TC Electronics Arena Reverb pedal

**Jim Soloway** · 12-11-2013, 07:40 PM

The TC Electronics Arena Reverb pedal is a customized version of TC's Hall Of Fame pedal that is an exclusive for Musician's Friend. It has the same basic features with a few different reverb than the HOF including one that was designed specifically for this pedal. MF is currently selling it for $104 including shipping. that's about $50 less than the HOF.

Like most of the TC pedals it supports the "tone print" option allowing you to download custom patches but at least for the moment, there are enough nice verbs on this thing straight out of the box to keep me happy for quite while.

The pedals is absolutely drop dead silent and is true by pass. There are FX level, decay and a tone control as well as a toggle switch for short and long pre-delay. Despite all of the controls I was able to get several very natural sounding verbs without any effort at all. It's a brand new pedal for me, so this is strictly a first impression but right now I'm thrilled. I ended up paying extra to get it to Canada but it was still less than the HOF and even at the higher Canadian price, I still consider this to be a bargain. At the US price, it's a steal.

**jorgemg1984** · 12-11-2013, 08:07 PM

I also have a HOF and it's amazing for subtle reverbs... I love the Steve Morse toneprints. The only weak thing about the pedal is the spring reverb.

**pkirk** · 12-11-2013, 08:23 PM

hey jim and jorgemg1984, I just got one recently too. I'm pretty happy with it (I've been doing duets with a bass player and with my new VHT amp I've never been so satisfied with my soudn before)

SO far I've gotten the best result with the "Parl" with decay at 1, fx at 11, tone about 12 oclock.

I havent tried the toneprint yet. I agree the spring is not great which confuses me since spring was my favorite on the nanoverb, which doesnt work so well anymore. My other reverb is a neunaber wet, but I like more flexibility.

What settings have you found that work well (lets say for a "classic jazz sound", whatever that might mean?)

**jorgemg1984** · 12-11-2013, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by pkirk

hey jim and jorgemg1984, I just got one recently too. I'm pretty happy with it (I've been doing duets with a bass player and with my new VHT amp I've never been so satisfied with my soudn before)

SO far I've gotten the best result with the "Parl" with decay at 1, fx at 11, tone about 12 oclock.

I havent tried the toneprint yet. I agree the spring is not great which confuses me since spring was my favorite on the nanoverb, which doesnt work so well anymore. My other reverb is a neunaber wet, but I like more flexibility.

What settings have you found that work well (lets say for a "classic jazz sound", whatever that might mean?)

I usually use one of the Steve Morse toneprints, either "Spring Reverb" (sounds very good but not like a spring reverb) or "Beautiful Reverb". I use tone on 100%, I like bright reverbs, they add presence. I would say decay and mix around 25% 30%, depends on the room. I like subtle yet present reverbs... if I want more depth I will use a delay

**xuoham** · 12-11-2013, 10:37 PM

The very nice thing with this toneprint concept is that one can assign three parameters to one single knob.

With only the decay knob, i can go from a small amount of a very short, rather bright room reverb to a generous amount of lush, long and rather dark church reverb, and everything in between.
Very useful for live and instant tweaking on the fly.

As said, unless you need a good spring reverb, the HOF has an awesome cost performance ratio.

**spiral** · 12-12-2013, 06:02 PM

+1 on a TC Reverb. I have the Trinity which is the PGS version of the HOF. It sounds fantastic and I love how simple it is to operate. $100 is a good deal for the Area if it is from the same bloodline.

**nado64** · 12-13-2013, 04:23 AM

I have the Hall of Fame, too.
I use the "Toneprint Editor" free software to make the setting on my pc.
But it's for being fussy, because the no-toneprint reverbs are already excellent.
I bought an used pedal in a mint condition for 100euros with shipping.

My opinion is very positive about this pedal, but there are some negative things :

- I had a lot of compatibility issues between my MSWindows drivers and the pedal.
The TC tech understood nothing about the technology.
I had to find the soluce of the puzzle alone : the pedal was case sensitive of the driver name.

- The original battery was new, in the plastic. I tried it, but it hasn't power enough.
So, in my case, I prefer to have a power supply unit, which is not include with the toy.

- In the fx loop, the sound was very bad. This pedal must be plugged in front of the amp.

Today, if I wanted a TC reverb, I think I will go to the mini-hof because, it's small, it has one knob, and the "expert" setting can be done on the "toneprint editor".

**GuyBoden** · 12-13-2013, 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by nado64

Today, if I wanted a TC reverb, I think I will go to the mini-hof because, it's small, it has one knob, and the "expert" setting can be done on the "toneprint editor".

An advantage is that the Hall of Fame has the "Stereo option", the mini HOF doesn't.

I'd like to ask TC Electronic, why is this European built product less expensive in the US than Europe?

**jorgemg1984** · 12-13-2013, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by nado64

I have the Hall of Fame, too.
I use the "Toneprint Editor" free software to make the setting on my pc.
But it's for being fussy, because the no-toneprint reverbs are already excellent.
I bought an used pedal in a mint condition for 100euros with shipping.

My opinion is very positive about this pedal, but there are some negative things :

- I had a lot of compatibility issues between my MSWindows drivers and the pedal.
The TC tech understood nothing about the technology.
I had to find the soluce of the puzzle alone : the pedal was case sensitive of the driver name.

- The original battery was new, in the plastic. I tried it, but it hasn't power enough.
So, in my case, I prefer to have a power supply unit, which is not include with the toy.

- In the fx loop, the sound was very bad. This pedal must be plugged in front of the amp.

Today, if I wanted a TC reverb, I think I will go to the mini-hof because, it's small, it has one knob, and the "expert" setting can be done on the "toneprint editor".

Most pedals don't have a power supply these days unless they are very "hungry" pedals (200ma or more) or have 12v or 18v... most 9v 100ma pedals can be powered with pedalboards power supplies or most 9v power suplies so no need for manufacturers to include them.

I have used mine in the fx loop of the mambo and the fx loop of the henriksen (modded, not stock) and works like a charm... these tc pedals can handle line level so they should sound great in most fx loops! In fact it sounds much better in the fx loop of my amps than in front... blends much more naturally with the sound. I always prefer delay and reverb in the loop, that's why I modded the Henriksen

**nado64** · 12-13-2013, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

... In fact it sounds much better in the fx loop of my amps than in front... blends much more naturally with the sound...

Don't say me that... I go to spend too much time to try , again !
After my missed try, I had a discussion about this pedal in the FX loop with a rock player and another discussion with the seller, and the both say me "too bad in the fx loop, put in front of". So, my opinon had been strengthened.

How do you set the input level of the FX loop, low, normal, high ?
And how do you set the mini-knobs at the back of the pedal ?

For information, I have an orange Roland Cube 60.

**Loobs** · 12-13-2013, 10:58 AM

Hi Jim - how are the stock tones different than the original HoF? I had one a few years ago, was never that blown away by it.

**Jim Soloway** · 12-13-2013, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Loobs

Hi Jim - how are the stock tones different than the original HoF? I had one a few years ago, was never that blown away by it.

There are a few different settings (including one custom setting for this model) but my understanding is that the basics are the same so the chances are that if you didn't like the HOF, you probably would't like this either.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 12-13-2013, 01:18 PM

TC's HoF has a "gated" reverb that is the opposite of what I'd like: it adds reverb until you stop playing then it cuts off! I'd like something that either cuts off the reverb or dials it back when I'm playing (to avoid muddying it up) but then swells when I hold a note(s) to fill out the sound. Anyone know of an effect like that? I think some delays has "ducking" which is like that, am I right?

**jorgemg1984** · 12-13-2013, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by nado64

Don't say me that... I go to spend too much time to try , again !
After my missed try, I had a discussion about this pedal in the FX loop with a rock player and another discussion with the seller, and the both say me "too bad in the fx loop, put in front of". So, my opinon had been strengthened.

How do you set the input level of the FX loop, low, normal, high ?
And how do you set the mini-knobs at the back of the pedal ?

For information, I have an orange Roland Cube 60.

A lot of people use delays and reverbs on the loop if given the chance... I don't have an input level on my fx loops. Just plug and play, and they sound great!! The TC pedals automatically adjust to fx loop level, which is great.

**jorgemg1984** · 12-13-2013, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

TC's HoF has a "gated" reverb that is the opposite of what I'd like: it adds reverb until you stop playing then it cuts off! I'd like something that either cuts off the reverb or dials it back when I'm playing (to avoid muddying it up) but then swells when I hold a note(s) to fill out the sound. Anyone know of an effect like that? I think some delays has "ducking" which is like that, am I right?

I think so. A carefully set delay will achieve that goal... it's what I do

**Wildcat** · 12-13-2013, 07:44 PM

Speaking of delay, I have been thinking and searching for a delay pedal to complement my reverb pedal, older Holy Grail and now the TC Arena. I like a touch of both with some tremolo for shimmer which I get from my 64 Bandmaster.

Any suggestions? TC does make the Flashback pedal, but a little more sophisticated than what I was thinking or wanted.

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

I think so. A carefully set delay will achieve that goal... it's what I do

**jorgemg1984** · 12-13-2013, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

I think so. A carefully set delay will achieve that goal... it's what I do

I meant non-ducking delays, this is: any delay as long as it's well set can sort of achieve that sound. Specially if it's dark.

**jorgemg1984** · 12-13-2013, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Wildcat

Speaking of delay, I have been thinking and searching for a delay pedal to complement my reverb pedal, older Holy Grail and now the TC Arena. I like a touch of both with some tremolo for shimmer which I get from my 64 Bandmaster.

Any suggestions? TC does make the Flashback pedal, but a little more sophisticated than what I was thinking or wanted.

Some analogs sound good but they can have white noise and be short on the delay time. So I would go with a digital delay. Of all the affordable ones the flachback is my favorite... Why is it too much sophisticated?

**Wildcat** · 12-13-2013, 08:13 PM

When compared to the MXR Carbon Copy which understand is fairly popular. 131 rating, all 5 stars. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampli...-effects-pedal

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Why is it too much sophisticated?

**jorgemg1984** · 12-13-2013, 08:21 PM

Oh yeah... it's a good pedal. VERY dark... but 600ms is not enough for me. I "designed" a delay on the flashback toneprint software that comes very close to the carbon copy but I use vibrato instead of chorus and have much more delay time.

**Loobs** · 12-14-2013, 09:39 AM

Look for a used Ibanez Delay Champ - an underrated 80s analog delay. Same chipset as a Boss DM-2 / Ibanez AD9. Great for a little ambience or slapback.

MXR Carbon Copy is a nice choice too.

**Wildcat** · 12-14-2013, 08:03 PM

Jorge, Your the best!! Your depth of knowledge with technical gear is a valued resource to this neophyte. Thank you.

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Oh yeah... it's a good pedal. VERY dark... but 600ms is not enough for me. I "designed" a delay on the flashback toneprint software that comes very close to the carbon copy but I use vibrato instead of chorus and have much more delay time.

**jorgemg1984** · 12-14-2013, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by Wildcat

Jorge, Your the best!! Your depth of knowledge with technical gear is a valued resource to this neophyte. Thank you.

Always a pleaure to help... it was important for me to learn these things but I am at a point I don't want to know more about thus stuff, my focus will be just on music

It's probably wiser to keep this conversation by PM but I do feel the Flashback is the best simple delay there is - just use the software to determine how dark / bright you want the repeats, add any modulation you want.. and you're done

Of course if you can live with 600ms or less and like a dark delay just getting the CC might be the fastest path!