Re: What about the GNX3 ?

["K. Douglas Baldwin" <dbaldwin@suffolk.lib.ny.us>]

Gary Phillips wrote:

>So no one has had a chance to check out
>the Digitech GNX3 and evaluate it as a
>looping tool, possible in lieu of the Repeater ?
>Sounds like a JamMan with 8 tracks, built in
>footpedals, expression pedal and mic input
>with effects and memory cards....
>Or are there some drawbacks ?

I just reviewed the GNX3 for GuitarOne magazine - the September issue, 
which
should be on the stands in about three weeks. The BIG problem with the
looping function is that there is a TOTAL of about three minutes of
recording time using the internal memory in "CD" mode. There are lower-fi
modes with more time, but the quality suffers. Take three minutes and 
spread
it evenly over eight tracks and you have about twenty-two seconds per 
track.
On-the-fly looping manipulation was difficult - it's really set up to
function as a multi-track recorder. The internal effects are fair to good
(and the pitch shift/whammy fx are VERY good) but overall, my feeling was
that it tries to be too many things and doesn't deliver enough in any one
category. Re. the mic input - it's XLR and good quality, useful for both
inputting normal vocals and "processed" vocoder-like stuff, but the vocoder
functions were pretty diluted. At a list price of around $700, I'd just buy
the individual items: a good multi-fx pedal like the Boss GT-6 and a good
looper/delay or a good digital recorder.

>>From the manual, it doesn't sound like the recorder
>section can auto-locate, so punching in sounds
>problematic....

Yes, punching in is non-existant.

 >but if the looping section will
>lock to MIDI

I did'nt try this.

and there is enough control, could be
>cool.......

Coulda been. I suspect some mad scientist could fiddle with it and fly with
the looping, but I ain't the one.
Douglas Baldwin, coyote-in-residence
dbaldwin@suffolk.lib.ny.us