The problem with the HOF mini (and how to fix it)

Branshen

The Hall of Fame mini is a great idea. A single knob that controls a simple effect. Reverb. In reality, it works well enough, the more you turn it, the more reverb you get. But it has some problems. And this comes from being derivative of another product. After all, it's a cut down version of the Hall of Fame pedal, which has 4 knobs. 

When TC programmed the HOF mini, they neglected to do it properly. While, the single knob is named "reverb", the knob controls ONLY reverb level, but leaves the reverb length unaltered. As a result, the more you turn up the pedal, the louder the reverb gets, but the reverb length is always the same! With the original Hall of fame, you had three different knobs, one for reverb volume, one for decay, and a third one for tone, and so it worked fine. To make a one knob pedal work properly, the reverb knob should affect both level and time at the same time when turned.

These are the settings for the Default spring reverb, as you can see on the top left chart. 

When the knob is at minimum, the reverb level is at -79dB.

When the knob is at halfway, the reverb level is at -6dB.

When the knob is at maximum, the reverb level is at 0dB.

The settings are very roughly set, as a result, anything less than 9'o clock on the pedal, you will hear no reverb, and when you can hear a little of the reverb, the reverb level is soft but the decay sounds unnaturally long (this is more apparent in the bigger hall/ambient type reverbs). When you turn the pedal up, the reverb gets louder, but the reverb time does not get longer.

Below the chart is a section called "knob selection", and this is a powerful parameter shaping tool. Using it, you can control multiple parameters with the same knob. The key ironing out the above problem is to set up a second parameter so that the reverb knob controls the reverb time in conjunction with the reverb volume.

The following two screenshots are my settings for a patch called "Spring to Chorus Ambience"

This first Screenshot shows a red line through the graph, and this is my reverb decay. I've set it so that

When the knob is at minimum, the reverb decay is 1.855s.

When the knob is at halfway, the reverb decay is 4.316s.

When the knob is at maximum, the reverb decay is 10.261s.

(Note: updated settings at PPS below)

This second screenshot shows my fix to the awkward reverb fx levels set up by TC. So when the pedal is turned all the way down, the reverb is soft and short. 

When the knob is at minimum, the reverb level is at -12dB.

When the knob is at halfway, the reverb level is at -7dB.

When the knob is at maximum, the reverb level is at 0dB.

(Note: updated settings at PPS below)

As a result, I have a very usable reverb level throughout the whole range of the turn of the knob. And it sounds much more natural and springlike. Perfect!

This whole process of adding a parameter to the knob will improve any reverb model on the HOF. It doesn't take too long but requires a discerning ear. Leave me some feedback if this helps

P.S. I've also adjusted the EQ of the reverb to make the spring less metallic and less boomy. And I added modulation to the pedal, which only activates at high levels of reverb. I can do a writeup of these processes if anyone is interested. 

P.P.S If anyone is interested, I've polished these settings even more

1. HiFactor increased to: -1

2. Increased decay to: 3.598s at 25% mark, 5.098s at 50% mark.

3. Brought up fx level abit: it's now -9, -7, -6, -3, 0dB.

monquixote

Very good idea. 

I've considered a HoF Mini, but had similar concerns. 

Might have to get one now (although I'd be doing a similar thing for plate verb)

Branshen

The HOF mini is an ideal pedal for tweakers in my opinion. It's just so versatile with the editor!

It would be be hard for me to be happy with any other reverb pedal because I'm used to roomworks and other reverb plugins in Cubase. With the HOF mini, I can be as pedantic about the reverb as I want. But when it comes to playing, I have a simple knob that won't distract me from playing. 

Jaded

I've been neglecting the editor since I bought my HOF mini, mostly been sticking the ones available on the app (for convenience) but I think I might try stealing your settings here and trying them out as the whole "lower than 9 o'clock you get no verb" does annoy me.

Branshen

@jaded the toneprints from the apps were really designed for the full size hall of fame and are okay at best with the HOF mini. The HOF minis really need their own set of specialised toneprints. I neglected the editor for a few months too because of laziness. I'm glad I finally got down to it because it is very rewarding. 

Jaded

Well I've just finished copying and then tweaking the settings. 100% better than with the other toneprints! 

Not regretting selling my Hardwire reverb quite so much now. It actually sounds pretty similar, I'd love to give it a little more splash like the Hardwire had but it's not that important. 

I might just spend an afternoon one day making some good ambient reverbs, maybe see if I can make the first half of the knob a similar sounding spring and the second half more like a big hall/plate reverb.

Branshen

@jaded Assuming that you're talking about spring reverb, and also that I'm understanding your meaning of the word "splash" correctly, I think you want to turn up the parameter "hi factor" more. Max it out, see if you like it, then find a medium ground. I find -1 to be pretty splashy. You may want to play around with the "hi color" too. The base settings for the spring toneprint are pretty splashy and may be worth reverting to if you want that sound. I agree and I reckon my screenshot settings may have overdarkened it a tad. I've just polished up the settings this morning and included it in the P.P.S of the original post.

TC have named them funny, but I think basically they're both EQ controls. HiFactor deals with basic high end, and HiColor deals with high-high end, giving the reverb "sparkle".

Also I think the key to making it go from spring to a hall is to change the pre-delay times. Have a look at the differences between the spring presets and the halls, they'll give you a good idea of what needs changing. 

paulnb57

Is it possible to share your new settings as a toneprint? I'd like to try them but am clueless how to do what you have.....

Branshen

@paulnb57 TC doesn't allow users to export toneprints unfortunately. So you'll have to put them in manually. You can download the editor below, and follow the settings from my two screenshots to copy my settings. Note the I've further polished the sound in the P.P.S and I think it's better sounding than my "spring to chorus ambience" V1.

http://www.tcelectronic.com/toneprint-editor/

paulnb57

Thanks I'll give it a go.....

Paul

GuyBoden

Excellent post.

d8m

I had a HOF mini when they first came out and never really got on with it.

I just beamed artists toneprints across to see what it sounded like but never bothered editing any myself.

Lately I have been trying to theorise a compact board and the TC mini pedals keep coming up as options but I am constantly but of by the need to have a PC/IOS to edit anything.

The fact that the full editor is available for the ipad now though sure does look tempting!

Branshen

@Guyboden, Thanks

@d8m, after the initial hassle of programming, I don't touch it anymore, so it is essentially set and forget apart from turning that one knob when using it. Now, turning the knob is so satisfying because I know exactly what it's doing and it gives me exactly what I want.

stickyfiddle

I don't even have a HOF or HOF mini, but this is a really good post!

d8m

Does the toneprint editor for the iPad let you beam your own prints across or do you need a cable?

cruxiform

I bought a HOF mini yesterday and can't wait to try this out! Thanks @Branshen for an interesting post!

paulnb57

Good luck trying this out!

I got close to launching it into the garden......

Managed to download the software on to the imac

Managed to find a USB lead

Managed to get the mac to recognise the HOF mini

Managed to alter all the settings to the same as the screenshot above, but the graph on the upper left, clueless, no idea!

 Fuckit!

Branshen

@d8m no clue! I work on a PC.

@paulnb57 you move the points on the graph itself. There's 4 hit points you can just hold and move. Alternatively, click the figures below the hit points, and modify it.

ThePrettyDamned

Great post! This makes the HOF mini way more attractive to me, I didn't realise the sheer depth of editing you can get on that one knob. Really fabulous.

paulnb57

Its gonna rain again tomorrow, so no beach, another try methinks.....

lukedlb

Great posts so worthy of a resurrection. I’m tempted to get the hof to replace my wampler faux spring reverb.