M300
Dual Engine Processor


 The T.C. Electronic M300 is a 1-rack-unit multi-effect processor featuring two separate stereo processing units: a multi-effect engine, and a dedicated reverb engine.  This was T.C.'s entry-level unit, but offered great quality and - most of all - ease of programming, with processing algorithms ported from their more expensive and prestigious effect racks.

The M300 is without a doubt a classy processor!  Very clean, sounds nice, and is extremely easy to use (not to mention, it won't break the bank).  This is a very much hands-on processor - refreshingly there are no menus, no jungle of parameters...  It is a useful unit that does its job, and it's very fast to program using the front panel knobs.

This can work both on analog and digital inputs - a bonus if you have gear with digital outs.  From the left, there is an input pot, a dry-wet knob, and an effect balance control.  The obligatory and useful "bypass" button is right between these last two knobs.
 
Continuing to the right, we encounter the first engine block, so called "Multieffect".  And a multieffect it is!  There are many to choose, including excellent and clean delays, a fantastic "wooshy" vintage phaser, classic chorus/flangers, tremolo, and so on.  The second block is called "Reverb", and - duh - offers a variety of spectacular reverbs, from the trademark T.C. Classic Hall, to living room, vocal and drum box, spring, classic plates, etc.  Both engines have a few knobs that you can use to alter pretty dramatically the characteristic of each effect.

This unit is very versatile: great for the studio, but for live use, you cannot go wrong either, because it is so easy and fast to edit - just grab a handful of knobs, and tweak away.  There is also a cool "tap" button that allows you to tap in the tempo of your song in real time.  There is also MIDI if you need to synchronize it to other equipment.

Enough words... check out the most important thing here below... how it sounds!

 

T.C. Electronic M300 audio demos

I used a Roland JD-990 synthesizer module with its internal effects completely switched off for these examples.  NOTE:  every now and then there is some background noise - this is from the JD-990 which is an older unit - not from the M300.  The M300 is actually a very clean processor and doesn't introduce noise unless driven very hard (esp. the compressor setting).

Each example is first heard dry, then processed.

Stream all mp3 examples below
 

 

Effect name with audio demo My comments
Engine 1 - MULTIEFFECT
01 Dynamic Delay A beautiful delay, this is affected by how hard you play the instrument going into the M300.  The dynamics of your playing will cause the processor to have "a lower level of the delay repeats while the instruments are played (or vocals are sung) and an increased level of
Delay when no input is present."  Reminds me of the sound of  '80s band The Cocteau Twins.
02 Studio Delay Excellent delay, multi-purpose.
03 Tape Delay Superb emulation of a real tape-based delay.  Just to keep the retro vibe going, I'm using a Mellotron string patch for this example ;-)
04 Delay Beautiful, standard high-quality digital delay.
05 PingPong Delay Classic stereo L-R ping pong effect.
06 SlapBack Delay Another classic effect from the past - early rock 'n' roll style.
07 Vintage Phaser Classic retro phaser, with the characteristic "wooosh" sweep.
08 Phaser Standard phaser, useful in many genres.
09 Hard Tremolo Typical 1950s effect.
10 Soft Tremolo More subtle version.
11 Flanger I 1980s flanger action.
12 Flanger II The classic Boss "purple" pedal from the '80s!  Very "Dark", a la Cure.
13 Chorus Nice chorus, useful to "fatten up" your material.
14 Compressor Very usable compressor - get a better, more "present" sound.
15 De-Esser This should have a vocals example, but the idea is to cut some frequencies responsible for sibilance.
Engine 2 - REVERB
01 Concert Hall Very beautiful hall.
02 Living Room Realistic reproduction of a small space.
03 Club Typical reflections of a stage area
04 Plate I Marvelous retro plate reverb sound.
05 Plate II Slightly different sonic character.
06 Spring Typical reverb commonly found in guitar amps
07 ''Live'' Reverb Bright, nice reverb in a live space.
08 Ambience Small space
09 TC Classic Hall Fabulous reverb... T.C.'s best.
10 Vocal Studio Extremely realistic studio space reverb.
11 Vocal Room Nice quick reflections, like hitting a mirror.
12 Vocal Hall Warm and beautiful reverb for vocals.
13 Drum Box Typical "produced" drum booth sound.
14 Drum Room "Expensive studio" drum room :-D
15 Large Cathedral Oustanding church reverb!
Engine 1 + 2 - MULTIEFFECT + REVERB (a few of the many combinations possible).
Dynamic Delay + TC Classic Hall Beautiful and cinematic/great for soundtracks.  Breaths life into "flat" sources.
Flanger II + Vocal Hall Classic '80s.
Tape Delay + Plate I Perfect combo for a Minimoog-style analog synth.
Vintage Phaser + Spring More vintage goodness.

 

T.C. Electronic M300 specifications

 

Year of release:  
Polyphony:  
Sound generation method:  
Preset memories  
MIDI:  
Sound expansion capabilities:  
Sequencer  
Arpeggiator  
Effects  


 

T.C. Electronic M300 pictures (click on thumbnails to enlarge)

T.C. Electronic M300 manuals

available at www.tcelectronic.com

Links

 

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T.C.Electronic M300 review with audio demo