Multi effects love 'em or hate 'em

[Whoopysnorp]

Yeah, they hide natural tone, and they tend to sound kind of thin and two-dimensional to me. Plus, I've noticed that usually when people are using multi-effects processors they can't cut through a mix.

[dolivas]

Originally Posted by Whoopysnorp

Yeah, they hide natural tone, and they tend to sound kind of thin and two-dimensional to me. Plus, I've noticed that usually when people are using multi-effects processors they can't cut through a mix.

Just to defend multi-fx's a bit it. It depends what kind of multi-fx you use and how you make use of the machine. If you use a good multi-fx with true bypass and high end effects then you shouldn't experience a thin sound. The two I recommend highly one (Zoom G9) which I tried out and sincerely feel is the best thing out there and the other the Korg 3000G. They have very high end algorithms to replicate most effects out there in a very transparent and are structured in a way to add something like MIDI connections and S/PDIF connections that might benefit stage performers more. I think they keep their layouts very intuitive so it's not just you going through a bunch of menus which I truly despise.

Either way I notice that if you have a thin tone from a good multi-fx engine it usually isn't the machine itself but who picked that machine and how they're using it. The only thing I'm weary about would be preset machines like the TC-Electronics, Eventides of the world which most pro's with big gigs use.

I do feel that most of them should be getting away from using them since most of the effects on such machines normally don't exhibit the inherit grit and unprocessed sound a guitar should make or sound like. However I do note that they are very convenient though if you have huge concerts everywhere where audiences expect you to churn out "I Will Follow" followed by "Discoteque" without having to turn a bunch of footswitches on or off like a ballerina. For convenience sake a multi-fx is hella more convenient.

[Uma Floresta]

I would never just use a multi by itself. Generally they have bad distortions, or bad delays, or bad something, mixed with maybe good modulation effects. But, having a smaller multi-fx unit can give you a lot of variety, used with your other stompboxes.

[Professor Riffs]

I think multi fx units are great. I personally never strive for any kind of traditional tone. I just turn stuff and if I like it I jam on it. I don't really view things as "right or wrong" so much as "I like it or I don't. I kind of like the fact that I don't sound like Les Paul + Marshall #666,000. Eat me alive which I'm sure many of you will but I say phooey to tradition whenever possible.

[smopo24]

i think the gt8 is neat; a friend had one and used it live a lot. it eliminated his need for a huge pedalboard of effects, and no one noticed or cared after he replaced them.

[GearJunkie]

Originally Posted by smopo24

i think the gt8 is neat; a friend had one and used it live a lot. it eliminated his need for a huge pedalboard of effects, and no one noticed or cared after he replaced them.

*one tear down my face*

[smopo24]

Originally Posted by GearJunkie

*one tear down my face*

yea, he liked it......i don't have many effects to require a gt8; espically with all the re-programming he had to do once he purchased a new head! yea, that's not for me.

[dolivas]

Lately I've been more in tune on the potential of multi-fx units. Those new Zoom G-lines and the Korg 3000G have built-in midi support and midi editors that on the face for most people don't mean squat but to me they offer way easier ways to save/recall presets. Midi interfacing lets you work with tracker programs/DAWs like Ableton or Bidule a whole lot easier and integrate effects with virtual plugs.

The ability to update for a small pence firmware is also nice, something not avail with regular analog/digital one piece pedals. Plus the a/d/a conversion is getting better every year so you can trick people into thinking you're using either the real thing or go all out and do things most people on a standard pedal rig can't. Just food for thought.