Opinion: Digital Multi-Effects or Stompboxes,And Why

[refin]

What's your choice of effects processing,and why?
Some of us are digi-minded,some stompers,and some straight...some of us were stompers who were courted by the digi-world and left at the altar tone-wise,while others use both.
I use both,depending on the situation.Live,I prefer the immediacy and organic tone of analog pedals,but sometimes I do a gig that uses no backline,so I use a Johnson J-Station with a midi controller.I also use the latter for home recording.I still own my original SGX-2000 from ART,and a (gasp) Digitech RP-1 from the stone age.
I used multi effects for color and texture,to give each song it's "due",but unless necessary,I have re-embraced the analog avenue.....to my ears it sounds less plastic.

[kewlpack]

I'm still undecided frankly. I love a good amp tone to start with. I haven't had much luck with analog pedals (mostly cost prohibitive to get the really good ones). And I have tried a boatload of modeler pedalboards (as you can see in the effects forum) - all of these do some things well but also have drawbacks...

There are days when I am ready to hang it all up and stop searching for any tone at all... :banghead

I guess I would say that I like multieffects/modelers units mostly for portability and bang for buck.

[wishus]

In college I was into collecting vintage effects. I have a Roland (before it was BOSS) Phase II that is older than I am. I also have an MXR Analog Delay that I can't find any information about, and have never seen another one. I haven't used them in a while, though, because they aren't true bypass and I feel like they kill my tone when they're not engaged. I was actually going to pick up some batteries today and try them again at practice tonight.

I have a mid-90s Snarling Dogs wah that I love.

I also have an Alesis Nanoverb that I use in the effects loop for chorus and rotary effects. I originally bought it as a studio reverb processor before I went to a DAW setup. It is very digital sounding and I don't like it, but it's the only chorus I've got right now.

I would really like a good multi-effects box to use in the loop for chorus, tremelo, delay, etc. I have been looking at the TC Electronic G-Major, but it's very expensive. All the cheaper units out right now are focused around distortion and/or amp modelling, which I don't need. Any recommendations?

[kewlpack]

hmmm for the money... a Digitech GNX3 or 4 (or their RP models) or GT6... also a Korg AX1500G might work...

They all seem to offer amp modeling nowdays, but you can disable it. Those units all have a variety of effects and configurability. The cool thing is that the prices are coming down on them because they are last generation (NAMM 2005 brought us a whole new set of multieffects).

You could probably grab one of the units for $250 - 350ish depending on what you actually get.

Hope that helps.

[refin]

I would really like a good multi-effects box to use in the loop for chorus, tremelo, delay, etc. I have been looking at the TC Electronic G-Major, but it's very expensive. All the cheaper units out right now are focused around distortion and/or amp modelling, which I don't need. Any recommendations?

I am no expert on what's available,having only tried a handful of new stuff.You're right,most new stuff is centered on modeling amps.If you can find the Johnson J-Station that I mentioned previously,it has some decent mods,plus tweakable effects.I haven't gotten too much into deep editing,but it's versatile.Discontinued,but you may be able to find someone who has one.It has a rotary on it.

Nothing to me beats a great tube amp spankin' at about 7.
I just discovered a band from Sweden called "Plankton"....they are 2 guitars,bass,and drums,all instrumental,and they use vintage pedals and Marshalls from the '60s-'70s.Great band,lots of incredible tones and playing.Makes me want to go pawn shopping again. :lol:

[Pearly Gator]

I'm an analog stomper. The digital stuff still has too much latency for me. Also, loss of dynamics and slow A/D converters. Having a bunch of pedals makes my setup time a drag but the tone is wonderful. Multi effects would be nice but, multi effects with integrated amp modeling is inadequate. I am leaning toward one of the new Crate amps with three channels, independant EQ, built in effects, tuner and a simple foot switch. It may be the best of both worlds for me. Even if I can ditch my floor tuner, delay and chorus pedals, it would be a winner.

PG

[refin]

Effects can be so strange sometimes!
I remember having my "stage rig" that was stored until needed,and my "jam rig",which consisted of a few old pedals and a small Peavey Backstage Plus (1-10",35 watts).The stage rig was merticulously cared for,programmed,set,and racked.
One day I grabbed a few jam rig pedals (EH Memory Man,Boss CE-2 Chorus)and the Peavey,hooked them up rather quickly,and was blown away by the sound....apparently the output control of the primitive Memory Man had been advanced accidently,but it was enough to drive the front end of the Peavey nicely.It was touch sensitive and creamy;individually the pedals lacked,but this particular chain worked on this day.Makes me wonder how many other fluke sounds may be lurking in my boxes. :lol:

[Ravindave_3600]

The digital stuff still has too much latency for me.
PG

"Latency"? Me, I'm just too dumb to figure out how all those banks and switches on a mulit-effect work. I use three old pedals - Ibanez SD, Boss CE, and Ibanez Phaser - and that's about the limit of how smart my feet can get.

Although I am thinking of adding a TS or Bad Monkey kind of thing for when I want cleaner overdrive than my SD offers. And a great wah, if I can ever afford it. And maybe a delay so I can play duets with myself. And a flanger just cuz. And and and and and

[Gino]

Brethren,

lately I fell in love with pure tone - just guitar and amp. I don't know, I've been through it all (mind you, I worked in a music store and used to be one of my better customers :cool: ). Used stuff like MXR Phase 100, TC Chorus, Roland RE 201 in the late 70's to mid 80's and shifted to a KORG A4 digital multi fx in the 90's. But since a couple of months I just don't like the sound of (over-)processed guitar no more. I guess I'm in for FA - Flangers Anonymous!
To me, there's right now nothing as sweet as the pure tone of a Tele, Strat or 335.
Well, I do use and like my Mesa Boogie V-Twin - if that's considered a stomp box.

Blessings
Gino

[Old Believer]

I prefer stompboxes. I think it's all subjective. I am in the process of setting up a new pedal board.

Guitar into a Loooper2 into Crybaby 95Q into a Line Six Echo Park. I have a Pigtronix EP-1 that is not looped, because it is true bypass. My tuner is goes through the second loop of the Loooper. I have the reverb footswitch for my Mesa Mark IV, and I have the foot controller. All of this is on a Furman SPB-8.

[stephen]

But thats just me. I've heard some guys getting some wonderful sounds out of multi-effects/modelers.

But I'm a Keep It Simple Stoopid kinda guy, and I dont need a lot to make me happy:

A single channel tube amp, and an Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer for right now. Soon to get a Phase 90 clone, and a wah for certain. I might get an Ibanez FLD Flanger, but I'm not sure yet.

[Micter]

Pedals do one thing well. Multi processors typically do lots of things OK.

I most often use pedals!

[SAguitar]

For many years I used an Ibanez Tube Screamer, an Ibanez compressor, a Morley Fuzz/Wah pedal, (mainly for volume), a BadStone phase shifter, an Arion chorus, and a Foxx Octave/Fuzz pedal. That's about it, and I've still got those units screwed down on a piece of wood out in the garage!

Then I got a Boss GT-5, and after a long learning curve, I got it to do some things excellently. It was a lot easier to transport, and set up, and I got to depend on it. Earlier this year I moved up to GT-6, and now I'm back in the learning curve again. Last weekend I knelt down, did something stoopid, and copied over my best overdriven lead patch. This unit does have some great possiblities, and I'm sure I'll get it workin' good one of these days.

But most all the time when I'm practicing, I just plug straight into an amp and enjoy the pure Tone. :cool:

[refin]

But most all the time when I'm practicing, I just plug straight into an amp and enjoy the pure Tone. :cool:

Straight is great............

[Crunchyriff]

I use both, for different reasons...

[Teleguy]

I've had processors that were good at home, but I never used them playing out.
Some sound great in earphones but not through amps.

The last "processor" I had was a Boss ME-50, which sounded good either way, but I still never used it out: just at home for fun.

My current Vox Valvetronix has lots of stuff built-in that sounds fine, most of it's digital, I think.
I just use the Vox presets mostly though.

[kewlpack]

I'm discovering something about the multieffects units that I hadn't noticed so much before...

Putting them in front of the amp steals much of the picking dynamics and (for lack of a better word) soul of the tone. Yes, the overall modeling is usually pretty dynamite, but the nuances and punch are squished... even in bypass mode. I've been studying the GT8 and XTLive lately and have begun to notice the various drawbacks. I hate it. :banghead

Going straight into the amp without the modeler, there is this "liveliness" to everything... maybe it's just that the modelers/multieffects introduces a tiny latency and the ADDA convertors cause some high/low frequency rolloff...or something like that... (you guys have been at this a lot longer than me, so you tell me!).

So perhaps it is true that dedicated stomps will preserve the initial guitar/amp tone better because there is less digitalizing going on... ?

The thing you gain with multieffects/modelers is the huge flexibility and direct recording options (YMMV). The thing you (or at least I notice) lose is some of the soul of the tone...which can be a real drag, even if no one else notices it.

[Brad]

Great info guys! As others have stated, I use both depending on the situation. At our church right now, there is a big push to go ampless and use the wonderful in ear system we have. I have tried several ways to do this. First, using my V-Amp and second with an ART power plant to the board. I was less than satisfied either way. One other guitar player uses an ART SGX (? can't remember the exact model ) that has 150 pre-sets. I hate the tone that comes through the moniters. My style at church is dependant on my volume pedal, overdrives and delays. I guess it's my lack of trust in the sound person to give up the control of my sound. When I did try to go ampless, the first thing that happened was members of the congregation coming up to me and asking why they could not hear me.

I dig the multi effects thing for recording and practice. Also, when I help out my singer/songwrite buddy at his acoustic gigs, I'll bring my electric and V-amp and plug into the board. Using a clean seting with a touch of delay really adds to the mix.

So, a long winded response when I should have said, "I use both."

[kewlpack]

Using the multieffects in the FX Loop seems to be the best way to keep the best tone and dynamics (for my rig). That's what I'm gonna do for awhile.

This stuff really can make a person: :crazy !

[MrMike]

I tend to lean toward digital multi-effects. I just bought a Vox Valvetronix half stack, and I love it. I really need to be able to switch gears quickly. In any given song, I may have to go from a nice clean, lightly chorused tone to a big crunch and back, and it's not really practical for me to stomp on a bunch of stompboxes to make the switch.

[ptrallan01]

So i guess I vote digital and leave me some room to walk around in the pulpit :lol: Our sancturary is about 30 feet wide, we have a small drum kit, bass player, bongo/percussionist, guitar player (sometimes 2) an electric keyboard and piano to fit in that space with 2 to 3 ministers so there is no room for pedal boards etc. Lately I have been using just the church amp Musicman RD50 for Sunday mornings. The less stuff the better physically.

Peter

[Crunchyriff]

Putting them in front of the amp steals much of the picking dynamics and (for lack of a better word) soul of the tone. Yes, the overall modeling is usually pretty dynamite, but the nuances and punch are squished... even in bypass mode. I've been studying the GT8 and XTLive lately and have begun to notice the various drawbacks. I hate it.

Suppose we oughta clarify between multi-fx and rack fx in general.

My Roland SDE-3000 steals NUTHIN'! :mrgreen: