This is my second Trio+, the first one is now 8 years old and one of the switches are going. I use it a lot at home to make demos and to rehearse. For me it is a must have piece of kit.
It takes a while to get used to work with and it surely has its limits, but overall, it really helps when you play on your own. The Trio+ ads drums and base to your song and stores it on a micro card that is delivered with the Trio+.
It doesn’t understand complex chords so you need to use basic chords while you teach (=record) your song. The instrument that you play while “teaching” the Trio+ is not recorded, it only specifies what base and drum/rhythm it needs to produce. After that is done you can play your more complex chords into the mix of drum and base.
Once the song is created you can add several more instruments to the mix. Great fun ones you get it!
The only difference between the normal black version and the red anniversary version is the colour of the box, so it indeed is the same thing.
It is too complex to give a complete explanation of this tool but here are (in my humble opinion) the main pros and cons of the Trio+:
Pros:
• A great help that gives quick results
• Well built
• Plenty of different kinds of music and rhythms to choose from
• Connectivity
• Essential sound effects for guitar are built in with easy access
Cons:
• The essential triple footswitch for practical use is optional
• It does not always give you the rhythm you desire
• Software only allows you to safe songs but no editing options
• Doesn’t work on batteries
All in all, I can really recommend the Trio+ as it is fun and useful at the same time.
I also recommend that you get the triple footswitch unless you like sit on your knees or use it on a table.