Boss RRV-10 (micro rack) and RV-2 comparison

[The_Doc]

As expected, the RRV-10 sounded superb through the fx loop of a JC- 40 amp. Works really well as it’s a mono send and stereo return on that amp. The stereo spread was excellent which gave some real depth to the reverbs. That ‘reverse’ delay still sounded pretty bizarre - almost like an SG-1 Slow Gear on some settings !

[visserman]

Thanks for the review Doc.

Before that I would bet that the rack would beat the hell out of the pedal.

Nice to know that this is not the case.

Yes that is what I thought at first as well.
Those early racks were more primitive that later ones I guess.

With multi effectors it is a similar thing: You have a lot of programmability, but their sound can be close to a compact pedal.
Nothing beats a good compact pedal eh?

Nice to see you doing this Doc.
Have you got the Micro Rack only recently or is this comparison something you had never done before?
Cheers!

[Pepe]

Those early racks were more primitive that later ones I guess.

For a late '80s unit the RRV-10 has a densely packed circuit board:





Definitely more than what could be fitted inside a compact pedal, even though the RV-2 has a sandwich board. The '90s PRO series is less primitive, for sure. But that's like comparing an Atari ST or Amiga 500 with a 486 IBM PC.

Maybe the pedal version was optimised for use with guitar amps, which results in a tonal change? Both units were published in the same year, so that might be the answer: the rack unit sonically optimised for studio use, the RV-2 sonically optimised for amp use.

[visserman]

Yes Pepe that is it: Rack units for studio use, and compacts for Preforming use ( Less options, but whatever sound you dial in, it will be useable and of acceptable quality)
Cheers!

[The_Doc]

I agree - they do seemed to be voiced differently.

In answer to your earlier question visserman, I bought most of the Micro Rack series as they were launched to equip my first home recording set up. I hadn’t done any comparisons with the pedals until now. The Micro Rack units have gathered dust in a forgotten 19” rack in the studio for several years but I think they are now going to be resurrected in the Fx loop of a JC-40 !

[bigtone23]

Very cool! Really like the comparison, thanks for doing that!

[visserman]

I agree - they do seemed to be voiced differently.

In answer to your earlier question visserman, I bought most of the Micro Rack series as they were launched to equip my first home recording set up. I hadn’t done any comparisons with the pedals until now. The Micro Rack units have gathered dust in a forgotten 19” rack in the studio for several years but I think they are now going to be resurrected in the Fx loop of a JC-40 !

Thanks, always good to do this revisiting thing. Can be very inspiring and may make you rethink your approach to a certain sound chain!