multi effect pedals
The multi-effects pedal is one of the most impressive and creative inventions in artistic technology of the last century. The ability to distort, modulate, and delay an audio signal from an electric guitar in one standalone unit is nothing short of an incredible accomplishment, considering the electric guitar itself is less than 100 years old.
multi-effects units have rapidly evolved alongside microchips and computer technology. The features and capabilities, of modern, multi effect devices are far more advanced, than their predecessors.
Black Arts Toneworks Tres Diablos
Pigtone PP-22 Effects
Many contemporary pedals blend seamlessly with computer interfaces through WiFi, Lightning, USB, or Bluetooth connections. This has opened many doors for music production at home. Today, we are able to perform in-depth editing and customization of the music we play. It is as easy as uploading and downloading custom presets to and from our devices, programs and the internet.
The first glimmer of multi-effects technology appeared in 1982. At that time, the available effects on the market were primarily floor-based stompbox or expression pedals with a single dedicated sound such as the Maestro Fuzz-Tone, Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face, and Shin-ei UniVibe.
JHS Pedals Bonsai 9-Way Screamer
These pedals are all great, due to the convenience of multiple effects in one unit. They can be high-maintenance and their requirements can add up quickly. They may need additional power supplies and patch cables. If you are a live musician, it can become tedious, if you have to make any switches, between pedals, while performing.
Catalinbread Dreamcoat Multi Effects
Multi effects pedals, also called multi-FX units, contain several different effects, in the same pedal.
Most typically, you’ll get effects like distortion, overdrive, chorus, flanger, reverb, delay. The number of effects you’ll get depends on the specific pedal you choose.
Origin Effects Halcyon
Little Endian Engineering
There is a huge variety of compact multi-effects pedals, which contain three or four basic effects. There are many larger units, that have multiple effects, and can perform many different functions. Some of these units can have over 70 effects.
Some of the larger multi effects pedals can be intimidating, due to the amount of effects it can perform. They are controlled, in the same way, as individual pedals. Each effect should have it’s own on and off switch, which you can control by using your foot.
Tone City T-60 Green Tube
Landtone Effects
Mad Professor MAD-FGC
CNZ Audio Mod Station Effects
There’s a tendency to think of effects as being automatic. There are a lot of pedals that you can just plug in, and right away, the pedal will give you the effects that you want. However, many modern devices are more complex and offer much more scope.
Caline CP-20″Crazy Cacti” Effects
Mooer GE200 Multi-FX
Some devices have modulation and/or MIDI controls built in. Some of the more sophisticated units, enable effects to be altered in real time, either under the control of a MIDI, through an LFO, or in response to the dynamics of the input signal.
These pedals can cover a huge spectrum of functions. It may take you a while to learn how to properly operate and utilize the effects. It depends on the number of modulation sources and destinations a machine provides, and how many may be used at one time.
Joyo Multi Effects
There is an important point to make about modulation, though: it’s not usually desirable to make a parameter shift over its complete range in response to your control stimulus.
COOLMUSIC A-ME01 Modulator Multi Effects
Caline G002 Green Mamba
More often than not, you’ll want to be able to set upper and lower limits between which the parameter will change in response to the full travel of a pedal, or to the sweep of an input‑tracking envelope follower. Fortunately, any effects unit with worthwhile modulation facilities will include a facility to let you define your own limits.
The majority of effects units, other than the very cheapest models, come with some form of MIDI control, but you’ll have to check your manual to see exactly what that allows you to do. At the very least, you should be able to change patches or mute the effects output via MIDI, but you can usually do a lot more.
MOOER MOD Factory MKII
Danelectro BAC-1 Talk Back
Malekko Sneak Attack
Dr. J Effects
BOOMERANG III
Another common feature is the patch map or allocation table, which allows you to decide which patches will be called up by which MIDI Program Changes, rather than patch 1 always being tied to Program 1 and so on.
The idea behind this is that for live use you can team your effects unit with a MIDI keyboard, then create a table so that whenever you call up a new patch on the synth, an appropriate effects patch is loaded to complement it
Aural Dream Super Ring Guitar Effect
Wampler Moxie
When using controller data, it can sometimes be tedious to map the required controller to the parameter you want to change. Some units have a so‑called MIDI learn mode, which makes this job a lot simpler.
All you do is choose the parameter you want to change, then move the physical controller you want to use to control it, and the effects device will recognise the controller and assign it for you. The exact procedure varies from machine to machine, but it doesn’t get much more complicated than that.
Valeton Coral Multi Effects
In addition to using MIDI to make continuous parameter changes, you may also find that you can use MIDI Clock to synchronise time‑related functions such as LFOs, delay times, and so on. This is a very useful feature to have, as you can create stock effects that will always work in time with a track, no matter what the tempo is.
Hand-made TS9 TS808
Playwell Drum Machine
If you’ve ever tried to switch to a new effects patch during a mix, you’ll almost certainly have noticed that most units don’t switch patches very smoothly, but leave you with a rather clumsy gap at the changeover point.
To create a change from delay to chorus, you’d set up chorus in one block and delay in the other, then use MIDI to turn down one block at the same time as turning up the other. This could be done quickly or as a smooth crossfade. You may also find it useful to use the MIDI master volume facility in your effects unit to automate effects level from your sequencer.
FLAMMA FC05 Mini Modulation
Recommended Multi Effect Pedals
Empress Effects
The Empress Phaser Pedal is the next generation in the evolution of digitally-controlled analog technology. It features an all-analog signal path but is controlled by a microprocessor, allowing it to maintain all its character and analog flavor while adding a ton of possibilities for control and adaptability.
Line 6 HX Effects Multi
HX Effects features 100+ effects taken from the award-winning Helix processor, in a compact, pedalboard-friendly format. In addition, legacy effects from the acclaimed Line 6 M-Series and Stompbox Modeler pedals are also included.
Vocal Pedal Processor Doubling Effects
This pedal is designed for vocalists and guitarists to add rich chorus and reverb effects to their microphone and/or guitar signal. Singers can also switch between WARM, BRIGHT, and NORMAL modes, with each mode indicating the type of EQ manipulation provided by the pedal.
SONICAKE Guitar Multi Effect
Rockstage features a built-in cabinet simulator for getting a real stack sound straight from the PA system. You also can directly connect it to your guitar amplifier’s return jack to get your own rock sound.
HOTONE Guitar Multi Effects
Throughout years of grinding to establish its core technologies from empirical practice, Hotone team proudly presents this soul partner for your sophisticated taste in the sound of the music.
Valeton Multi Effects
Dapper Indie is one guitar multi effects pedal processor which contain Distortion Reverb Delay Chorus Fuzz & Phaser Tremolo effects guitar Pedal
Hotone Ampero MP-100
Ampero amp modeler & multi effects processor/pedal is a game changer. It’s heart pounding amp modeling and uber quality effects are powered by the updated CDCM HD and F.I.R.E. system, bringing you the absolute best the world has to offer.
