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Multiple effects pedals vs Multi effects pedal
- Thread starter MX5J6
- Start date
Isn't wrestling with Knobs the same thing as wrestling with screens? It's still a learning curve, and I've yet to see a multi where the effect of a knob was some incoherent adjective scrawled in Sharpie on the case. What the heck does the "Greater" control do? Or "Moose"?
Singles and multi's require patience to learn how they function. particularly if you are interested in sounding good.
I do all of the above frequently with a Multi, and with very little trouble. Infact, I almost never use an effect by itself, there is always at least one other effect to that sound.
Wait, the versatility of a single box that does one sound/effect is greater than the versatility of a multi which does that and others, often with additional options like Tap tempo, expression control and routing flexibility? You are going to have to explain that one to me.
There are several pros who use multi's in their live rig, and the concept of multi-effect devices is a staple of modern recording. Pods, Axe effect, ect.
This. There is no reason to have an either/or mentality, and the M5 is a great tool for helping people realize this. Multi's are another tool. I keep a leatherman in my toolkit, but I know when to pull out the channel-locks or a saw instead. The idea that Multi's are an introduction to the world of effects is, I feel, detrimental to beginning musicians. They might do themselves a disservice believing that they need to spend unnecessary money on effects instead of enjoying making music.
Flame suit on.
While that is probably true in most cases, I see your 'versatile board' definition and raise ya one.
... and here's a pic of my cat, Matrix, 'helping' (I use that term loosely) me put it together.
One really great benefit of multi effect units are that you lose a lot of cables which have been known to go bad at times and of course, the bad cable will always be the last one you check while the sound guy taps his foot in annoyance. It's also nice not having to supply power to a whole bunch of stomps when you can provide power to one unit.
The whole pedal board shown in my pic is powered, and communicated with, through a single RJ-45 cable which is cheap cheap cheap and I can run that cable a fair distance.
Lets see, how about the Jet Phase model set really slow into the M-filter into the "analog" delay.
Or the fuzz face model into the M-filter into the Detune
The various preamp models are great too, some have semi parametric mids that the real pedals don't have (Sadowski, BDDI, etc.)
The M13 is definitely designed to be user friendly. I will have to give it a go.
I will admit that I am not especially up to sate on the state of multi effects processors since 2011. Here's a place where I would also prefer to have my singles. I can modify them. I can trade or sell them. And there are so many effects that are only available in a single stomp.
A huge advantage to multieffects is that you can recall patches at once, instead of taking a long time to dial your tones in. Maybe I should sell the effects on my board that take too long to dial in, get an M9 or whatever, and just keep the special ones.
But they're all special..
Every pedal that survives my pedalboard is a friend and can't go away. That is why singles are better.
I will admit that I am not especially up to sate on the state of multi effects processors since 2011. Here's a place where I would also prefer to have my singles. I can modify them. I can trade or sell them. And there are so many effects that are only available in a single stomp.
A huge advantage to multieffects is that you can recall patches at once, instead of taking a long time to dial your tones in. Maybe I should sell the effects on my board that take too long to dial in, get an M9 or whatever, and just keep the special ones.
But they're all special..
Every pedal that survives my pedalboard is a friend and can't go away. That is why singles are better.
I'm not a 'multis are better' guy, I just don't think they are inherently worse. I have fx on my M13 that I flat out like better than anything else I've used. I also have used effects that my M13 could never replace, but that's no reason to poo poo what's great about it.
The best part about it is I can experiment with effects combinations that I would never be able to try with individual pedals that I would likely own.
Neither is better except in specific application, IMO.
Also, AxeFx is cheating, cheater-pants.
The best part about it is I can experiment with effects combinations that I would never be able to try with individual pedals that I would likely own.
Neither is better except in specific application, IMO.
Also, AxeFx is cheating, cheater-pants.
I replaced my entire board with the Zoom B3 and haven't looked back. And the B3 costs less then a lot of single pedals!
I'm not a 'multis are better' guy, I just don't think they are inherently worse. I have fx on my M13 that I flat out like better than anything else I've used. I also have used effects that my M13 could never replace, but that's no reason to poo poo what's great about it.
The best part about it is I can experiment with effects combinations that I would never be able to try with individual pedals that I would likely own.
Neither is better except in specific application, IMO.
Also, AxeFx is cheating, cheater-pants.
I lol'ed.
There's no arguing that you are absolutely correct though concerning being able to experiment with pedal combinations in a multi that would be very difficult with individual stomps. This is especially true if the multi has a software GUI to configure things. Being able to see what a certain effect would sound like in parallel OR series OR both with another effect makes for some great combos through pure experimentation.
I also agree that, for the most part, a stomp dedicated to a particular single function will generally sound better than any sim in a multi.
... for the most part ....
Yeah, I'm retardedly happy with my AxeFX II. It really has it all, in spades.
Get the B3.
I've got both a B3 and some single pedals (tuner, comp, OD, fuzz). I use the B3 for the following;
-headphone practice amp at home, with USB I/O
-looper/drum machine for practice
-on my pedalboard, I use the chorus, boost, and defret (not as good as a fretless, but works for the one song I need it in my band's set)
-XLR out, in either pre or post to the board
-If my amp went down, I could use the amp sims to get through the gig
The effects on the B3 are usable to great. The comps, OD's and fuzz are fine,but my single pedals are much better. For everything else that I use just a bit of, the B3 is fine. Start with the B3, as you want specific effects you can add them, but you can still keep the B3. It is a good starting point. Only down side with using it in conjunction with singles is the power issue, if you're using a daisy-chain you'll get a buzzing sound in your signal. You'll need to use something like a Pedal Power, or use separate wall-warts.
I've got both a B3 and some single pedals (tuner, comp, OD, fuzz). I use the B3 for the following;
-headphone practice amp at home, with USB I/O
-looper/drum machine for practice
-on my pedalboard, I use the chorus, boost, and defret (not as good as a fretless, but works for the one song I need it in my band's set)
-XLR out, in either pre or post to the board
-If my amp went down, I could use the amp sims to get through the gig
The effects on the B3 are usable to great. The comps, OD's and fuzz are fine,but my single pedals are much better. For everything else that I use just a bit of, the B3 is fine. Start with the B3, as you want specific effects you can add them, but you can still keep the B3. It is a good starting point. Only down side with using it in conjunction with singles is the power issue, if you're using a daisy-chain you'll get a buzzing sound in your signal. You'll need to use something like a Pedal Power, or use separate wall-warts.
So I guess the consensus, like always, is that a high level pro uses both singles and a top notch multi. Who's got a paying gig they wanna send my way?
