No sound clips right now, but a quick write-up:
BBD - Nemesis and Timeline can do clean and dirty BBD tones. Boss can only really do dirty BBD tones. The Boss modulation can go a lot faster than the other two for interesting tremolo/vibrato tones.
Reverse - Timeline 8th tap division matches Boss and Nemesis 1/4th tap division.
Slow Attack - Nemesis doesn't have it from what I can tell. The Boss is fairly latent when you turn the direct signal all the way off. Timeline is the only one that can do swells with this kind of algorithm.
Oscillation - Only the Timeline can oscillation and do crazy feedback noises when holding down the switch. The other two require you to use an expression pedal to control the feedback control.
Reverse + Forwards sounds -
Boss requires A+B simultaneous mode with a forwards and reverse patch on each. Parallel only, no series ability.
Nemesis Double Helix can be set to unison mode, which means no pitch shifting. So it gives you a reverse + forwards in a single patch.
Timeline Ice mode can do a similar thing, but the interval doesn't have a unison mode, only + or - 25cents. Which sounds cool, but it does introduce a bit of pitch warbling.
Dual -
Timeline is much more flexible and easier to understand. Proper time ratios whereas the Boss has percentage of the first delay. Nemesis is essentially software only if you want dual delays. Annoying to setup.
Pattern - Timeline has smear parameter. Boss and Timeline quite close in vibe. Nemesis only has 8 rhythms, no user rhythms like the Boss. You choose them on a knob on the Nemesis too, so it's not as user friendly.
Shimmer - Boss is robotic sounding. Sounds broken. Timeline is more ethereal
sounding than the Nemesis but both are good. Nemesis pitch options are
software only.
The Timeline grit knob works in all modes. The Nemesis has distortion, bit-rate and sample-rate reduction in all modes, but is only available from the software editor. Boss has hidden saturation on several modes, but you get no user control.
Comments
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
As I see it:
Nemesis Pros:
- I think the sounds slightly edge the Boss in the situations I care about.
- Particularly like the reverse algorithm, because it's the only one that allows you to have multiple 'layers' to the reverse - it's thicker and lusher because of this.
- Smaller footprint.
Nemesis Cons:
- Limited number of presets without adding other controls. No preset number or name readout. So more difficult to use in a live situation.
- No trails when switching from one preset to another. Only trails when bypassing.
- None of the algorithms will do the 'hold switch to oscillate' thing, which is a sound I am building a song around right now!
- No looper.
Boss DD-500 Pros:
- Two delay patches at once. So with two dual delays, it'll do 4 delays at once by itself, with global tap tempo!
- Trails when switching banks
- Front of the pedal is angled so tapping in the tempo is easier with this pedal
- It generates midi clock which you can send to other pedals to keep them in the sync - the other two don't do this.
- Biggest display, meaning better tempo readouts and better name readouts.
Boss DD-500 Cons:
- If you want a triplet delay and a quarter note delay across two patches, the global tap tempo doesn't work properly - whichever delay was last visible will dictate the timing.
- Because there is no global wet/dry mix and only two level controls (one which is buried in the menu) in a pinch it's hard to adjust the relative blend between your dry guitar and the delayed sound.
- Again, I think on some of the sounds I use it isn't the best pedal. Bit vanilla.
Timeline Pros:
- Best in class sounds I think.
- The best balance between presenting features and making it easy to use. The Nemesis off-loads too much of it's coolness to the software editor, and the Boss has ganky menus. The Timeline is easier to dial in.
- Proper wet/dry mix that feels nicely balanced.
- Being able to add a bit of distortion to any sound is something I didn't realise I missed, but now I have my second Timeline I realise I missed not having it on the other two pedals
Timeline Cons:
- Wont transmit midi clock.
- Display readout is limiting.
Its all subjective, of course. And the Nemesis definitely isn't perfect but I personally don't think the TL beats it from a tone perspective.
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
a general wash delay that sits well in the mix,
a crystal clear multitap stereo ping-pong delay (couldn't really do this either TL),
a 12 bit delay like I used to have with the Midiverb
I'm sorry about all that mess up, mate.
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
HA! Right now I should probably be doing anything other than music for a living!
Bit of an idle thought: the Timeline is about half the price of a Helix LT and I wondered how that (or any posh modeller) compared in terms of delays/ multiple delays?
You're certainly valid in your assessment. For the price the Timeline doesn't actually do much more than the Nemesis or DD-500. And those pedals are half the price almost. I paid £286 for my Nemesis. Bargain.
As my write up kind of indicates, each of them have strengths. I actually would struggle to confidentally say that the Timeline is better than the Nemesis in all occasions. Likewise for the Boss. It's very hard to pick a favourite, and even harder to give them 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions.
General wash type stuff, I'd say a good analog delay. Something cheap like the Ibanez DE-7 would do it. For the multi-tap I would suggest the Nemesis or even the Digitech Timebender. For the 12bit delay stuff you might want to grab an old Boss DD-2, which is 12bit.
The Helix algorithm quality is right up there with the rest of them, no doubt. In fact the Adriatic Delay on the Helix is what made me pick up another Timeline - I wanted to see if I could get a similar tone when cracking the feedback parameter (oscillation) from the Timeline as I do the Adriatic Delay. It gets close for sure.
Delays and my issues with them was a huge reason why I ditched the lot and went for 100% digital rig.
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922