I’m in the process of creating a small setup for traveling or outdoor jams and
came across the TC Electronic Plethora X3 multieffect pedal.
I would be interested to know what your experiences are with this device in connection with synthesizers?
it looks robustly installed and the abundance of effects/ concatenation options makes it very attractive.
The X5 is my sleeper dream effects device … naturally that means i won’t be sharing why, it allows me to make my special sauce and it effects devices like no other … it can have lots of character … and the killer feature is the control inputs and configuration options with Toneprint for setting it up a bit like an octatrack crossfader
There’s a lot to dislike about its Toneprint paradigm, and also with their failure to deliver on a promise to update it regularly and to bug fix in a timely manner (there’s still one affecting AlterEgo Tap tempo which reboots the device i got confirmed months ago)
I see it as a character delay/looper/verb and i like how deep it is - it’s possible to make it do much more creatively if you want, but it means setting up all the control/mash/switch inputs to do fun morphs to your taste
It does seem to clip a bit with hot synths so keep that in mind, it’s a bit too weighted to the guitar community and that’s why i think it’s not especially well put together by hi-tech-gear standards, it misses a few tricks that a different community may have pushed it towards, it feels a bit too simplified and convoluted where it comes to Toneprint editing which can be very frustrating
No ability to export presets, no ability to edit a preset you made on a different device, so if that old ipad you used to make them dies you are stuffed - lots of silly things which hamper it, but despite that i like and respond to its results, at least in terms of how i set up my toneprints
It’s something i am very happy to have despite some niggles, it takes me in directions i like and can’t do otherwise with usually just one synth/device or guitar, but it needs Toneprint editing to make the most of it for my particular wants
an X3 would just about suffice for most of my needs in terms of 3 effect blocks, but i like having the X5 for its extra potential/ports etc - waiting and waiting for TC to make good their promise to update and release their infinite ‘freeze’ pedal for it
Thank you very much for your detailed info!
I almost think I’ll just try it out and then see how I can integrate it into my flow
and what sound quality the whole thing has.
It’s still a different price range than the Eventide H90 
@Dauna : Did you try it?
I ordered a Plethora X3 (€192, nice). Didn’t find a lot of info on it with synths / drumcomputers. Most - if not all - video’s are cliché guitar sound demo’s, but I’m going to give it a try.
Especially interested in the Toneprint editing software, see how far I can push the FX modulations.
Might post an update here, once I’ve tried it out a bit 
I saw that they eventually implemented midi tempo sync, which is cool. Did like the look of this but ultimately went for the HX Stomp instead due to the flexibility of having seperate effects affecting different inputs
Hey, I haven’t tried that, and in the meantime I’ve built effect paths via my modular system, as well as the Torso S4, which I use as a bypass/effect box.
Oh but I wouldn’t have bought it without working MIDI tempo sync.
HX Stomp > very nice indeed, but a different price bracket.
I’ll start my journey with the Plethora X3 and see where the GAS takes me 
(still waiting for my delivery).
First impressions of the TC Electronic Plethora X3.
I like the design of the hardware, the build, the knobs. Sturdy, good.
The pre-installed effects are good sound quality wise (better than the CDR-70*), but sound bread and butter (probably good for guitarist, kinda meh for synth / drumsounds).
OS feels a bit clunky, but usable.
The knobs do ‘jump’ when switching effects (they are potentiometers, not endles rotary, kinda normal tbh).
The foot-switches can also be used as sensitive-pressure macro switches (not tried yet, but they feel usable with hands, not just feet).
And I linked it with the TonePrint software, to edit my own FX. The pedal links & updates fast, nice, but it randomly rebooted twice. And the interface of the TonePrint is unintuitive. (I’m also missing options in the software, that is available in the hardware OS (midi-sync). Aka software feels unfinished too). But hey, I knew the software would be an annoyance.
Conclusion: This is going to be pre-program, set and forget FX chain preset machine with a few fixed macro knobs & switches for live tweaking. Perfect!
I’m going to take my time and check the TonePrint software more, see if I can make more complex & “interesting” effects, link it with the macro’s, la di da.
*CDR-70: It sounds not so good, but it has so many strange FX, I’m using it as my ‘FX send to add unpredictable character’ here. Happy with it.
(Live setup: Drumcomputer, seperate out’s going to mixer, +2 FX sends)
I’m having trouble connecting my TC Electronic Plethora X3 to the software.
I tried everything, nothing works.
It seems their servers are offline.
The software needs to check the servers or it won’t work?
So I can’t edit my pedal (angry).
Anyone else has the same problem?
Help! 
UPDATED: The software is just rubbish.
Sometimes it does connect, but half the functions don’t work.
Better to just program (more limited options) on the hardware.
Arh, this isn’t inspiring / creative / fun.
https://tcelectronic.com/toneprint-editor
I’ve had both the P3 and P5 and sold them and then brought them back, mostly to be used as part of my live guitar setup. They promised a lot but I’ve ended up selling them both again. I really wanted to like them and thought they might be the panacea to all my guitarist needs. I think the delays are great as are the reverbs in a guitar context. I personally find them uninspiring with synths but not terrible and would use again. The looper is useful as is the freeze effect. Personally not convinced by the sub and up on synths. My main issues all 4 times ( yep I never learn) are that is quite frustrating to use live, I’ve kept knocking switches which causes patch changes ( could be the size of my feet), triple tapping for some functionality was hit and miss, engaging mash was again hit and miss for me. I had constant issues with power supplies and the unit cutting out and rebooting live ( more so with the P5s). The looper is a nice solution but the hold to clear which give you a blast of the previous loop was annoying. From a synth perspective there are only really a few controls for manipulation which very quickly I personally found limiting. I loved the TC Nova System but it has a few small niggles, and I really thought the plethora was the answer.
I think the Zoom CDR gives more immediate options but again not easy to program and does not sound as hifi as the Plethora.
I ended up with a couple of second hand bits, Eventide Space, Boss DD500 and phase 90.
Finally ended up getting an old iPad and interface and use that as an effects host and old Korg Nano control as effect parameter controllers.
Good luck.
Oh yes and the app is terrible!
Yes, I agree.
They promise a lot, but underdeliver.
Then again 3x FX + Midi ain’t a bad deal for a pedal that price.
Then again It could have been so much more, so easily.
But when set to an okay series of FX, it’s kinda nice and it does what it should.
I am disappointed tho. I was hoping to get more out of it.
But now it’s “just” a good & affordable midi-Delay pedal, with some extra FX.
Aight, I’ll stop nagging about it 
PS: 4 times haha damn
Some of us never learn. I just keep believing it could be perfect ( guitar wise) and I get sucked into the hype on YouTube. I did the Dane with the Wavestate, I’m on my third. It is totally amazing and I love the idea of what you could do with it for my music but the reality is different . Reverb.com loves me 
