Rocktron Intelliverb

This review is an update of my earlier review.

I replaced the Intelliverb with a Xpression. Because the Xpression has modern features such as KillDry, Tap Tempo, Phantom Power, Mute, more effects and more simultaneous effects, et cetera.

But after several months I switched back to the old Intelliverb! It just sounds better. The sounds seems fuller, it's easier to program, it's more reliable (the Xpressions sometimes freezes during programming). The extra features of the Xpression aren't convincing enough. Not that it's a bad device ... the IntelliVerb is just better.

Fairly easy to use. Once you get the basic layout down it is fairly easy to program.

It's hard to believe that an effects processor this old (what is this from the early 90's?) has such incredible effects. This is a major step up from the Intellifex in the reverb department. For all the other effects like chorus and reverb it seems identical to the intellifex. The virtual room simulator works as advertised. You can design any size and type of room you want. But, the cool feature is that you can place where your instrument is supposed to be playing from in the room AND where the listener is supposed to be! With carefull adjustment in a mix it really helps create a sense of all the differnt instruments playing in various parts of the room. And the overall reverb quality is astounding. I'd rate it just as good as a Lexicon or tc verb ( their high quality stuff...not their budget models) The downside is that there is only analog ins and outs. But, for someone on a budget this is a great way to get some high quality reverb.

I don't gig with it. I record. But, I have had it for years and never had a single problem

Neer had to call them

Overall, this is a hidden gem. Extremely rare, but if you can find one snatch it up. If only have one high quality reverb this is a good inexpensive choice for an extra high quality reverb processor

Rocktron devices have never been the easiest devices to program. Nevertheless, after a short while you'll get the hang of it. Three knobs to select and alter parameters, one knob to select patches.
If you're used to devices like the TC Electronics G-Major, you'll miss the possibility to alter global parameters. And no relay switches and other handy stuff.

The manual is okay, I didn't miss anything.

It has 256 preset slots. I used quite a lot of factory default presets to create my own sounds.

The Compare button is a nice feature, which enables you to compare the saved parameter to the altered one.

Of course it has a -10db/+4db switch (better than the menu option in the G-Major), a necessity for any pro equipment.

I don't switch too much during songs and my pedalboard is already crowded, so I use a MIDI Mouse to switch presets. All I need, no large MIDI foot controller.

The sound quality is top, absolutely top. I prefer it above the G-Major I owned too.

Top quality delays and reverbs, as clear as can be. But you can also apply damping, for vintage delay or reverb trails.

The great thing about the Intelliverb and other Rocktron equipment is, as long as you don't use the digital Hush noise reduction feature, your direct signal stays analog because it doesn't passes through the AD/DA-filters. In other words, the effect signal is mixed with the unaltered direct sound. So it's kind of an internal parallel path. And that pays off in sound quality as well as "feel".

I owned a Intellifex before I bought a G-Major. Sold the Intellifex and have always regretted it. Sure, the Intellifex and Intelliverb offer less features and are out of production, and the G-Major is a great unit, but that doesn't matter. I prefer the Intelli* stuff.

I bought the Intelliverb instead of the Intellifex because it has longer delay times and faster hardware. I don't even use the special features of the Intelliverb like emulation of room sizes and such.

The Intelliverb is in my amp's (Bogner XTC Classic) series fx loop, set to +4db. In the loop because I use my amp's gain so the delay and reverb must come after the preamp. A series loop because I use Intelliverb patches to set solo levels (no use in parallel loops). Normally I would prefer a parallel loop to keep the direct signal unmodified, but as I already explained, that's no issue with Rocktron stuff.

I use about 30 to 40 patches. My normal signal has no effects added except pedals. For clean sounds I add a little ducked (dynamic) reverb from the Intelliverb. Then there are some patches for solo sounds (bit of reverb, different delays). A few patches for dramatic volume swells with long delays (love them), pulse delay and slapback. Also some patches for modulated delays (chorus, flanger-emulation), a bit like the Electro-Harmonix stuff. And of course some pitch shifting: low ocatve, high octave, 5th's, 7ths, multipitch, double 4ths.

Bought it second hand. Never heard complaints about its build quality or reliability. Could I do a gig without it? Of course, I don't need no backup. But I would sure miss it and replace when missedgone.

Dealt with Rocktron before. Okay, but not enough support here in Europe (Netherlands).

After having used other 19" stuff, I've come back to Rocktron again. Because of the sheer quality of this device. I know they have a Xpression out now, but the Intelliverb is all I need, because I rely on pedals for other effects.

I play in two cover bands, and gig about twice a month.

It?s not that easy to set all the parameters but in fact that?s the BIG advantage of this machine. Some parameters are dependant on others? values so you really have to know what to set. Creating a "room" takes some time but it is definitely worth it!

If you ever wanted a room simulation (I don?t want to speak of a simple "reverb" cause it?s much more and different) that makes your mixes big without any blurring or cheap sounding long reverb tails ? like me ? this is your choice! If you know what knobs to twist then you?ll get amazing clear and "wooden" rooms. It?s got no noise at all and the filters (hi and lo shelf resp. pass) sound almost perfect. I?m just talking of the room simulation now (because this is why I love it for) ? it surely offers some very good chorus and pitch shift fx too. If you wanht to compare it to a Lexicon machine ? don?t try, because this is something different...

I never had any loss of data except if I pressed the store button in a wrong way. No live gig experience...

If you need absolutely realistic rooms, small or huge that don?t ought to sound like "made in a Lexicon", this is your piece of gear (in my opinion). I like "jazzy" ambiences, not too silky, not too harsh or irreal, just something that can make a mix big or intimate. I made the very first production of my project with this machine ? and I fell in love with the sound. Then we bought something else and the space of the mixes never were as good as the Intelliverb ones. Now I found it again and it is really my favourite room simulation.