TC Electronic PLETHORA X5 - Creating ambient guitar drones (infinite sustain) | Deep Dive

[@PedalPlatform]

Get your Plethora X5 from the following links and help keep the channel's lights on: Thomann: thmn.to/thoprod/486712?offid=1&affid=1010 Amazon: amzn.to/3BezytV Screenshots for both DroneDelay and SoSModWash reverb available free in the image gallery of my ko-fi.com page: ko-fi.com/pedalplatform.

[@WmAndrewWynn]

You are a truly consummate and artful sound engineer! All business, totally focused, smart as hell, genuinely useful and super informative! Beautiful music and great playing. Thank you very much indeed.

[@PedalPlatform]

Andrew, I'm the one thanking you for such a lovely, kind comment. 🙏🏻

[@LIGHTintheHALLS]

Pete Thorn has a reverb patch called “dark swell” that allows you to treat the mash button like a volume pedal. I don’t bring my volume pedal around much anymore. Thanks for these great videos on the Plethora series!

[@DemMusel]

Very good stuff and lovely lush sounds. Using an Expression pedal with Plethora opens so many options and is a powerful tool.

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you Mike, it becomes a whole different ball game :)

[@FuzzImp]

You’re awesome Mike. 👌🏻

[@Budood1]

I keep coming back to Plethora x5 videos and you've got such good content for it, thanks a ton man sub'd :)

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you and welcome aboard! 😄

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

Well done, sir. I just got my X5 last week and am still coming to grips with it. This type of editing is normally much deeper than I like to get with my fx, but the X5 basically demands it for good results. Your approach with the expression pedal made a lot of sense. Most importantly, it was repeatable with my own unit. Top marks!

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you! Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see covered. :)

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

@@PedalPlatform As a matter of fact there is. For some reason, I can't get the Brainwave pedal to act as a whammy. It's super annoying, because I like to think that I'm reasonably effect savvy. That may be too simple a thing, but if you could do one on using the Brainwave in the X5 I would be eternally grateful!

[@PedalPlatform]

Absolutely, I'll try to get that done asap :)

[@SweetSpotGuitar]

FANTASTIC! Seriously! Hadn't really thought of doing it this way. Of course, swelling the chords into the delay is pretty essential, since it won't smooth things out like, say, an EHX Freeze pedal would (or the new TC Infinite...), but this is totally usable. Love this idea. Thanks! Subscribed.

[@YJAMGCF]

Great video! Good luck with your new channel! If you keep making great videos like this I'm sure you'll have a great channel in no time.

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you very much for your kind comments - really appreciated :)

[@YJAMGCF]

Have you heard a release date? I tried to buy one from Sweetwater and they don't have them yet. I thought this pedal was on shelves?

[@PedalPlatform]

It seems to be on the shelves in Europe - it's in stock right now at Thomann and Anderton's. If you're in the USA / Canada, I don't have a precise date but the word in the Facebook group is something between 2 weeks / early June. 😶

[@jasonsisk61]

Wow. Just amazing. You’re pulling sounds out of the Plethora I was hopeful it could do, but wasn’t really sure about. I’ve had one on preorder for a month and a half now. I’m super stoked for the day mine arrives.

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you Jason, hope you enjoy your new Plethora when it finally gets to you :)

[@jpvr]

Great video! Got my plethora a few weeks ago and your videos are being super helpful

[@PedalPlatform]

Excellent, glad to be of help!

[@scatterbain1628]

Been looking for something like this for weeks! Love it!

[@PedalPlatform]

Glad you liked it!

[@kasparsonnemans4359]

Wow, this was really well executed man! Keep up the great work!

[@PedalPlatform]

Thanks, will try! :)

[@nikolamiskovic2908]

impressive! You just gave me an idea of ​​how I can cover rhythm and lead guitars at the same time in a Heroes-David Bowie song! Very useful and inspiring video! Please keep going so

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you for your kind words, I'm really glad it was helpful!

[@Kijkraam]

Great plethora vids! What would we do without you?! More coffee please for this guy:)

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you 🙏🏻😁

[@guitarmoog]

Brilliant sounds, and brilliant explanation, esp of the mash and exp pedal possibilities.

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you!

[@makingmusiconline2309]

This is very inspiring, and informative, thank you!

[@PedalPlatform]

Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏🏻

[@templelake6551]

Excellent channel. Keep going. I predict a steep rise in subs.

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you for the kind comments! :)

[@Sapient_Army]

With no expression pedal on the X3. Is there a way to mimic the functionality you put into the expression pedal using only the MASH? I'm thinking, fully depressed Mash initiates the drone which continues after release... the release offers the lower reverb/delay settings for soloing over it etc. I get that its probably not an option as the moment you release the mash, the drone would dissapear... (or is there a way?).

[@FuzzImp]

Great vid man! I’ve been doing some of these tricks but poorly. I’ve going to use some of these concepts but drenched in chaotic fuzz!

[@PedalPlatform]

Can't wait to hear that 😁

[@jlmartin63]

Great video, thank you!

[@PeteCalandra]

Great demo. Thank you.

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you too!

[@matthiascosnefroy5636]

I just ordered the Plethora after seeing this video :) I wonder if it is possible to use the expression pedal to both control some parameters AND control the master volume. I'd like to do ambient swells with a lot of delay/reverb, with a reduced input level once the pedal is pushed all the way in.

[@PedalPlatform]

Glad you enjoyed the video that much, and hope you have fun with your new Plethora ;) As for your question - you can't directly assign the expression pedal to control master volume and individual parameters at the same time, but there's a workaround: assign the expression pedal to control the output of the Hypergravity and draw the curve to follow what you want it to do (careful when drawing though, as the curve might start at the top of the Hypergravity's level range,which is +50dB...). Hope this helps!

[@matthiascosnefroy5636]

@@PedalPlatform Thanks for the reply! I already have a compressor so I'd rather not use a slot just to control the volume, but I assume the output of other effects can be used for the same purpose. Worst case scenario, my expression pedal can simultaneously work as a volume pedal...

[@matthewlloyd9905]

Thanks for this walk thru. One question, how are you getting the Expression Pedal to work as a Volume Pedal at the same time? When you start playing in the expression pedal demo, the volume is not on as you use the expression pedal but swells with it. I cannot figure out how to configure this.

[@PedalPlatform]

I cheated 😶 I had another volume pedal (Boss FV-5L) on the floor, off camera. 😄 When you play with both pedals on the floor it becomes a bit of a coordination dance, swelling the volume first, then the drone; or if you prefer you can swell with the guitar's volume knob, which I also do often. 😄 Sorry for leading you astray, but there really isn't anything more to it. 🙏🏻

[@paulbos1212]

Hi Filipe, I own the Plethora for a while but can't find the right setting for my reverb. I wan't to gradually (with exp pedal or mash) increase my mix from 75% mix to full mix, but i'm missing like a dry/ wet knob on the Plethora. It's either kill dry or either 50% wet. Can you help me?

[@PedalPlatform]

Hi Paul, the Plethora doesn't have a dry / wet assignment... so you're really stuck with either 50% wet or kill dry. 🫤

[@greatvanzini]

You got a cool channel. Subbed. Looking at this to mess about with.

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you for the kind comments! 🙏🏻

[@manuelfreitas7558]

Hi Filipe, from what I'm informed, on the Plethora X5 we only have access to 3 knobs/per effect, just like the mini versions of the original pedals. My question is: the internal parameters of each effect in the Plethora X5 are identical to the bigger pedals with the 4 knobs? That is, for example, are the hall of fame 2 tone print parameters (pedal with 4 knobs) the same as the Plethora X5 tone print for hall of fame 2? Congrats on the channel! Abraço da Madeira ;)

[@PedalPlatform]

Hi Manuel! That is correct, you only get three knobs per effect, but with the added possibility of mapping parameters to the expression pedal or the MASH switch, which some of the older pedals didn't have. As for the TonePrints, yup - all the parameters are the same as the original pedals! Obrigado, 1 abraço! 😄

[@YatesImaging]

Great videos and channel. Will the drone trail continue if you switch boards?

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you 🙏🏻 nope, all effects are reset and buffers cleared when changing boards.

[@YatesImaging]

@@PedalPlatform thanks for the quick reply. I think that needs to go in the list of firmware update requests!

[@tguarriello]

Awesome - I was looking for a way to replace the Pad sound from my old EX7 - I think you just shrunk by board by one pedal!

[@PedalPlatform]

I'm sure you'll find another one to fill the empty space! 😉

[@001mladen]

Is it possible to get shimmer effect on plethora? Maybe on normal reverb and controlable with expression pedal? Or just with mash function?

[@PedalPlatform]

Yup, there's a few ways of doing it, including reverb, or delay, or putting a brainwaves pitch shifter close to the end of the signal chain, and you can assign control to the expression pedal, mash, etc. Quite versatile. 😉 I'll see if I can put that on a video at some point!

[@dbmusic67]

Very useful thanks. I tried to use the expression pedal parameters you describe at the end to work as a freeze function, but it doesn't quite do it as the drone still dies off. Any advice on using the Plethora to create a freeze pedal?

[@PedalPlatform]

Hi David, thank you for your comment! To get the drone to freeze indefinitely, make sure that the feedback parameter can reach 100%. It stays on for a long time at 99%, but as you said it'll eventually die off. If you get it at 100%, it should stay on until you kill the feedback!

[@ahmedsherbiny8952]

Thank u for the detailed explanation, I did the same, the sustained chord keep playing as in tannnn tannnn tannn .. not a continuous flow like what urs sounded like, whats the trick?

[@PedalPlatform]

You need to volume swell into it (to cut off the attack) and then let it ring for a few repeats to let it build up while you bring feedback to 100% with the pedal. 😉

[@MikeThompsonMusician]

I sincerely love and appreciate your videos...but can you please indicate more specifics? I have a TC Plethora, but attempting to recreate this amazing drone setting is not working for me at all. Maybe it is something about not knowing which template to start with, or perhaps there are some other specific settings not addressed that are causing me to not have the same results? Anyway, a very sincere THANK YOU to you for making these videos, although I am having trouble with this one, the others have greatly helped me as far as figuring out my Plethora x5

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you for the kind comments! 🙏🏻 I thought I had linked my website post about this, but it's probably buried on another comment. See if the screenshots here can help you: pedalplatform.com/creating-ambient-guitar-drones-with-the-tc-electronic-plethora-x5/. If you need more specifics after this, just let me know and I'll try to detail even further. 😊

[@MikeThompsonMusician]

@@PedalPlatform Thank you very much for your very prompt response, and for posting the link! Just to let you know, the links to open/zoom in on the Toneprint screen captures on the PP page seem to be broken, although I was able to see all of the settings other than the lower part or the 2nd Drone Delay screen by zooming in on the page (the 2nd one is cut off at the bottom). Thank you again! Please keep up the excellent work, your videos are seriously helping me figure out my Plethora, and I really appreciate it! Coffee (Ko-fi) sent! :)

[@PedalPlatform]

@@MikeThompsonMusician Thank you for the support and the website warning, I will check that asap! 🙏🏻

[@TheAtheistworld]

Does it keep the dry original guitar signal safe and allows you to add wet / effects to it?? Mix? Thnxx brother ❤

[@PedalPlatform]

From your other comment, I think you're referring to analog dry through? If that's the case, the Plethora doesn't have it. Everything goes through digital conversion on the way in and out (otherwise you couldn't do some of the effects, such as noise gate and compressor, etc), but the converters are excellent and very transparent.

[@TheAtheistworld]

@@PedalPlatform thnxx brother. Cheers beers!

[@ChrisDeJuanMusic]

Thanks for this video, love those ambient sounds! Love the sound and concept of this unit... really want to get one! One question I have tho... when all pedals are off does this unit still alter/colour the tone of your Amp? I'm concerned about this because I use a Roland JC120 with a Fender Jazzmaster for extra clear clean tones and wouldn't be happy if this unit when bypassed messed too much with my amps tone! Im concerned about this because this is exactly what happens with the PodGo, due to this I never use the PodGo in conjunction with my Amps (PodGo is great to plug straight in to a PA or an interface, but not to a guitar Amp in my experience) ...hence I'm looking to buy a Plethora X5! Any info would be much appreciate, thanks 👍🏼

[@PedalPlatform]

Hi Chris, thank you for the kind comment! The Plethora has two bypass modes: true bypass and buffered bypass. In my experience, the buffers are excellent, so should even help with keeping your tone intact if you use long or coiled cables; and true bypass is transparent, as long as the rest of your chain is also behaving. But ultimately the ideal situation would always be for you to test one with your rig and see how it works for you. 🙏🏻

[@ChrisDeJuanMusic]

@@PedalPlatform Thanks for your quick reply Phillipe! Yep I'm def gonna get one and see how I get along with it... I will def find a good use for it either live or in the studio! ...either to expand my pedal board/amp set up which I use for bigger gigs, or to use in conjunction with my PodGo for small gigs with no need to lug around heavy amps! Hopefully I can connect the Plethora X5 to the PodGo via the PodGo's stereo FXs Loop too... and keep all my effects in stereo! Thanks again man, really appreciate your effort to make all your videos which I've learnt a great deal form! :)

[@PedalPlatform]

You're very welcome! 🙏🏻

[@jamesminhas]

Great work thanks. I’m a bit confused on how to use the iridium with the plethora for stereo. At the moment iridium I have in the pleth loop and outputting plethora into interface in stereo but sounds mono unless I insert the iridium before the pleth effects like reverb or delay. How and where do you inset the iridium in effect loop or do you use the iridium stereo out and no effect loop?

[@PedalPlatform]

Hi James, thank you. In the Plethora, any effects you place before the FX loop are summed to mono, and the ones after the loop are full stereo. So if you want full stereo throughout and don't need any Plethora FX before the Iridium, you can just take the Iridium stereo out into the Plethora stereo in, and don't put anything in the Plethora FX loop. If you want a couple of Plethora effects before the Iridium, and stereo after the Iridium, then put the Iridium (mono) in the Plethora loop, and pick the loop placement in the chain depending on how many effects you want before / after. Hope this helps, I'll try to make a video on signal chain asap.

[@jamesminhas]

@@PedalPlatform So helpful, thanks a lot mate, really well explained and had no idea about the mono summing pre the loop. Im thinking possibly of running the pleth out in stereo into iridium using split stereo wire (which I'll have to buy), other than the age old debate of whether delays/reberb go before or after an amp, if I did it this way and outputted then from iridium in stereo into my interface, that would keep it full stereo throughout? Sorry, bit of a stereo novice - only ever recorded mono before!

[@PedalPlatform]

It should do - I don't have an Iridium to confirm, but from what I read online it also does true stereo, so you should be good to go. :)

[@jamesminhas]

@@PedalPlatform Awesome thanks and keep up with the great videos

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you, James :)

[@steveandzoerandall1487]

Hi, great video! I’m trying to copy the effects you are using, but I don’t have the TonePrints listed, eg the dronedelay. Are these custom ones? Please can you share the settings for these?

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you! They are indeed my custom toneprints, you can find the settings on my website: www.pedalplatform.com/creating-ambient-guitar-drones-with-the-tc-electronic-plethora-x5/

[@ariemooiman5502]

Thank you very much! I tried to make the proposed changes with the 2290 delay, with the use of an expression pedal with the 3 proposed options (delay feedback, router input level and router -fx level). What to do next? I went to: settings > board > exp assingnment > delay ? But there I can only apply it to delay, feedback and/or fx level.

[@PedalPlatform]

Hi Arie, thank you - on the exp assignment > delay, you have to pick the top option in the menu "Expression modifier". This will tell the Plethora to respect the pedal assignments in the TonePrint, instead of the default panel assignments.

[@ariemooiman5502]

@@PedalPlatform Great it works now!

[@PedalPlatform]

Excellent!

[@FC-jp7ez]

Many many thanks for this amazing video. You have a coffee ;)

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you for the support, really appreciated! 🙏🏻

[@scatterbain1628]

Just tried to recreate this, is the drone delay on slot 5 a custom made template? It's not on my plethora and I'm not sure what one you used as a base for it?

[@PedalPlatform]

Hi Garry - yes, it's one of my custom templates. I thought I had linked to the screenshots of the TPEditor in the description, but clearly only dreamed about doing it... 🤦🏻‍♂️ Anyhoo, here you go, with screenshots and tips to assign the expression pedal: pedalplatform.mcgunnmedia.com/creating-ambient-guitar-drones-with-the-tc-electronic-plethora-x5/

[@scatterbain1628]

@@PedalPlatform I realised after I posted I didn't even know about the kill dry option! Finally got a good tone but I'll use your tutorial coz it sounds way better than mine, thanks very much!

[@PedalPlatform]

You're very welcome!

[@richardlewis1859]

I cannot get tails to repeat more than 10 seconds when feedback is set to 100 and I disengage the pedal. Bypass plus tails is active in the settings.

[@PedalPlatform]

Hi Richard, sorry for the very late reply - please make sure you're using a TonePrint that allows you to go up to 100% feedback. Some (can't remember the name off the top of my head) only go up to 80%, which will cause the tail to drop off, and others go above 100%, which will result in self-oscillation - also undesired. For the infinite tails, you need exactly 100% feedback, although 99% can also work for long tails that drop off slowly. If this still doesn't work for you please let me know!

[@AdamVaughantidal]

Top stuff again man! Appreciate you doing this after me asking Qs last time. Just had a thought. Could you reverse the the way the mash button work in the tonprint editor? I.e. as you press in the router level goes up to 100% but when your foot off it goes down to 0%? In theory only then needing you foot on it to add the drone, then take off to play over?

[@PedalPlatform]

Yeah, you can absolutely do that - as long as you remember that's how it's set up :) Using it that way catches a lot of people off guard, just thinking there's something wrong with the pedal because the light is on but there's no effect ;) Thank you once again for your kind comments!

[@ErikOosterwal]

Listen to that sustain. [Wah-ah-ah-ah...] You could go have a bite and you'd still be hearing that one.

[@BUILDINGFUTUREX]

how sounds if i put the delays and reverbs before double effects?

[@PedalPlatform]

I haven't tested that yet, but will do and let you know how it goes :)

[@BUILDINGFUTUREX]

@@PedalPlatform yes! thanks i am so courious about that, is my last thing to know if i go ahead with the pedal :D

[@attiliosongia4371]

wich toneprint you modify to have your dronedelay ?

[@PedalPlatform]

Hi Attilio, I started with a 2290. Check here for the screenshots of the TonePrint Editor: pedalplatform.com/creating-ambient-guitar-drones-with-the-tc-electronic-plethora-x5/#more-105

[@attiliosongia4371]

@@PedalPlatform thank you, muito obrigado

[@PedalPlatform]

🙏🏻😄

[@001mladen]

Can i use Plethora with acoustic guitar? will it suck tone or make it more digital? If not... maybe i can buy it and use for effects, connected in effects loop of my red eye preamp.

[@PedalPlatform]

You can absolutely use it with acoustic, and if you only use it on the effects loop of a preamp then it really shouldn't have any issues with tone suck (not that I've ever had any...), because the preamp will take care of the impedance matching for you. 👍🏻

[@dude836]

Is there a way to reverse the function of the mash switch, so that you press to change the drone chord and not to keep it going? Cool channel btw, subbed!

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you for the sub and kind comments :) As for your question, there is, and it's simple: in the toneprint editor, reverse the feedback curve for the MASH switch so that it's at 100% without pressure and 0% when pressed - and while you're there, tweak the curve to your liking! There is a caveat, though: if you do this, the moment you turn the effect on, it instantly goes to 100% feedback, and the only way to turn it off is to either keep MASH pressed, or manually turn the feedback pot to 0. That's one of the reasons I prefer using an expression pedal for this one :)

[@mickgreenwood7158]

Great demo thanks 👍. Can anyone recommend a smallish affordable exp pedal that would work?

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you :) The M-Audio EX-P I'm using in the video is relatively small and extremely affordable, but plastic. If you're heavy footed you might need something sturdier...

[@mickgreenwood7158]

Sounds good. Thanks again, keep posting!

[@Timkrieg6666]

Great vIdeo!

[@PedalPlatform]

Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@YoshieDesign]

I tried to do this now the plethora won't make a sound

[@PedalPlatform]

Hi Yosara, sorry to hear that - can you give me some details? When did it stop, what effects are active (if any), etc? 😕

[@YoshieDesign]

@@PedalPlatform I was doing exactly the same procedure as the video but the feed back would no stop, I lowered the feedback completely and even changed to other effects but the effects would literally work for one second and than nothing no sound I turned it on and off and it is still the same 🙁

[@PedalPlatform]

That sounds really weird... 😕 If it hasn't fixed itself so far and if you'd like me to try to help troubleshoot the issue, send me an email (it's on the About page) and we'll work it out. 🙏🏻 It shouldn't be a hardware issue, so it's probably a toneprint gone funny. 😕

[@YoshieDesign]

@@PedalPlatform thank you for your help my friend helped me with it!! Thank you so much

[@PedalPlatform]

Excellent, really happy to know that 😀

[@thaddeusgreear4661]

We want the ZEUS

[@PedalPlatform]

So do I! 😉

[@thaddeusgreear4661]

My x5 kills the tone on my VX50AG

[@PedalPlatform]

Hi Thaddeus - I've never heard a Plethora X5 kill the tone on any rig unless there were external factors involved, such as too long cables before the input, or other lower quality pedals between the X5's outputs and the amp. I've watched a couple of the videos where you demo your rig, particularly the one where you're using the Plethora as a looper - if the looped tone is what you're using as a reference, comparing between what you hear when you play and what you hear from the looper, keep in mind your direct acoustic tone will sound brighter because you can hear the whole guitar more than you can hear the tone coming out of your amp. Try adjusting the guitar's on-board EQ, or even the amp, until the looped bits sound closer to what you're hearing from the guitar itself. It won't be exactly the same, but it can be made to sound closer.

[@thaddeusgreear4661]

I fixed it. I record the loop and get true VX50AG tone. When I play leads over top the tone is buffered but the loop is true tone. I also use a NUX mg 100 for efx loop drive.