ART FXR Elite

99 user-ediable presets, if I remember correctly. The user interface is simple but exteremely limited. When they say "programmable" they basically mean that there's a "Store" button available for you to hit as opposed to NOT having a "Store" button to hit. Only two parameters are available for tweaking for each preset (via a pair of knobs), and they're not always the ones I want. For example: decay and pre-delay times for the reverbs are NOT adjustable--to vary the decay you need to go to a different preset, and once there all you can adjust is the brightness (EQ) and one other parameter which I don't remember what is. As the pre-delay times are all very short, the lack of adjustment is a real pain for me. You can only overwrite the preset you're editing; if you'd like to have multiple edits of the same effect saved to different locations--like, where the putrid factory multi-effects usually are--forget it. The two-digit alphanumeric display is a major shortcoming in the UI; although you can memorize some favorite preset numbers, you need the manual to figure out exactly what you're hearing. Like an itch, it's annoying but not life-threatening.

I've used my FXR Elite primarily with my Tascam Portastudio 424. For recording I think it's passable, but quite noisy--a kind od digital whine that I've heard in other digital delay-based effects. It seems better suited to patching into an effects loop on an amp.

Most of effects are delay and/or modulation based--no distortions or any of that. Reverbs are okay, if a little metallic or thin sounding. I really dislike the delay presets because they all seem to be stereo multi-tap things, in which there are more than one repeat per repeat, if that makes sense, or the first repeat is "off" timing-wise. You have to go to some length, involving plugging and unplugging certain cords into certain jacks, to get a simple repeat echo. How hard could it have been to include a simple echo preset? Chorus and flange effects are okay, about what you'd expect, ie nothing that would fool even a casual listener into thinking two out-of-sync tapes.

The stereo multi-effects patches (ie reverb/chorus/delay) are pretty useless in my book. The concept is nice, but the FXR Elit is too editing-challenged to really take advantage of it. The factory multi-effect presets are just cheezy as all getout, and you're STUCK with them.

Overall the sounds reek of gimmickry, trying to pack too much readymade whizbang into a box without paying any attention at all to the basics, like a good plate reverb, a good room reverb, a good basic delay, etc. Out of 99 presets, I only ever really used about four or five. That's a real waste.

The box itself is reliable. That wall wart, however, blew up on me and I haven't gotten a replacement yet, but that's a wall wart for you. Since I'm moving toward digital desktop recording anyway, with lots of luscious plug-ins ready to do everything that the FXR Elite doesn't, I'm really not all that concerned.

Never dealt with.

As a non-mission-critical source of effects, particularly for your guitar amp, the FXR Elite is passable provided you don't spend a lot of money for yours. For recording, get an effects processor designed for that purpose. Don't expect much from its "programmability" because it ain't gonna deliver; knob-twiddlers are gonna really hate this box.

I'm not going out of my way to find another one. Although I am moving to desktop recording, I would rather like a rackmount reverb/delay for my existing Portastudio and physical recording gear, but it will doubtlessly be something with a lot more flexibility.

Summary: These effects are hardly elite. (Geddit? FXR Hardly Elite? I know...it's pretty sad when one makes bad puns on an electronic device's model name...)

www.floorian.com
www.twiggyandfrollywog.com

This is basically the FXR with MIDI programming and some parameter adjustments on the presets. This unit performs flawlessly in my studio and has great presets on it. Editing patches is fairly simple, as you only have a few options for editing anyway on each patch. The manual is short, but concise and everything you need to know about the unit is in there. I do not know what firmware version I have. I have never upgraded it; I do not think that it can be upgraded. It simply does what it does, and does it well.

As stated before in my review of the original FXR unit, the presets are good, but the chorus is a little noisy. Of course, the presets that use chorus are noisy, even in the multi-patches. Overall, the unit is a winner and works very well.

This unit has been in my recording rack for a number of years and has performed flawlessly its entire life. The oly issue that I have is the wall-wart power supply being in there, but going with an internal transformer would have raised the price. I can live with the wall-wart; I simply buy the Dr. Ferd's Wall-Wart remover. No biggie.

This has not been a issue whatsoever.

Overall, this unit works well, and provides a great value for the buck. Even now, I would recommend getting one off of Ebay or something, because you will always have a need for an extra reverb. Pick one up, it will not let you down.

I am a professional recording engineer who picked this unit up as an impulse buy several years ago. It sat on a shelf unused until recently when my home studio was redesigned to include ADAT for a client. Most of my artists are acoustic singers and instrumentalists. They are phobic about adding too much effects. I use this unit effortlessly in getting an overall blend of 24 tracks to sound like mixed music. The presets are excellent.

The FXR Elite is very quiet and very warm. I don't agree with any of the previous reviews saying the sounds are hissy or rumbling. They probably are routing this unit incorrectly. I'm confident to use this box on vocals, drums, instruments, any and all are enhanced. I have lots of other effects gear and this is among the quietist.

You can depend on the FXR Elite II to be there when you need it. I would use it on a LIVE recording without a backup. ART's products are absolutely wonderful!

I don't mind paying for manuals and such. They can only help me to be a better audio engineer. I believe if you're honest with the manufacturers they'll bend over backwards to help. They want their products in your studio. I have had contact with ART regarding another piece of equipment, their limiter/compressor. They were terrific.

I rate this unit a perfect 10. It's a preset and sometimes in the creative flow of recording LIVE studio musicians you reach for a preset and everyone knows it's just right for the moment. I'm happy to tell you that if you can find one of these units today.. go for it. I was upset to learn that they are no longer making them. I don't usually participate in these rating of products but I felt this effects box was getting a bum rap from other reviewers. I've recorded
Blondie, Blue Oyster Cult, John Lennon, Phoebe Snow, Bette Midler, Blue Rodeo, SKYY, Pete Seeger... all kinds of music for the past 30 years. Now get out there and make some music! Sincerely ESPtracks/NYC

i owned this unit for quite some time and to me it's sound's(preset's)
sound tinny-thin and faint they're useable in a guitar rig .
i would'nt try to use it for vocal's but then again this thing aint even in the same league as my old lexicon lxp-5 which runs circles around it and is a older unit ..
Try out/buy a alesis nano verb and you'll see even those sound more pleasent ... at least that's my opinion i bought this art fxr cheap thats why i own it but the chorus / flangers / slap back 50's ish delay's sound better than any of it's other sound's

i said what i think is logical for a lower priced unit !
it sounds very tinny on its reverbs and it is a good flanger / chorus/ thing (sounds)
i do like the 50's ish slapback delay's but you cant adjust the real delay's only the decay time and the feedback of them(regeneration)
i spent a very long amount of time trying to figure out why to me it sound's tinny and much thinner (reverb/choruses etc) why does art make these sounds in their product's?
i only use this thing in a guitar rig

it alway's work's

i had absolutely no luck from art in this category....they need to have someone ready to listen and help i tried to contact them numerous times

i am a professional musician/ guitarist that has been playing guitar for almost 30 yrs
i have many other reverb/ delay units
i love korg ddl'si own a korg sdd-1200 great delay's 2 for the price of 1 it's a super sounding delay unit i bought it new many yrs ago it's still my favorite ..

i own a lexicon lxp-5 sound's unbelievable in my recording studio

in one of my guitar rigs i put it this small alesis nanoverb it sound's so great it's a great item and hey !! at $99 where could you go wrong??
so i bought a few more of em 3 in all good for them gig bag's ..
That's how good these small nano verb's sound un real superb

i hate my peavy delta verb it sucks so bad its poingy and unreliable
i should have never bought it..you learn from your mistakes

i put this art fxr elite in a guitar rig for some midi triggering i use on its delay's it's got a good delay for a band ..
I think this art FXR elite is decent for guitar / keyboard player's .
It's reverb's are shallow and air'y (thin sounding )to me but Still usable for them type of player's ...only your ear's can tell so dont use my opinion's ok i am just stating my experiences with the ART FXR ELITE AND IT'S A GOOD UNIT IF YOU BUY IT FOR A REASONABLE AMOUNT .. DON'T SPEND OVER $200 IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO CUT A ALBUM WITH IT BECAUSE A CHEAP OLD SMALL NANO VERB HAS A MUCH NICER WARM SOUND... ONLY MY OPINION'S HERE!!!!!!
AS YOU CAN SEE I SPENT LOT'S OF TIME COMPARING THESE PROCESSOR'S
I USE THESE PRTOCESSOR'S ONLY IN MY GUITAR RIG'S

Ok...as I saw in another review of this unit...it's a pain if you do not have the manual - which I don't. The manual is available from ART....for $10. So far I've just fudged thru the settings and used what I have found to sound good (i.e. preset 136 has an awesome reverb sound...using it on my PA mains

Running this unit with a Behringer 2004 mixer, QSC 1450 amp, and a Peavy Noise Gate/Comopressor....sounds absolutely excellent! I have not noticed any noise at all from this unit. Based on other reviews, maybe its just pot-luck or maybe a quality control issue, but I have no complaints about mine at all....sound wise that is

So far seems to be rock solid...no problems with quality/reliablility

Since the unit was bought used and is out of production, ART was unwilling to even talk to me about the unit unless I paid their $10 fee for the manual....screw em!

Been a guitar player for 20 years, and sound man and drummer for 2...over all, except for the problems with the company support (or lack there of...) and considering the price I got it for, it is an excellent unit. If I could find another for this same price, I would definatly get another to use if nothing else as a processor for just my guitar (again the unit I have now is being used in my P.A. system). They sound great...the effects are -very- deep....just no reference on what presets are what or how to adjust the parameters

This unit is easy to use as long as you have the printed list of effects within reach. The display gives you the patch number but no text. You can edit only two (factory specified) parameters for each patch. I haven't found this overly limiting, though.

It is noisy, very audible hum and hiss. When I route the unit back into the mix, I often must roll off the bass (to reduce the hum) and roll off the treble (to reduce the hiss). It works best for delay effects / stay away from ping-pong panning (very noisy). This unit is best used for a "touch" of effect but is much too noisy for really "wet" sounds.

No problem. Works every time. I am the first owner of this unit and has always been in the studio -- never on the road.

Haven't dealt with customer service.

This unit was my second effects processor (the first was an old Fisher spring reverb!). It is a good value for the money. The unit is good to add some ambience or delays to the mix but isn't suitable for extremely "wet" sounds in a demanding recording situation. I have since acquired a much better (and more expensive) unit but still use the FXR elite when I've tied up my main processor and need a touch of echo on a channel.

Very easy to use, but it can be hard to know exactly what effect you have chosen.

It is really noisy and not great for critical applications. Good for guitar or for something far down in the mix. Bad SNR.

No problems here. Works every time.

Never had to call.

For $200, it is fine for a "getting started" or live application. For studio use...find something else.

Very easy to use. For each patch there are two parameters which
can be tweaked using two knobs on the left hand side of the unit.
Dry kill and bypass buttons. Effect combinations are grouped, so
the placement of your patch is limited. MIDI program change message
switches between patches.

I use it with a drum machine and some other sound modules.
It seems to be very quiet. The reverbs sound OK: there is
variety and no metallic aftertaste. Pretty clean. The flange
can be very powerful. Nothing thin about this unit.

No problems so far.

Never had to call.

For the money I paid, I'm too happy. If I can find some even a bit
cheaper, I would buy a few. I think the sound quality is nice.

The sound quality is very good. All effects are "transparent" and do not muddle up the sound. Effects include delay, reverb, chorus, flanger, etc. etc. Problems: 1.Ad's claim programability, not all true. You can program only 2 effects of the manufacturers EFFECT parameters (mix and dry kill are the others) 2.When an effect parameter is edited, the range of change is very limited (I can't even get over 250 ms of delay in most patches). 3. Patches can't be moved so if you find a cool sound on #234, #45, #198, than you better remember them! If you like to program your own parameters than this in NOT for you. I recommend a Digitech DSP 256 (Used There Cheap nowadays)

Good as a preset box. Doesn't offer much editing capabilities. Comes with a quick reference card with all of the effects. Any edits made overwrite the old effect. Cannot actually CHANGE the order or placement of effects.

Fairly clean, but some obvious corners were cut to reduce the price. Reverbs sound OK. No analog effects (ie distortion, compression, etc.)

I would buy it again just to use it as a preset box. Anyhow, they are cheap so you can buy 3 for the price of one other box.