Multi effect pedal vs. single effect pedals

[sigterm]

I started with single, went multi, went back to the single. I want the finer level of control (tone and effect order) and security of not having all my eggs in one basket. That said they've come a long way and I might get the helix to play around with.

 

[GBBSbassist]

I've tried out multi units like the BassPOD and was pretty unimpressed. I didn't really like how most of the effects sounded, so aside from compression and an overdrive pedal, I kept it pretty simple for a long time and didn't really use anything.

Now I've been using the Axe-fx II for about a year. No complaints from me, except for the price tag, and even then, it's well worth it in my opinion.

In effects all sound good and are more than adequate for live use. In addition to that, I can set up any combination of them I want. Even more than the effects, it has several amp models on it along with cab simulation. Hell...I've found MULTIPLE guitar amp models that sound really awesome for bass. It's obviously a bit tricky to use at first, but it doesn't take too long to figure out.

Yes, the price tag is high, but since the announcement of the Axe-fx III, people are selling off their current Axe-fx II's at very affordable prices.

 

[mrcbass]

As far as I know, there is no multi-effects pedal that has a decent low-latency polyphonic octave up.

Sorry for the thread jack but: do you know of any pedals that offer a decent octave up option? I have an Octabass that works OK for Octave down (kind of crappy for already low notes but very cool for upper notes). I'm looking for an octave that goes up. My multi effects pedal option gave me a very unsably thin octave up.

 

[diegom]

Singles for recording - Multi for live
Let's be honest: Most people in the audience cannot tell the difference between your MIJ or Taiwan DS-1... Dirt is dirt, chorus is chorus. Unless you have a kickass live sound system, most subtleties will be lost. Of course, considering that YOUR sound will make YOU approach YOUR instrument differently, if you can only play your best with your vintage Maestro BB-1, go ahead and do it. Nothing will ever come close...
Now, when you are recording, all bets are off. Do what you have to do to get your best possible sound!!
I still think the Helix is an amazing piece of hardware. I'm know of many studio guys using it, -- exclusively--

Diego

 

[JimmyM]

Except the Eventide H9, Strymon Mobius / Timeline / Big Sky and Helix

I've not played them so until I do, my post stands

 

[JimmyM]

Singles for recording - Multi for live
Let's be honest: Most people in the audience cannot tell the difference between your MIJ or Taiwan DS-1...

I don't do lowest common denominators. Quickest way to becoming average.

 

[diegom]

I don't do lowest common denominators.

Thank you, JimmyM.
Now I feel like deleting my comment .
Of course, I believe you are correct...

 

[JimmyM]

Thank you, JimmyM.
Now I feel like deleting my comment .
Of course, I believe you are correct...

Well hey, you have to go with what you think is best, and if it's a cheap multi, that's fine and there's nothing wrong with that if it gets the job done in a way you enjoy. But choose it because you like it, not because you think the audience can't tell.

 

[Spacecase]

Sorry for the thread jack but: do you know of any pedals that offer a decent octave up option? I have an Octabass that works OK for Octave down (kind of crappy for already low notes but very cool for upper notes). I'm looking for an octave that goes up. My multi effects pedal option gave me a very unsably thin octave up.

There have been many threads on the topic over the years.

My current octave pedal is the Micro POG. The octave alone sounds a bit thin, but when blended with the dry input, it does what I'm after. Electro-Harmonix has other octave pedals, but I haven't auditioned them. Others to consider are the TC Electronix Sub 'N' Up and the T-Rex Octavius. There are likely more I'm not aware of.

We now return to your regularly-scheduled program.

 

[GMC]

There have been many threads on the topic over the years.

My current octave pedal is the Micro POG. The octave alone sounds a bit thin, but when blended with the dry input, it does what I'm after. Electro-Harmonix has other octave pedals, but I haven't auditioned them. Others to consider are the TC Electronix Sub 'N' Up and the T-Rex Octavius. There are likely more I'm not aware of.

We now return to your regularly-scheduled program.

No one has yet made a digital octaver that sounds like an analogue one. I'm sure it can be done, it's just that no one's bothered so far. I never believed that something as organic as an overdrive could be fully re-created digitally, but after using a Source Audio Aftershock...it really does. So I think it's just a matter of time until someone brings out a really good octaver modeller.

 

[alack]

I prefer separate single effect pedals. When something isn't right it's comforting to know the fix is mostly likely a simple turn of a knob. I don't want to be looking for parameters to adjust on the gig.

 

[LowActionHero]

I used to just run a Zoom B3, now I've added a couple singles with it. The B3 only has 3 slots, so I added a couple more.
dirt (tho I was very impressed with the B3 dirt with some tweaking, especially when the rest of the band is playing) a boost, and for the moment, a Hall of Fame 2, for the shimmer. I'd probably bring a couple more, but I'm trying to keep my board size the same.

 

[Skybone]

I almost bought a second B3, one for amp modeling / compression etc. (core sound), the other for other effects (flavour).

Sold the B3 in favour of a PODxt Live.

 

[Johno Dunn]

I almost bought a second B3, one for amp modeling / compression etc. (core sound), the other for other effects (flavour).

Sold the B3 in favour of a PODxt Live.

That's how I use my MS60B, as my core sounds. The B3n is just different FX boards.

 

[BioDriver]

I prefer single for dirt/fuzz and octave but outside of that multi is fair game.

 

[micguy]

I wouldn't count the Aftershock as a multi when all it does is distortion. Does a heck of a lot of different distortion, but it's dedicated to only distortion. Good pedal...I have one. And I still prefer the analog versions of every single pedal I have that it mimics.

My Aftershock is pretty much permanently set on the Klone setting, with a bunch of low freq boost eq (in the Aftershock) to recover the low end. My other dirt pedal (on another board) is a Klone (a Wampler Tumnus), and....there's an eq pedal after it to recover low end, and a switcher pedal to engage or defeat the "dirt loop". Just how it worked out - both work just fine, but one fits in one pedal slot on a small board, the other is 3 pedals on a larger board.

 

[HeathenHeart]

I have a GT-10B, bought a loooong time ago, and a pedalboard with 3 single effect pedals.

Back when I bought the GT-10B I remember strongly disliking the tone and especially the complication of having to configure different patches with a metric ton of different effects and compressor types, drive types, preamp types, etc. Used it for a month, tried to sell it, and when I've failed to sell, I just put it in the box and left it collecting dust.

Last year, I came back from a long hiatus. Now that I need to play with headphones thanks to neighbors, I decided to take the GT-10 off the box and play with it a little.

After 10 or so years I finally began to appreciate the pedal. It is damn convenient, has everything you'll possibly need in terms of effects and utilities (recording, playing with background audio, etc) and with modern tools (hello GT-10B Floorboard), you can configure a usable patch in seconds, rather than minutes. Right now, it is a pedal that I don't think I'll ever sell simply because of its convenience.

However, the truth is that every single effect on it is objectively worse than my other pedals. My compressor is better than the GT-10 ones. My preamp is better. My drive is better (hell, Boss ODB-3 drive is better than the GT-10). It's not that the GT-10B is bad; the analogs are just too good.

My advice on this is: as a rule of thumb, analog pedals are simply better. However, if you are not picky with quality, have/need a stupid amount of effects, or simply wants a single pedal to control everything, then it is very cost effective and overall decent.

 

[Crystalman85]

Please share your thoughts and why you think that way.

This might sound odd, but I kinda compare stomp boxes to that of arcade games. they have superb quality, it plays nice, and it's quite amazing. multi-effects processors are like home ports of arcade games. some effects are of low-quality, but does have a certain appeal to it. and when it comes to certain effects like distortions and modulation effects, it's an acquired taste. that's kinda how I view it. I have owned many different stomp boxes and multi-effects processors in the past and I have liked many of them. the zoom b3 and the korg ax3000b were one of the best multi-effects processors I've ever used. in recent years, I got hooked on stomp boxes. I got into darkglass and t.c electronics pedals. I also liked the ehx hot wax. even though I enjoy using stomp boxes, I still like multi-effects processors. I do plan to get a zoom b3n sometime soon. I would like to check out the b3n's take on of darkglass pedals. and create some nifty patches just like I did when I had the zoom b3.

 

[Humberto Silva]

I think it all depends on what you want to do. I was on a band that required a chorus on one song and a Big muff on other two (one of them used it with the DOD 440 envelope filter).

In a two hour gig they were basically just occupying pedalboard space.

So, i just kept the MXR M80 as a preamp and a B3K clone for some overdrive colour (use the distortion on the MXR to replace the Muff in one song).

For the rest, Fuzz on the other song and the envelope filter, Chorus on another, or anyother song that required 10 or 20 seconds of a specific effect, i'm going to get that from the Zoom.

They are not the same as the dedicated pedal but that one mulçti effect pedal replaces 3 other pedals, in a sufficiently decent way. The envelope filters are nice, the fuzz is also nice. I dont need more.

For allways on pedals i do prefer single pedals and that's what i decided to go for

 

[bassbrad]

So this is going to make me sound like that old guy but so what. When I started with effects there were no multi effects and many were difficult to find down in Central Texas. Over the years I tried and have owned literally hundreds of pedals and feel that advent of quality multi effects is a bit of a godsend for today's players. In one small affordable box you have a wide selection nearly every effect type known to man, the ability to explore combinations and different settings and store and recall for performance on a moments notice. Add to that the ability to tune and listen with headphones with amplifier, speaker and room simulation along with recorded music. All that for 50 bucks, and still you complain!!!!

I feel there is a place for both on a players pedal board arsenal with single pedals for those you use most or where analog is preferred (comp, envelope, drives, octaver) and a multi for everything else.