rack vs stomp box

[Fishbrain]

what is the advantage/disadvantage of rack fx over stomp boxes and vice versa?

also, are compression pedals worth investing in?

 

[bongomania]

The relative dis/advantages of rack versus pedals are pretty much visible on the surface: rack units are bigger, you can fit more controls and in/outputs on them, thus they usually have way more features; yet they are bigger and heavier and require a bigger heavier rack to carry them.

There's no "quality" difference inherent in rack vs. pedal.

Compression pedals are worth investing in if you buy low and sell high. But seriously, it's good to try one out and see if you find it useful or appealing. I'm "into" compressors, but I'll be the first to admit they are not always appropriate for all players, rigs, or gigs, and they can be used as a crutch as much as a useful tone tool.

 

[Fishbrain]

thanks for the response. so really its just personal preference on the way they look an practicality of transport?

 

[xyllion]

Yes, except that most manufacturers tend to put their better stuff in rack mount boxes rather than floor boxes. This is true for everything since there are some really amazing pedals out there, but for the big companies it tends to be true that you get better quality from the rack effects.

 

[Low D.]

Depends on the effect. Wah-wah for example. You cannot find 1 good rackmount auto wah effect! But pedals? Many!

 

[Fishbrain]

i see! im after a drippy synth type thing. rack or stomp box? personal opinion of course ;P

 

[jady]

Something else to consider, Rackmount units are usually line level so you would need an effects loop in your amp to run them. I personally use both, I have a Lexicon MX-200 for pitch shifting, delay, chorus, phaser, flange etc, and a BBE Sonic Maximizer in my rack and use a Punch Factory, MXR Dyna-comp, and distortion boxes in a pedal case.......

 

[frogleggstoo]

good idea I use both myself rack and stomp myself. a foot controler comes in handy for the racks though..( so there we are back to the feet again..) I have never been able to make up my mind which I like most, so I buy both.. my floor is a bit cluttered but some carpet on a piece of wood and some velcro fixes that! I just lean it up against the wall when I am not using it .. I do have a dano compresser (turf and surf) it was pretty cheap when new but works I know what that guy means "as a crutch" they should put those in wah pedals if fact I did write dunlop a letter asking about it I was thinking about revamping my old GBS 100 (the first generation of bass wahs) but then I will want one for my morley too..oh well they are cheap! later Richard

 

[brianjen13]

I'm "into" compressors, but I'll be the first to admit they are not always appropriate for all players, rigs, or gigs, and they can be used as a crutch as much as a useful tone tool.

Please explain. I use my multiFX mostly for amp modeling since I run straight to the board, but I would like to get a comp to get a more even tone. I play 90% worship.
Thanks, Brian

 

[bongomania]

The idea is that a compressor (at the right settings) WILL give you a more even volume level. It's only problematic if you use one instead of practicing to get even volume levels using only your hands. That's what I meant by a "crutch", when players use a comp to mask sloppy technique. But if you are happy with your technique, and just want to get that extra level of consistency (and peak limiting) that a compressor can provide, they are an awesome tool. Plus many of them will alter your tone a bit- that can be awesome or sucky, depending on your tastes. I happen to love the subtle tone options different comps can provide, but many of the pedal units do roll off a bit of the highs or a bit of the lows.

Some players feel a compressor dulls their tone, or hampers the sensitivity of their playing. Personally, I think those people just never tried the right comp with the right settings.

 

[johnvice]

good idea I use both myself rack and stomp myself. a foot controler comes in handy for the racks though

+1 for frogleggstoo on two points

First, It’s not like you have only rack or floor.
Second, if you plan to change effects mid song, you’ll need a foot controller if it’s a rack effect.

In my rack, I have a drawer style tray with an Aphex Bass Exciter (which has to run between the pre-amp out and power amp in) and a Yamaha NE-1 EQ (which I run in my pre-amp’s effect loop.)

If you play in larger venues where you have to DI, there is a problem when your effects are “spread out”. If there are enough PA channels (and the sound man will humour me) I run three bass outputs: from my Bass bone DI (for the effects), from my pre-amp (for the effects and my NE-1 EQ) and from my Bass Exciter for effects, NE-1, and ‘Excitement’)

I got rid of most of the stuff in my rack as my gear was old and a single low-cost multi effect units replaced it.

As for a compressor, it is my favorite ‘effect’. I play fingerstyle and like light compresson to ‘even out’ my playing. I also like the “Tony Levin’ effect of really heavy compression.

 

[brianjen13]

What sucks is that the only time I have ever used a compressor is in my Dgitech BP50 pedal. I know that that one sucks, so I would love to try a real one. Can comps also be used to increase sustain without rolling off the highs?
Brian

 

[bongomania]

Yes, but increased sustain almost always comes with increased noise. Comps increase sustain by increasing the overall volume when your signal fades away, so you hear more of the tail of the note but also more of the noise in your signal. At low compression levels you get low noise (and more natural playing dynamics) but not much extra sustain. It also depends on the compressor- some are more "sustain-oriented" than others. Also, about the highs, some comps roll off the highs a bit, some a lot, and some have clear highs but are weak in the lows. Some (but maybe not all) comps can be modded for better frequency response.

 

[EricF]

To touch back on the original post a bit more...

There isn't necessarily an advantage (or difference in quality) of one format or another. Good or bad can be had in either shape.

Some effects, like gain pedals (OD/dist/fuzz), work better before the pre-amp and typically need to be easily switchable. Therefore, you don't see many gain effects that are NOT pedals.

Effects like delays, flangers, compressors, processors, etc. are commonly available as either pedals or multi-fx rack units (actually, dedicated rack compressors are common).

What you use depends on your needs and how you choose to setup your rig. There isn't just one "best".

My setup includes a moderate pedalboard in addition to a compressor and sonic maximizer in my rack.

 

[Metropolis_488]

One thing to consider is (and someone please correct me if I am wrong) that when you run effects through a rack unit that is in an effects loop in your amp, the rack unit will never fully be "out" of your signal path (as I have never seen a rack unit that had a true bypass). This also depends if you subscribe to the notion of true bypass vs buffered inputs (we don't need to get into that topic here...but it is something to consider).

 

[bongomania]

There are some rack units with true bypass- the Aphex Dominator is one example in my rack. But it is probably not very common, and it is not advertised as much for rack units is it is for pedals. I think the "boutique" pedal market is where TBP got its fame, and that demand hasn't stretched to other music-gear sectors yet.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Don't some amps have the "ability" to switch in/out the effects loop??? if so then true bypass wouldn't be a "neccesity", IMO (until proven wrong )

 

[Mark Daughtry]

Just an observation: that may be something that can be a difference? Is there a +4 dbu and a -10 dbu difference between stomp boxes and rack units? And if there is, would a Line Level Shifter fix this issue?

 

[brianrost]

so really its just personal preference on the way they look an practicality of transport?

Many rack units have preset memories and foot pedal jacks to switch presets or use expression pedals. Some have MIDI, so it's possible to switch presets on multiple devices at the same time. They almost always have real AC supplies instead of wall warts.

What you won't find in racks are many dedicated distortion devices beyond preamps or even single function units beyond compressors, EQs, spring reverbs and delay/flange/chorus processors. Digital multieffects peaked in the 1980s and 1990s and can be bought used for peanuts, although some of today's pedal multieffects might actually sound better.

If you hate digital, there's a few old analog rack multieffect units that will cost you top dollar, like the Ibanez racks with Tube Screamers, if you can find them.

Something else to consider, Rackmount units are usually line level so you would need an effects loop in your amp to run them.

Units designed for guitars will have instrument level ins and outs.

 

[esa372]

what is the advantage/disadvantage of rack fx over stomp boxes and vice versa?

I prefer to have the control knobs at shoulder height, rather than on the floor.