TC Electronic Plethora x5 - Simple Board Build & Sounds

Thomann affiliate link: thmn.to/thoprod/486712?offid=...
Building a board with the Plethora by keeping it as simple as possible:
01:00 - Board Description
01:43 - Setting up the Plethora x5
09:07 - SOUNDS
11:06 - Comments
All gear (affiliate links):
Amps: redir.love/thocf/g83kr5y7g6
Guitars: redir.love/thocf/zp7mu7izbe
Pedals: redir.love/thocf/uznvi9agbc
Home Studio: redir.love/thocf/q55sup25b4
#TCElectronic #plethorax5 #TheBedroomRocker

[@imretarkany4462]

Great surf setting and sound!

[@greatvanzini]

Excellent demo & playing.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the kind comment!

[@KempoSensei]

Great vid! I am impatiently waiting for mine to arrive!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comment! Have fun with it!

[@patstanley6281]

Thank you for this demo! I just received my Plethora X5 and your demo makes it understandable!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Glad it helped!

[@srsanders455]

Great review, and walk through. Very much appreciated. Really liked the guitar tone you had going as well. Excellent job.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the cool comment! Keep on rockin'

[@dobster5819]

Well done, you explained the settings extremely well. Thanks.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thank you for the nice comment!

[@Danohaw]

Great job. Really helped me understand how to add effects and boards. I just ordered one and this will be a great help.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Awesome, thank you for the nice comment!

[@flinx649]

sounded great!

[@robrobinson8410]

Excellent Job! Good sounds and well presented!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comment! I'm glad the video was useful!

[@stk7778]

your demo sounds fantastic!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the kind comment! Happy 2021!

[@OriginsofSound-ui4xp]

Brilliant video, I will be ordering mine this week.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comment! Have fun with it!

[@TELEJONZ]

Great video on the features of the board. Enjoyed the jam track also, good use of the effects without the typical over the top settings. Tks!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks a lot for the nice comment! I'm glad the video was useful :-)

[@rockkstah2550]

Thank you for the demo it was very easy to understand and looks very easy to use..

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comment! Very happy to know it was useful!

[@jdal1105]

Just ordered one Thanks for your great explanation.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Glad I could help!

[@copytekk]

Excellent review! I appreciate that you got right to the important stuff and didn't spend too much time over-explaining. Thanks!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Many thanks for the nice feedback! Really appreciated

[@TheKevinalejandroesp]

Excellent video man, keep going on

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks Kevin!

[@gtojimwells1]

Thank you!, I just unboxed my X5 and your video helped me get started quickly!!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thank you for the comment! I'm glad the video was useful

[@brunochaolisot5970]

Best video about plethora!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comment! Really appreciated!

[@kevrochlin4544]

Superb sounds

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks 🤗

[@skydog4393]

Just got my PlethoraX5 today. One of the easiest pieces of equipment to program and set up. You explained it very well, and thank you for this video. By the way, I really liked your ending demo song. Keep on rocking !!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Cool! Many thanks for the comment! The demo song is totally inspired by Lucifer Sam from Pink Floyd ;-)

[@s9plus20]

Great review, thanks!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comment!

[@chilidogcowboy]

Super demo!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Glad you think so!

[@donkeevney]

First class demo....very helpful.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks! Great to read that

[@mojotronix3994]

Totally caught that 60s secret agent man/tv theme vibe. Great playing, great job!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Hahahah thanks for the kind comment! It's inspired by a song called Lucifer Sam from Pink Floyd 😉 check it out!

[@disprefer]

this video is fantastic! thanks so much

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the comment

[@michaelgregory2231]

Well done!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thank you for the kind comment!

[@redjack2211]

Man, one of the best vídeos about x5 that I saw on KZbin. You Keep it simple! If you have some other samples of this unit I’d like to see!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks a lot for the nice comment! I have another two videos here: This one covers more sound samples and the signal routing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWPIaIN9gZWqfJo This one cover the Bluetooth, by-pass, and cabinet simulation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaCzmXmNqbiXZpY I hope it helps you out! Keep on rockin'!

[@sodiumlights]

Ace demo/overview Alberto, thank you! Just received mine (£395 Andertons) and your concise, zero waffle, informative video is everything the mini 3 page manual wasn`t x

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comments! Have fun with it!

[@Melonos]

Great video mate. Easy, straightforward and explained well. Can’t wait for mine.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comment! I hope you enjoy it! Keep on rockin'

[@BassFace68]

Thanks for this video. I just sold my PodGo wireless as it was too complicated. This looks like a perfect replacement

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

You're welcome! Glad it was useful!

[@Busyfingers24]

Excellent demo, very helpful & digging the groovy tune you played…sub’d 👍

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the sub and rock on!

[@Mundproductionfunkhaus]

great review and playing thank you

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thank you for the nice comment!

[@Mundproductionfunkhaus]

you are welcome

[@ChadBoston]

Nice nice video 😀🎸

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment 😊

[@itsratso.]

well done.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks mate!

[@rafaelturse116]

Muito bom mano, valeu

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Obrigado pelo comentário! Abrasss

[@SiggiHauswirth]

Very good review ! I use ist with the 4 cable method, with the compressor at the Input and the other effects in the FX way of the Bluguitar Amp1

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

That is a nice setup.. Do you go straight from the Bluguitar amp to the PA?

[@SiggiHauswirth]

The Bedroom Rocker in, I use the Blubox 😊. Great speaker sim. No more problems with the Mic or the Mic position !

[@Bruceta]

Muito bom vídeo! Super obrigado! Sou usuário de Kemper (pra gravações) e do Helix Floor pra ao vivo, sempre com 4-cable method. Queria uma opção fácil e leve pra usar direto no input (como nesse seu vídeo). Comprei o meu X5 em setembro de 2022 mas só abri hoje. Esqueci dele (pecado horrível), mas lembrei agora, pois surgiram umas gigs nas quais terei que plugar direto no input! Pelo que ouvi, mesmo com o OCD e plugando no input do amp, o som ficou bem definido. Muito bom! Comecei a mexer agora, vendo seu vídeo e fazendo um 1o board. To achando ele super recheado de funções, e ao mesmo tempo bem fácil de mexer. Não sei qual firmware veio, mas ainda não permite esses ajustes em Play Mode. Vou fazer o FW update agora. Seu inglês é muito bom! Sotaque existe e é bem difícil da gente perder mesmo. Mais uma vez, super obrigado pelo excelente vídeo!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Obrigado pelo comentário e boa sorte tirando uma sonzeira do Plethora x5

[@jacobbrown1690]

genious

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thank you jacob brown :-)

[@AmpleWarning]

I came for the X5 tips. I stayed for Lucifer Sam 👌

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comment!

[@wibblewabblewoo6249]

Thanks, really useful video! I really want to try the Plethora X5 through a vintage Hohner Pianet T keyboard...

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment! I've never thought about that application 🤔 I would be very interested to know how it sounds like

[@wibblewabblewoo6249]

The Bedroom Rocker I want to know how it’ll sound too... I’ll let you know if I get the chance to try it in the future 😜

[@TheSavage1969]

Even w/ a lunchbox amp, connecting via 4cm sounds so much better than this direct path you've chosen.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

That depends on how you set your amp, how your FX loop work and also taste... I usually set my amp quite clean and get my overdrive from pedals, so delays and reverbs are after the drive anyway. I also prefer to have my delays hitting the preamp rather than in the effects loop. But yes, the 4cm gives you the flexibility to choose which FX to send to the front-end and to FX loop of the amp

[@paolorossi5854]

👌

[@ajlmirrormist]

Hi... thanks for a great video... really simple to follow. What settings would you suggest for the phaser on this board now that it is available... What would you have set it at if it had been available to you? regards

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment! It's hard to say as I haven't tried the phaser and these TC effects can have additional controls to play with. Traditionally phasers only have one knob for the speed. Try setting it slow if you're looking for those airplane type of oscillations (think Van Halen) and faster for more of a rotary speaker sound. Best luck chasing those tones!

[@Hydrophish]

Nice review. I feel like this unit would be perfect with at least 2 dedicated knobs per pedal to enable live-tweaking the parameters in play mode (just like a real pedal). With the current setup/firmware, can't see this being useful in a live context but more of a bedroom jam/recording tool.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Yes.. I feel the same. It's awesome at home or at the studio and you can even tweak it nicely with your phone using the app, but if you need to quickly change a setting in a live situation it may be a little complex... In the upcoming software version you'll be able to sign controllable parameters to the knobs in play mode, but it's still more effects than knobs...

[@FreshBagelz]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 Omg when they add that, that will be so amazing. You could edit one parameter with the knob, and another with the EXP Pedal right? That would give you control of two FX

[@ronsmith3811]

Thanks for your simple instructions. I just bought mine with the new version 1.2 update and just powered up last night. Powered it up last night and listened to some of the built-in boards. Couldn't figure out how to start a new board until YOU showed us! :-) I am a complete noobe with pedal boards, but does the signal chain go from left to right or right to left?

[@ronsmith3811]

By the way, the "Quick Start" doesn't even say anything about what you showed. It's worthless! I don't understand why they don't even cover even the most basic instructions!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the feedback! Glad to know it's useful. Yes, it's relatively easy use to use, but they could definitely have included some better instructions in the box

[@ronsmith3811]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 Definitely! I spent 39 years developing electronic devices. ALWAYS, the last thing to do is to write a basic manual for the users. These people just "throw" it out there and pretty-much expect people to just start pushing buttons to see what happens! I don't get their way of thinking. Thanks for people like you that have some experience that figure out these gadgets and explain it for us! Incidentally, you are a very talented guitar player too. I'm mostly acoustic fingerstylist, so pedal boards are a bit foreign to me. :-) Thanks again!

[@reason2463]

Lucifer Sam, Dude! Rock 'n Roll! I'm a subscriber! I also got my Plethora today. Firmware 1.1.43 still does not enable parameter adjustment.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Hahah glad someone got the reference in there! I think the controllable parameters will only be available in version 2, but I did not see any expected release date

[@8Junio76]

Could you try just directly to the amp then through the Plethora. I would like to know if there is any tone sucking. Cheers mate, great review.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Sure.. I did not notice any tone sucking on normal conditions, but I'll try to make an A/B test

[@GiringGirang]

Nice man!! Can you show me that routing from guitar to amp?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks a lot for the comment. Sure, I've just routed Guitar (Fender Baja Telecaster) -> Overdrive (Fulltone OCD) -> Plethora x5 -> Amp (Victory V40)

[@felixbrunidor9294]

Hey man ..how can i use the compressor and noise gate if i have an analog drive pedal.. if i want to put the compressor or noise gate before the analog drives

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Yes you can do that using the FX loop of the Plethora x5

[@jimvee4528]

I've had mine for 2 years and I hardly use it because there too many options and some of them don't sound that great. This was super helpful to me. Thanks. (my normal board goes: Compressor -> Octave -> FX Loop (where I have my drive pedals) -> Short Delay - > Long Delay. And I use the reverb on my amp.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Glad it was helpful! Yes, I think it's still more complicated than regular stomp boxes. But if you're a regular stomp box user, this is still easier and more familiar than going to fully-blown digital modelers

[@tjnugent62]

I like what you did here. I am easily confused going into a menu system, so I need idiot proof. This looks pretty straight forward, but there is a curve. After all this time do you still have this pedal and do you still use it?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment! Unfortunately, I cannot keep all the gear that I test in my channel. I loved the Plethora and had a great creative time with it. It is indeed quite simple to use and very friendly if you come from analog stomp boxes background like me. For gigging, however, I usually use very simple pedalboards with 2-3 drives, 1-2 modulations, and delay. I don't normally need 5 slots of modulation/delays/reverbs like the Plethora offers and with the Plethora I only had space for one other pedal as you could see in this video. If I had a bigger board or used those effects more often, I would have kept it. I did, however, buy a separate Flashback 2 Mini Delay and a Sub'n'Up Mini Octaver, because I loved the sounds so much, and the Hall of Fame 2 Reverb is also in my list.

[@tjnugent62]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 Thanks!

[@marcohermans3207]

I have a question, did the Plethore alter your basic Victory sound because it isn't an "analoque dry through" device ? Some people are complaining that it makes the overal sound too digital in comparison with analoque pedals. I'm considering a Plethora X3 for in my Victory V40 deluxe effectsloop and use my dirt pedals as normal . Because in this setup the compressor is not usable ( I want it before my dirt pedals and the X3 has no effectsloop ) . 3 slots is all I need for my modulation and time base effects. Very good video. Thanks

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment. I didn't feel any noticeable sound degradation although on paper I'd also prefer having an analog dry through. I like your idea actually! The X3 should be brilliant in the effects loop

[@DG-po3gi]

Looks very cool but its weird you cant control the delay and reverb types on the unit without selecting a specific toneprint like you can on the actual pedal

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment! Yes, it is weird, but they plan to fix this in the next version of the software. You still gonna have 5 effects (each one with at least 3 adjustable parameters) and only 4 knobs available to control them in PLAY mode, but it's gonna be much better for quick small adjustments. In EDIT mode you can do basically everything...

[@lucasdiniz2053]

da pra usar o whammy com a função mash de boa? da pra tocar um marooned de pink floyd só com os botões mash?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Faaala Lucas, obrigado pelo comentário! É uma questão de se acostumar. É bem diferente de usar um pedal com movimento como o whammy, wha, expressão, volume, etc. O mesh vai pela pressão que você põe no botão. Eu nunca usei o Whammy pra poder te dar uma comparação decente, mas eu imagino que com treino e tempo você acostuma com o mesh

[@Aleeeeeeeex]

Boa!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

hahah obrigado Alex!

[@Aleeeeeeeex]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 Esse accent ai não engana ninguém, sucesso conterraneo! Hahaha

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

@@Aleeeeeeeex hahah imaginei que fosse pelo sotaque mesmo! Obrigado e um abraço!

[@Aleeeeeeeex]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 Comprei o Soul Food por causa do seu video

[@clarissaanaferreirasieiro2127]

I just brought this pedal for a bargain of £220 . For so long i was looking for a multi effects pedal that is easy straight fowards to use . Unfortunately all the multi effects pedal/processors are so dificult and complicated with the settings . I was looking into the headrush pedalboard as it looked in some way intuitive tith the touchscreen but the budget was not in my favor . Days ago i come across with Digitech Ipb10 and wow , it was really what i was looking for . Very intuitive simple to use but unfortunately i realise is almost obsolete in 2023 😔 ! I can't understand why manufacture don't take the example of the DigiTech Ipb10 when comes to design software for multi effects/processors because is needed sometimes months to navigate through the complicated controls , switching, presets, software . I was decide to go the other way arround buying analogue pedals till other day i come across of this TC Electronic Plethora X5 , i was so blow away i couldn't believe i was finally watching whatvi been looking for so long . Well as i mentioned before i got one today for £220 and i am so happy because the bargain and so excited that i can't wait to receive . This is the type of pedal i look for simple and almost straight forwards to use like using analogue pedals . Hope TC Electronic keeps following this road because the last thing we need is pedalboards where we lost more time exploring and trying to understand the software , knobs , buttons , dials and displays than actually playing . I know is not a new product the TC Electronic Plethora X5 but congratulations to them . Adoro os seus video , mantenha o bom trabalho , abraço desde Inglaterra

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Many thanks for the comment and sharing your experiences. Yes, I feel like the Plethora is quite friendly for people who like simplicity and are more familiar with analog pedals. However, there are also many guitarists that enjoy deep-diving into menus and having millions of options for effects and sound shaping hahah I'm also not one of them Um grande abraço ;-)

[@theofilushendryawan5874]

Hi i want to ask, if you set the delay to tap tempo, how to engage and disengage the effect?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Hi Theofilus, pressing the button will activate/deactivate the effect. Once the effect is active, you can press and hold the footswitch to enter into the tap tempo mode.

[@theofilushendryawan5874]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 wow that's really handy..thank you🙏

[@TheAtheistworld]

So u can have multiple delays simultaneously? Can they be fully editable like in TC Triple Delay?? Big thnx❤

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Yes you can have multiple delays simultaneously. I don't know what you mean by fully editable, but I think yes. In the pedal you always have 3 settings (knobs) plus mash footswitch available. If you connect to the mobile app, then you can edit a multitude of other parameters and can also change which parameters are assigned to the knobs. If you like to be creative with sound textures, it's a pretty amazing tool. I hope that helps.

[@MrJasonHarvey1231]

Sounds great! Looking to add one of these to my rig (I play in a country band), and it seems like a good way to keep things simple but still add tons of effects. Have you checked out any of the chorus toneprints on this?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Yes, I think it's a great way to have tons of high quality effects available. I found the Chorus sounds quite amazing. You can get from warm classic analog chorus sounds to more crazy heavy modulated experimental sounds. The Compressor (usually important for Country stuff) also works surprisingly well. In this other video I use the Chorus (with Bass) and the Compressor (Bass & Guitar) and also Delays, Reverb, Flanger, and Pitch Schifters: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWPIaIN9gZWqfJo

[@freddycookjr.2164]

HI DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DISABLE THE MASH FEATURE

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Hi thanks for the comment. Go into Edit -> Settings -> Board -> 2nd Footswitch Assignment -> select the effect you want to modify and assign "None". I go through this exact menu on minute 8:20 of the video. I change the 2nd Fottswitch Assignment of my Delay for Mash to Tap Tempo, but you can do the same and just select "None" if you just want to disable this feature. I hope that helps! Keep on rocking!

[@MartinStromer85]

Great review! In your opinion, the effects of this pedalboard can compete with Line 6 Helix ones? And there is the possibility to switch channels in a "double pedal" linking this to the TC Plethoras with a Trs cable, like in Line 6 HX FX for example?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comment! I have not tried the Line 6 Helix yet, but I think the effects on the Plethora x5 are incredible! Differently from most multi-effect units, TC Electronics first developed all of the effects in the Plethora as individual pedals and, many of them like the Flashback Delay and the Hall of Fame Reverb, are really well regarded. This also means that, even though the Plethora is new, there are already tons of cool presets (tone prints) available to use. I am not sure I understand the question about the connectivity, but there is an effects loop in the Plethora and you can decide where to place it in your board. You can additionally assign one of the 5 footswitches to be able to turn on/off the effects loop. It also has a MIDI connectivity...

[@spiralfirst6488]

This beats the Helix hands down. I returned my Helix after two weeks because I found the delays very under par. The x5 is superb.

[@MartinStromer85]

@@spiralfirst6488 In your opinion, the Plethora is good and usable in a gig? For example, with different effects combinations in the same song (in Helix and HX FX you can easily have various patches for the same song) Or it's a "tap dancing" to activate (or deactivate) two or more effects?

[@MartinStromer85]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 About the Midi... Can the Plethora switch channels in an other pedal with midi connectivity (like the Two Notes Le Clean for example, which has a clean channel and a light distortion one)?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

@@MartinStromer85 you can use your boards as "patches" as they remember effect setting and also which effect is turned on and off. You need a couple of steps to switch them: triple step on FS 1 or 2 to activate board switching mode and then step up (FS2) or down (FS1) to the board you want and wait another 1-2 sec for the board to load. It's fine to do it between songs, but tough to do it within the same song... I think this would be better/faster/easier with an external midi controller, but I honestly have no clue how these things work 😅 I'm usually more of an analog guy... I also don't know if you could use the Plethora to control other effects. I have seen people do the opposite... I guess it should be possible, but I think the MIDI capabilities are also still quite limited in the early firmwares. Maybe wait and see how it develops in the next firmware updates. Also, here's a Facebook group about the Plethora with some more advanced users and they often make beta firmware available there. This way you can stay up to date on the features as they get released: facebook.com/groups/plethorax5andtoneprint/?ref=share

[@j-rod166]

How does the plethora sound in the effects loop of the amp?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the comment. It sounds pretty good. I usually set my amps clean, so it does not matter much, but if you're setting your amp gainy/dirty, then it's definitely better to have delays and reverbs in the FX loop for additional clarity. You can also use the send/return in Plethora to separate which effects go into the front of your amp and which effects go into the FX loop. This way you can leave compressors or any modulation going to the front of the amp and place delays and reverbs in the FX loop. I hope that helps!

[@j-rod166]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 - ok, thanks. I've noticed that everyone seems to be running it in front of their amps. I was beginning to think that you couldn't use it in the effects loop of the amp! Sounds great by the way!

[@JuanBustos81]

Lucifer Sam Jam !!!

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

hahah yeah! thanks for the nice comment!

[@JuanBustos81]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 Sounds Great. Great review !!!

[@GDCDGC]

Does it have overdrive/distortion?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Hi DGC, thanks for the comment. No, it does not have any overdrive/distortion. The Plethora is more aimed at players that like to use analog overdrives/distortions/fuzzes in combination with the flexibility of digital modulations, delays, and reverbs. That's basically how I've used it! The OCD is one of my favorite overdrives, so I can combine it with a bunch of other effects

[@GDCDGC]

@@TheBedroomRocker1 thanks. I was thinking of buying a plethora if it has an overdrive/distortion. Or maybe i'll still buy it and combine it with one of my distortion pedals

[@NL-fe4le]

Is there a power button on this?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

No power button.. It turns on / off simply by plugging the power cable

[@NL-fe4le]

I see, great demo by the way. Is there a way to edit the name of the individual board?

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

@@NL-fe4le Yes... you can do that with the App by connecting the PX5 via Bluetooth

[@lordzignin5513]

phaser is not included

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Yes, the Phaser is not included yet... TC Electronic plans to add the Helix Phaser in the new firmware update (the upcoming version 2)

[@Audioslayer]

sounds like ass. great review

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Thanks for the nice comment!