TC Electronic Alter Ego X4 vs Flashback X4

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TC Electronic Alter Ego X4 vs Flashback X4

[@MrJavasan01]

Just read this directly from TC Electronics: "Question" I would like to know what the differences between the Flashback X4 and the Alter Ego X4 are. "Answer" The Alter Ego X4 uses the same DSP and AD/DA converter as is used in the Flashback X4. All Flashback X4 artist TonePrints and templates in the TonePrint editor are compatible with the Alter Ego X4. Both have the same features regarding connections, MIDI and features: i,e loop mode, tap tempo, delay trails (in true bypass mode), 3 presets and 4 slots for TonePrints. Both have the same size. The color pallet and appearance are of course different. The Alter Ego X4 differers primarily from the Flashback X 4 in that it is essentially a special version of the Flashback X4, specialising in vintage delays. If you take a look at the delay type selector on the Flashback X4 and on the Alter Ego X4, you will not find the same delay types on each pedal. Even if you compare the "2290 MOD" or "REVERSE" available on each pedals, they do not sound similar - the Alter Ego X4 has the best sounds in terms of tape, analog and digital delays. Furthermore,12-delay types on the Alter Ego X4 were expertly crafted in collaboration with ProGuitarShop. Those special delay types are not available on the Flashback X4 Delay. By the same token, the Flashback Delay X4 contains some different delays which are not available on the Alter Ego X4. In conclusion, let's say the FlashbackX4 is a classical delay pedal with the most used delay sounds. While the Alter Ego X4 reproduces the most famous vintage echos. I guess that answers the debate. If you wish to have a vintage-sounding delay with a few different sounds, choose the Alter Ego X4 otherwise go for the Flashback X4.

[@myrrhsvetlana6859]

why not be generous and make the alter ego-sounds available through toneprint into flahback 4x? and vice versa..... any hardware issues stopping this? already possible? peace//

[@GiveThemHorns]

Late to the party, but thank you for posting this (@ThisGuy). This video gets a thumbs down for not comparing the feature sets and discussing how they are different

[@alebrenna441]

So no MIDI sync for the looper on the AE x4 neither :/

[@savanaviolenta]

@@myrrhsvetlana6859 cause they want to make money selling you another product. Besides that everything is possible, just TC won't do it. Its all about profits. Their business needs to exist, right?

[@myrrhsvetlana6859]

​@@savanaviolenta no :) .. there was a time before effects & the created need to record . then eve 8 the apple CPU & we fell outta Eden . pedal-wise, i want minimalistic and being rather satisfied with my echo & delay pedals, onna good day. thanks for the reply. peace

[@WFKTHETHIRD]

Thanks for the comparison trying to decide between them..Great review as usual...:-)

[@hammerspace6491]

Very nice! Just scooped a brand new alter ego for 150, thank god for that proguitarshop sale!

[@tonepursuit7110]

Flashback has some things the alter ego doesn't and vice versa (mainly two things). I prefer the dynamic delay on the Flashback that the Alter Ego doesn't have. It ducks out while you're playing a bit and comes back when letting ring out which is amazing.

[@stevef4010]

8:12-9:20 sounds like a beautiful sunrise. Just lovely.

[@stevef4010]

Great vid. From about 8:15 on are you palm muting and swelling the volume knob to get that awesome almost violin bow tone?

[@mortonwilson795]

I managed to pick up both 'on sale' - I think the store had either let go of TCE or maybe TCE had decided on another retailer (this is in HK). In the 70's I had a Wem Copycat and then a Space Echo for live work and the 'tape wobble' and degradation were part of the charm altho I used to make my own loops. The Alter Ego gives me 3 possible delays that I can store and the Flashback offers 'cleaner' delays, also ones I have pre-set. So a tight slap-back from a 'Wem' thru a dotted 8th on the Flashback gives me The Edge or near enough. I am only working in the studio these days so it's about crafting a sound for a particular track - not looking to be awash in delays but subtle use of 'backwards delay' etc. can be fun - more 'felt but not heard'. I think they are both great pedals . . . wouldn't mind checking out the recent Boss Space Echo pedal but not essential for me right now 😀

[@kornell251]

Did you AB the pedal or did the output of one pedal go to the input of the other? Imo X4 sounded fuller and AE sounded thinner in this demo. Thanks.

[@sionhumberto]

The way how the oscilation moves make tc delays much better to handle.

[@robixbrown]

@shnobel I have an Alter Ego x4 and absolutely love it! In your opinion, what 4 toneprints should I snag from the Flashback x4 that the Alter Ego doesn't have? I know one for me already is the reverse (since it's w/o modulation). Would love to know your thoughts!

[@fernandomor3974]

hello bro ! 2: i think Space and 2290mod

[@FretFriendGWaL]

I just bought the Alter Ego X4 for £140 used (UK) in top condition. As the Toneprint feature on each can use the same uploaded Toneprints, I should be able to get all the sounds I need. I do love Vintage and Tape echo's so I am very happy! I believe the Alter Ego does the U2 sound perfectly and I only need a delay for U2/Marr so I should be well set. Victor...

[@dnewlen]

Your demos are great! Shnobel, you appear to be clicking the pedal on and off and it goes right to the setting you have dialed up with the selector knob. But I've read that A/B/C activates a preset each time you click those buttons. Are you saving those knob positions as presets (and you're doing that behind the scenes)? In other words, can I simply turn the pedal on/off with a switch and have it go to whatever the knob position has selected? (vs a preset)

[@shnobeltone]

Hello, Im not saving the presets, i just turn them on and off, i believe how it works is, you can have the same settings on the preset, and you don't have to save it if you tun it off or on, if you hit another preset you will loose the settings unless you save the preset to A for example and you go to B, but if you have a preset pulled up and you adjust it and you turn it off and then on again it will stay the same, i hope that makes sense.

[@mobydick3895]

How do you store and recall presets on the alter ego? How many presets can you store? Are there banks to worry about?

[@tcelectronic]

Great stuff man!

[@xdux]

and i love my alter ego x4 , hi tobias!!!!!! and tc

[@photocowan]

I just got this pedal and I tried to update the firmware with no success. it never rebooted, I ended up unplugging it. Also when I try to upload tone prints it messes the whole delay pedal up. like evey time I switch delays it goes to dotted 1/8 + 1/4 notes. so Frustrating

[@JammyGit]

Does anyone know what the looper is like on these? For example, is it the same, better, or not as good as the TC Ditto? Also, can you use the looper at the same time as the delay, so making it possible to loop a delay effect? I ask because I quite like the alter ego and I'm seeing if it's worth selling my ditto and EHX #1 Echo pedals to fund it as I probably wouldn't need to keep the Ditto.

[@beyondthedead13]

The looper on the flashback/alter ego has 40 seconds of time, the TC Ditto (or at least the x4 version) has 5 minutes. I don't have a ditto, but the word is they sound about the same. And yes, you can use both the delay and looper functions together.

[@rodrigozamo]

Any of these 2 would have been just perfect if you could add an external footswitch or something and get 3 more presets. I use 5 delay presets for everything I play and would have been nice to access them all... specially the alter ego, I'm a sucker for vintage delays. Ot that at least you could recall more presets via midi.

[@sionhumberto]

Thanks for your video

[@astro2069]

Looking for some feedback. I have a Catalinbread Belle Epoch I really dig. I also have a supernatural reverb I like but hardly use. Would you trade the supernatural for an Alter Ego X4?

[@danielgalanti2166]

I was going to by an alter ego but I actually think the X4 sounds better and is less expensive. I think the only thing to miss is the echo-rec setting. I can live with that.

[@gunjabeans]

Is there a clean delay on the alter ego? Or can you put one on a tone print slot? All these delays seem really heavy with character and mod which is cool but sometimes it’s nice to have a straightforward normal delay you know?

[@DavidBravoG6]

I want to hear the whole opening, where can I hear it?

[@snappydoodad]

They're the same pedal - same board, same guts, same components, same switches, same enclosure. So what's the difference? The Alter Ego gets a different paint job, and is loaded with a different set of sounds (all of which can indeed be programmed on the Flashback, but only 4 of them, and you'd be using your presets). In fact if you could copy the alter ego ROM and drop it in the Flashback, the only difference would be the paint job and silk screen.

[@AftershockPS3]

+snappydoodad can you give me a eplex2 toneprint?

[@TheEthug]

Ah ty sir you saved me some time.

[@xdux]

im gonna add my two cents. I've had both. the altered is way better. . . . and i got it new for 149. on sale. just keep following pro guitar shop .com site for news and specials.

[@oscarrock7605]

snappydoodad, One of the differences is modulation, on X4 is a flanger and alter ego is a chorus ..

[@lushkordz6643]

yeah basically it's a well-known marketing technic of repackaging an old device with a slightly different orientation but the Alter Ego is pretty cool IMO n has a couple of unique vintagee Delays

[@PaulIsbell]

I am considering the Alter Ego for my worship pedalboard set up however, I do think the Deluxe Memory Man being analog will be beneficial in the long run. How do digital pedals compare to analog pedals?

[@JCBigCat]

Paul Isbell let God guide your choice.

[@WhiteWolf--]

@@JCBigCat Lmfao

[@lushkordz6643]

i would say that TC digital Delays & Mods sound very analog IMO ...with more controls than anlog coounterparts...

[@AluminumBird]

Too much modulation in the presets. Can that be adjusted down at all in the presets, or only in toneprints?

[@JCBigCat]

AluminumBird only in tone prints, and it’s a shame.

[@flip4002]

hi, i was thinking in buying a triple delay to stack delays to use swells... but i really love the tone of the alter ego.. could i get some of exact the presets from the alter ego on the triple delay?

[@dandunning7731]

+Felipe Aquino I don't know whether TC have specific TonePrints available that let you use their pedal's presets on other pedals, but I know that you can use the app to create your own TonePrint which you could fine-tune to sound like the Alter Ego effects! :)

[@savanaviolenta]

I bought the Triple Delay and the Alter Ego X4 and stacked together in stereo,cause that's how my rig is they just sound aaaaaamaxing very wide,saturated lush spacious delays,I cannot describe it.And after I watched some tone hacks videos of TCs guys I can get even wider sounds of them.

[@makeanttila7440]

Hi, is it Triple before the Alter in the chain or vice versa?

[@sebdos]

still haven't understood how to use these A/B/C settings on thre X4...

[@lakajd]

For real

[@SouthernRust]

Find your delay you like....press and hold A and it programs it to there. Find a second one, press and hold B and it programs it to B.....and so on. Hope that helps.

[@anthonywalker9186]

What's is the song in the beginning

[@gonzalofernandez2773]

i want to know it too : (

[@vulturesight1]

TCElectronic: 'The Alter Ego Delay is a special version of the Flashback Delay which has two custom factory sounds (the Deluxe Memory Man and Binson Echorec) that are not available in the Flashback Delay. Instead of these two settings, the Flashback Delay has the Lo-Fi and Dynamic Delay settings that are not available on the Alter Ego. Apart from this (and the color differences), the two pedals are identical hardware-wise, and the Alter Ego works with all Flashback Delay TonePrints'.

[@savanaviolenta]

You're talking about the original alter ego the first version which is no longer available,the AEX4 and FBX4 has different one from another algorithms ,even the space preset on the FB is different than the one on the AEX4 same goes with the reverse mode and reverse mod and 2290/mod and 2290mkd on AEX4

[@nicko6710]

Could someone explain the difference. Are they the same unit or do they have different AD/DA and preamp sections? Or just different presets? Can they be tweaked to sound the same using the toneprint editor? But I guess the flashback does not have the instant access to the tweaked setting of the alter ego sound and the other way round?

[@bangamullet]

You can not get the sounds of the Alter Ego on the Flashback via Toneprint or with the editor. It would seriously hinder sales if it was that easy.

[@lakajd]

bangamullet Actually, yes, you can. Tc electronic themselves responded that if you spent enough time with the editor, you could get the same sounds in the alter ego on the flashback

[@bangamullet]

lakajd Actually, no, no you can't. You can not create your own Copykat or Echorec settings with the editor. As of now the editor is an incredibly stripped down version of what they use to create the TonePrints. Yes you can create custom TonePrints that may sound sort of similar to the Alter Ego's presets but without access to all of the parameters you will not be able to duplicate them, no matter how much time you spend. From TC's support page about getting AE sounds on a Flashback: "The only thing you can do is use our TonePrint Editor to try and create them yourself."

[@lakajd]

bangamullet well, seems that their statement contradict each other. They clearly stated to me that one could, with a good enough ear, create the same presets as the AE

[@nicko6710]

Thanks. Seems the op amps and ad/da are the same. So the inherent tone will be too. And the unit will be the same with the same tone prints uploaded. Guess the pre-sets are a matter of taste and in a way the Flashback wins for me as it has a broader pallet of delays available..

[@theothersideisjustashard3237]

its literally the exact same electronics in these pedals-so they are going to sound as good as each other -they just have a couple of different delay settings made at the factory. from TC "The Alter Ego X4 uses the same DSP and AD/DA converter as is used in the Flashback X4. All Flashback X4 artist TonePrints and templates in the TonePrint editor are compatible with the Alter Ego X4. Both have the same features regarding connections, MIDI and features: i,e loop mode, tap tempo, delay trails (in true bypass mode), 3 presets and 4 slots for TonePrints. Both have the same size. The color pallet and appearance are of course different. The Alter Ego X4 differers primarily from the Flashback X 4 in that it is essentially a special version of the Flashback X4, specialising in vintage delays. If you take a look at the delay type selector on the Flashback X4 and on the Alter Ego X4, you will not find the same delay types on each pedal. Even if you compare the "2290 MOD" or "REVERSE" available on each pedals, they do not sound similar - the Alter Ego X4 has the best sounds in terms of tape, analog and digital delays. Furthermore,12-delay types on the Alter Ego X4 were expertly crafted in collaboration with ProGuitarShop. Those special delay types are not available on the Flashback X4 Delay. By the same token, the Flashback Delay X4 contains some different delays which are not available on the Alter Ego X4."

[@anarchocommunist9154]

Of course they'll have the same quality, but the models are all different, and I'm pretty sure only the Toneprint slots can be changed.

[@Willixlonger]

First delay pedal. Indie/alternative rock/progresive rock…what is best for that? Flashback for 185 euros and AlterEgo for 245. Thanks!

[@franco76r]

270 for the alter ego, 180 for the x4.. would you say its worth the extra cash?

[@mysticsailor9]

only if you wish to nerd out.. also remember that with the editor there is no reason why you cannot recreate these sounds yourself.. and while they may not be 100% authentic, you can get something workable

[@bangamullet]

Mystic38 You can not recreate the Alter Ego sounds with the editor. The end user doesn't have access to those vintage sounds. Not even close.

[@snappydoodad]

bangamullet Actually, you can and TC Electronics has said that you could. However, you would be eating up your presets, while they're already built on the AE.

[@Willixlonger]

Same problem :(

[@savanaviolenta]

That's correct.

[@takamushinagamoto5086]

X4 sounds almost more definite !

[@tGomesrg]

Flashback x4, alter ego x4, supa - puss.. so much options :( cant make up my mind too xD

[@Junkbox44]

AlterEgo

[@benjaminjayko7255]

Honestly the standard flashback is much fuller sounding.

[@cameraeye100]

The Flashback 4X is an excellent pedal. The out of box sounds are better than the Nova System or G-Major. I had a Line6 DL-4 which was immediately traded in once I bought this pedal. An audible night and day difference between the two.

[@Dan.the.Guitarman]

I guess thats because the overall volume of the x4 is higher. Wich make it appear fuller. And the fact that the alter ego isnt exactly designed to be full persé, but to replicate old delays

[@xdux]

i disagree the altered is way better

[@padrigburgess9215]

Alter ego sounds better

[@shatteredsquare]

SHNOBEL HAS A FACE

[@DS-fi4hf]

Apples Vs Oranges

[@dquillen1]

If you really want one of these, buy the cheaper one... In a live setting, nobody will know, trust me...

[@Willixlonger]

But the tons of modulation can help in live sound dont you think? Or they will just get confussed into the mix?

[@quantametric]

Trust me... people like me can definitely tell...

[@marcelohorsth]

Totally agree! Live, no one knows if it's a TC, STRYMON, BOSS......

[@aeonmouse5802]

Alter Ego and Boonar are imho the most legit clones