TC Electronic 2290 Dynamic Digital Delay

Pretty simple setup. buttons on the front panel.
Sounds great on all settings..even the strange one.
Easy to edit.
Mine has been upgraded with max memory & most current firmware.
Manual is like HUGE..download it...don't print it..115 or so pages!

Obviously David Evans, Eddie Van Halen, David Gilmore..etc etc can't be wrong about how awesome this unit sounds. Especially David Evans of U2..since he's the best at utilizing delays. The delay with chorus modulation is just stellar and inspiring. I've been looking at these for years and finally landed one.
I use Gib LP's and Wolfgangs with Mesa, Fender and JSX amps.
The unit is dead quiet on all settings.
The effects are strong and ALWAYS sound awesome.

gotta give it a 10 simply because it sounds fantastic.

Hmmmm ...been around how long?....

These are very heavy units.

I don't know if Korg still services them any more.

I play Christian contemporary Rock worship.
This will compliment almost any style of music.
I've been playing for 30+ years and have owned just about every single delay unit out there...other than the elusive SDD-3000...: )
But this unit is the brother of the sdd 3000 so I'm fine with that.
This unit inspires and fills and just flat out ROCKS.
I own several delays..sde2500..sde3000..sdd1200...D-two..etc...
I would choose the TC2290 for studio work every time..although the other units also sound great on their own. All based on delay with modulation (chorus/flange/phase).
This is a fantastic writing tool since the delays and modulation are so awesome..it's inspiring.

If you can get one for under 1500 ..pick it up!

After reading the manual, it was very easy to figure out how to use it.

I have wanted to get a 2290 for the past 12 years. I tried a number of other units and spent a ton of money trying to avoid shelling out the bread for the 2290. I WAS AN IDIOT!! This thing sounds FANTASTIC!! It's all true, it is the BEST sounding delay out there. I should have bought one years ago.

I've only had it 2 weeks--so far so good. I looks like it's built very well, so I'm not worried. One thing to mention, however. I was seriously considering buying a used one. Then I spoke to a tech who works on these things and he recommended against it. If they get smacked around too much they can go out of alignment (I'm not sure what it means, but it doesn't sound good). The only way to fix them is to send them back to Denmark (that doesn't sound cheep). Any way, I got a new one so I wouldn't have any issues

I've called TC with questions over the years and they were very helpful

I play Jazz, blues, R&B, etc. I'm a big fan of Robben Ford and Larry Carlton, etc. If you are looking for that kind of sound, this unit is IT!

East to get a great sound. Edit from front pannel on the fly.
Easy manual.They walk you through basic presets.
I have 11sec. sampling with a fast trigger.

Sound quality is the best delay out there. one of the newer Eventides even has a patch called 2290. This peice is in everybodys' rack or sound board.U-2 Pink Floyd Peter Frampton Steve Lucather Bad Company Fripp Van Halens sound pit and the list goes on

12 Years gigging with no backup

Excellent

All styles of music from contry to wedding to classic rock to modern
I repeat the BEST delay and chorus made.

MY 2290 have 1 MEOO with 7 CHO4 (Total 32 seconds stereo or 64 seconds mono) Sample no.DSA02 EPROM VERSION 28.12

Read the manual, especially for the spec key wich is absolutely a must.
You have to think a lot when you want something specific (sampling memory vs delay memory)...

Quite good but it makes an unsupportable hiss when you switch from a preset of a normal playback to another with pitch playback altered.

I have a gibson echoplex digital pro plus with 198 seconds of memory wich i trust for looping live. I dont trust my tc as much as my EDP.
Theres to much hiss when changing presets.

I had some questions regarding the memory vs. looping (or delay) that wasn't clear with the help of the manual. The guy of tc (web Interactive support) responded with a non-professional attitude and even employed: "I do not write this to sound like a jerk but...read the manual"
Please M. Brian Krawcylowski, take care of your clients, you don't know how much its important!

Maybe he dont have big knowledge about the additional sampling chips since they are discontinued.

Overall, its a fabulous machine, not that simple.
If you like delays and modulations, its a must (with the exception of the korg SD 3300).
If you are a looper and like to have some fun, buy another one and try make some weird delay effects with the first within a sampling loop (the second).
Or buy the EDP

EASY TO GET SOUND.EDIT FROM FROM FRONT WITHOUT GOING INTO PROGRAMS.EDITS ON THE FLY.I DIDN'T REALY USE THE MANUAL TO MUCH BUT I GUESS YOU CAN SAY IT WAS EASY.IT SHOWS YOU BASIC CHORUS DELAY FLANGE ETC. I THINK AROUND 10 PRE-SETS.I HAVE 11 SECONDS SAMPLE BUT THERE ARE NO MORE UPDATES AT THIS TIME.I DONT USE THE SAMPLER ANYWAY.

I USE MAINLT STRATS AND A COUPLE OF GIBSONS WITH 2 SOLDANO SLO 100 HEADS WITH 2 4-12 MARSHALL CABINETS VINTAGE 30 SPEAKERS.I COME UP WITH FLOYD,CLAPTON,PAGE,SANTANA AND PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING SOUNDS.

NEVER BROKE DOWN.NO BACK-UP.

ONCE CALLED FOR SIGNAL CHAIN INFORMATION.THEY WERE VERY HELPFULL.

I THINK I COVERED THE STYLES PLAYED.I THIS WERE LOST OR DESTROYED I WOULD REPLACE THE SAME DAY.IT'S EXPENSIVE BUT THIS IS THE BEST DELAY MADE.JUST LIKE WITH PETE CORNISH YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

basic features are quite easy to reach, but you need to read and learn what the manual says in you want to really use the huge possiblities of the TC2290.
not a machine for lazy people, unless you don't have a tech who mak epresets for you.
once you understand how things work it's easy o manage, but at the beginning it could take a lot of time to edit/create your own presets.
a deep live usage can need time too, you can do a lot of thingfs with it.

to my ears it's the most musical delay, and i tried eventide, ams, lexicon, korg, roland, and so on.
not a low-fi delay: if you need a tape delay buy a Space Echo, or have luck with a Line6.
The TC2290 is great for guitars, lead vocals, keyboards, that's what i use it for.
Both "in your face" echo on guitar (think at Pink Floyd, U2) and subtle spread vocals are amazing when produced by this piece of gear.

can't afford a backup, but it seems quite strong.
never had probs til now, i cross my fingers anyway!

guys at TC Support are really kind.
they helped me a lot, everytime i had a prob, and they always were super fast.

after all these years, it's still THE piece to have.
it sound so musical that you don't need many other things. instead of wasting money in dozens of cheap devices, buy a few great pieces, your ears will thank you!
i'm a delay addicted, and i've found the perfect match with the TC2290.
i'm a lucky owner of the footcontrollers also (both the TC0144 than the TC0050), so i can use its advanced features in live events too, there's a whole world of possibilities to discover other than simple echoes.
have fun!

Mono-in/stereo out (delay can be panned opposite direct signal); all i/o is analog (no digital i/o), 1MHz internal sample rate; MIDI control, 2 rack spaces. Being an early tc design, it doesn't have the big LCD with menus and named presets that I like so much in their newer products. I particularly like being able to name presets so I know what they do or were originally used for. Like everyone says, the manual is necessary because many of the front-panel controls are tricky (or impossible) to figure out without it. For example, the sample/hold functions aren't obvious at all. Fortunately, the manual is pretty clear, and begins with a few very useful tutorials to introduce the basic operation. It comes with 20 example presets, some of which are pretty good; In any case, they help serve as guides. Ultimately, editing is simple once understood; (though instead of hitting the "enter" button like I should, I keep hitting the "store" button and obliterating my presets). I haven't used it with MIDI.

Sounds really, really good. Very clear, best delay I've heard. I also have the tc g-force and fireworX, whose delays are good too, but significantly less pristine than the 2290's. I'm using it mostly as a buss effect for ambience in ProTools through RME converters. Guitars, hi-hat, percussion mainly. The clarity allows details to come through a mix using short delays at low volumes. Longer delays are very striking; exceptional on a solo electric guitar, for instance, with perfectly smooth tails. Internally fixed high and low-pass filters (at 2/4/8/33k and 0.1/0.2/.04k, respectively) can help mitigate unwanted frequencies in the delay. The chorus effect is clearer than the other devices mentioned, too (no surprise, since chorus is based on modulated delay). Ducking (very useful), panning and tremolo all work and sound great.

I've only had it a week, so I can't really say. But owning several other tc products, I can guess this one will be quite dependable also. Plus, hundreds (if not thousands) of guitarists have been touring with these things since the 1980s, so I think it's meant to hold up.

My experience over the years is that tc (both Denmark and US) support is among the best in every way: pre-sales info., order turn-around, reapair are all exceptional. For example, when I bought Dynaudio monitors and wanted to build transport cases, one tc tech in Denmark took the time to draw out and email me a suggested design graphic with measurements, apologizing for not drawing neater. Very nice.

I mostly play guitar (and other instruments poorly), and record original rock-style songs in a project studio; though I frequently record demos for others, as well. I'm using good equipment like Neumann mics, Demeter mic pre, PCM91 reverb, Avalon EQ, UA 1176 and Distressor compressors, etc. and the 2290 definitely rises to the "audiophile" level of sound quality I'm after. It isn't absolutely necessary to have this level of equipment to produce commercially-viable results (the actual music and performance being much more important), but it's nice to have if you can afford and appreciate it. I wish it had digital i/o and nameable presets so I didn't have to keep a log. If I wanted dual mono, I'd have to get a second one (which I may eventually do in order to create larger stereo ambiences). But it's somewhat surprising tc have even kept the thing on the market this long (they don't seem to be promoting it; it doesn't appear in their latest printed brochure). If I were a touring guitarist, I'd use the thing for an effects switcher as well, it being a very good overall deal, I think.

all it produces is the finest tones. It has a couple upgrades(sampling extended delay). When you deal with the world's finest gear manuals tend to be extensive..and take awhile to get down. I was getting my way around in 5 minutes...keep in mind I had a eventide h3000 w/o manual and was jamming on it in 30 minutes.

My rig consists of 4 4x12 cabs, a mesa simul 2:90, a mesa triaxis, a lexicon pcm 80(unreal), a aphex 103 exciterand the tc 2290...my main guitars are a les paul artist and a gibson 25/50 paul. The tc 2290 is so quiet it's hard to tell if it's on. The effects are the best. This is the best delay on the planet. It has chorus tremolo flange(all the best or amongst the best. The only effects that hang with this are all made by lexicon..even their delays are not this good. My favorite artists are john sykes, neal schon, george lynch...I definitely can get there sounds..I have owned over 140 guitars..50 amps 30 processors to do it. Anyone saying a bad word about the tones of this piece is insane..to think about it no one has!

it's an 87 enough said..remember because of upgrades it never goes obsolete.

no problems

I play melodic rock and metal..from van halen to journey to disturbed. If you want the world's finest delay than this is it. I would pay list for this piece. THis smokes eventide gear...only the high end lexicon is on this plateau. This thing makes you cherish each note you play..you real soloists will understand what I'm talking about. I forgot to mention I do everything in stereo...I play live, record in the studio..this goes everywhere with me.

The first hour I was frustrated- but then I learned about the spec functions and how to double my sample time- best delay I ever heard.
Compared to my nordmodular or other gear it's easy to use. Presets suck. I need 2 or three programms per song- I need 2h to set them up from scratch. Compared to creating a whole track (2-3 weeks) it's well worth it. I had some difficulties playing back samples- but compared to samplers- it's much easier and the loops sound great.

I use it with voice, synths, drummachines & samplers. I deactivated all interneal delay-fx of my gear and just use the TC2990- it means total control.

yes

never had a problem- so far

I'm not a recording crack- I concentrate on creating sound. The TC2990 gives you posibilities you can't achieve using plugins or low-end fx-units. You need a good imagination & know-how to include these delay-sounds in a professional recording-studio- where time is money...

It is a bigger without the manual. But remember, quite a bit of the more extensive and more expensive pro units require a little more from the user. I had mine for a day and already was programming the "special" features settings to my liking. If you want to flip it on and go, think again. Although there are factory presets you can use right away. It is in the editing that one needs to read the manual much more.
The 2290 I bought has the 7 second delay option in it. The firmware rev is 2.07. Great unit and incredible sound.
Someone mentioned that it was discontinued. It has NOT been discontinued to my knowledge. Many on-line music stores are carrying brand new ones. Default delay time is 4 seconds. Buy the doubling chip and it goes to 8.

Well, the sound is simply perfect. Noise free. It is the industry standard. The effects are great. The modulation and sampling facilities are great as well as the other main delay features and quality. I am using this unit as the "main brain" in my new rack system with Marshall amps, and various other pieces of outboard gear.
With my PRS and the Marshalls it is awesome.

The one I bought is 12 years old and still going strong. I bought it from someone selling it out of their studio. It is in great condition and has stood up again all kinds of use from the precious owner as well as me. As I do not have TONS of dough, there is no backup for it. I suppose if I really wanted my Eventide or DP/4 could serve as a second of backup, but they get their use too at the same time!

Have not had to call them yet. Hope I never will.

I have been playing guitar for over 18 years and have been involved audio re-enforcement and recording in some for or another for over 20 years and this is one of the best pieces of gear I have come across.
If I did not have this one, I would buy another ASAP! In fact I am contemplating a second one in the future for the rack system I use.

Amazing

Mine broke. so well.. not completely dependable

This is legitimate.. i send a unit in on December 15th, and they say that it will be fixed within the next 10 days.. i don't recieve it for 2 months and it isn't fixed? THAN i send it back and don't get it for another two months.. not to mention i called numerous times and they told me they would work on it THAT DAY and obviously didn't.. their SERVICE sucks.. the product is amazing..

DOD and DanElectro? Im sorry sir, but i had very legitimate complaints.. i use only pro gear.. vox, fender, mesa amps. lovetone, fulltone pedals and other high quality stuff.. i have never had any problems with my gear until this one, and i consider myself quite patient.. but 5 months to get a piece fixed by TC is NOT ACCEPTABLE considering they charged me $300 for the repair!!


the product other than that couldn't be better.. a pain in the ass to use since TC doesn't make the foot controller anymore.. but the quality is the best

This a response to the really angry guy with a problem with TC gear. This is pro gear it requires some patients and knowledge. I know the 2290 interface is different but, its stable and it works. Maybe the angry guy should stick to the "all in one" kind of fx box. Just because I can't pilot a jet doen't mean all jets are junk.?! In a word...User-Error.

Angry guy...read the manual.

Angry guy had a problem withthe 2290. That does suck when you spend lots of cash on gear and it doesn't work for you. I hope you have better luck with your DOD and Danecho pedals.

THE 2290 IS GREAT! Have a nice day:)

INTERFACE IS IMPOSSIBLE... i could deal with that if the thing wasn't a piece of shit... so difficult to use that there is no time for making good music because you spend all the time you have learning how to program shit

best sounding delay i've ever heard.. if the unit worked..

NO NO NONO

sent it to TC because the thing had a problem.. after 10 minutes, it would overheat and send volume fluctuations to my amp.. tc said they would FIX the problem.. replace EVERYTHING on the unit, cables connections etc.. it cost me $300 and all they did was replace the FUSE and ribbon cables--$5 worth of shit... BUT IT DOESNT STOP THERE.. the unit doesn't even work !!!! it only has a wet signal.. i can't bypass the effect.. and i can't hear the original note just the delay's..


ON TOP OF THAT.. i was told that if i sent it out to be serviced, id have it back in 10 days.. well a month and half later i finally recieved it.. i called many times and they said "oh yeah, we'll look at that today and send it out tomarrow".. this was at least 4-5 times i went through that..

see above.. i will never buy TC products again.. i actually really wanted a m-one reverb, and triple c compressor.. but i just can't get myself to support such a horrible company.. if they are making such "high quality" equipment, they need to back it up with customer support and service it properly.. NEVER BUY TC ELECTRONICS... they are a compelete waste


i apologize but im QUITE pissed off.. i've been patient with all this shit so far, but after recieving the unit after being gone for over a month more than they said it would--and then have it not work, im outraged...

i play radiohead/u2/mogwai/art rock style.. very delay oriented... i trust my 70's roland space echo or line 6 digital delay ANY DAY over this thing... if it were stolen or lost, it would probably just reduce the level of stress in my life..

what i love about it... its sounds
i hate...... doesn't fucking work... AND it is impossible to use


the two times it worked it made the most beautiful sounds ever.. what a shame




TC ELECTRONICS

DONT BUY THEIR SHIT!!!

As far as dedicated delay units go, their are only a few that pass the "long haul" test. Lexicon's PCM 41 & PCM42, Roland's SDE3000, Yamaha's 1500 DDL, and the icon of all DDLs, the TC 2290. It has been the standard for live and studio sound for well over a decade. The new units are just as good as the old ones. TC has been smart and has kept crafting the unit to original specs in TC's native Denmark. Hats off to TC Electronic, where other companies are more apt to move production to some 3rd world sweatshop, use cheapo parts and even cheaper labor in order to be more "profittable", they have kept the cooks and recipe the same. The 2290 is easy to use however, for certain advanced application you will need to consult the manual.

The 2290 is shipped now as an 8 second Digital Delay, with 4 mono fx loops (mono send-mono-return) and 1 stereo fx loop (mono send-stereo return) all pre 2290 CPU. That means the loops are placed before the echo of the 2290. That means that you can put preamps in the loops too. Just watch the levels, and don't program it so two preamps are on at the same time. The loops are really cool, they can be used as function control switches too, as on the CAE RL-8, Octapus, and the Patchmate. The sound quality is the best. The 2290 is the best delay. I know other multi-effects have delay programs in them, like eventide, lexicon and others, but the 2290 is the supreme delay unit. there is no equal. Getting back to the sound...it is awesome. The unit is dead silent, unlike Digitech some Boss stuff and Zoom processores where every preset has a noise gate on it. By the way, as a general rule, if a product has a noise gate, noise filter, or any other type of noise hiding "feature" (trickery)...in all probability the unit sucks. The TC has bunch of cool features, try to see one if you can so you can experience it. I give the 2290 five golden forks!

Solid gear. It cost 1500 bucks so its solid. You shouldn't need a back up unless you are a recording star, and if you are, make the record company buy it....those buggar bastards!

Customer support is great w/TC. I bet you won't need to call the if you buy a 2290, unless you just want to say "hi".

Don't take my review as being Bible, this is just what I've experienced w/tc and the 2290. Its great, find one and try it.

Owned mine since Dec1990. Upgraded my unit to 4 second model(never needed more than .5 seconds).As I remember, sounded great very first time I tried it. Using the 10 factory presets get you off to an easy start. Select a factory preset you like and start playing with all the parameters. Like what you hear?...Save to any of the 90 other user-presets. The manaul is mandatory for all the "special key" features. Especially useful are the 5 fx loops for controlling preamp switching and other outboard gear. This machine, along with their 0144 serial remote pedal controls my entire guitar rack.

I've tried every delay on the market and nothing else compares. It is one of the only pieces of fx gear that doesn't make my amp (Mesa/Boogie Studio preamp & Soldano X88R powered by a VHT 2150) sound brash and brittle; it is warm & musical. I use it as a chorus for rhythm playing and the delay for that big stadium sound when soloing.

I've been using my TC 2290 every week (three to five nights a week) for nearly ten years without a hitch or glitch. I play T-40 club music for a living, so I couldn't start to imagine how many countless hours of use it has seen. The only thing that concerns me now is the memory lithium back-up battery should probably be replaced...A good excuse to try TC customer service first time in 10 years!

Never found a need to call. (see previous comment on reliability).

I couldn't imagine going to work without my TC 2290 in my rack. It is absolutely essential for controlling everything; and my sound, which I will try not equate with anyone elses. I make every effort to sound like myself and no one else. Been playing T-40 and covers for over 30 years. This unit will be the last delay I'll ever need or use. If it was lost, heaven forbid, I would replace it immediately.

This is THE piece of gear EVERY guitar player should own!! I cannot say enough about this unit. You MUST have the manual to totally get into this. I have the 8 second delay model and the ambience it brings to the rack is just stunning!! Mostly you can figure out the front panel just by screwing around and you will find killer sounds. Its more complicated when you get into the special/assign keys that you need to read. They teach you how to make 10 effects to get you started..after that..you pretty much understand it. Simple and elegant. The other great feature is the 5 loops in the back..4 mono and one stereo. So if you dont have a switching system and are maybe using pedals..you now have a brain for your rig!! All are assignable from the front panel ..per preset ..of what ones you want on. I have 9 stereo loops with the patchmate..so now there are 5 more loops available. Unbelievable thinking on their part.

No noise..hum..buzz..nothing. This is running with a lexi MPX1 into a mesa 395 power amp looped with a mesa Quad preamp.looped to a sansamp PSA1 preamp..all controlled by a patchmate into 2..2X12 mesa cabs.This rig KILLS!! These two processors complement each other perfectly. From Satch to Lukather..your sounds are there!! There simply is nothing better. 1 million Hz sampling is why. There is nothing else on the market with that much. Ask anyone who knows pro gear! The stereo panning is amazing to hear. You can even tremolo the sound once you learn to unit.

Ive had it for 8 months and could not live without it. Its been extremely reliable. Its built sturdy and the plug in jacks are solid.

I have dealt with them from the beginning with questions etc..They have been great!! Of course,when you spend this kind of money for their product..they had better be!! They really were. they helped me thru the midi implementation when wiring up the new rack. Friendly anda live person to talk to everytime I called!!

I play all kinds of rock and or pop...studio and live for over 25 years as well as teach for 23 years..I have been thru so much gear and crap in this amount of time that i finally found what I was looking for!! TC..LEXICON and MESA BOOGIE...There is a reason why everyone is using this stuff..the quality and sound and really beyond belief. My rig has never sounded better.. and thats what other people tell me!! Clarity even on heavy distortion patches is precisely defined. I play alot of Morse/Petrucci stuff...and when I play it..the sound is right there..thats what you want to hear when performing. Believe me I have heard EVERY pro piece out there for guitar..it simply is the best!!

Once you become familiar with the lay out of the tc 2290's controls you couldn't imagine how it could be designed to be simpler to use. It has six red LCD's that can be easily read from a reasonable distance away. Showing the status of the main or chosen parameters. For example delay time, preset number, feedback level, input gain level, output volume levels and so on. The graphics on the front panel are clearly marked with white writing on black background. The manual is comprehensive to say the least, but also necessary to educate yourself on the powerful capabilities of this machine. Mine has a 4 second delay time capability that I find more than enough, And just enough for a useable sample. The new tc2290's (yes they are still made) come with the double sample option chip giving you a total delay/sample time of 8 seconds and sound on sound capabilities. Very cool.
For me the ace up its sleeve is the effects loop at the back of the unit. It will take 5 external effects units or effects pedals enabling you to switch them in and out individually or as part of a pre-set. Plus the send sockets on the external effects loop can be used to change channel on your amp or to control other switchable units. When used with the tc0144 serial remote foot controller the unit becomes even more versatile. Allowing remote tap tempo, volume changes to your amp, and loads more stuff. Though the 2290 can be used without the tc0144. When you consider the cost of a custom made digital switching system alone made to the same high standard as the tc2290, it makes the tc2290 worth the price just for the switching capabilities alone in my opinion. And it?s a lot less temperamental than some designer name systems I've come across.

As good as it gets really. Strong clear delays if you want them or thin fading delays if required, via onboard filters. I use mine for two separate set-ups. In the effects loop of my Rivera combo in mono, that gives me the use of the dynamic section e.g. ducking delays, tremolo, and compression. You can also the use of the output volume control: great for automatic volume changes on you amp. It also seems to improve the sound of the amp in general even without anything switched in. And I use the second set-up for recording in stereo. Nice and clear, pure sound with no hiss. The auto pan is a nice inclusion, giving space and movement to the wet or dry signal. There is an inverse switch that phase inverts the delay signal for wider stereo image. All together a great sonic package.

My unit, I believe, was made in 1987 and it still works perfectly so the only number rating I can give must be a 10.

I've phoned and e-mailed tc electronic in Denmark over the past few years with various questions and requests and I have always had nothing but friendly help and advice. tc's after sales service is second to none and no doubt the envy of their competitors

This is a serious piece of equipment for real musicians at a reasonable price. But it's also fun just to play with. The list of users reads like a who's who of the music industry and that?s the very best recommendation of all. Plus the fact that they are still made today and have remained unchanged, but for software upgrades, means the tc2290 easily deserves its 10 rating.

Really there is only one thing to be said about ease of use: you are in serious trouble without the manual. The real power in the 2290 is in the "special" key which accesses most of the powerful control functions. The manual has the call numbers and explanations for all of these and without them, you are doomed to wonder why someone would pay so much for a simple delay. The unit comes with 20 factory presets which are examples of time-based effects both with and without modulation. Mine has the 30 second sampler, fast-trigger, and stereo link options installed. Midi implementation is very good even by the standards of todays processors, but you will need the manual to configure things.

The sound is simply incredible. When TC designed this unit back in the '80s, they over-engineered every aspect of it. There is simply no better delay unit for use with guitar or vocals. From U2's "In the Name Of Love (Pride)" to Van Halen's "Cathedral", almost anything is possible. Every major recording studio has at least one and I would buy another if I could find one.

Again, TC over-engineered the unit for decades of reliability. As for backups, the Edge and Dave Gilmour don't have one so I guess you can estimate reliability from their use.

TC Denmark has been great everytime I have had a question. I recommend checking with them before TC USA. Jens, a TC technical writer, has answered every question I have ever had and has earned my extreme gratitude. As a result, I haved not hesitated in purchasing a great deal of TC gear for my studio.

I use one in a guitar rack with the TC 1210 rack chorus, Eventide H3000d/sx, and Roland GP-16 among other EQs and compressors. The 2290 is a mono input/stereo output device with 4 switchable mono loops and one mono send/stereo return loop. The loops are in series after the input but before the delay so you can use and switch compressors, EQs, effects, etc.. in and out of the signal path. Another cool feature is that the loop send jacks can act as a switcher to control logic-controlled switches. This allows selection of preamp channels, reverb, bypass, etc.. from within the 2290 presets or by midi control. The sampler option will sample the sound after the 5th loop's returns. Sound-on-sound sampling and looping with audio, sequenced, or remote triggering is possible. Samples can be pitch shifted up or down. Sample trigger time is 2 micro-seconds with the fast trigger option thus allowing drum track replacement without audible delay or phase shift. Unfortunately, TC discontinued the 2290 so both the main unit and options are hard to find. For guitar players, the unit is a must-have processor. It simply could not be made any more complete and it is mondo powerful. As a studio processor, there are more complete units but under $2K, there are not any better sounding delays than the 2290.

Quite easy to use, has a bunch of presets to use as a base for modification. Editing patches is easy, as most parameters are visible all the time, or easily reached. Compared to other menu-driven effects I've used it's really easy. Has delay, pitch and dynamic modulation, and tremelo type effects. The tremelo is cool for guitar by the way. No reverb, which would make it a complete effect unit.

I use the 2290 in a guitar rack system, or occasionally with an 8 track minidisc home studio. When used in stereo, there is a wide stereo field option, which makes the sound really "big". This sounds great but is not a lot of use on gigs. There is a large degree of control not apparent on th front panel though, via the special numbers, etc, so detailed study of the manual is beneficial. The sound quality is excellent, only Eventide, and Lexicon type units will be comparable. No hiss even in the studio setting, the delay/modulation notes and played notes are indistinguishable.

I have owned 2 TC2290's. The first one developed a fault on the loop jacks (there are five effect loops) which caused volume fluctuations. It was repaired by fitting new jack sockets on the back. The second has been 100% reliable.

Apparently software updates can be got from the factory, but I've never needed this.

Would be ten out of ten for me if it had reverb, and didn't have a problem with the switch jacks, although this was soon rectified. Overall excellent unit, and good value.

I have previosly in some reviews stated that there are two types of guitarists. The ones who read manuals and those who don't. This is another unit for the manual readers since it will be quite difficult to understand all of the possibilities of the unit without reading the manual very thuroughly. Once you have done this it is very simple to use it and editing patches. Sound quality is prestine so getting a good delay sound out of this baby won't be any problem. The score belov is an average of the two way to handle the unit a 2 if you choose to not read the manual and a 10 if you choose to read it.

I use this unit with either a ADA MP-1 Preamp or a modified Fender vibrolux combo if the preamp is used i run it thru the poweramp and speakers of a LAB L7 4x10 combo, the guitars used is a Fender stratocaster with Seymour Duncan pickups, a Ibanez AS 200 and a Ibanez PM 100 guitar. I also use a Lexicon PCM 70 reverb and a T.C. Electronics 1210 dual stereo chorus. The unit is noiseless with a S/N ratio of more than 100 dB and the effects always sound great. I find no problems what so ever to get the sounds of my favorite artists (Robben Ford, Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell) sounds with this unit.

Very dependable indeed it hasn't failed me yet and i don't think it ever will.

I had a slight problem with the midi functions on the unit that casme to the surface during last years christmas holidays so i e-mailed the company on the night of the 23/12 - 97. When i checked my mail on the morining of the 26/12 i had recived a very thurogh explanation of what i should do. It's simply the best customer support that you could wish for.

i play all types of music from traditional jazz to alternative/experimental rock and i have no problems getting what i want out of this baby. I bought it after careful testing of several other delay units and while there was som that were very good they never realy played in the same division altough i must agree to that 2000+ dollars for a delay is very much money and if you don't have that ammount of money i would recommend that you check out the roland SDE-330 which is almost as good as the 2290. i can't find anything elese that i would like to have included in the unit so i'll just give you a final tip. Buy it now.