Multi effects or individual pedals???

What do you guys think are the best???For gigs..........Best sound? Best quality? Ease of operation? Most dependable? I've been thinking about a Tonelab instead of my pedalboard....

I think part of the equation is what you're playing. I pretty much play my sound so I prefer individual effects for many reasons;
-Flexibility
-Ease of use (this may seem backwards, but if I want to alter a setting I just dial and done, don't have to go through a menu, then save)
-Dependablity (if something dies just pull it out, everything else is ok)
-Quality, you can upgrade individual pieces over time

My friend has a cover band and the multi effects with amp modeling is perfect for him because he dials in the sounds of many different bands/songs. Individual effects/pedalboard would not work well for him.

The only pedalboard that KILLS 99% of ANY stompbox out there is the VOX TONELAB SE.
If you can get it (I think VOX has stopped making it) do it,you won't be sorry.
I've been a total stompbox freak for all my life & spent thousands of dollars in stompboxes ,now days the only thing I use is my TL SE & a good compressor & I sound MUCH better....

I think part of the equation is what you're playing. I pretty much play my sound so I prefer individual effects for many reasons;
-Flexibility
-Ease of use (this may seem backwards, but if I want to alter a setting I just dial and done, don't have to go through a menu, then save)
-Dependablity (if something dies just pull it out, everything else is ok)
-Quality, you can upgrade individual pieces over time

My friend has a cover band and the multi effects with amp modeling is perfect for him because he dials in the sounds of many different bands/songs. Individual effects/pedalboard would not work well for him.

My personal preference is individual stomp boxes, for the same reasons s4b cites. But if you need to dial in a lot of different tones quickly, you may be better off with something more computerized.

Multi-effects units seem to work best as long as you avoid the overdrive sections in them. Once you include the built-in OD settings all bets are off. I would strongly suggest using an external OD pedal when using a digital multi-effects unit. Many of the built-in effects are very good and quite useful in a live situation.

I Prefer individual pedals. It means im not paying for effects that im not going to use.

"I would strongly suggest using an external OD pedal when using a digital multi-effects unit."

+1

That's exactly what I use...multi effects unit (mostly for delays, reverbs and modulation effects) with analog compression, overdrive and distortion boxes.

Pro:Provides a lot of sound versatility

Con: Not so good if you want to adjust things "on the fly".

I have the Tonelab SE. You can still pick one up on ebay.... I got mine for $350 last year. I've spent thousands on digitech stuff over the years....they have great verbs and time based effects, but they haven't gotten anywhere near the Vox as far as tube feel and tone. It really rocks...especially if you have a tube power amp...something not too loud that you can really push. You can hear mine here for a rock lead tone (http://www.box.net/shared/static/e7dg7of13b.mp3), or here for a country-ish tone (http://www.box.net/shared/static/iml5slzn5k.mp3).
All that said, if I had the money and the time to experiment, I would probably go with a combination of pedals, digital rack effects, and a switcher system that made it all act like a multi effects pedal....so that hitting one switch reset the whole signal chain just the way I want it. It would probably cost something like $5000.00 to get everything, and a few months of spending time obsessing on it to get it right....I just don't have that kind of scratch, so I'll use my multi-fx.

Peace!

~Shawn

I have a Tonelab desktop with VC-12 controller. I like this configuration because it gets the electronics isolated from what you're stomping (spilling?) on. If you must go Tonelab, I can't recommend this enough as the VC-12 is a BEAST! But, I also have a Boss BCB-60 loaded with Boss compact pedals.

I would go back and forth between the two sometimes, but I have to say, I really do prefer the BCB-60 with individual pedals more now days. Everything is out in the open, and everything is easily tweakable with no interpretation of "oh, this is an overdrive pedal, this knob really should be this, and that knob is that". It's also easier to adapt is someone throws a new song at me. I don't have to go flipping through patches and such. Plus the chances of the whole thing breaking at once is real slim. If a pedal goes out (they're Boss, I won't hold my breath), I only have to replace one and tweak it's settings.

I like the Tonelab at home when playing alone and experimenting, but when playing out with others where things change and time is valuable, I always prefer the individual pedals, and haven't used the Tonelab out of the home for a while. Personally, it turns out to be a real time-sink goofing around with it. I sure do love the volume and expression of my VC-12 though, and it does take up less floor space than the BCB-60. Maybe someday if I ever have an unchanging set list in an unchanging enviornment where I won't have to tweak knobs, I might introduce it back in.

single pedals over multi boxes.

steve

I've always been an individual pedal guy. IMHO the drawback of multi processors is two fold...

1. Each effect (chorus, flange, delay and especially overdrive/distortion) has it's own "Q" and character. You may love the chorus, but the flange not so much. The compressor might be fine, but the overdrive is not so hot. For me, even with the sophisticated editing on a lot of these units, it can be really hard to get the effect to sit right if it isn't reasonably close out of the box. Eventually, you wind up with a multi processor AND a bunch of pedals to "fill in the gaps". With individual pedals you pick what's just right for your taste and set up. If you change amps/guitars/gigs, swap out an overdrive for one that works better with what you need.

2. Generally speaking, multi effects don't feel the same as pedals when you play through them. Arguably, the sounds may be getting more and more organic, but the feel is something that's they're still a ways off from nailing down.

I would agree that the Tonelab is pretty much as close as it gets though, if you go down that road.

Joseph

The tonelab definitley sounds like a amp not fizzy like other modelers.
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A4SM7zV9Uc&mode=related&search=

i am with sax4blues:
if you play like in top 40 coverband and you have to provide a whole varity of sounds, then a good ! multieffect tool is the easier way to go and with one step you can change via midi your complete sound.
if you´re playing more or less one style i´d choose single pedals.
as said, if f.e. one breaks down, take it out and play on, you can adjust individually your pedalboard and most single pedals are better than a multibox.
take care

zoppotrump
:O)

he multieffectbox that i can imagine to use in a life situation would be a boss me-50. that can be used in a manual mode. everytime i tried to use multis in a band situation, was a diaster. banks and patches and all is just too much for me.

I stepped on a power cord during a gig once and unplugged my multieffects unit in the middle of a song. OK, dumb move. I plugged it back immediately, but the problem was that when the power was cut it automatically reverted to its default settings... resulting in a significant drop in volume. I had to page through the presets to find the setting I was using for that song. fortunately it was a bluesy drag sort of thing that the singer, bassist and drummer could handle while I tried to get my rig running again... and I got the sound back just in time for my solo... which, I have to say, was a lot more intense than it had been in rehearsals, due to my frustration! But anyway, it's a cautionary tale... single effect stomp boxes don't reset themselves if there's a power interruption...

... single effect stomp boxes don't reset themselves if there's a power interruption...

Exactly!

I have had rack units, floor units, you name it. I lack the patients required for anything more sophisticated than a tube amp and a couple pedals. Here's a hint, if your VCR has been flashing 12:00 for the last 2 years, just buy stomp boxes...

Give me stomp boxes anytime. I've tried several multi-effects deals and disliked them all. Too much involved to change effects on the fly plus the tone is much better when tweaked with individual pedals. My good friend has three multi effect gizmos that he is constantly peckerin' around with. I guess if your a tech-savvy person it may work for you.

:cool:

Do you really need to choose one vs. the other? Just use what you're most comfortable with, as there are advantages to both.

It's nice having one simple package where you don't have to dicker with hooking everything up, but I like my single stomps too.

For studio stuff, I prefer vintage and boutique pedals. Generally they sound better, and no worries about stuff getting spilled on them, etc.

For any of the local-type gigs I might do, my Boss GT8 is much easier to tote and set-up, and I don't have to worry so much about it getting damaged or stolen. They are relatively cheap, consistent, and easy to replace.

If you're curious about using multi-effects, find a well-reviewed one like the Vox Tonelab, Boss GT8, or Zoom G9.2tt, and learn to use it at home first. Anything that you're not comfortable using will be a liability at a gig, so there is no "one size fits all" answer here... If you're happy with what you've got, then just stick with it.

The idea that multi-effects "reset" when the power goes off may be valid for some models, but that's not an issue with my GT8. It remembers your presets even with the power off, and comes on at the exact setting it was at when the power went off. I don't know if this is applies to any other modern multi-effects units.

It seems that a lot of players have this elusive "perfect tone" in their imagination, and they think that once they get it, they'll be done. I've been down that road a couple times, and while you might find a tone you can be satisfied with, there are always going to be new ideas and tone tweaks to enjoy.

For myself, I've found I get better results (and spend less money) if I just worry about getting good quality tone with pro-level gear that's readily available to me, rather than chasing some elusive concept of "holy grail tone" that some clever marketing executive conjured up...

Boss GT8 Demo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ciww3Aoc2c

Personally, I prefer pedals for a couple reasons. First, if I just need distortion for something, then I'd much rather just have to bring one pedal than a rack, and then just use one effect from the rack. So I like the flexibility of pedals. Secondly, while a many effects on rack gear can sound good, I've never found one where all the effects sounded good, as there always seems to be a few that just don't take the effect to where it should. However, it has been a few years since I messed around with any rack effects, so maybe the technology has improved...

If you're curious about using multi-effects, find a well-reviewed one like the Vox Tonelab, Boss GT8, or Zoom G9.2tt, [COLOR="Red"]and learn to use it at home first. Anything that you're not comfortable using will be a liability at a gig[/COLOR

The idea that multi-effects "reset" when the power goes off may be valid for some models, but that's not an issue with my GT8. It remembers your presets even with the power off, and comes on at the exact setting it was at when the power went off. I don't know if this is applies to any other modern multi-effects units.



Bingo!
These things require some adjusting to, in order to get the best out of them. I realize this may not be someones idea of a good time, in which case maybe a distortion pedal and a chord would do for them. But for those who like to tweak, this isn't so bad.

My Tonelab doesn't reset, either. I did have a Peavey Multi-Verb from the early nineties that did that, and yes, it sucked when it did. It didn't require anything more than the bass player to turn his amp on, and the resulting "pop." But that is the only one I ever had that did that. If you wonder about the particular FX box you're thinking of, I gaurantee you can find an online group (like this) that is specific to the model and ask some questions....

Peace!

~Shawn

I've always been an individual pedal guy. IMHO the drawback of multi processors is two fold...

1. Each effect (chorus, flange, delay and especially overdrive/distortion) has it's own "Q" and character. You may love the chorus, but the flange not so much. The compressor might be fine, but the overdrive is not so hot. For me, even with the sophisticated editing on a lot of these units, it can be really hard to get the effect to sit right if it isn't reasonably close out of the box. Eventually, you wind up with a multi processor AND a bunch of pedals to "fill in the gaps". With individual pedals you pick what's just right for your taste and set up. If you change amps/guitars/gigs, swap out an overdrive for one that works better with what you need.

2. Generally speaking, multi effects don't feel the same as pedals when you play through them. Arguably, the sounds may be getting more and more organic, but the feel is something that's they're still a ways off from nailing down.

I would agree that the Tonelab is pretty much as close as it gets though, if you go down that road.

Joseph

Joe hits my recommendation right on the head,...its taken me a long time to get the right combination of sounds out of my pedalboard...if you like one effect in a multi effects pedal chances are that the rest (or at least more than one) won't work for you....I also don't like the overall feel or sound n stage..I have used a few over the years but I always come back to the pedalboard and single channel amp...

Pedals ruled the night.

My band busted my b***s at practice last night on a new song that requires several pedal adjustements for two distinct sections. They were going to time me on the change because they said I didn't know what the settings were, but I had been practicing this week and I nailed it!

But it got better... the other guitarist hit the change on his multi-effect and it squealed to high heaven. He fumbled and fumbled and never got it back.

I've had 2 multi effects units in the past , including an old zoom in the days that they were new , and a pod xt with floor board .
When i was playing covers , i was so obsessed with finding good sounds that it was taking over .
Now I keep it very simple .

I have 2 overdrives , a tuner , a chorus , a tremelo , wah , and a delay .
Unless you are playing 80's stuff , you can get by without a chorus most of the time , and a tremelo obviously is down to how you use it . Wah hardly gets used .

My objective has always been to enable myself to get a decent sound at low volume .
This is were effects are very useful .
The less you have to complicate things the better .

True bypass is another consideration , as is the need to sometimes use an effects loop for delay effects etc .
It's surprising how little you need to get a good sound .

"I would strongly suggest using an external OD pedal when using a digital multi-effects unit."

+1

That's exactly what I use...multi effects unit (mostly for delays, reverbs and modulation effects) with analog compression, overdrive and distortion boxes.


If you are using an amp with an effect loop, rack mount digital effects can be very versatile and with a proper foot controller give you many options. I personally would only use time based and modulation effects in the loop and a Overdrive in front of the amp.

That being said, I no longer use amps with effect loops, I only use non master volume amps(My JTM45 does have a PPIMV added, but I seldom use it) and use pedals in front of the amp.

Guitar>Tuner>Wah>OD>Phaser>Univibe>Delay>Reverb>Amp

This may be a little quirk of my own, but I like the fact that my stomp boxes are different colors, shapes, etc. It makes for an easier target when stage lights are less than optimal. And over time, I've grown to associate the colors with the effects they produce (blue=chorus, green=OD, etc.).

If I were to be faced with a row of identical switches on a multi-FX board, I'd have to think about it before being able to use them effectively, and this would be a distraction just when I want to keep distractions to a minimum and just blow.

I don't know, I'm a big fan of the mfx units, have had a GT 8 for a year and would go as far as saying I would not be afraid to run my guitar through a computer mfx package like Guitar Rig 2 for a gig either.

I find with the GT, there are options available that make gigging very viable. Example would be if you find the gig has a different audio vibe that isn't working, you change a couple of parameters globally and it will apply to all your presets. The manual option really helps too. Instead of the foot switches changing banks or preset patches, throw it in manual and the switches act like individual stomps, plus you have rotary control over effects parameters too.

The downside is pouring over a pretty thick manual and hours of experimentation untill you've got a handle on things. This would be a pretty big turnoff for some I could imagine but it great fun for a self proclaimed geek like myself.