright cap when the knob is above OFF, so at lower boost knob settings, the amp sounds warmer. As you increase the boost knob up to the 10 o'clock position or so, the mod adds some midrange from the tone stack lift (called "lead boost"). As you increase the gain past noon, the gain increases, and power amp output is compensated to prevent mushiness."

[@nobesmusic]

@@mikem.1203 oh that’s sick! That is great to know

[@robytjoseph]

ACS1 does have reverb.

[@nobesmusic]

Yes! It does have that knob, but it’s not necessarily reverb sounding. More like a mic effect in the bigger room if that makes sense. Hard to explain but The Dream has a full on reverb sound where your direct signal still sounds the same and gets reverberated rather than a room ambience simulation. But I do love that the ACS1 has that. It gives more of a real recording feel

[@robertoruiz1924]

The reverb is awesome! 🔥

[@nobesmusic]

For real! The Slöer is killer