TC Electronic Mimiq Demo and Review - A Double Tracker that ACTUALLY WORKS

Today in Plague Scythe Studios, TC Electronic's double tracking solution is put through its paces as we analyze nearly every way under the sun to use the Mimiq Doubler!
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[@89ji76]

and then the live sound guys sums the guitar to mono and you cry yourself to sleep that night.

[@estudiohurricane666]

use 2 amps champ

[@89ji76]

estudiohurricane666 even if you mic two amps, it’s still likely going to become mono in the mains. In smaller venues where the amps themselves are the main source of your guitar volume this could work though.

[@estudiohurricane666]

@@89ji76 pan L-R booth mics and use effect to tje core

[@NOKnova]

@@estudiohurricane666 I’m pretty sure a lot of smaller venues are summed to mono the vast majority of the time to avoid phase issues. If you know the venue runs in stereo, kick it on. If not, leave it 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@fabianthio4011]

This is such a great demo. I think TC should pay you to use this as their explanation demo for this pedal. Totally explain this pedal features.

[@josefkainrad]

Yeah I'm blown away

[@LeonTodd]

Shit, this actually sounds awesome!

[@yigithicylmaz774]

I am so excited to hear this product being reviewed from you!

[@travislangford1432]

Thanks for doing this review. This is the level of review, with quality audio samples that this pedal needed.

[@shannonjones3714]

I can’t even thank you enough for sharing this information! This is the only demo I’ve found that applies to what I’m doing and looking to do! Excellent job as always!

[@markk9184]

Holy doubling tracking batman! This pedal sounds great. Never heard of nor saw it before. Very educating, well done!!

[@slacktoryrecords4193]

Great sounding pedal, great explanation, great demonstration. Total ear candy. I must have this. Thank you

[@monsieurabsurd1395]

Thumbs up for "Supercrush!" in the beginning!

[@Mayadude66]

Thank you for making the best review of this pedal that I've seen. Most reviewers don't understand this pedal. I'm gonna get one now.

[@warrrmayhem]

dude you have no idea how much you just helped me, up until now i thought the best ways to stereoize a distorted guitar were modeller's enhancer sections of various sorts, and i really didn't wanna buy an axe fx just for that stuff (cuz i'm more than happy with my analog rig as of now). A shitton of money saved, thank you so much!

[@bowlsnapper6206]

You're good at explaining shit in a practical manner. Made sense. You've got a knack for this buddy!

[@mctwishvonnoodles9793]

Love your reviews! Thorough, without a bunch of useless information. Keep it up Being the only guitarist in my band, this pedal will definitely widen our sound

[@randyhollandsworth626]

Thank you for explaining placing the overdrive before or after the Mimiq. Looks like it works either way (depending on what sounds best to you) Thanks again! Been looking for someone to answer that question for quite a bit... cheers!

[@eggwaffle]

Perfect review, told me everything I needed to know. Thanks.

[@3745green]

I just ordered one for my ax8. Super pumped

[@damonkatos4271]

Very nice thorough review! One of the best I’ve heard, especially on a misunderstood pedal

[@georgepelekoudis]

Thanks. Very interesting experiment. I was surprised that I preferred the sound with the overdrive plugged in front, compared to the two pedal setup after it. It sounded like it tracked the overdriven signal better. This pedal proved its superiority over the other methods, when listening in mono.

[@jorrickthole6505]

The New Black !!! Awesome song choice, great demo 🤘💀🤘

[@mountainhitrecordsthejungl5485]

Great demo!!

[@sleepless51]

06:54 - "Maybe my pot is wired backwards, who knows" - I cracked up!

[@HAL-zx1bw]

great review. thank you Metal Jesus!

[@bigbbrother]

this is the BEST REVIEW of mimiq!! Thanks!!!!!!

[@Elektrifekt]

Great demo!

[@Waiishe]

Great review!

[@turboskull1336]

great demo, man! Instant buy for me

[@blanche027]

The best Mimiq review!!!

[@homevalueglass3809]

Awesome, thanks for the review. This would be killer for home recording. Save so much time doubling guitar and possibly vocal tracks.

[@hertzfistproductions8149]

Great video, just a quick note about the mono output - it does have a practical use, in fact I actually use it this way myself! In my case, it's not practical to add this to my pedalboard (for various reasons), so I simply have it sitting on top of my second amplifier. I have two identical outputs coming out of my tuner (so I can mute one amplifier for breakdowns, intros etc.) I run the second cable from my pedalboard into the Mimiq and out the mono output into the second amp. I set the doubler-mode to 1, I turn the "dry" knob to zero and the "effect" knob to full, that way it's modulating only the second amp and creating the desired stereo effect.

[@tunasalad970]

Wow, that works a lot better than I thought it would. I’ve heard of this before but I’ve always dismissed it as I assumed it was just gonna be a tight delay or something. I often use my axe FX with a stereo power amp and two cabs, so now the wheels are turning...

[@glenngross6605]

Awesome pedal, hoping to find one used since TC has part shortages now. I was happy to hear some Devin Townsend easter eggs in your demos!

[@Sphaxdemon]

So that's what it is? I was wondering why i couldnt find it anywhere

[@Stargazerz]

I own one of these and it's great. I use it to write with. It's great for quick demos.

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

I'm finding that's my favorite use so far. It's perfect for laying down rhythm parts quickly when I just need a base to program MIDI instruments in the song.

[@tperry5839]

Awesome explanation

[@timmerriman3177]

Awesome demo! I bought one of these to be a time saver in the studio. Ran an HM2-ish pedal in front then stereo out set @ 1 dub (Carvin V3 w/ Marshall 412 & Mesa single rec w/ 115 bass cab). Result was a really nasty but huge sound. Thought I was done, then the engineer panned all of that to one side and had me do it again, panning those tracks to the other side. Maybe overkill for a silly thrash punk band, but the end result was better than I could have expected and definitely better than if I had just double tracked with one or the other amp.

[@alancordner21]

Tim Merriman I wanna hear this!! Thinking of using one for lead sections but worried it won’t be able to handle a HM2! I split my signal into two amps already so one side would be HM2 and the other a Stampede. Interested in your views!

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

Pretty heavy layering ala Cobain's guitars on 'Nevermind'.

[@bradsutherland_writer]

Very informative video. Thank you.

[@nachingou]

intelligent and extensive demo.

[@TheGriff7628]

I use this live with my stereo setup, and it's so awesome! to the point where I cant play without it. My trick is to have it bypassed when I'm doing the intro to a song, or a solo or when the vocalist isn't singing and then activate it when she comes in for a verse etc. I have it set so its slightly below unity and naturally the effect is my sound sits back in the mix more and doesn't interfere with the vocals. It gives space in the middle for the singing. The best results are running the mimiq in stereo. Great vid man! EDIT: There's also a few toggle switches inside the unit. One of them switches between True Bypass and Buffered Bypass.

[@jesuelm5482]

how sounds if you put a stero or mono delay before the mimiq or even a reverb?? is weird? it works?

[@mnkristof]

Jesuel M This interests me too.

[@TheRealcdawg22]

@@jesuelm5482 Works great in most cases. If you have a TRUE STEREO (L&R IN - L&R OUT) Delay or Reverb, they will sound best after the Mimiq. If your effect pedal is MONO or SPLIT STEREO (MONO IN - STEREO OUT), run those type of effects before the Mimiq. The degree of awesomeness is directly related to the quality of signal the Mimiq receives.

[@Crazy3189]

Best review of it. thanks

[@poulwinther]

That was awesome, thanks! Have been wondering about it for a while but not found much that was relevant to my application. I agree that the stereo image is wider in a real double track but darn, that's really good! The only other thing I'd love to hear is some shred. Can it hold up?

[@arlanrooks2484]

Good demo... bonus points for dev tunes

[@rangerdoc1029]

How did I miss this? I've been searching for exactly this effect for years.

[@Burkhimself]

Fractal actually recommends running the enhancer block at the end of the complete chain.....good vid

[@alancordner21]

Rad! Been looking at one of these for a while to boost leads. I use a double rig, so the stereo out is a feature I want to use but would it handle two different distortions going into it though?

[@freeelectron8261]

PSS knows his audio tech!

[@skrabio]

Weirddddd, literally just got one of these yesterday. The helix effect and round about ways to attempt this just weren’t cutting it.

[@facepalmjesus1608]

what if you double track with this engaged on each track and you pan the guitars on the middle?

[@sgg74]

Thanks for the review! Have you tried the Keeley 30ms? I wonder how the two compare?

[@wetcat833]

Currently waiting for mine in the mail. I can see myself going nuts trying to fit this into my rig. I'm running a Headrush Looper into Helix rack then into a pair of THD Univalves and out to a pair of Mesa Mini-Recto cabs. Just to complicate things, I often swap out the THD's for a Mesa Rack V-Twin pre-amp running into a 20-20 Dyna-Watt power amp. I haven't even got it yet and already my brain hurts but it will be fun experimenting. Any routing suggestions will be much appreciated. T.C. Electronics, please please please make a midi programmable version of this and I'll buy it again.

[@WholeLottaBulldog]

Super crush my man!!

[@gutekzpoligonu]

Great demo and in this case - a lot of talkin' was wary important :)

[@richardfranklin8359]

Thanks for this upload. You've got another subscriber. I am pretty green in the recording world. Will someone please chime in and tell me how he connected this to his recording equipment? I got lost a bit. Cheers

[@jada90]

your hair is glamorous

[@TheJMan1K]

Interesting video as always but off topic question. Would you recommend a 6505 boosted (Want that old school Machine Head or Gorijia tone) or getting the Horizion devices Apex preamp and a power amp? Like the portable idea of the preamp however I want a Peavey considering it’s close to the sound I’m going for. Main amp currently is a Randall RG15003 boosted boosted that I get a decent sound out of it but it’s lacking something if that makes sense. I’m thinking a Amptweaker Depth Finder could add some low end punch or maybe getting a new cab. My current one if a Carvin cab that I’ll probably replace with a Hesu cab. Edit: I’m thinking of possibly buying a Boss MT-2w to boost. If anyone knows how the newer metal zone is in front of the amp please let me know! Also that sound I’m going for is best demonstrated by Ola Englund in his Machine Head vid.

[@cameronlaing2829]

Great video, I have a question. I run my pedals (mix of dirt and mod) into a two notes cab M+ Would I add this to the chain AFTER the the cab M if I was running into an audio interface for double track recording?

[@neighbourhoodmusician]

Great video.I always wondered what the point of the Mimiq Mini was considering it's mono.

[@aldersmoke1]

Yeah I wish he would at least have let us hear it mono.

[@RVevolution]

Have u tried using any pitch shifting (octave +/-, harmonizer, etc) on only 1 of stereo outputs with 100% wet signal mix for lead lines, maybe with a touch of delay on same output as pitch shifting or even stereo Delay or even both stereo Delay before and like a short tape like delay on pitch shift channel?

[@EversonBernardes]

Wild guess: tightness is the amplitude of a modulated delay, as you guessed. Probably not a simple modulation oscillation shape (like a pure sine), though, as that would become obvious quick. Say, something like two sines at large prime number frequencies. The differences in amplitude and harmonic content might be a multi-band compressor.

[@boimesa8190]

It would have to be a non-linear, possibly with some phase aligning DSP to regain tightness

[@jshchrchll3180]

@PlagueScytheStudios , i reallly appreciate this demo/review and especially that you took the time to analyze the waveforms. when running this pedal with a mono input and stereo output, did you happen to notice whether one side remained dry and the other was the wet signal? or were both outputs effected in some way?

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

In true stereo, it appears one side is an untouched dry signal while the other is 100% wet. I couldn't detect any changes to the dry signal audibly or by viewing the waveform.

[@DahakaSlayer]

Can it work with stereo poweramp like Matrix? I mean, I use POD HD500X playing live. So, can I do type of ”slave out” method you mentioned with one, stereo poweramp into two different guitar cabs?

[@relevantinformation6655]

If you add a Wasa dimension C after it both in stereo; very interesting. I’m running into two (old like me) Marshall 100 watt amps and two half cabs.

[@coldbastard6859]

Got a question - let's say I have a Mesa MK III and I'm plugging into and outboard power amp through the fx loop. The question is: can I plug this pedal between the fx loop and the 2 inputs in the power amp to get a full use of this thing? (I'm also plugging into 2 seperate cabinets).

[@Outer_Hevn]

nice supercrush jam.

[@kenr.b.891]

Can you give us an example of how it sounds in mono? It seems like it would just thicken the sound in mono?

[@HRJ1411]

Great vid, thanks for making! Question - if you ran a TC Quintessence Harmonizer into this pedal, could you get the second guitar part to be playing a double track of harmony notes?

[@sammadden5540]

You'd have to have it after

[@HRJ1411]

@@sammadden5540 quintessence into mimiq, both running stereo

[@facepalmjesus1608]

i am about to buy 2 Joyo zombies with their 8'' cabs for dual setup..so is this gonna work between them right?

[@XChristianNoirX]

It would be interesting to hear into two Overdrives of the same model..

[@scottpeters4401]

Could you run this on the outputs of an FM3??If I didn’t want to sacrifice my loop,could this run after everything in my chain?

[@ahoe]

Can I use this pedal after the Mooer Radar?

[@ernestfoss]

Thank You.

[@ChrisRojas78]

Are are you using the wireless connection from your guitar for avoiding electric shock risk? Is this pedal safe with 2 real amps? I had that question because I don´t know is this pedal has a ground lift

[@RobbieTayVaughan]

Id stick one of thoughs outs through a Looper, pitch shifter, and aby on my board

[@RainMakeR_Workshop]

hmmm... wonder if this could be setup with a couple of mooer preamps.

[@cmd_f5]

Very cool demo bro. This is definitely the best of the best, at least from what I've tried and heard. It's still a little too unified in the middle as you said, but it's a hell of a good attempt. Question: Would this work in a Focusrite / other interface with two inputs and two DAW tracks? Then you could theoretically use this thang with ampsims. I do most of my stuff in sims these days. Thanks for this awesome walkthrough.

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

What you're hearing on the double tracking shootout is exactly that, the pedal into the two analogue inputs of the Scarlett 6i6. So yes it's works perfectly.

[@noahsevenmr3015]

@@PlagueScytheStudios I just bought the two notes torpedo live, it's on its way, I'm wondering if you know if it's possible to use the line output of the torpedo live into de mimiq (mono input) and then use the stereo outputs of the mimiq into the 2i2 scarlet (and have two channels as you describe in your answer). If that is possible, will I need any additional IR or amp simulation? I don't want to ruin the sound quality of the torpedo live. So I'm hopping that using the mimiq after the torpedo live will be like recording two separately tracks.

[@cultshakere]

this shoul do well with amp sims as well i recond. record in stereo to to different inputs in you audio interface and run a different amp sim from each input. instant double tracked guitars, half the time time recording!

[@carlosalmeida7174]

I have this pedal almost since it got out, and love the way it sounds in stereo, but for a long time now I'm experiencing some sort of ground loop noise that I tried to correct in many different ways: change power supplies, 9V batteries, cables, and also a Radial ABY with fase and ground switches that I connect to the stereo inputs of the Minis and the problem persists. Did you have any kind of issues so far?

[@carlosalmeida7174]

I also saw many people complaining about the same issue in the TC Forum.

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

I can't say I have, though this pedal seems rather mint and probably won't exhibit such long term side effects for a while. That's a shitty situation though.

[@jesuelm5482]

how sounds if you put a stero or mono delay before the mimiq or even a reverb?? is weird? it works?

[@bionno78]

Sorry if you say it and i didn't get it , but i imagine this can be the last pedal of the RIG before the Audio Interface , its correct ? I have H&K Black Spirit 200 -> Torpedo CAB-M -> Audio Interface(MONO INPUT) so i can put it after the CAB-M and go into the A.Interface in STEREO , correct ? H&K Black Spirit 200 -> Torpedo CAB-M -> TC Electronic Mimiq -> Audio Interface INPUT 1 and INPUT 2 ? Thanks

[@willchug]

What’s going to happen if you run the 1st output through the front of your mono head (as well as boosted🤷‍♂️) and the 2nd through the effects loop (Delay for solo🤷‍♂️). (Half stack mono or stereo cab) will it still come out as poo? / any difference or exactly the same as mono?🤷‍♂️

[@mr_hppd348]

Did you do the firmware update? There is a second firmware update on a tc forum that is suppose to fix the dubs two where the center dub gets pushed to the side, did you do that update?

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

v1.2 - www.tcelectronic.com/product.html?modelCode=P0DDH

[@slimturnpike]

How does this compareto the Keeley 30ms Double Tracker pedal?

[@MatthewWebster2]

In your opinion, is it worth the extra hundred bucks (at today's street prices) to get the full-featured original pedal over the Mimiq Mini?

[@chuckhagen1612]

Obviously this pedal sounds better going into 2 amps. But I still double track with it to get a beefier sound and it sound great. I just cut back the thickness differently in each channel with great results

[@JonGz13]

Do a mimiq mini video for us non stereo players please. Love your channel

[@turkeytrailhoneybeefarmgeo6292]

I've tried 2 delays in stereo not so good. Tried the boss harmonist and pitch shifter. Both in stereo. Not so good. This is the one!?

[@RobbieTayVaughan]

I've watched this video several times. It almost seems like its a chorus though lol. I see that Rabea uses one in his dual kraken rig. Im using a Peavey 6505+ and a Laney AOR in stereo each through a 2x12 all stacked up in a wall lol. Kinda loosing a little of the wideness not putting them on each side of the stage

[@MrSkonny]

How do you wire it for two amps with 2 pedalboards ? Where's the best place to put it ? Can somebody draw a diagram please ?

[@emrage78]

If the effect is off, can I use this pedal also like an Y-Switchpedal, meaning I can feed two independent amps for stereo sound.

[@korayem]

10:06 judging by how it sounds before switching it on, I think it DOES act as a Y switch pedal, no?

[@jupjuck]

You could probably use this for quad tracking an album. Like doubling with the mimic x2

[@homevalueglass3809]

What I was thinking. Spit the signal first to 2 different amps or pedals then into 2 mimiqs then into a 4 channel interference. Would save an awful lot of time, especially if you have to splice together takes and are multi-tracking. Maybe even good on fattening up vocals🤔

[@jupjuck]

@@homevalueglass3809 @HomeValue Glass rather than two separate mimics I was thinking two takes through two different amps and your mimic is your split to those amps But yes you could do that too and would work fine of course the mimic has a triple dub or four part setting but that might work better so who knows

[@SkylerMills]

Hey dude got a few questions gpr this with a modeler

[@ewippel7446]

I wish I could find someone comparing this pedal to the Nembrini Doubler plugin.

[@12ealDealOfficial]

Love TC effects, hate the switches they use on those style pedals. The switch on my flashback works about 50% of the time. That said, this pedal is awesome. Good demo!

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

Hah, I just got a Flashback and when I would try and turn the effect on it killed the sound. And yes, the knobs were turned up.

[@jesuscorona3562]

can you explain the fancy slave out setup bro, i did not quite get it, you said that particular setup in case you only own 1 amp, but then you talked about using another amp as a slave?? thanks bro.

[@wetcat833]

You and me both, mate. I think we need a diagram.

[@SelfPropelledDestiny]

One thing that I keep wanting to see from all the reviews on this pedal, is the actual waveforms recorded onto two different tracks in a DAW. I saw you actually did that but we didn't get to really zoom in on that waveform. How close do they resemble each other with tightness at the extremes? Or with tightness in the middle? I want to see the imperfections in those waves to see that it isn't simply a sample delay, but something a bit more sophisticated. Couldn't I get a similar effect by automating my second guitar track with slightly moving Haas effect (a sample delay moderately sawing back and forth between 0ms and 30ms) and then automate another small sawing of pitch by cents? Point is, show me the waveforms, and turn the tightness knob while recording to see how much of a difference it makes.

[@nathanweinstein2766]

I assume the Mimiq acts like a whammy pedal… it pitch shifts digitally exclusively as the delay time changes. The only thing that I can see to confirm this is the fact that the firmware can be updated through a USB port… meaning DSP is involved. If I’m right, the volume aberrations would only occur during the delay/pitch changes. If this was occurring in the analogue domain, the pitch shift would undo the delay change, unless I’m being stupid.

[@joepaul9855]

How well does your wireless setup work? Looks like whats on amazon for like $150.....heard good things about it.

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

For what I've used them for, the X VIVEs are wonderful. Very reasonable battery life, excellent range (even through multiple 2x6 walls across a house), and never had any drop out issues. I would be hesitant to use them for an important gig, but many people say they've never had a problem with interference. For casual use, I can wholly recommend them.

[@3745green]

Did you try hard panning a stereo ultra res cab block and use the stereo inputs on the TC?

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

I assume you mean putting the Mimiq after the cab block? It sounds about the same as the video shows with the cab block going through the pedal. I demonstrated it this way to show how transparent the pedal is.

[@3745green]

@@PlagueScytheStudios yeah. Stereo cab block with different cabs hard panned, fx loop stereo out to the TC stereo in, and back in to the ax8. Just curious if it would be "more betterer". Thank you for the demo. Can't wait to get mine.

[@iseeu-fp9po]

12:48 - Strapping?

[@hbomb495]

Gotta be honest, never knew much of doubling effects before. Had heard that single guitar players have used slight delays for stereo width live as you mentioned but that’s it. However this was really interesting to watch, cool real life experiment that’s way better than any reality tv b/s for sure. I wonder if it’s possible for tc electronics (or anyone who creates this particular type product) to add a variable attack dial. Something like the boss compression/sustainer pedal but instead of one set level of attack. Have an attack that varies just like the mimiq itself varies it’s millisecond output to the waveform within a dial setting. If that is even feasible you’d probably only want the attack on the duplicated track and you probably wouldn’t be too aggressive with it. That said I could be considering the entire concept of the attack function on the boss incorrectly also thus making this idea null and void anyway. Cool video nonetheless 👍

[@CarcPazu]

Maybe if it had a dynamic transient designer in it, a sort of randomization of more and less attack over time.

[@TheRealcdawg22]

That's not a bad idea adding compression to one side or to both sides at different degrees. What I don't think will work well is your choice of comps. The CS-3 isn't really a very good compressor. I would rank it at the lower end of middle of the pack. I am not bashing BOSS though. I have a buttload of their stuff. Just use a better compressor.

[@josefrancisco6969]

Stereo rigs would sound more phase accurate or with less phase problems with this pedal ?

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

There is no option but stereo rigs for this pedal IMO. The mono output sounds like trash, which is why I didn't demo it. Phasing issues will depend on amp placement, but under normal conditions, there are none to speak of.

[@lehardeu]

devin townsend's riff !! good choice

[@jeffaroo71]

I have one. All I could get was a slight difference in sound

[@plasticfork2449]

Could you use it with a multieffects unit and a real amp using the 4 cable method?

[@TheRealcdawg22]

Yes, but 2 amps. 8 cables.