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ADA 2FX Digital Multi-Effects | |
Article from Home & Studio Recording, February 1985 |
Connection of the ADA unit to a mixer is made via quarter-inch jack sockets located on the somewhat bare rear panel. Their high impedance (500k) makes them suitable for both line and instrument level connections, so you could use this device connected in-line with a guitar or keyboard and an amp/combo if you prefer to add effects at source rather than on mixdown.
Once connected up via the send/return effects (auxiliary) loop of a mixer, the unit's input and output levels can be optimised using the appropriate front panel controls. Care must be taken with digital devices when setting input levels so that the headroom indicator or red 'clip' LED (as in the case of this model) flashes only on the very loudest passages of sound. Too high an input level and the unit will distort, obviously. Unlike analogue distortion caused by overloading the preamp of a valve combo, however, digital distortion is not very pleasant to the ear, so be warned.
After the level controls come the effect selector switches of which there are six. Since the flanger or chorus can be used simultaneously with the delay section, it makes sense to incorporate a function that allows you to change the order in which these treat the incoming sound - which is exactly what the 'Patch' switch does. If you're using chorus and delay modes, for example, it means you can select either chorus routed to the delay or vice-versa, something which would otherwise require re-patching externally if separate effects devices were being employed. The aural difference in the two treatments produced is considerable too.
The remaining five switches - Bypass, Flange, Chorus, Delay and Repeat Hold - are all duplicated on the optional, floor-mounted DM-2 Controller. This provides remote control of the above functions and is recommended if you're working at home or in a one-man operation.
Words are inadequate I always feel when it comes to describing sound effects, so you'll have to make do with a purely subjective comment like "this is the best-sounding, deepest, digital flanger I've heard to date". Record producer and Sarm West studio owner Trevor Horn (he of Frankie Goes To Hollywood fame) swears by his Bel analogue flangers so I'm informed, which is exactly what he'll do if he ever listens to this one... know what I mean? It really is superb.
The chorus sounds, likewise, were exceptionally bright, thick and full of top-end sparkle - superb for Police impersonators, if that's your penchant. The delay section produced very clean, noiseless echo treatments which didn't appear to crack up as the echo repeats faded away. This can be the case with low-cost digitals whose excessive quantisation noise is often overbearing but does not apply to this ADA model.
The Repeat Hold functioned well, giving glitch-free splices where the sound frozen into the 256K memory formed a loop. There's no external trigger of a sound frozen (or should I say 'sampled') into memory, but this can hardly be expected for the price considering what else you have available. A dedicated sound-sampler is a much better bet - try the Boss DE200 or Powertran's MCS1 - if this is where your desires lie.
This is an impressive device whose delay signal bandwidth of 17kHz and 90dB dynamic range make it ideal for studio sessions where the quality and versatility of sound is what counts. At £460 plus VAT, the ADA takes a lot of beating, for you'll pay £250 alone for a digital delay which may give you flanging and chorus as well, but not simultaneously.
Retail price £529 including VAT from selected dealers or UK distributors: Music Lab Sales, (Contact Details).
ADA 2FX
(12T Feb 85)
ADA 2FX Digital Multieffects - Effectscheck
(IM Mar 85)
For The Love Of ADA - ADA2FX
(ES Feb 85)
Browse category: Studio/Rack FX > ADA
Review by Ian Gilby
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