Strymon has released TimeLine MX, the next generation of the popular stereo multi-delay pedal, featuring new algorithms and more.
Looking at pedalboards of many live musicians or in studios, you’ll often find the Strymon TimeLine. It’s considered one of the best-sounding multi-algorithm stereo delay pedals. Unfortunately, I’ve never owned one, so I can only say what I hear from others.
It’s also found in many Synthesizer setups. After 15 years on the market, it’s time for the next generation. After the Big Sky MX, Strymon has now also upgraded the TimeLine to the MX level.
Strymon TimeLine MX
The TimeLine MX is the next generation of their flagship stereo multi-delay pedal. At its core, the TimeLine MX follows the same path as the Strymon Big Sky MX.
A high-performance tri-core 800 MHz ARM processor powers the pedal and unlocks a new dual engine in the TimeLine MX.
It allows you to use two engines at once. For example, you can now combine delay and reverb in a single preset, not possible with the 2011 version. This makes the next generation significantly more comprehensive and versatile in terms of sound design.
The engines offer different routing options, including series, parallel, or split modes. Additionally, you have individual panning per engine. You can switch between delay engines with a single button press while editing.
New Delays To Explore
Talking about engines. TimeLine MX features 11 delay machines. Oil Can, Spectral, Drum, and Multitap are the new engines, plus you get all the beloved ones from the first version with significant enhancements.
One of the most unusual additions is certainly the new spectral delay, which makes experimental sounds possible. You can slice your signals into fragments and then mangle them further with various shapers: pitch, reverse, time-stretch, or filter effects.
This is perfect for all kinds of glitchy patterns or fascinating, experimental panoramas. On top, there is an adjustable grain shape that lets you create fascinating granular-style textures.
The new multitap delay with up to eight taps is just as exciting. It’s designed to create complex rhythms with per-tap control over pan, level, feedback, filter type, and cutoff frequencies. Strymon says that it’s easy to use and intuitive to operate via the new UI.
In the previous TimeLine, you had Swell and Duck as two separate delay machines. In the new Strymon TimeLine MX, these are now available for every delay engine.
Swell applies a fade-in of the selected time to the repeats, providing a softer attack, while Duck keeps delay repeats quieter while you’re playing and then naturally fades up and gets louder.
The Reverb Sauce + Looper
And the 12th new engine is an advanced reverb processor that provides everything from small rooms to expansive ambient soundscapes with beautiful long decays. Perfect in combination with one of the 11 delay machines
There is also an option to add saturation and overdrive to the harmonics before and after the reverb tank. On top of that, it has an optional, adjustable tremolo on the wet signal, inspired by the Flint pedal.
The original TimeLine pedal also features a stereo looper with a 30-second recording limit. That belongs to the past. The new Strymon TimeLine MX can now loop up to five minutes and can be placed before or after the delay effects.
Seven knobs are available for operation, primarily covering the most essential parameters. More advanced parameters must be adjusted via the value parameter. There are also three switches for changing presets or operating the looper.
Connectivity
On the back side, it has TRS stereo connectivity (L/R), providing selectable I/O configurations for any professional setup, including stereo or mono effects send/return, wet/ dry, and wet/dry/wet.
There is also an expression pedal input, a USB-C port, 5-pin MIDI in/out, and a power supply input. Yes, the TimeLine MX has full MIDI support. You can change presets and control parameters with MIDI via USB-C, TRS, or DIN connections.
It also lets you access the looper controls (including reverse, redo, and half-speed) without entering Looper mode.
First Impression
A very exciting successor to the hugely popular TimeLine delay pedal from 2011. The new spectral delay algorithm, in particular, makes it fun to try out, and there’s also the option to use two algorithms at the same time, including a reverb.
This is definitely next-generation. Significantly more pricey than the original, but you get far more power, algorithms, and creative possibilities.
Strymon Timeline MX is available now for $679/799€
More information here: Strymon
Available from my partners
Great technical specs but no actual innovation. It’s still an ugly box with a sparse interface that now has to cope with even more parameters. I wonder if they’ve updated the original algorithms to enable ping-pong delay?
Still waiting on the Rack unit that features all their algorithms. And hopefully it will feature more than just 1 stereo in and out.
even more expensive….