Digitech Hardwire TR-7 Tremolo/Rotary
The Hardwire line was a line that combined a lot of functionality with a durable platform. It has been discontinued.
What you get here are 4 tremolo modes, 1 rotary mode, and 2 "Vibrato" modes. You do get stereo operation, however, for most modes this is simply to pass a stereo signal, not to pan the Tremolo back and forth between 2 speakers.
This article will focus specifically on the Tremolo modes.
The mode aptly named "Tremolo" is exactly that. Basic amplitude modulation. You get the option of controlling the wave form. Which wave forms you ask?! Well that's a great question...one digitech should have answered in their documentation...and didn't. So here you go...
What you get here are 4 tremolo modes, 1 rotary mode, and 2 "Vibrato" modes. You do get stereo operation, however, for most modes this is simply to pass a stereo signal, not to pan the Tremolo back and forth between 2 speakers.
This article will focus specifically on the Tremolo modes.
The mode aptly named "Tremolo" is exactly that. Basic amplitude modulation. You get the option of controlling the wave form. Which wave forms you ask?! Well that's a great question...one digitech should have answered in their documentation...and didn't. So here you go...
So the center position is triangle, the left is sine wave, and the right is square. All of which are pretty symmetrical.
The next mode is "Bias", which emulates the Bias trem found in VOX amplifiers. Lets just go with sine wave...it's sine wave tremolo. But there is a slight variation from the sine wave found on Tremolo mode.
Our third mode is Optical, which emulates the Optical tremolo found in Fender Amps. It is a choppier, squarish wave type tremolo.
The only control that isn't your standard fair on this pedal is the modify knob, which does different things depending on the mode. For both Bias and Optical, it simply controls the tone. For Tremolo mode it controls the shape.
Duo trem is our final Tremolo mode and it is a mode that combines 2 tremolos in series which allows you to get syncopated rhythms. You have control over the overall depth of both Tremolos as well as 2 speed controls. Below is a picture showing some of the various speed settings. They are definitely using a sine wave on this mode.
The TR-7 is not the best sounding Tremolo. It is ok. For those that want something good enough to gig with...that is simple and durable. This would be a great choice. It can fit the bill of several effects in one, so it can save you some pedal board real-estate. But don't expect miracles here. This is your budget...multi mode pedal. Dabbler in a bunch of stuff, master of none of it.
The pedal does have a good range of speed.
Slowest: 1890 ms per cycle
Fastest: 90 ms per cycle
Pro's
- Cheap
- Durable...Great for gigging
- Covers most bases
- Syncopated Trem
- Duo Tremolo, not often found on trems of this price point
- Tone control on 2 modes
- Good range of speeds
- Durable...Great for gigging
- Covers most bases
- Syncopated Trem
- Duo Tremolo, not often found on trems of this price point
- Tone control on 2 modes
- Good range of speeds
Con's
- Bias mode is not deep sounding- Very symetrical wave forms
- No volume adjustment
- There are "clicks" on the knob adjustments. While they are small, some times it just doesn't allow you to dial in EXACTLY what you want to hear due to those.
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