GFI System Specular Tempus = Heavenly Reverbs + Delays!

Finally got a Specular Tempus! Listen to just some of the sonic possibilities with this great reverb + delay unit!
#AmbientGuitar #EffectsPedals #Pedalboard
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Equipment used in this video (in order of the signal chain):
Fender Blacktop Telecaster Baritone
Wampler Ego Compressor amzn.to/2KQ6S00
Strymon Riverside
Avid Eleven Rack Amp Modeler amzn.to/2M1OTnZ
Morley Little Alligator Volume Pedal amzn.to/2RImbxF
GFI System Specular Tempus
Pedaltrain Classic Pro Pedalboard amzn.to/2RwBqqf
Focusrite Saffire Pro 40: amzn.to/2es9elp
Apple Logic Pro X
Chords of Orion - Ambient guitar music for the mind and heart.
Bill Vencil - Guitars
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[@zaulkin]

Thank you Ser Davos of house Stark for this lovely demo.

[@inhabitantmusic9051]

Nice demo! I enjoyed it! It has some awesome sounds, and seems really user friendly!

[@AmbientMusicStudio]

The chordal pitch shifting is impressive. Overall this sounds like a great pedal. It's great to be alive in the age of powerful and inexpensive DSP chips.

[@pv5150man]

This may be an odd comment for a vid for your review but here it goes .... I Love the chord shapes you use ... Especially at the beginning

[@EdPettersen]

For a while I've felt the Specular Tempus is the most 3D. Love mine. Good show!

[@agerven]

OO, that transposer brings you to the King (Crimson) Never heard of this pedal / GFI before. What an eye opener. Almost 20 minutes flying by like it's nothing. Thanks for the demo!

[@benasaro1043]

Wow, never heard of this pedal before, it’s great!

[@josephgerstner]

that transposer setting is mind-bending !

[@chordsoforion]

It does sound pretty great!

[@micllave]

the best reverb delay ever!

[@tedstahl3794]

Gotta admit that I love mine. This fit my ambient reverb needs. I was going to pull the trigger on a Strymon Big Sky, but this seems to have filled that need. Thanks for taking the time to share, Bill. Peace.

[@mikmiklicayan4483]

Hi do you use this with the strymon timeline??

[@EDKguy]

I am a reverb and delay addict. I have the ST and it is magnificent! It took the place of my Eventide Space and Pigtronics Echolution 2. Not everything is useful, but most are inspiring. You can create most every other delay and reverb out there. I have only managed it through the included software and have never touched a knob. A tweaker's delight. Great Demo review!

[@Gigirizzolihhhhyyy]

But you can t use delay and r3verb in parallelo?

[@lunchpin403]

This might be the perfect reverb pedal for me

[@CMHobbies]

The subdued shimmer sounds SO much better. That’s an effect that almost always sounds too saturated and over the top to me unless it’s being played through a vol pedal. Nice control!

[@nathanschad8048]

Woah harmonious is weird and cool. Love it.

[@mrbaiser4133]

This pedal needs a dual mono mode: delay to output a, reverb to output b. Delay for the main signal, shimmer reverb through a separate amp. That way, you could use a splitter in front of the Specular Tempus, to add an overdrive to the delay and a volume pedal to the shimmer (both have to be in front of the delay or reverb...)

[@voodookook]

I could have some serious fun with this one. Great demo and looking forward to the next.

[@flynn_22]

Dream reverb delay combo

[@EricEsenwine]

This is amazing! Would you be willing to demo and review the Eventide Space Reverb pedal?

[@GrootsieTheDog]

How would you compare the infinity capture on the Tempus vs the flashback triple dly drone technique for making ambient? I'm deciding between these two with my main purpose to create live ambient synth work.

[@omly85]

Really beaut!...I have to wonder what the Sonic anillation pedal would do in conjunction with all the glossy fx

[@thom-alphaxiii-5106]

the anti shimmer is the shimmer i was waiting for ^^

[@lightnintrucker]

At 15:29 I love that country western bit ya did with the tape echo. Kinda makes me wanna do a country piece on my baritone guitar with Tape delay. The Specular Tempus is a really cool machine. I wonder how it would sound with an acoustic electric guitar.

[@chordsoforion]

I think it would sound great with an acoustic guitar!

[@Caitanya]

Thank you for your wonderfull demo of this pedal, I have one too. I have a question, if I want to change the reverb but want to keep the delay type of a preset, can I change only the reverb because when I do that the delay goes away. Can’t seem to figure it out.

[@niko8412]

is there any hold function or infinite reverb? like the skyfi from alexander or fathom from walrus?

[@RadityoPramAdi]

the harmonius one is beautiful! Seems you like this one...

[@davidlopez1208]

Can I use an external tap tempo to the auxiliary so I can use it to tap dotted eighth?

[@JeffHendricks]

This is an amazing little piece of technology... could easily replace a handful of delay/reverbs on a smallish board, for about the same price as a couple of Boss pedals. Plus MIDI control! And an effects loop!

[@RadityoPramAdi]

it's got effects loop? that's great! could be this serious contender for eventide H9??

[@orryfishburne5326]

Either the Specular Tempus or the Empress Reverb is going to be my next pedal. Both are outstanding! Another pedal i want to get u should do a demo of if u can. Its the Thermion Zero. Its a stereo pedal format 50watt amp. Looks beautiful and sounds fantastic from i can hear on it.

[@acatwhopurrs5031]

Had this pedal last year and sold it to buy the H9. I don't regret it and I'm going to buy another one that will permanently stay in my board. This one has awesome reverb and delay algorithms. Since the 3.8 update which includes a Tape Echo algorithm, I have replaced or relegated the TimeFactor to become my looper. That's how powerful the algorithm the SpecTemp has.

[@Gigirizzolihhhhyyy]

How Is this comparse to h9?

[@JP-vb4ky]

I ordered the black beauty yesterday!

[@AmbientMusicStudio]

Does the tape echo include parameters for tape age and crinkle?

[@nathanschad8048]

Love to see you demo out a Kelley eccos. I just got one. True Stereo tape delay and looper. On board Tap tempo, with an expression input that can adjust your delay in looper mode. For 250$ it’s amazing.

[@christophersoren1768]

In the mail....arrives today😎

[@cdbl12]

Finally!!!

[@aguitarhero007]

How would you compare this to the Source audio Ventris and Nemesis?

[@AnchovyRun]

I want a crossover episode with you and Devin Townsend!

[@elwynsmiles]

Should be renamed the “Spectacular Tempus”.....😎

[@Bonedriven1984]

More like "spectacular failure". They combined 2 pedals into one, added more algorithms... and then cripled it because you can't actually run both at the same time...

[@Gigirizzolihhhhyyy]

@@Bonedriven1984 please explain

[@Bonedriven1984]

​@@Gigirizzolihhhhyyy You have 2 effects in one pedal but can run only one effect at a time. You can't do effect A through B, or B through A or A and B parallel. So if you like the reverbs and delays in this pedal and want to use both at the same time, the only way it happens is if you actually buy 2 of those pedals :]

[@Gigirizzolihhhhyyy]

@@Bonedriven1984 this Is catastrophicus

[@Gigirizzolihhhhyyy]

@@Bonedriven1984 but why no demo.tslk aboyt this

[@mrbaiser4133]

Version 2 should have a dual mono mode: Imagine, you could send the delay signal to amp a and a shimmer reverb to amp b. In this case, an fx loop that can be switched in front of the delay instead of the feedback path. That would make it the Holy Grail Pedal for U2 fans.

[@TheAmazingSnarf]

today i delved into meta-land and ran the audio signal of this review of the Specular Tempus... through my Specular Tempus. the result? i'm sending this note from the future.

[@Abyssaeon]

@Chords Of Orion - Greetings, Bill. What would you say is the most vast reverb you've experimented with? Which one has the longest, uh, decay time, and the most abyssic sound? Thanks for everything. Always enjoy these sonic explorations.

[@chordsoforion]

I don't know which technically has the longest decay time, however, the original Neunaber Immerse hall reverb decays so long you can use it as a drone. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJjMlIxrq9OYnsU

[@tdrake59]

Great review Bill. I'm curious how you would contrast this with the Source Audio Collider.

[@chordsoforion]

The goal this weekend is to create a "shootout" of different delay/reverb combo pedals. Shhhh. :-)

[@mr.d.572]

The sounds from this pedal are wonderfully amazing. However, I hear it is difficult to fiddle with the software. I'm therefore looking something similar where I do not have to use software / a computer hook-up if I can help it.

[@lilakmonoke982]

Dude i like your job. Yes it can do all that. More music.

[@chordsoforion]

More music? Here ya go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kH2kq4uJp8-Nl5o

[@asynchronicity]

Does it let you fine tune the pitch of the shimmer?

[@jst601]

Anyone using a midi controller with this pedal? If so, which controller? I'm looking for reverbs for 80% of my sounds; so very burned out with delay. Got an Eventide TimeFactor for that.

[@subscribetobanbasstabs2599]

can u trigger the presets with midi?

[@christophersoren1768]

Hey Bill great video. Question... I noticed on the ST readout the top right corner is the page number....you did page 1 and 2...where is page 3 and 4. Supposed to be 32 presets... Page 1...4 banks with A and B Page 2...4 banks.....A and B 3..... 4..... equals 32 I'm asking because mine only has pages 1 and 2...16 presets Why no 3 and 4???

[@almightyEsquilax]

You can change the number of pages that are available in the companion app.

[@GoldenBoyDims]

The price of this thing is unreal it's beautiful

[@oscarchuquillanqui8574]

04:01 What? that is probably the best shimmer sound in the market right now, and He said, ok that's kinda classic shimmer isn't it? let's lower it!

[@bengirard1984]

I know right! haha I've been using this pedal for about a year and a half now (and I have the Source audio Ventris as well) and nothing still comes close this pedal's shimmer. When he said that it was kinda classic, I was surprised haha I mean, I respect his opinion a lot but I thought he would've really love this shimmer!

[@anthonybarnes4534]

Great video! Do you prefer this or Audio Source Collider?

[@jacksprat3009]

Partly due to this video - I got it. Paired with Strymon Time Line and Decco - out of this world! Next comes the online editing and additions. So much in a pedal and only requires 100 Ma's. Next stop a Volca FM.

[@Soakinindeep]

Collider vs specular tempus. What's the best?

[@williammitchell6921]

I have their Specular V3 (stereo reverb) and Clockwork V3 (stereo delay). Both have 8 presets and are very compact. GFI is making some amazing pedals.

[@chordsoforion]

Nice!

[@jst601]

Thanks for dialing back that hideous intensity control in the "shimmer" effect. For me, I detest the shimmer effect, I don't care who makes the device. Thank you sir for you quality, down to earth reviews. Blessings.

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks for the kind words! Also, I am not ignoring your question on the other comments regarding a MIDI controller - I just don't know the answer, as I don't use one. Hopefully, some other folks will have suggestions.

[@enjoyCarlos]

Hello! I have a question. Can the trails go on when changing presets? Best, Carlos

[@andrewcarmona]

From what I understand, the reverb will only trail if the next present you switch to uses the same algorithm.

[@andrewcarmona]

@Truth Seeker yes, presets can be changed via midi. I responded to Carlos regarding trails as well.

[@deauvillevrienden]

Thanks for the demo.... confused now, as i only have cash for 1 effect . What schould i choose: Mooer Ocean Machine or this Specular Tempus? for use with synthesizers and making soundscapes.

[@chordsoforion]

You get less features with the Specular Tempus, however, I think that the reverbs and delays have a higher quality more "studio-like" sound about them. Which makes sense given that the ST is a higher price.

[@deauvillevrienden]

@@chordsoforion Thanks for the info. So i presume the Specular Tempus is more like the Strymon Bigsky.

[@hyakurifu]

I have Question. How many kinds of effects can Specular Tempus apply at the same time? If i get Shimmer, Can I get Delay and more effects?

[@chordsoforion]

You only select one effect at a time. As I mention, several of them are hybrid reverb+delay effects. Here's a page that describes them all: www.gfisystem.com/algorithms.html

[@ruperthawkes1738]

I had the Immerse, very natural sounding but switched to the GFI Specular Tempus and liked it at first but in use live I found it tricky and found the sounds less and less realistic and harder to use. I now use the Source Audio Ventris and it blows the other others away. Easy to use, incredibly great sounding verbs and dual reverbs!

[@josephwright5921]

Rupert Hawkes I heard some good things out of the Ventris, but isn’t it twice as much?

[@Gigirizzolihhhhyyy]

But no delay?

[@rockanthems]

I was hearing the same thing and thinking the VENTRISis more realistic and easier to use .I did see a video , however with a Kirg Bass Voca that this pedal sounded a bit better with … but to me since I have a Eventide H8000 FW this Temptus sounds way less lush

[@kylebichler2258]

@@Gigirizzolihhhhyyy then get a delay . Ventris is a reverb monster.

[@kylebichler2258]

@@josephwright5921 $400. Is that twice as much ?

[@Gutowski1944]

Can the delays be stacked? Can you play 2 or 3 of the onboard delays behind the reverb ?

[@chordsoforion]

No - just 2 effects at once, so you can do one delay + reverb.

[@robcerasuolo9207]

I think I know what the next Robin Guthrie album is going to sound like now. :D

[@g.b.9745]

Hi , are the output balanced or unbalanced? and if I need a DI box when it is the last pedal in in my pedalboard?

[@chordsoforion]

Based on what I am seeing in the documentation, I assume that the outputs are unbalanced. But contact GFI to confirm. As far as a DI box goes, if you need one without the Specular Tempus, then you will need one with. If you don't need one without the Specular Tempus, then you will not need one with.

[@neilgroves3592]

Very nice, how does it stack up against the Neunaber Immerse Reverberator though?

[@fredriksvard2603]

neil groves poorly

[@chordsoforion]

It has many more features than the Immerse, but the Immerse Hall reverb still rules. IMO. 😎

[@normanreigns9456]

Hey guys. Is it okay to choose Tempus over Clockwork and Specular? I mean are there any huge differences?

[@chordsoforion]

I don't know as I have never used the Clockwork and Specular. My suggestion is to read through the manuals so you can see what each pedal can and can't do: www.gfisystem.com/downloads.html

[@romi2910001]

Great demo but still don't know how do you surf through the presets? 😂 thanks

[@JP-vb4ky]

Hi, I have a stupid question but can't find anything about it: Today I got the specular tempus pedal, and I'm learning how to use it, and I've read the entire manual, and seen a lot of videos, but: HOW DOES THE PEDAL TURN OFF? Do I unplug it from the power?

[@chordsoforion]

That's how I do it. And in reality, most pedals do not have on/off switches.

[@JP-vb4ky]

@@chordsoforion thank you so much for your time!

[@mark7166]

Well, damn... I had been set on the Seymour Duncan Dark Sun, and then I saw this video, and I'm back to square one :(

[@mateoleadONe]

Vs Avalanche Run V2? I do folk/rock/electronic .. tough one for me 🤷‍♂️

[@josephwright5921]

Mateo Lopez I think this goes a lot deeper

[@Torus1Knot1]

Did you compare it with Axe FX III reverbs/delays?

[@chordsoforion]

No. I do not have any Axe FX gear.

[@niloben659]

Sounds great, lovely playing. Which would you go for, this of the Collider?

[@robertstapleton3598]

If I may offer my two cents on that subject. I have both and they are very different. To me, the Tempus has a beautiful primary reverb sound and there are lots of variations of it (adding shimmer for example). But ultimately, everything sort of has the same sound. A great sound though. The reverbs on the Collider all sound different from one to the other. You have a lot more choices. The thing about the Tempus that I like (besides that one amazing reverb) is that it gets some totally unique sounds that I haven't found anywhere else. There is a dark filter delay that is wonderful and a multi-tap delay that sounds like someone spilled a bucket of ping pong balls. Hearing that in stereo is quite a treat. Both are wonderful in their own way. Both require a deep dive into the editing to get the best out of them.

[@niloben659]

@@robertstapleton3598 Thanks a lot. I went for the collider as it definitely seems more versatile. I'll probably end up getting the Tempus as well.

[@robertstapleton3598]

@@niloben659 I read somewhere that the Tempus is going to get an update with more delays. That may have already happened since I didn't check the date of the post.

[@niloben659]

@@robertstapleton3598 I'll probably hold fire until they release V2.That reverb sound is still very tempting though.

[@robertstapleton3598]

@@niloben659 Just be aware that V2 may already be out. This thread started over a year ago.

[@jacksprat3009]

My experience has been anything but pleasant. Getting my specular tempus to work has been a royal pain in the rear. Their online online help is anything but. I have it plugged into my Mac, the pedal turned on and I get a message to connect. This pedal may have a million possibilities, wonderful! But if you can't make it work it's a door stop. This is a bedroom toy where you have all the time in the world to figure out how to make it work the way you think it might. But for a live situtation, you can't spend 20 minutes trying to get to where you want. I am now an official member of "Controls onboard and obvious" meaning you can control all the parameters with the knobs and switches on the pedal rather than having to connect to computer, find the right software and then dealing with problems. I'm selling mind for $300 if anybody's interested.

[@LysanderLH]

Do I buy one of these or a Nightsky and a DD200?

[@chordsoforion]

It depends on what you are trying to achieve soundwise.

[@marpymellow3805]

Well this has certainly taught me the difference between want and need. I want this but I need to eat and pay the rent. So (sigh) I'll be sticking with my current board, which quite frankly can pretty much replicate most of the effects expertly demonstrated here.

[@mr.d.572]

I can afford the pedal but not the time it appears to take to learn how to use the software.

[@varde6965]

So it has a Editor and usb input, are you able to add multiple verions of this in a daw and use it on VST's?

[@almightyEsquilax]

No, the usb connection doesn't pass audio.

[@volv]

I can't decide between this and neunaber immerse + separate delay.

[@RadityoPramAdi]

I think neunaber needs another controller for more preset?

[@fredriksvard2603]

volvful neunaber. This sounds like a line6 pod

[@chordsoforion]

I suspect you are thinking of the Neunaber Expanse system. The Immerse does not work with this controller, and therefore has no preset capability.

[@gregs6424]

Hey there. Big fan of your channel. What's not to like? You're like our favorite musician uncle! LOL One criticism (for almost every one of your videos): You tend to do a lot of those fast volume swells (which you're incredibly good at, by the way), but sometimes it throws me off when watching your videos because I cannot tell if the swelling is part of the effect you're demoing - or if it's YOU doing the swell with a volume pedal. Cannot tell because your feet are out of the picture. So, either a short caption to let us know it's you doing the swells manually with your feet, or not doing the swells at all and letting the effects shine through would be excellent! Small critique. Dig your stuff. Keep doing what you're doin, Uncle Orion!

[@chordsoforion]

Thanks for the feedback Greg. I think you have a good point - will work to clarify...

[@henkehakansson2004]

Pity it hasn't an expression pedal output, you have to resort to MIDI in that case. Nice sounds, nice playing and as usual nice video. Perfect pedal for your ambient excursions...now how long delays? 995 ms delay? Ok, so no long frippertronics here then..;-)

[@bobanbu]

can this do what the Hungry Robot The Wash does?

[@josephwright5921]

bobanbu And what does it do that you are referring to . . . ?

[@raphaelmilhomem5900]

17:08' best part of the video

[@georgeallison6228]

Eeeyyy man...wonder how that would sound with a Black Arts Sarcophagus run through a Witchburner?

[@StuartRochabrunt]

11:35 And this is the time when you are truly surprised but can't go against your other friends/brands :)

[@danielsandaarhus]

"... that shall remain nameless..." 😂

[@calabiyou]

This or big sky for synths?

[@chordsoforion]

Either one would be great. Look for the features you are interested in.

[@TheAmazingSnarf]

wondering what choice you made? I've had this pedal in my synth signal path for a year. wow wow wow. I bet the Big Sky would sound great with a synth as well. better get both, right? =)

[@alastairuminga9843]

This or Strymon Bigsky?

[@chordsoforion]

Depends on what you are looking for.

[@alastairuminga9843]

Just the reverbs, more peticularly, in the ambient settings.

[@chordsoforion]

Both pedals have spectacular sounding reverbs, so you won't go wrong with either. I personally think that the Bigsky is easier to program in terms of patches and is a bit more flexible in terms of incorporating into a pedalboard, at least for the kinds of things that I do. That being said, there are many folks out there who much prefer the sounds of the GFI and are just fine with setting up patches.

[@alastairuminga9843]

So, basically, you mean that it depends on setup? Right? Let say I will incorporate it with a hybrid setup like a Line 6 multi plus a reverb. Would you still choose the bigsky?

[@chordsoforion]

@@alastairuminga9843 Configuring in a pedalboard is only one factor. The most important factor is: which one sounds better to you? I would suggest you determine that and then go from there.

[@josephpickard3108]

Looking forward to ripping off Paul McCartney's Christmas Time with this 😂

[@josephwright5921]

Joseph Pickard Any delay and analog monosynth could probably do that

[@go4384]

I wouldn’t use 90% of those sounds. I think I’ll stick with a simple delay pedal.

[@chordsoforion]

Earthquaker Devices Avalanche Run is an excellent candidate for simple, but awesome.

[@bessiebraveheart]

Pedals of this price with no included power supply I don't buy. The collider, strymon, hall and collins, eventide, all have power supplies provided. I would have bought this pedal had one been provided.

[@Jason75913]

Can't do a decent supply for $10?

[@xiaoxia5]

then you're missing out on a lot of great pedals.

[@MrDarkchocolat]

first

[@johnno2539]

SPECULAR TEMPUS DEUS VULT

[@Ubi-o]

I can’t help but think that guitar sounds sloppy. I would have demonstrated this with a hollow body gretsch.

[@chordsoforion]

Oh if there's any sloppiness, it's not the guitar - it's the guitarist! 😜

[@Ubi-o]

It’s literally like a pedal made for worship leaders