TC Electronic Plethora x5 - Bluetooth, Cabinet Simulation and Bypass Modes

Thomann Affiliate Links:
Plethora x5: thmn.to/thoprod/486712?offid=...
Fulltone OCD Overdrive: thmn.to/thoprod/416751?offid=...
Victory V40 "The Duchess" Amp: thmn.to/thoprod/381935?offid=...
Plethora x5 Bluetooth, Speaker Cabinet Simulation, and Bypass Modes:
00:36 - Tuner
01:17 - Effect Order
01:36 - Switch Boards
02:06 - Cab Sim
05:41 - Bluetooth
09:44 - Bypass
11:34 - Comments
All gear (affiliate links):
Amps: redir.love/thocf/g83kr5y7g6
Guitars: redir.love/thocf/zp7mu7izbe
Pedals: redir.love/thocf/uznvi9agbc
Home Studio: redir.love/thocf/q55sup25b4
#TCElectronic #Plethorax5 #TheBedroomRocker

[@nikolamiskovic2908]

Hi. Nice representation. I think that you can rename your boards by pressing those 3 dots ond the right side of toneprint app. At least I done it so via computer. regards

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the tip! I will try it out... it's getting messy very quickly with everything named as User Board xyz hahahah

[@user-me2tp1tn7f]

Thank you so much for reviewing cab sim capacity on this unit!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful

[@ajlmirrormist]

Thanks a lot... changing boards quickly from the pedal... my "back" is grateful to you sir... some of your tips I shall no doubt revisit....

[@josegallegosdds]

One of the best videos for the Plethora.👍🏻

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks so much for the nice comment! It really keeps me going! Cheers!

[@cjsilvestremusic]

Well done bro! I have been waiting to buy this Effects unit for a while now and your video answered all the questions that I didn't get answers with other youtubers! Keep going man. You inspire me to keep making videos too. Subbed!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Cool! Many thanks for the nice comment! Keep those videos coming as well! All the best

[@greatvanzini]

Thanks. Useful vid. I was thinking about looking at this but I think you answered all my main questions.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comment! I'm glad the series was useful!

[@stevemclaughlin3965]

thank you ...i just bought one ; )

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment! Enjoy it!

[@TheKaroaker]

Very good video :)

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks a lot for the nice comment!

[@reason2463]

After a couple of days of fumbling I came across the video that TC has published with frequently asked questions here on YT. That video pretty much confirms that the Plethora is a work in progress, and that TC has been slowed considerably in further development of the Plethora by Covid 19. I wish I had known that it was seriously incomplete before I bought it.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Yeah, you're right.. In the interview, they even answer many questions with "we may add that feature if customers want it" but almost nothing is for sure.. But give it time and I'm quite sure they'll make this great unit even greater 👌🏼

[@Kattemageren]

Just curious, what do you mean by seriously incomplete? Were you promised more than it currently holds?

[@reason2463]

Marcus Therkildsen Not all of the TonePrint pedals are available yet on the Plethora. And some useful functionality that is planned is not yet implemented. Check out the FAQ video from TC for more on it. The toneprint app needs work to make it easier to deal with Plethora boards. Right now you can change the order and the name of the boards but that’s all with the app.

[@scottbecker3485]

Finally somebody who realizes that „True Bypass“ doesn‘t always leave the sound unscathed, and who actually demos that for us! :-)) However, for future tests of True Bypass vs. „out of the signal chain“, it‘s best to use an acoustic (!) guitar. Why? Because a lot of effects out there are optimized for electric guitar, and neglect to faithfully convey upper harmonics and „woody“ warmth on the bottom end. Pedals from TC Electronic, Wampler, Source Audio and many more actually (in my extensive experience over the years) suck acoustic tone in True Bypass mode, and negatively impact tone when on, as well. The differences are often subtle yet quite noticeable, e.g. when the top two strings suddenly sound out louder and sound more „metallic“ or compressed, or when the low E sounds a bit muffled and less resonant. Most folks won‘t care about this, but I play acoustic and electric through the same pedalboard, and no pedal stays on my board if it sucks acoustic tone. Even high-end pedals often do. So just for fun, I suggest trying the bypass/disconnected comparison with acoustic guitar.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks a lot for the interesting comment! I don't play a lot of acoustics, but will definitely keep this in mind and try out next time

[@yokohamaborn]

This is such a helpful review. Thank you for the thorough testing of features and sounds! Are you still happy with this board now that a few years has passed since your review?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment! I haven't been using the Plethora. I loved the sounds and versatility of it and it's got some nice upgrades since this video. However, I usually use small pedalboards with 4-6 pedals and the Plethora is too big for that. I also tend to use 2-3 gain pedals, 1-2 modulation pedals and 1-2 time-based effects, so I really don't need the 5 slots and would rather save space for drives, distortions and fuzz pedals. I feel like the new Plethora x3 would suit me better actually. Then I also own a couple analog pedals that I am more used to and love. If I can, I usually prefer to stay all analog to simplify stuff like power supply

[@javilozano43]

Great vid! Having the 4 cable method, I wonder if you can bypass the preamp section of your amp in some boards and not others.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment! I don't think you could do this in a "clean" way. You could use of the 5 slots to activate the FX loop on the Plethora and connect the Plethora's Send to your amp's Return. This will work, but you won't have the option to use the amp's FX loop on your other boards.

[@karenfrye4546]

I have never used guitar pedals for my Woodwinds and Harmonicas. I purchased this Plethora x 5 and a Voco Loco. Having only played acoustically until recently I am not sure how to get the Plethora sounds through the Voco Loco to my PA's, The Voco Loco has the phantom power needed for my Woodwind mic. Thanks, any input appreciated!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

I'm not sure as this is a bit outside of my guitar world. I think you could try the plethora in the effects loop of the voco loco. Plug the mic or instruments into the voco loco, then the send goes into the plethora in and then from plethora out back into return of the voco loco and finally from voco loco out into the PA/mixer. I hope this helps

[@MartinStromer85]

Good video as usual :) One question: in a gig, can you pass for example from a "patch" with say one effect on, to a second patch with two or more effects, pushing only one button istantly? And a TC boost, like the Spark or the mini version, will ever be available in the future?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thank you Martin! You can duplicate (copy) a board with some effects into a new empty board, so all patches (effect slots) are passed on to the new board and you can start editing from there. Is this what you want to do? This requires a few clicks though... The problem with the Spark (and also with the Mojo Mojo, Dark Matter, and others) is that they are analog circuits. At the moment, TC does not have any digital boost/drive/distortion pedals that could be implemented in the Plethora. They said they might develop some in the future, but it is not certain and depends on what people are asking more. The original idea is that you use your favorite analog boosts and drives and then rely on the Plethora for the modulation and time-based effects. A possible work-around would be to use an expression pedal to control the volume.

[@MartinStromer85]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 Do you keep the Plethora as your multieffects in your pedalboard for gigging? Or are you going to go on using analog pedals (with the "tip tap dance")?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

@@MartinStromer85 I've been using the Plethora for only a few weeks now and I cannot even rehearse with my band because of lockdown, so no gigs for now :-( Whether I'll use it is actually a very good question... In general I'm more of an analog guy. The Plethora is my first multi-FX since my Zoon 505II back in the 2000's hahahah the experience has been very good so far. It has digital versions of most classic analog stuff while also having a bunch of cool crazy ambient spacey sounds I do not normally get. It's taking me to new places and making me play different, which is great!

[@paolorossi5854]

👍👍😀

[@nerijus.sadauskas]

I want very simple pedalboard to plug to my PA. I play different kind of instruments. Is it enought just Plethora + drive pedal? Will the sound be quite rich?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

For plugging straight into the PA, I think the Plethora is really not the best solution, because the cab simulation in it is very bad in my opinion... If you have drive pedal + Plethora + a decent IR-based cabinet simulation pedal, then it should be a great set-up! Consider placing something like a Mooer Radar or Nux Studio IR or Two Notes CAB M+ after the Plethora to get a decent cabinet simulation.

[@FC-jp7ez]

Thanks for the review, con you connect the headphone with the cab sim on?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment. That's a good question actually. The Plethora doesn't have a dedicated headphone output. You could try connecting one to the main output with cabinet simulation turned on, but it may not have the power to drive the headphone speakers.

[@WatchdogVideo]

Awesome demo ... thanks much however my tuner is not working. Three taps on switch 5 ... nothing other than the LED going on and off. .... fixed it ... apparently the US models do not have the latest firmware ... you need to download 1.1.43.bin and install. Then download 1.1.52 and install. Then do to global settings and make sure footswitch is activated for the tuner. Its working now.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Have you tried to update the firmware? Make sure you are running the latest available version: www.tcelectronic.com/downloads.html

[@8Junio76]

Thanks for this comparison. Buffered sounds slightly better. I don’t care about the cab simulator bcs Two Notes is way to go on that. The real bummer to me is the tuner, it is nothing like the well known Polytune.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment! I just feel if they are not providing a decent cab sim, which is ofc not the main goal of the product, they should at least provide an optional IR loader for the people to use their own IRs from Celestion, Ownhammer, or whatever. Most multi-FX units at the market have this option now and some cost half of what the Plethora does... hahahah yes, the tuner is also not my favorite... It works and is bright, but I would dare say that I prefer my crappy Harley Benton CPT-20 that cost like 20 bucks. Tuner is very personal though

[@scottbecker3485]

2nd comment (question) from me :-) I have a Two Notes Opus on my acoustic/electric pedalboard filled with great pedals. For live use, I‘d love to simplify my set-up without having to resort to Midi controllers just to switch or alter my modulations and delays and reverbs. For that, I might be willing to downgrade my sound in favor of speed (less tap-dancing) and simplicity. But if I put the Opus in one of the available slots (via the effects loop), I‘d lose out on one effect, right? But would that loss only apply to that particular board preset, i.e. only affect my electric guitar signal chain?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment! You'll only lose the slot if you want to be able to bypass the Opus and other effects in that loop. Assuming you're having the Opus always on as an amp and/or cab simulation and you never need to bypass it, then there's no need to assign a slot for it. It can stay in the FX loop always on and you can pick the position of the FX send and return. I hope that helps!

[@goswo]

Great review. Does activating the tuner mute the signal?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks! Yes, it does

[@kodykindhart8230]

It literally says this in the video

[@debabratabaishya6435]

Can we use the Bluetooth for playing drum tracks on KZbin or something for jamming?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment. No, the Bluetooth is for controlling the effects via the app on your phone/tablet

[@shaibal6363]

Watching in 2021. Nice video. What else would you consider in this price range if you had to buy again?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

That is a tough question! I think in this price range there are several good multi-effect units like Helix or Mooer or Boss and you can also get plenty of cheap analog mini pedals from Harley Benton/Joyo, Mooer, and other cheap brands. In the end the Plethora is not exactly cheap, but it really depends on what kind of gear you like. I use mostly analog drives and tube amps, so the Plethora actually integrates quite well to cover all other effects and the sounds are amazing. If you want more of a all-in-one solution, then a multi-effect unit would be much better and, if you're more of an analog guy, then go the individual stomp boxes are the better choice ;-) I hope this helps a bit

[@shaibal6363]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 Thanks. I went with the Plethora as I like the idea of many pedal boards and I like using their Toneprint. I get to integrate with my existing drive pedals.

[@chrisfit]

@@shaibal6363 do you still have? Like it?

[@shaibal6363]

@@chrisfit Yes. I think each board you want to make will probably take an hour to set up. It's easy to get lost in time choosing between artist Toneprints. Stuff sounds good. Plenty of choice. There is only one thing you don't have which is a wah. I have to be honest though I played live recently with a really stripped down setup. So I am just down to one or two pedals right now.

[@ebenezersengo327]

What guitar are you using tough?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment! The guitar I'm using is a Fender Classic Player Baja Telecaster. If you want to know more, I've also done a full review of it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKrMnIJ5nKaYedk

[@jayxpea]

Is there a looper pedal ?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment! There is currently not a looper pedal in the Plethora, but they promised to introduce it with the new firmware update. It is not clear when the new firmware update is going to be released...

[@jayxpea]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 appreciate the response, keep the awesome content coming

[@oscarm4154]

The cab sim is like a cheap 3 band eq. useless

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Yes, I totally agree. They should put a decent cab sim there, even if it takes one of the effect slots due to the additional processing power required...