TC Electronic Plethora X3 - Is This All The FX You Need?

In todays video, I take a look at the brand new TC Electronic Plethora X3. This scaled down version on the TC Electronic Plethora X5 is by no means its poorer brother, it contains the same effects but is contained in a much smaller pedalboard friendly unit. But is this the only digital effects unit you need on your board?
Setting up your pedalboard just got a whole lot easier with the TC Electronic Plethora X3 TonePrint Pedalboard. TC Electronic have packed all of their TonePrint pedals from the last decade into a single unit as well as giving you the choice to load each pedal with any TonePrint from their massive library. It might sound complicated. But it's not. You simply experiment with new combinations of five multiple effects all on one device. You can even use TonePrint technology to customise each pedal in depth.
All the planning, measuring and building of a classic pedalboard takes a while. This is time that you could be spending jamming with your friends, practising, or composing your next hit. The Plethora X3 cuts all this out. You can keep all the fun of exploring new combinations without the mess, freeing you up to do what you love - being creative.
The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.

[@joaorepolho6152]

Man that strat is addictive to look at, and your tone is unbelievable. Great job!

[@GearSafari]

Sounds great, love TC’s products. Good size for a board as well. Thanks for demoing this. 🔥🎸👍🏻

[@xebio6]

Came for the X3, stayed for the playing and that amazing Strat. Well done!

[@ByOurOwnFear]

Hands down best demonstration of the plethora. Thanks!

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad it was helpful

[@BradRocker]

Yes, Thanks Rats for this demo. This would certainly cover my Delay/Reverb needs.

[@liontone]

I have my main board. I’d definitely use this in the loop for SFX in studio. I love this.

[@TheCyberMantis]

I have been wanting something like this for awhile. Small and flexible. 3 effects at a time. Very cool.

[@kluker]

Wow. I was thinking of replacing my Line 6 M5 with an HX Effects, but after watching your video I figured it would be a better solution for me. A perfect unit for plugging into loops and controlling via MIDI.

[@Soakinindeep]

I have the same mindset!

[@redsilverjack]

Just had some friends tell8ng me that hx effects suck in tone. Só I decided to purchase this. Can't wait

[@paulusmarticus]

Solid video + playing, thank you!

[@aaronvalure178]

I’m really impressed by this

[@paulsummerside]

I’ve been looking at the X5, but it is quite a bit of money. But you’re right, the X3 is really all you really need for all your digital time based FX And most of the patches you tried seem very useable straight away without any real tinkering. Best of all it’s more the sort of price I would want to spend as a maximum for this type of thing and extra best of all can essentially treat it as three individual stomp boxes. So chances are during a gig might only want to change between 2 or 3 patches/banks at most.

[@dougfishback3116]

Many other X3 demos are underwhelming, but you've made a very helpful demo here. Thanks for that. Ill be putting this in the loop of the new Boss IR-2, then out to the Carvin Mach 100, which is a pedal-sized 2x50W power amp.

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad I could help!

[@user-le7oz7lr1g]

Just plugged in my new X3 today. Absolutely amazing when stacked with my existing time based effects a Strymon El Cap, MXR Carbon copy, M300 reverb and phase 95. The El Capistan makes everything before and after it sound way better.

[@jerrygeist1677]

Love it , 👍 videos a super look through thank you , cheers to you!

[@cptntwang]

Thanks sir. Good, good review. I will get me one for Christmas.

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad I could help

[@BlueDelaCruz]

Nice demo, brilliant..👍👍

[@realmixonline]

Another really great video!

[@christhompson505]

Viscous Vibe (not Vicious) but really flexible and great sounding unit. I hope they will add Rotary (if it's not already in there somewhere)...

[@stuartchapman5171]

Great down to earth demo. Although it's bigger than the Zoom cdr I looks like less menu diving and more functions. It's certainly a contender. The Zoom has a bit more crazy town fx but not the runner or Mash, and I suspect this sounds better being TC . I'm going to check the price, the bottom line is of course the bottom line.

[@castleanthrax1833]

It's loads cheaper than buying them all individually.

[@PhreddCrintt]

SO much better demonstration than Andertons Paul. Thank you.

[@alexdenton6586]

Andertons they talk way too much

[@crsantin]

Andertons has the worst demos on KZbin. Everything they demo sounds like shiite.

[@jroobz]

a couple of drives, this, and the new UAD dream 65... v cool pedal rig that would do everything

[@tobywan12]

That guitar!!!!! really though.... that guitar... I am in love. A piece of art

[@tcelectronic]

Awesome video Paul! 👊

[@bisaleethonger4756]

Is there any compromise on sound between flashback on this x3 and single stombox (example Flashback) are the tone quality same.? 🤔

[@bisaleethonger4756]

Please reply or I won't be buying it.

[@castleanthrax1833]

@@bisaleethonger4756 What sort of answer were you expecting? I'd assume the manufacturer would answer you if the answer was positive, so maybe it's not the same quality. Then again, maybe your comment got lost in beaurocracy.

[@bisaleethonger4756]

@@castleanthrax1833 maybe we are correct......all 15 standalone tones in a box with a fraction of cost for all the 15 standalone boxes. Surely there will be something missing. Skeptical to buy or not to. Hahaahha

[@castleanthrax1833]

@@bisaleethonger4756 I thought the same. If the original pedals are digital, it's possible. If they're analogue probably not. Either way if I were you I wouldn't discount their product if they don't reply to your query. If you want it, you should buy it.

[@sroelit]

Sounds great. I’ve been working to emulate your economy of movement in your left hand-after years of playing it’s incredible how sloppy I still am.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Seth, I struggle with it as well, some days are good and others I feel like a beginner

[@robertclarkguitar]

Cool indeed. Great review!!!!

[@lexist7]

I think switching the orientation of your bridge pickup where the white part is closer to the bridge will make it look even better

[@ELEVATETHESKY]

Awesome video and effects. Also Your playing is great and so is your guitar sound. What are you using for that nice distortion sound?

[@giovannifiorini7195]

Hi! I am a keyboard player and I am very intrigued by this multifx for my poly D and Moog Matriarch (which already has a spectacular delay, I must say). My question is this: is it possible to assign two flashbacks 2 two different outputs? I mean, one with X ms delay on sx channel and the other with Y ms on dx channel? Kind of like I think the NUX NDD6 duotime does(I need to look into it further). Thanks for your attention and congratulations

[@johnchilds3319]

Great review, I bought one !

[@stratocumulusnimbostratus328]

Can you use the standard tone prints for Sat the Hall of Fame 2 or do you have to use just the Plethora 3 ones in the app?

[@kiteparadise-madagascar]

Hello and thank you for this vid! Could you tell us if you put the Plethora X3 before or after the IR200 in the chain? Or even in parallel ? Txs!

[@szymonszymanski3]

Awesome demo. Do you think purely from effects perspective is the X3 better than Boss GX-100 effects- like chorus, reverb etc.

[@filipzo]

Can't find the info in the quick manual shared in the tc electronic official page: does midi control the clock of delays, looper etc?

[@frankiebananas2784]

Great review Paul.I just subscribed.Is there anyplace here that would let me know what your rig is ? I just fell in love with your tones,clean,crunch and dirty.I need to know they are really ,really sweet ! Thanks

[@scottpeters4401]

That sounds great…The X5 was a little too big for my needs,but this one is perfect….Love the Southern Fried Beaver..Hilarious!..

[@castleanthrax1833]

I'm curious to know what was "redacted" at about the 4 minute mark? What didn't we see?

[@badacat61]

Very nice video, and what an incredible guitar sound...Please tell me what amp, cab and overdrive you are using ?

[@badacat61]

What a great sound, tell us what are you using like amp, cab etc...

[@Fitzpa14]

Sounds good! Are you running this in front of an amp or in the fx loop or post amp? Would be awesome if all pedal demos/reviews would include how they are positioned in the chain. THANKS! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

[@andybuslovich6987]

Is this running in the fx loop of the IR-200 or in front? (Probably in the loop right?) Man you get a good sound out of the boss unit.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Sounds great. If this has both modulation and time based effects where is the best place to put this? FX loop or in front of a clean amp but after your OD pedals?

[@TheStudioRats]

I'd say after your OD pedals

[@castleanthrax1833]

I've found that when determining the best place or order for my effects pedals, the "best" order is determined by my ears.

[@EshockT]

Compressors and pitch shifters are less usable without their own fx loops like x5. I use in Fx loop of my amp and don’t use those pedals much.

[@aj81ds]

Looks great, have you had any issues or little quirks while using it?

[@frankfrank7921]

When I pull up Toneprint, version 4.5.08 (latest), the X3 does not show as an available device. All the other pedals are there and the X5 too but no X3. Can anyone help? (I tried using the X5 but it won't let me edit or save so I think I need to see an option for X3)

[@Adventuresingearland]

Some cracking sounds there. Could make for a decent fly board with a couple of dirt options couldn't it!

[@jesterraj]

Hi can u get a jet flanger sound of this ??? i tried and no where like the vortex pedal

[@jamesmorris9816]

are there any stereo panning or panning vibrato patches on this unit?

[@DublinEuge]

Thx Paul. Great review. Do you have any thoughts on using this with a semi acoustic? I’m thinking reverb delay etc.

[@TheStudioRats]

Absolutely! it will work great.

[@alessiograziani6355]

Thanks for this video. I'd like to know the overall setup and where did you get the stereo effect? Were you plugged into a single amplifier? Was the plethora connected to the Send/Return of the ampli? In a lot of KZbin videos I hear stereo guitar with amazing stereo reverb and chorus, but the reality is that most of us play in mono and the final sound is much different. Thanks again

[@kingjb99]

Can you add a volume boost via the compressor? Great if in a loop for a solo boost?

[@TheBlueskyson]

Great work bro. Is there any distortion effects on it? ty

[@laurentmeiller5171]

the most intersting things about such products are : compact, complete, perconnalisation i don't understand the conception of presets, it's a non sens of creation ! good presentation

[@TheGuitarnut]

Question? How fast can you change boards on the fly?

[@scotto0010]

Paul, is it easy (or even possible) to control this with a BluGuitar Remote 1? How is it done since Remote 1 only sends PC changes (no CC) and only on midi channel 2?

[@ryanbutuyan3990]

How will it sound put in a tube amp? Will it sound sterile?

[@davemaverick8438]

if anybody knows , does this pedal have echo rec algorithms from alter ego?

[@martinaleksandrov7080]

looper still doesnt sync to midi clock?

[@Eugensson]

What happens to it when TC drops the support and thr app no longer runs?

[@nicolaslazo8992]

Trails option to delay or Reverb?

[@mikevanleeuwen2858]

Great unit to put after the Boss IR 200 . One or two drives in front and you have a nice silebt stage board . Is it possible to put the compressor (from the Plethora ) in front of the amp or Boss Ir 200?

[@TheStudioRats]

Funny enough that’s exactly how it is in this vid.

[@brooklynboy1000]

What drives would u use with this?

[@keithbriscoe99]

@@TheStudioRats How did you put the "compressor in front of the amp"? I assumed you have the whole Plethora running in the effects loops of your amp. Thx.

[@giacomomazzanti1191]

Is it possibile to use in 4 cable metod?

[@JohnnyMegabyteCanada]

Hey Mr Rat. Was the Plethora in front of amp, of in fx loop?

[@tman6495]

I just ordered this X3..... so in an Effects Loop does it send the signal from right to left or left to right in series?

[@CBGypsy03]

You can pick which way you want in the settings.

[@GerryBlue]

Can you use two effects at the same time (Chorus and Delay, for example)?

[@liamtahaney713]

Up to 3, that's what the three buttons are for

[@BedeLaplume]

Great demo! The reverb sound beautiful, how does it differs from the Boss MD200 in terms of sound quality for the modulations?

[@martin-1965]

From the video and Paul's usual amazing playing, I would say it's pretty damn close. Certainly close enough to not matter in a live situation. Will have to demo one I reckon.

[@BedeLaplume]

@@martin-1965 Ok Thanks! I agree with you he plays really well..

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Fellas, I’ve never tried the MD200 but they are really good

[@castleanthrax1833]

@@TheStudioRats Are they exactly the same as the individual TC pedals?

[@jmtab]

@@castleanthrax1833 I believe there could be differences as Plethora has a maximum of three parameter knobs per effect. Some actual pedals may have more than three.

[@MrRoballusus]

Hi, thanks for the video , can this unit give some "normal " sounds ? All you showed is little exaggerated, isn't it ?

[@kornelijekovac9793]

Noise gate uses up one slot?

[@jesterraj]

How do you tap tempo?

[@aliengrey6052]

Nice. Wanted to dispense with all the leads ect. And simply simplify everything great

[@tomarnr]

Great demo. One question from a noob: how do you connect it to the amp? Does it go in the fx loop or in front? I see 3 cables coming out of it but not quite sure where they go 🤷‍♂️

[@TheStudioRats]

You can do either, in front of in a Fx loop. For this demo I used it going stereo into an interface.

[@TimOost]

Love that thing but sadly it's 600mA required but my power bricks all max out at 500mA and so the X3 will reboot occasionally

[@ogmakefirefiregood]

Put that thing with the Boss IR2 or the Friedman IRX, and you have a wonderful little travel board. I have the Friedman irx and an Eventide H90. Almost stadium worthy!

[@sirjaunty1]

well don mate. Even the mighty Andertons had no clue how to access the tuner on their vid.

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Sir Jaunty. To be honest, I found it by accident.

[@kingpants8764]

Dose anyone know if this has a setting on it to only use one effect at a time? Say I'm soloing in the key of E using a homonizer and mid solo the key changes to A. So if I'm using channel 1 for the key of E, then by selecting channel 2 it shuts off channel 1 so I can solo in the key of A assigned to channel 2.... Is this possible?

[@jmtab]

Yes. Just put the the harmonizer in two slots, with different parameters, on the same ‘pedalboard’ and toggle back and forth as needed.

[@kingpants8764]

@@jmtab but I'd still be toggling back and forth by stepping on 1 to turn it on then stepping on 1 to turn it off then step on 2 to turn it on and then step on 2 to turn it off right. That's 4 steps. I'm looking to step on 1 to turn it on then step on 2 to turn on 2 while at the same time shutting off 1 only stepping on the one switch. You're telling me I can do that?

[@Vermonster23]

@@kingpants8764 I understand this is a late reply, but if you step on both at once, you will turn off one and turn on the other. That way you can actually use only one effect at a time.

[@stevieknighten]

Is there spillover (trails) between presets? Thanks

[@TheStudioRats]

There is

[@stratocumulusnimbostratus328]

What overdrive you using and can you have three loopers at same time

[@TheStudioRats]

its a boss IR-200 for the whole video. yes as far as i know you can use 3 loopers.

[@BradRocker]

Paul what brand strings are you using on your Strat?

[@TheStudioRats]

Diaddario

[@carloacierno4]

Does the Plethora x3 has send/return or Effect loop, like x5?

[@Steve-ih7dg]

Ask I understand it, no. Lack of effects loop could be a bit of a deal breaker for me and nudge me to X5. Whilst 3 effects usually suffices, I'm also bothered that 3 is too limited given there's a looper, meaning leaving only 2 effects to use when that's engaged.

[@ArneWidding]

3:55 is that riff from a song?

[@Psztyk236]

How usable is this unit without using computer/smartphone? I don’t really like staring at screens more than I need to

[@boykeschaafsma1117]

According to my over 50 colleage its easy to use as is. Although lookin into the toneprint options is worth it

[@Sep45]

Love your demos! The artificially tortured guitar finishes are just goofy though

[@AlfredHugecokk]

You mean the green relic strat ? Because I can't understand relic guitars. I own a US Strat since 1995. I had at least 100 concerts with it. Thousands of rehearsal. Alone, with my band. It was my only electric guitar from 1995, to 2017. And man, the guitar looks fucking brand new beside those relics. And it is 27 years old !!!!!So I suppose that my Stratocaster will look like an articifial relic probably in the year 2525.

[@Sep45]

@@AlfredHugecokk Exactly. Bruce Springsteen has used his favorite tele for more than 45 years, all over the world, and it looks better than most of today's "reliced" creations

[@AlfredHugecokk]

@@Sep45 Maybe a guy like Keith Richard at his greatest cool have "reliced" a tele in two weeks 😂🤣

[@CBGypsy03]

@@AlfredHugecokk your 95 strat might have a poly finish on it, won't get beat up as much as nitro. I do know what you mean though, the relic can go to far and look like complete crap !!

[@AlfredHugecokk]

@@CBGypsy03 Maybe. Cause I have to admit that I don't know much about nitro and poly. But the finish seems quite thick on it though.

[@CamposCaster]

I do not understand how a device of this level does not have the possibility of creating presets. It is obvious that in live you need to program 2 or 3 or more effects and activate them with only one switch. That serves more than having banks as several pedalboards. That's what I'm looking for and the closest thing is the Line6 HX effects, but I'm looking for something the size of this or the plethora x5,,,I suppose the next one will have that,,,or not?

[@rovenordiales]

You can probably do that using midi

[@guyx6x]

Can you do 4 cable method to get some fx in loop of an amp and others in front?

[@TheStudioRats]

Yes but there’s no drive on this unit.

[@guyx6x]

@@TheStudioRats yes but I feel like the vibe, phase , octave , ect will sound best pre gain

[@RobinYee-xc9vf]

Best pedals, have release 's.this will be crazy's! All the guitars player's,will needed.young ages.middle school students....to professional.

[@MicheleFranchini]

does it have send/return capabilities?

[@UltimateAccuracy]

There is NO Effects Loop on the X3, you'll need the X5 for that.

[@shanthalperera5216]

Does the Plethora require an amp or could one go direct into the sound board?

[@TheStudioRats]

There is no amp sim in the pedal

[@shanthalperera5216]

@@TheStudioRats thanks guys

[@swenzell34]

Were the boards you're playing stock from the factory?

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Nice demo. Sounds good, and it seems like quite an effective ‘solution.’ Even though I run a Kemper, I’ve been thinking lately of adding an Eventide H9. I wonder how this stacks up against that for versatility and for something that inspires creativity. [Not to get too ‘heavy,’ but @4:05 - that flag basically represents the American states that fought in our Civil War to preserve slavery. And it still,sadly, represents the ethos and ideology of a lot of current Americans.]

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Centaurus, Thanks for the heads up about the southern fried beaver patch graphics, I didn’t realise the flag was considered offensive, I’ll blur that out.

[@CentaurusRelax314]

@@TheStudioRats You probably don't need to do that-i recognize it was an innocently-chosen graphic for a specific purpose. I wasn't offended-just thought you'd want to know.

[@castleanthrax1833]

Thanks. I was curious about that. I'm Australian so it doesn't offend me at all. ✌️🇦🇺

[@almightyeric]

I think the original commenter mistook the flag in the video for the so-called "Confederate Battle Flag" (or "Confederate Flag," for short). The flag in the video is the "Union Jack," which is the national flag of the UK (United Kingdom).

[@CentaurusRelax314]

​@@almightyeric I know the difference between the confederate flag and the Union Jack. I clearly see the Union Jack pillow in the video as it is now published. Unless i had a mind melt a year ago when this was first published, i believe it was edited. Maybe i'm wrong now and then, but... what is that large blurred-out clip just after the pillow? Also, the name of the preset lends credence to my assumption that the original content was related to that name ["Southern Fried Beaver"].

[@Leo_Safko]

Thanks for this review. Can you get a classic EVH "Brown Sound" out of this unit?

[@kyledege315]

Will this do ping pong delays in stereo?

[@TheStudioRats]

Yes

[@8Junio76]

The effects sound very conpressed

[@Grant_Ferstat]

Can the X3 do a reverse delay?

[@EshockT]

Yes

[@Soakinindeep]

Wonderfull drive tone. That is this?

[@TheStudioRats]

The whole video is a Boss IR-200

[@davidlambo]

No rotary?

[@smalltown4855]

SOLD.

[@PaoloC.]

Is the tuner capable of tuning all the strings same time like the Polytune or it's only for one string at a time?

[@jmtab]

I don’t have the pedal but the tuner is referred to as uni-tune vs. poly-tune, so assume one string at a time.

[@paulngardner]

think the organ grinder would pair very well with the southern fried beaver..

[@RobinYee-xc9vf]

Fast setting, easy to play, plugs and plays....one set of pedals, guitars move to unlimit of music 's , singing with ...

[@simaopereira5396]

Are you pedal friendly?

[@Smart-Alex]

6:56 LOL

[@IamMusicNerd]

Awesome pedal. But for $100 less I could get a Boss GT-1 with even more options. Hmmmm

[@sid35gb]

The question is will you use all those extra options? For the majority of players probably not.

[@lemonadedreams399]

Honestly, for usual guitarist need 5 effect as plethora x5 X3 remind me zoom g3

[@JohnnyMegabyteCanada]

Zoom G3 has more fx plus amp modeling. Got G3. Sold it when G5 came out. Few hundred gigs then went to tube amp and pedals, but used G5 for fx until I got the pedals I wanted, then missed a few G5 fx, got the Zoom MS50 to fill inghe gaps