Time is of the essence
Let's zoom out. Let's scrub back. Let's play it all over again. Let's check the timeline. Though of course, if you're a fan of Strymon and their "Big Three" effect modules, there's likely little place else you'd rather be than here right now.
The times, they are a-changin', in this case, we're talking about one "Time" in particular: the Strymon TimeLine. Following up years of a Strymon fan favorite, the TimeLine MX is a welcomed addition to the Strymon library, and, believe it or not, arrives right on time.
This is the Strymon TimeLine MX Delay.
Time's On Our Side
Introducing the Strymon TimeLine MX Multi Delay
The "Big Three" of Strymon likely need no explanation. Just in case though, if you hear someone refer to the "Big Three" on their "State of the Board" post, they're talking about three pedals in particular. Strymon, one of effect pedals' leading laboratories in digital (and in recent times, analog) devices, have long wielded their "Big Three" of supersized effect pedals – the BigSky reverb, the Mobius modulation, and the TimeLine delay. Appearing frequently as a trio on the boards of Strymon superfans, Strymon's "Big Three" have a reputation to precede them, in addition to as units individually.
The TimeLine has long stood among delay fiends' favorite digital multi-delay units. Its original version, a twelve-barreled multi-delay effect offered enormous, ultra-modern playability and customization, making it a fast favorite of touring artists and apartment guitar heroes alike. Classic digital, analog, and tape delays landed alongside striking effect algorithms for reverse, tremolo, and swell, among many others, to both cover classic digital delay bases while undeniably making a name for the TimeLine of its own.
Highly personalized and deeply playable, the TimeLine is a staple of motherboard rigs on stages and in studios. After the release of one of its brethren's "big brother" MX version in recent years, the BigSky MX, the TimeLine MX debuts for the ravenous Strymon delay devotees ready for even more digital delay debauchery. Throughout it, the TimeLine MX plays familiarly to its predecessor with plenty of intuitive changes, modern updates, and musical step-ups at every turn. Let's get into it.
Life on the TimeLine
Strymon TimeLine MX Multi Delay Design and Controls
The Strymon TimeLine MX is a veritably upgraded version of the TimeLine. Perhaps slightly deceptively so, the TimeLine MX retains much of the original TimeLine's design ethos and language, preserving a very hands-on and intuitively playable experience at every step. Visually, between the original TimeLine and its new MX version, there isn't too much lost – or even changed – in translation. This probably doesn't sufficiently hint at the enormous upgrades at hand, but thankfully so, the TimeLine MX stays easy and breezy.
The Strymon TimeLine MX carries over much of what made the original TimeLine so beloved. Seven front-facing dials shape global parameters across each of the TimeLine's delay algorithms. Basic, accurate, and responsive Mix, Time, and Repeats controls fire up the delay effect experience easily with parameters closely tracked by the pedal's new big, bright OLED display. Start twisting a knob and see your changes numerically and graphically represented for quick recall of favorite settings.
Returning from the original TimeLine, Strymon's unique Grit, Filter, and Modulation controls join in on the global settings for introducing distortion and saturation to delay trails, spiking or smoothing frequencies, and warping modulated movement on any delay algorithm on the pedal.
These baseline tenets make a strong "square one" for the TimeLine MX. The pedal's effect navigation dial rounds twelve unique delay effects with all-new dedicated delay algorithms like busy Multitap, murky Oil Can, and expansive Spectral, among others. Let's get into what's new to the TimeLine table and how we get this show on the road.
Find Some Time
Strymon TimeLine MX Multi Delay Workflow and Tones
Centrally, the TimeLine MX preserves its originator's hands-on workflow and highly musical effect textures. Where the TimeLine MX steps up to the plate is with a couple functions that fundamentally build on its existing experience without muddying the waters when it comes to cutting to inspiring musicmaking.
Strymon TimeLine MX Multi Delay New Functions
One of the most monumental additions to the TimeLine's new MX version is its all-new dual-delay function, where, at any moment, a second delay effect can be dropped in along your current one. Essentially creating a second delay pedal to join in on your current TimeLine delay effect, your second effect can be routed into your first effect, the inverse, or in parallel for more fancy stereo effect mixing.
Those getting cozy with more modern effect devices capable of stacking two effects under one hood have reason to get excited with this function. Scroll through the TimeLine MX's fifty onboard effect algorithms, reach for the top left navigation dial, and quickly drop in a second delay algorithm all with the ease of a single press-and-twist motion. Navigating the TimeLine MX's internal workings is incredibly easy with plenty of visual responses to help you along on its bright, clear OLED screen.
Once you've got the navigation of the pedal's dials down, you'll get into the TimeLine MX's masterful delay mixes before long. Onboard, the TimeLine's new delay modes – along with its delay stacking function – add up to a vast spectrum of effects that hit so many highs of delay rhythm and texture.
Doubled-Up DelayThe TimeLine's basic digital, analog, and tape-style modes get you along in familiar, tried-and-true ways. When you get down to more mad scientist mixing, that's when the TimeLine MX really struts its stuff. Introduce classic analog-style delays to the pedal's new hazy Oil Can delays for a double-down on darkness. Pair up a crisp digital delay with new Multitap delays for a furious flood of repeats. Mix Lo-Fi and new Spectral delay textures to get weird and enlightened as your delay trails drift along to the edge of the universe. What you get with the TimeLine MX is the opportunity to play matchmaker on the most thoroughly modern of digital delay effects and shape every outcome to taste down to the smallest detail.
Get By in Time
Strymon TimeLine MX Multi Delay Further Functions
One of the longest-running, perhaps most defining characteristics of the Strymon catalog universally is its pension for modern controls and connections. The TimeLine MX, unsurprisingly at this point, embraces this reputation fully with even more bells and whistles found throughout.
- Full Stereo Routing – Just as its two pairs of ins and outs would have you believe, the TimeLine MX is fully stereo-equipped. Route effects mono-to-stereo, mono-to-mono, or full stereo altogether. What's better, this stereo-readiness is not solely locked to the pedal's ins and outs. The TimeLine MX's onboard FX loop also features stereo capability for making true art of your looped-in effects units.
- Stereo Looper – A returning feature from the original TimeLine, the TimeLine MX features a robust looper with stereo capability. Bumped up from its predecessor's thirty-second recording maximum to a lengthy five minutes, the TimeLine MX takes advantage of its stereo routing, its easily communicative OLED screen, and its delaying superpowers. Bring your effect mixes over to the looper and build a great sequence to riff upon with easy tracking and navigation via a real-time loop progress bar on the OLED display.
- MIDI – Any doubts Strymon would bring their A-Game in the digital control realm on the TimeLine MX are dashed with the brand's classic built-up MIDI control. MIDI DIN connections appear alongside new MIDI USB-C and MIDI TRS connections for every opportunity to get into the weeds with your remote digital control. Are you a player who gets into expansive, MIDI mad science? Rest easy, Strymon has your back.
- Expression Control – If you've got a backlog of Strymon controllers looking for action, the TimeLine MX features an expression control connection ready for your Strymon MiniSwitch, MultiSwitch, and MultiSwitch Plus.
Strymon TimeLine MX Multi Delay Final Thoughts
For longstanding fans of the original Strymon TimeLine, the TimeLine MX is a sequel worth the wait. The pedal's original masterful balance of crystalline digital effects and tangible sound shaping experiences carries over in full technicolor – and steps forward again in 3D. Quick and intuitive effect building and navigation bolster and highlight the TimeLine MX's new effect textures, as the pedal's headache-less design elevates everything downstream. Totally, the TimeLine MX translates the instantly-inspiring experience of its predecessor into the modern day with improvements everywhere you'd want them and expect them.
Fans new and experienced to the TimeLine have quite the feast on their hands – and truly, the only thing to stay salivating for is a hypothetical Mobius MX to close out Strymon's "Big Three." We'll catch you back here for that, how about it?
