BOSS RV-3 vs. BOSS RV-5: Digital Reverbs - Comparison Video / Demo

This is a comparison demo of the BOSS RV-3 and RV-5. I'm mainly showing the differences between the strength of the reverbs, especially the plate reverbs. I did a demo of the RV-5 a few months ago, if you're interested in that.

The big difference between the two units is that the RV-3 has a 'mix system' while the RV-5 has a 'level system'. The RV-3 actually mixes your dry signal in with the wet and the RV-5 lays the reverb on top of your dry signal, still making it wet, but in a different manner. I prefer the RV-5 because of its Modulated reverb. The rest of the reverbs on both units have never impressed me.

Another difference is that the RV-5 injects a bit more noise on higher tone settings than the RV-3 but the RV-3's delays are accompanied by noise as well. The rest of the reverbs are pretty identical though the RV-3 can get a bit dramatic, can do 100% wet and has delay. Though .. modulated reverb pwns! Therefore the RV-5 is my choice to beat.

By the way, the only additional pedal I'm using in this demo is the Keeley C4.

As you can see, my RV-3 is modded with a high-cut switch [and an extremely bright white LED - as you can see]. I'm not really using it in this video but if you care, you can hear it in action here:
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tzUEATU_js

- - -

Gear used for recording:
- Camera: Canon PowerShot A470
- Customized Sony Vaio vgn-ns11m Audio Laptop: dualcore processor, 4 GB RAM memory, 250 GB harddrive
- Shure SM57
- PreSonus FirePod
- Ableton Live 6.01
- Added a Limiter, and a tiny bit of EQ to even everything out as much as possible.

- - -

Gear used:

Guitar:
- Fender '93 ltd. Golden Jazzmaster - CiJ w/ matching headstock
[Mustang Bridge, Buzz Stop added and Tremolo Arm fixed]
.012 Elixir strings (tuned to C Standard)
( http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/DemolitionColorScheme/DemolitionColorSc... )

Amp:
- Fender '69 Silverface [modded to Blackface] Twin Reverb
( http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/DemolitionColorScheme/DemolitionColorSc... )

Pedalboard:
- IZAH Pedalboard - July 2009
( http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/DemolitionColorScheme/DemolitionColorSc... )

Signal chain:
- Keeley C4 - 4 Knob Compressor
- Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret
- Custom True Bypass Looper - 1 Loop & 1 Tuner Out
:: IN ::
LOOP:
- Eventide ModFactor
- Line 6 Echo Park
- Eventide TimeFactor
- Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man [modded: true bypass]
- BOSS RV-5
TUNER OUT:
- BOSS TU-2
:: OUT ::
- BBE Sonic Stomp (in the Mesa Boogie rack)
:: Mesa Boogie FX Loop ::
- BOSS GE-7 (in the Mesa Boogie rack) [modded: 9V input, blue LED]

- 2x Burkey Flatliner SIX (power supply) (one on the board, one in the Mesa Boogie rack)

- - -

More info on the total gear [for all you gearheads]:
- http://guitargeek.com/chat/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100652

All mods by Technophobia Analog Audio Solutions:
- http://technophobia.co.nr/

- - -

For info on my music projects, see:
- Arafúra:
http://www.MySpace.com/ArafuraMusic
Ambient / Post-Rock / Shoegaze / Classical

- IZAH:
http://www.MySpace.com/IZAHband
Post-Metal / Sludge / Progressive

Category:

Music

Tags:

• BOSS
• RV-3
• RV-5
• RV
• Digital
• Reverb
• Delay
• Plate
• Room
• Hall
• Modulate
• Modulated
• Gated
• High
• Cut
• Mod
• Technophobia
• Analog
• Audio
• Solutions
• Keeley
• C4
• Compressor
• Fender
• Twin
• Jazzmaster
• Arafúra
• Arafura
• IZAH
• Comparison
• Demo
• Demonstration
• Gear

[UltimateGuitarist17]

I bought a boss RV-5 do you experience annoying burping noises on gate, hall and spring. I do and i dont know if its normal or not. Its only heard on clean setting with and/or moderate distortion. when i hit the strings hard , or just one string.... Any help thanks!

[DemoColorScheme]

@UltimateGuitarist17

I never use those settings, so I can't say, but it definitely doesn't sound normal. What do you mean exactly by bumping noise?

[UltimateGuitarist17]

@UltimateGuitarist17 its kinda sounds like a reverb effect the only way to describe is it sounds like it "blurps" and reverberates a bit before very shortly decaying and its so rather annoying... I was wrong though it happens on every mode except modulation.... clean or dirt though dirty tends to drown.

Try playing an open low E string with clean setting & level to max, tone to max. Also D string at the 9 fret makes it sound there too, try that a few times and see if you get any unwanted noise

[DemoColorScheme]

@UltimateGuitarist17

No clue, man. My RV-5 is in my rack, so I can't be bothered taking it out for a test drive. The 'blurp' you describes sounds like the spring simulation, like you commented on in the other vid. Maybe something is wrong with your RV-5 or maybe, which I think is what's happening here, is that you're hearing the pre-delay of the modes which gets accentuated by the fact that you have the tone and level maxed. What happens if you back down?

[GuitarRocks23455]

What are some good settings on the rv3 for a bluesy reverb sounds?

[DemoColorScheme]

@GuitarRocks23455

A subtle spring or hall or even room setting will do, but in all honesty, for a nice blues 'verb there are WAY better reverbs out there.

[sprintbass]

i am buying an rv 5 to use with my ceb chorus boss pedal the chrous made for bass box just doesnt have enough reverb to it..i am buying this for my fretless bass which i want to get the same tones as pino palladino did and yes its a musicman stingray bass.i have people who say OH use something software wise..NO NO NO i will NOT be dependant on that crap...also multi boards..if one breaks they ALL are useless.i play alot of dance and funk and new wave id rather have a collection of peds anyway

[dashboardmenagerie]

@UtimateGuitarist17 gated reverb pretty much IS an annoying burping sound, so...

[colscols]

@UltimateGuitarist17 Hi, You sure its not a pickup problem only i have had this kind of thing in the past ?

[coldandhomeless]

@BODYSNATCHER90 actually if you plug in to input 2 output 2 of the rv5 it has the same effect without the pick attack... i use it with my parralel effects loop when i dont want the volume to increase, but still have effects...