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Digitech RP155 guitar effects processor review
Features 10/10
Features:
- USB audio interface functionality, 24-bit, 44.1kHz (USB Full Speed 1.1)
- USB editing via Digitech X-Edit software (free download from their website)
- 22 amps
- 13 cabs
- 48 effects (including Digitech Whammy)
- 11 simultaneous effects
- Lexicon reverbs
- External expression pedal connectivity
- 20 second looper
- Built-in chromatic tuner
- Built-in drum machine/metronome
This unit has pretty much everything. You can tune your guitar, practice with drum beats, jam along with yourself using the looper functionality, record and edit patches on a computer and connect additional expression pedal to control wah and Whammy effects.
Sound quality 8.5/10
The RP155 sounds really good for an inexpensive digital effects processor that it is. There are plenty of effects to choose from and just about enough of amp simulations. I think it wouldn't hurt anyone if it had more hi-gain amps - you get amp sounds based on Marshall JCM800, JCM900, Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. There are also Digitech originals - Solo, Metal and High Gain. What's cool is that there are 10 distortions that can be used in front of an amp. These include simulations of Ibanez Tube Screamers, BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone and DS-1 Distortion. There are also simulations of ProCo Rat, Big Muff Pi and DOD Grunge.
The RP155 does its job as an USB audio interface and it sounds even better recorded. There's still some digital quality in its tone, but it makes a better impression here than a little bit more expensive ZOOM G2Nu. Recording multiple layers is a breeze and tones produced by this Digitech are dynamic.
It takes the RP155 approx. 1.5ms to process guitar signal - that's a very good result.
Ease of use 9/10
The RPP155 has an intuitive and friendly interface. USB editing is a bless, althouth the X-Edit software reacts slowly to user actions. Perhaps this is because the unit uses only Full Speed USB 1.1 interface.
Master Volume knob comes handy in computer recording situations - it really control master volume, that is both guitar tone and computer audio levels.
There's also USB/RP balance control in Audio Setup of the X-EDIT (shown below).
There's also another useful button located near to the RP155's outputs that you can use to switch cab simulation module on and off (AMP/MIXER).
Seperate phones output is another convenience - the RP155 can be permamently connected to both monitors and headphones.
Price 10/10
With such features and decent sound quality it's a hit. It's not the best sounding guitar modeler out there, but it does what it's supposed to do and offers really a lot.
Advantages
Quite good sound qualityDrawbacks
The X-EDIT takes a lot of CPU time and its interface is sluggish (checked under OS X)Product page on www.digitech.com
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