
TC Electronic Nova System
The Nova System is the complete, floor-based effects solution for the dedicated guitar player who knows quality when he sees it. Its unique inclusion of an all-analog programmable distortion/overdrive section under preset and expression control ma... read more
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On this [artist page](http://www.tcelectronic.com/bill-kelliher/) for Bill Kelliher of [Lethargy](https://equipboard.com/band/lethargy), ... more

Albert uses a Nova System, according to TC Electronic's [website](http://www.tcelectronic.com/albert-lee/). more

**Tim Christensen playing on TC Electronic Nova System** Tim is playing his Hansen signature model guitar and a Nova System into a vinta... more
Reviews
Trusted musician and artist reviews for TC Electronic Nova System
Based on 7 Reviews

Versatile multi-effects and midi controller
This is the nerve center of my rig. Not only does it handle all of my digital effect compositions, but it is a great midi controller to switch between my amp channels.

I ahd one and of these but given that the drives aren't stereo I abandoned ship... still a great unit that can be a great midi controller for other effects... I gotta say that the nova drive schools the drive section on the nova system, way more versatile even though the topology is very similar.... I miss the detune effect a lot though, it was a greats tereo thickening 'un-chorus' for my 2 amp rig

I dont use the drive at all. I run this in my effects loop and as my midi controller. For the money its hard to beat, and you get the great TC delays, reverbs and modulation effects.


nope,its just in my loop. the stuff I want to load in from my input is a seperate signal path

Great quality effects for the price. Many sound sculpting features. Sounds good enough for a pro rig.
Great quality effects for the price. Many sound sculpting features. Sounds good enough for a pro rig. The analogue drive sections sounds great but can also be taken completely out of the signal chain.. Only missing a wah sound to be used with the expression pedal.

edited over 2 years ago
Complete Compact Usable
I am using it in simplified set up for gigging, it works really well and most importantly means I can do away with a massive pedalboard, and could just simply have the Nova System and a Wah pedal and I am away! The effects are pristine in quality. I think the analogue drives are really good (not for metal). For pure simplicity, the Nova system is just fantastic!

I keep looking at this little guy because the G system is so pricey. I don't usually play with effects, so when I do I want something simple and all inclusive. I just wish it had the nova's loops and detachable rack module, but hey, it still seems awfully cool. Can you program it to send an analog latching or non-latching switch signal for amp channel switching tasks?

edited over 2 years ago
Great for fly dates, a let down for much else.
Everything on the TC Nova system sounds good, particularly the analog OD and Distortion, but the pitch effects, modulation effects other than trem and all the analog voiced delays sound a little plasticy compared with say the standalone toneprint pedals. Not sure why. Also, when you want compression its digital so the analog, uncolored pass through of your dry signal is shot to shit if you want to do traditional compression with 100% wet for a clean country pickin' patch with some tasteful verb or slapback... I dunno. I wanted to like this gadget more and it’s really not bad at all and VERY comprehensive for such a compact gadget, but even the drive and distortion is a letdown in that the circuits are dumbed down a bit from the standalone Nova Drive (which I also own, more on that anon dear fiends). While the Nova Drive is a TS/SD1 type OD and Proco Rat type Distortion with digital encoders for pots an, preset saving, midi in and thru but all analog and true bypass and you would think they ported that 1 to 1 into the fancy Nova system they DID NOT. The standalone dirt pedal has a Voodoo Lab sparkle drive type of clean blend knob on the OD side and independent bass and treble controls for the Rat style Distortion, both of which boutique mods to these classic circuits are ultra handy in my boat to really get the effects mated with your amp. I think because the Nova System offers EQ at the end of its signal chain they decided to simplify things in the drive circuit, but the system has digital EQ and setting it to 100% wet for a patch means compromising your analog signal (just like using the compressor). Furthermore the stereo implementation of this unit sucks. It’s basically just right and left wet signal out of phase like on a CE-3 chorus unless you use a cheesy ping pong delay or panning trem. Yes I can successfully drive 2 amps with this unit, but I wouldn't call it stereo. You can't assign any of the mono effects like detune to be 100% wet on one side and 100% dry on the other for instance, which makes double tracking effects impossible to execute without resorting to more pedals and processors. Long 'n short, this is NOT an all in 1 box for very application. It is an ideal Fly Date effects solution when you are using generic rented backline. If I have to build a pedalboard anyway I am going to get an independent midi controller, lay down my nova drive, Flashback X4 and something for detune into one side of my rig and have done with it. Good try TC. It’s sad that TC saw fit to discontinue the innovative Nova Drive but keep the mediocre Nova System on shelves. They could ditch the delay too since the Flashback series beat the crap out of the Nova Delays (which seem to be exactly the same as the early G series delays, nothing special other than ducking and 2290 modes). I got my Nova system really cheap and it’s worth it for $200USD or less in good condition. Otherwise I say pass on this one. TC should revamp tis little guy because it’s ALMOST the perfect compact MIDI effects solution but for a few details. Sadly those details matter a lot to me. I am probably going to liquidate this in favor of the discreet MIDI components I previously mentioned. Hopefully I will catch a good market week and make a small profit. I was promised jetpacks and got a hot air balloon, YMMV though.
TC Nova System
Its a great processor effects and has greats sounds

Awesome
Although a bit of a learning curve to program, the effects sound completely natural and usable.
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Details
Description
The Nova System is the complete, floor-based effects solution for the dedicated guitar player who knows quality when he sees it. Its unique inclusion of an all-analog programmable distortion/overdrive section under preset and expression control makes it the perfect choice whether you want to trim down your rack setup, step up from your pedal patchwork or simply just want the ultimate combination of operational simplicity and audio superiority.
Add to this an array of effects taken straight from the king of floor-based multi-effect processors; G-System and you have top-notch compression, EQ, noise gate, modulation, pitch, delay and reverb right at your feet. All you need is a guitar and an amp and you're good to go - first class.
Genuine, Analog Drive Circuit
What makes Nova System so remarkably different is the NDT - Nova Drive Technology - a unique drive and distortion circuit that gets you the best of both worlds: World-class analog distortion and overdrive with digital control. This is the real deal - no modeling. While the NDT is 100 percent analog and physically separated from the digital effects, its control potmeters are digital. This way you can tweak, store and recall as many drive settings as you want - you can even hook up an expression pedal and control the amount of distortion in real-time. Its wide gain range covers your every need from light breakup to heavy distortion.
Top-notch Effects
Equipped with TC branded quality effects from delays and reverbs to compressor, EQ and modulation, the TC Electronic Nova System is the obvious all-in-one effect processor for any guitarist who wants setup simplicity without sacrificing tonal fidelity. All neatly programmable and storable in 60 user presets. Its 30 factory presets give you a demonstration of just what the Nova System provides; great sound quality and an immense versatility of effects combinations - all designed to get you started right out of the box.
The Tone Bomber
Our lead guitarist's primary multi-effects rig. This thing is rock solid tank and is loaded with killer analog tones. The tone bank switching is a little on the pokey side, but with a TC Helicon G-Switch it's more than responsive enough for live work.
I had a little trouble getting on with mine (I use a 2 amp rig a lot and wanted to be able to split the drive to one side) though it was a fine sounding piece of gear.... swapped her in for a standalone nova drive and flashback X4, added a little MIDI looper for analog chorus and fuzz and got a giant footboard, but man, if the stereo were a little better implemented... I really miss the pitch shifter/ detune