Analog Stompboxes and Digital Multi Effect Units - let’s integrate!
So, you’ve been effected for a long time now…
There really is no better way to introduce you to all things PedalEffected than to jump into the fundamentals of pedals, effects, and why we love to tinker.
Tinkering is just one aspect of this love affair.
Let us not forget chats with friends and fellow musicians over our favorite gear and why - let alone the gear we may have grown up idolizing from past recorded greats. There were many best guesses on how we mere mortals could get closer to their larger than life tones.
Many of us had cut our teeth on basic amps and similarly basic pedal effects. These were mostly analog in origin and were usually a series of one-trick ponies for a song or 2 in our sets. Not every song needs a wah pedal engaged but the need to plan ahead for it is why it is on our pedalboards, just a step away from us at all times.
Maybe you think it unfair to single out a wah pedal? Maybe it is!
Below I will expand on which digital units I have come to love and which standalone (mostly analog) units that I cannot get away from depending on the gig.
My Current Favorite Digital Multi Effect Units
Line 6 has made some of my most favorite solutions for what seems like 20+ years. The HX Stomp can be an excellent recording friend as well as part of a very easy fly rig as it can do effects, amps, and also go direct to a PA system - truly flexible!
The HX Effects in my opinion is more of a favorite for me when I am going into an amp and want to get a comprehensive amount of options from across the history of effects that Line 6 has captured. Many of these modeled effects are no longer available, let alone available cheaply.
Boss created the impressive MS-3 as another pedalboard solution that can give you access to the majority of their famous effects, including the discontinued Slow Gear and also the modern Slicer found in other, more expensive units as well from them.
All of these boxes offer an incredible amount of options - from routing your chain and accessing many random effects for the once or twice a month you may need “that” tone.
Back to that wah pedal statement above -
How many of us use a volume pedal, a wah pedal, maybe even also an expression pedal for certain effects? That’s a lot of real estate taken up by things we may not use in every song, every night.
PedalEffected advocates picking what matters to you most - do you have a favorite reverb unit and do not think a digital multi effect unit can ever match that tone for you?
Maybe it can’t!
And that’s ok - pedals are modular for exactly this reason. We pick and choose what to swap in and out as needed. Choose your own adventure!
For me, with a Line 6 style unit, I can press different “banks” and essentially have a different virtual pedalboard that will become active. Depending on my settings, this can be anything - my expression controller can become different wah pedal types let alone wahs at different points in the virtual signal chain. I like to use my expression pedal for controlling delay feedback levels and even distortion levels aside from what we usually think about for them as volume or wah type controls.
In theory, sometimes I like my wah pedal before distortion but I do also like to get synthy and put wah after distortion. Sometimes I want my Phase 90 before a Plexi style amp or sometimes I want it just running on the right channel through a stereo amp after a delay line.
Because, why not?
These multi effect units actually can solve that for us all with the tap of a foot live in real time- no switching cables around and no need for redundancy like having multiple of the same pedal in order to have it available for that one song a night. I have known people who have had multiple delay pedals and multiple Phase 90s just to cover all their bases.
Most of the top units sold today include free editing software and robust options for how you can integrate these solutions to your existing situations.
Personally, I like carrying less gear around and consolidating what is on the stage in front of me. It is a lot harder to break your favorite expensive toys if you stop taking them everywhere you go!
Let’s be real, Digital cannot always do it all
A big aspect of the digital landscape is the simplicity and expansiveness of sounds and features offered but there is also a tone difference which can be noticeable to some. As mentioned earlier, you need to think about what sounds best to you and what aspects of your sound and performance matter.
An odd thing I have noticed over the years is that a good many of the Line 6 synth effects are monophonic only and that does not usually work for me. Companies like Meris have made a number of amazing units, notably the Enzo, which very fully cover those polyphonic needs on guitar, bass, or keyboard.
In recent years when I have designed my pedalboards I have tried to ask myself 2 main things when I add stompboxes side by side to a digital multi.
Is this something I will need on all night long and maybe do not need to waste a “block” in the multi unit?
Does this pedal do something or sound a certain way I cannot achieve with a multieffect, therefore I NEED IT!?
In question 1 above I tend to think of the years I used a compressor and a noisegate, always on. I used them as separate pedals and saved room on the multi effect for when I wanted tastier things like a chorus or a delay.
Line 6 HX Stomp for instance has limitations in the software/hardware; you can use roughly 6 assigned blocks at a time which can be frustrating if you are someone who likes to gain stack or just have options ready to stomp.
As I turn to question 2, I want to mention several pedals that stand out for me and why I would want to use them regardless of a multi effect unit.
Earthquaker Devices Plumes - not just another Tubescreamer! This would be a choice pedal for those who really care about transparent overdrive and boost.
Z Vex Mastotron - for those looking to get a pure analog fuzz with options! The Pulse Width and Impedance controls alone make this a unique pedal for true tonal bliss.
Boss MD-500 - while this unit is not analog, it is a total space saver paired with the Line 6 HX Stomp. I use this to free up many blocks that would have gone to modulation effects. This unit also has the Slicer built in with the ability to create user patterns.
Random tip: The Slicer can be used to create a sequencer out of your static chord parts. You can program your own rhythms and assign pitch specific shifting amongst other goodness.
Electro Harmonix SuperEgo - hands down, the best freeze/sustain instant synth pad device around. Use this in conjunction with modulation and you have a layer to play over that will have people wondering where your keyboard player is hiding.
Random Tip: Use this pedal with something like the above MD-500 from Boss to create shimmer and movement out of static micro granular synthesized pad effects alone. Run it stereo!
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-PedalEffected.com