MXR Rockman X100 Analog Tone Processor

MXR Rockman X100 Analog Tone Processor

The MXR Rockman X100 Analog Tone Processor revives the signature sonic character of Tom Scholz’s celebrated headphone amp and signal processor in pedal form, offering crystalline cleans, crunchy harmonics, and shimmering modulation.

The MXR Rockman X100 Analog Tone Processor brings back the iconic sounds that defined '80s stadium rock, now in the form of a guitar pedal. The headphone amplifier created by Tom Scholz of Boston in 1982, with its built-in effects section, ended up shaping the sound of many guitarists of the time and was featured on numerous hit albums. The MXR X100 is based on the 1984 updated model.

CHORUS AND COMPRESSION

The Rockman sound was (and now again is) compressed, crystal-clear, gritty, and drenched in shimmering chorus. Before diving into the pedal’s various modes, we must first talk about the compression. The compressor is just as crucial to the X100 sound as the chorus. Clean tones are designed to release more slowly, while the distortion side’s trigger point is quicker. This gives the clean tones a clear and long sustain, while the distortion side delivers a clipped, percussive response. Gain affects compression in all modes, increasing with more gain.

TWO CLEAN, TWO DISTORTION MODES

The MXR Rockman has four modes, two dedicated to clean sounds and two to distortion.

- CLN2 Clean 2 is the device’s default channel and the cleanest of them all. This is the crystal-clear '80s album sound that is hard to replicate.
- CLN1 Clean 1 focuses on the midrange and offers a more cutting clean mode. Percussive, punchy, and compressed.
- EDGE lives up to its name, hovering between the edge of distortion, providing a rhythm channel that responds exceptionally strongly to the intensity of the incoming signal and the player’s dynamics.
- DIST = Distortion. This mode pushes the pedal into full distortion. Still highly compressed but with a smooth and saturated lead sound for the guitarist’s solo spots.

MXR ROCKMAN X100 ANALOG TONE PROCESSOR FEATURES
- '80s stadium rock-defining guitar sounds in a pedal format.
- Four modes: two clean and two distortion sounds.
- Modes can be switched via the pedal button or an external switch (e.g., MXR Split + Tap).
- Shimmering bucket brigade chorus with the same MN3007 chip that was responsible for the original X100’s chorus.
- Ability to send the signal separately to the left and right channels and spread the chorus across each side for a proper stereo sound. The mono/stereo switch is located under the back cover of the pedal.
  
Inputs and Outputs:
- 6.3mm plug input.
- 6.3mm plug output (works in both mono and stereo settings. Stereo setup requires a TRS stereo cable).
- 6.3mm plug output for an external switch (for mode switching).
- Power supply output.
  
Works with a 9V transformer (sold separately).