TC ELECTRONIC PLETHORA X5: Demo & Review | Amp-less pedalboard with the Strymon IRIDIUM

In this video, we will not only share a demo review of the TC Electronic Plethora X5, but we will also build together an amp-less pedalboard with the Strymon Iridium! These are the arguments: first of all with the demo song we will hear the Plethora in action, coupled with the Strymon Iridium and a JHS PG-14 distortion pedal, then we will describe the main characteristics and functionalities of the Plethora, I will share how to build the amp-less pedalboard joining the Plethora with the Iridium, and finally, I will give you my 2 cents...I hope you enjoy and please don't forget to subscribe and hit the bell...it would be of a great help !!!
Here you can find some modeling pedalboars comparison videos:
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HX STOMP vs GIGBOARD: • LINE 6 HX STOMP vs HEA...
GE 250 vs GE 300: • MOOER GE 250 vs GE 300...
GT 1000 vs Line 6 Helix: • BOSS GT 1000 vs LINE 6...
Line 6 Helix vs Headrush: • Line 6 HELIX vs Headru...
GE 150 vs ZOOM G1X Four: x • Mooer GE 150 vs Zoom G...
Link to DistroKid with 7% discount for you: distrokid.com/vip/leo
Link to a playlist of my songs: • Leo Streaming songs
#PlethoraX5 #StrymonIridium

[@magicrat71]

Great demo & playing. I have been thinking about pairing the Iridium with my Plethora (superb unit!). This video has helped make up my mind. More people should be aware of your channel. Subscribed!

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Thank you, really appreciated!!! I'm happy to have been of some help!

[@unmondelibre]

Excellent and creative review Signore. Many thanks.

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Thank you, Emmanuel!

[@claudiocosta1733]

As suas reviews são das melhores que são feitas para o youtube. Parabéns pelo seu trabalho.

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Thank you Claudio, really appreciated!!

[@bionno78]

Thanks for the detailed video and even for the cable setup (i need it for connecting my MOOER preamp live with the plethora)

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

You are welcome! Thank you for your message!

[@acasadiluca]

Spiegato perfettamente. Ho già l'iridium e cercavo di capire la possibilità di interazione. Grande Ovviamente mi iscrivo al canale!

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Grazie, mi fanno molto piacere i tuoi complimenti e la tua iscrizione!!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@ransombaggins9301]

I was so excited when I heard about the Plethora. I don't like the deep dive menus of the bigger multi-effects pedals, but I do like the minimalism. This is a good compromise for me. In addition to your excellent cons/wishlist, I was disappointed that the chain goes from left to right, and I am not confident that the knob/button for the tuner is going to last long. I will probably just use a separate tuner. Being able to access all those pedals in that one unit is pretty nice though. Great video, again!

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Thank you! I also like the format and it's pretty intuitive and easy to use. I will let you know if the tuner knob will fail!

[@toddcarroll2703]

Thank you for your honest review!

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

You are welcome!

[@brucerawsthorne8936]

I have a pod go but also trying this combo because I do love the iridium so nice to see this

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi Bruce, thank you for sharing your opinion with us!

[@shaibal6363]

Great demo.

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Thank you, really appreciated!!!

[@rodanrock]

Wonderful video! I would like to one day see a demo of the Plethora with a Simplifier and see how you connect them in Stereo. The mimiq doubler and brain storm seem incredible pedals and difficult to use. But this demo with the Harmonizer was great. Greetings :D

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Thank you, really appreciated! Actually I asked for a demo unit of the simplifier...they never answer...

[@NicolaMorganSgarbi]

Very nice and useful!

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Thank you Nicola!

[@zobotrombie]

I’ve only discovered your channel earlier this week and I love your content. I am considering going the plethora x5+iridium+dirt/od pedal route as well. Have you heard of the Seymour Duncan Power Stage 170? I have not seen a demo of the iridium paired up with it. I hope you can consider making a video about it as it would make a pedalboard be truly ampless. Just need a cab to function.

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi, thank you very much! Unfortunatelly, I've never tested the SD power stage and I think that this could be a good subject for a video, thank you for that. I need to find a good second hand Power Stage...Thank you for your message!

[@zobotrombie]

Leo Gibson thank you for reading and replying to me. Hopefully a used Power Stage turns up...fingers crossed haha. Stay safe, good sir.

[@ahmedsherbiny8952]

Thank u Leo, great video as usual :) is there any more affordable high quality substitute for the iridium? I only need it for clean tones as i have a dirt pedal.

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi, maybe the Torpedo CAB M+ or the Torpedo LeClean Preamp... Thank you for your question!

[@BJOH2013]

Hi Leo, thanks for the informative video! Wondering if you have any ideas of why TC don't include any overdrives on the board and wondering if you think they will add any in the future? Thanks

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi Patrik, I don't know why TC has not included overdrives other thank thinking that otherwise it would have cannibalized many of their products and therefore they should have had to increase the price...rivaling with amp modeling pedalboards. That's also why I don't think they will include overdrives in future...but for sure I can be wrong. Thank you for your message and your appreciation of the video, which is really important for me!!!

[@CamposCaster]

Hi, can multiple effects be assigned to a single switch? For example, have a delay chorus at No. 1, a reverb delay vibe at No. 2, etc. Live that would be very useful. Or is it a single effect per switch, nothing more? something like the joyo pxl8 only digital and with many effects

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

I'm sorry, I don't know. If someone knows, please drop here a message!

[@evilfab5195]

Thanks for this demo. I got a Strymon Iridium too, and I'm locking for that kind of multieffects. Just one question : How does the Iridium sound, once plugged in the effect loop of the Plethora ?

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi, in my opinion it sounds very well, I like it. You can check out the "more sound" section of the video where I think that the clean tones were really amazing (in my opinion). Thank you for your question and your message!

[@evilfab5195]

Thanks Leo for you prompt reply ! And Thanks for all your videos ;-)

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

You are more than welcome !!! 😊

[@nicksonnehansen5375]

is this a good companion with the tonex pedal? would like to know if about the latency. And thx for maaking the most informative stuff her on youtube. grateful

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi Nick, in my opinion it's a very good couple...I have not tested yet the latency, but I want to build a pedalboard with these two machines...maybe I will do a future video. Thank you!!

[@tonepilot]

Great review as usual. I was thinking of buying this to use as a platform for my analog drive and fuzz pedals. But, I’d want XLR outs instead of MIDI. I don’t want to invest in balanced 1/4” cables when I have a huge supply of long XLR cables. MIDI is a waste of two jacks for me.

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi, thank you! XLR out would have been a great feature of the Plethora...

[@owen4255]

Hey Leo, nice video! Just a question, I’m planning to get the x5 and the iridium, and thinking to power them with my other pedals by the mission engineering 529i, so would a 500mA output enough to power the x5? Or should I use a doubler to use 2 power outputs to power it? Thx!

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi, thank you! The included power supply is 600mA. I've powered successfully the Plethora with the Cioks DC7 which is also 600mA. So, I'm not sure that 500mA is enough...probably not. Thank you for your question.

[@owen4255]

Leo Gibson i see, ok, I’ll see what i can do, thx!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Great video! How is the cab sim in it? Would you recommend using an IR loader after it?

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi, Thank you! it's fine, but I prefer to use other IR, mainly because I have more choices, and I prefer to have the cab sim before the modulation and time based effect...in a way similar to what we do in our DAW, when we record our guitar and amp and then we add reverb and delay. But of course it's just a matter of taste. Thank you for your message!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

@@LeoGibsonGtr Thanks!

[@mattgilbert7347]

Seriously considering this for my ampless rig. I already have four of the individual pedals included in the Plethora. My only concerns are, apparently, you can't alter the knobs with regard to levels/functions for each control while it's out of edit mode and, for my regular dual-amp rig, is it analog dry-thru? I like wet/dry and that requires dry-thru or you get latency/filtering issues. It's a great idea and a serious competitor to Source Audio's One Series/Neuro Hub system (as well as every multifx on the market! ) Thanks for the clear, straightforward demo in an ampless context.

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi Matt, thank you for your compliments about the Demo: I really appreciate!!! Yes, it's True Bypass Thank you!

[@mattgilbert7347]

@@LeoGibsonGtr You're welcome :) True bypass doesn't necessarily equate to analog dry-thru, tho. Eg: The Source Audio Nemesis Delay can be set for buffered or true bypass, but is always fully AD/DA when engaged.

[@mattgilbert7347]

@@LeoGibsonGtr The TC Flashback2 & HOF2 are true bypass *and* analog dry-thru. I don't know about some of the others like the Sub n Up, Quintessence, and Mimiq. I'll reach out to TC and see if I can find out some more information. Cheers!

[@Fugazybear]

Great video convinced me to buy, however having problems with product and spent 1/2 hr trying to find a way get in touch with tc electronic support, it’s impossible!!

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

I'm sorry for your problems...I hope you will be able to solve them!

[@chrisdavies9143]

Hi Leo, I'm trying to run an amp-less setup but using a Headrush Gigboard for amps and cabs/IRs, not an Iridium. I don't like all of the effects in the Headrush, especially the modulation. Could I run the Headrush in the effects loop of the Plethora? Is the effects loop stereo? I'd like to put stereo effects both sides of the amp and I imagine that if the effects loop is mono, it would make the effects before the amp mono?

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi Chris, I think you can use the stereo input and the stereo output of the plethora. rather than the loop. You are gonna have only a serial effect chain (not parallel), but it should work properly. Thank you for your question!

[@chrisdavies9143]

@@LeoGibsonGtr Hi Leo, thanks so much for answering and so quickly as well.

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

@@chrisdavies9143 You are welcome...hope this help.

[@nava1020]

Do you think the Plethora can suck the Tone of the amp? I mean it is true bypass right? I just want the signal to be as close as transparent as if it wasn't there when turned off. I Will be using it with a Wah, overdrive, distortion and boost pedal

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi, yes the Plethora is true bypass. I've tried with my Mesa Lone Star and it does not suck the sound in my opinion. Thank you for your message!

[@JosePineda-jn8jk]

What is your usual rig? Like I know you have all this gear but, what do you think is your go to stuff for a performance of your music?

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi, this is actually a very good question for a video. Well, I would say that I have 4 rigs according if I'm playing my Jazz music or my Rock /pop music and then if I can bring with me an amp: - Rock / Pop ----> with an amp: Mesa Boogie Lone Star, Xotic RC Booster, Xotic Soul driven, SD Catalina (I love this chorus), Strymon Volante. ----> With out an amp: Instead of the Mesa LS, Victory The Countess+Torpedo CAB M - Jazz: ----> with an amp: Fender Deluxe Reverb, Plethora (Mainly for delays) ----> with out an amp: Iridium + Plethora For covers / music of other : amp modelling pedalboard Thank you for your question!

[@guitardude4700]

Nice playing

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Thank you, really appreciated!!

[@MartinStromer85]

Great video! Maybe the worst issue is that you can't have boards with two or more effects already on, and then going from a board to another one with a single step. Do you think that TC Electric could improve this aspect to avoid the "tap dance"?

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi, I think they can improve. The only problems that seems to be impossible to overcome is the time required to change pedalboards, as there are a lot of parameters involved and it requires time to set them up. Thank you for your message!

[@MartinStromer85]

@@LeoGibsonGtr Thanks for your kind answer!

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

@@MartinStromer85 you are welcome!

[@unmondelibre]

The youtube playlist link says "invalid info"

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Ahhh...thank you for letting me know....👍

[@zenmasteril]

Please do a ToneX + Plethora X5 video. Thanks!

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi, thank you for your suggestion!

[@maurocasanova9929]

Ciao….finalmente ho trovato chi come te parla di plethora e Iridium assieme!!!! È il 2022 ed è uscito l’x3 che viene incontro alle tue richieste. Domanda: pensi che una pedaliera midi possa gestire entrambi, creando patches tipo ped multieffetti ? Grazie della risposta

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Ciao, si, secondo me puoi farlo. Io ho usato l'X5 con una BOSS ES-8 ed alla fine è come avere una pedaliera multi-effetti. Grazie del messaggio!

[@maurocasanova9929]

@@LeoGibsonGtr speravo di trovare uno switch midi più economici. Sul web lo trovi a circa 700 euro e sono troppi per me. Già i due pedali da soli costano parecchio… Alternative easy?

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Dipende da quanti loop ti servono, comunque puoi provare con Boss ES-5 oppure con gli switcher della "One Control". Ovviamente se vai solo sul midi senza loop, puoi spendere molto meno.

[@maurocasanova9929]

@@LeoGibsonGtr si a me bastano quei 10/15 suoni da selezionare con i piedi senza dover andare a toccare levette o potenziometri ogni volta. Iridium per esempio ha il suono marshall pulito e girando la manopola diventa distorto. Ecco questo voglio che lo faccia il midi e non io manualmente.

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Se hai tutti pedali controllabili via midi, lo switcher non ti serve, ti basta un controller midi qualsiasi. Se hai pedali senza midi, e vuoi avere i tuoi 10/15 preset che attivano / disattivano tali pedali, allora ti serve lo switcher. Poi devi considerare anche quanti loop stereo ti servono, l'ES-8 ne ha solo 2...e costa già parecchio....

[@spiralfirst6488]

Fantastic accent!!

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

😊, thank you!

[@samuelalbertoalmendraovied713]

I bought an Plethora X5 to use it with my Iridium too, unfortunately Plethora has a lot issues, it’s sounds great!!! But the implementation of Midi is poor and when you change between the boards take almost a second and there’s a sign cut so at least for me is not posible to use it. For a small board I think it’s ok but to complete a big board, mmmmmmmm I don’t think so! Great video!

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Thank you Samuel!...let's hope in firmware updates...I agree that currently the MIDI implementation is pretty poor...but this little pedalboard has a lot of potentialities... I hope tc keeps its promises...thank you for your message!!!

[@Kattemageren]

Why would you need the board change to be faster? Just curious. I mean what does "not able to use it" mean

[@dandisatya3727]

try to do the same with hx effects, because plethora is expensive 😕 but if plethora better than hx ithink just save money and go with plethora

[@nothingtoseehere262]

What about the audio latency ? you seem to be the only caring about this important spec

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

You are right....I need to test...I think I never check out the latency of the Plethora....

[@redcomn]

Btw at 8:00 6v is a thing now 🤣🤣🤣

[@8Junio76]

I have seen a guy controlling the Plethora with midi and it takes approx 1 second to change presets. That time makes the Plethora quite useless 🤨

[@LeoGibsonGtr]

Hi, thank you for sharing your opinion with us!