Moving away from single pedals for a multi-effect

[Fishbulb]

Has anyone moved away from single pedals to a multi-effect like an HX Effects, Helix Stomp, VP4 etc, or replaced at least some of their pedalboard with something like that? If so, any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[spawnofthesith]

Every time I do I find myself going back

that said, I am currently running an HX stomp as a multifx unit in hybrid with other pedals on my board

 

[la szum]

I say, "Don't replace. Just add to."

Bordeom and FOMO will strike again, and the revolving door
of trying to find a solution to last for all-time will arise again.

Build options. Multiple configurations and choices in rigs is a great thing---long term.

 

[sleewell]

several times back and forth hahahahahaha

now im using a helix lt in 4cm and actually like it after trying 4cm several times in the past

bottom line is i like ability to make lots of complex changes with one tap. i dont wanna use a switcher with pedals either, just gets to be too much.

i like with snapshots how you can change each parameter of each block for each snapshot. that is so helpful. i also love having momentary octaves and using the expression pedal to control stuff like delay time or other random things i think about.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

Every time I do I find myself going back

that said, I am currently running an HX stomp as a multifx unit in hybrid with other pedals on my board

This is my setup as well. Went from Helix LT to Stomp plus a small pedalboard. Constantly going back and forth on analog and digital but don’t have to buy shit all over again when the mood changes. Same with real amps vs modeled amps.

 

[SonVolt]

I still prefer analog drives and phaser up front.

As for post-effects... If I had to daisy chain individual effects in series I would 100% move to something like a Fractal VP4. It'll sound better and you have the ability to switch to parallel routing. If I had a parallel mixer, then I would probably use individual effects for my main effects (delay, micropitch), and tack on a multi-effects for "everything else".

 

[laxu]

Done it both ways.

I think you need to ask yourself what is the problem with your current rig that you want to solve, and how many effects you really use.

I found out that most of the time, if I have a good delay and reverb I'm golden. My amps can do the heavy lifting for any drive sounds. I'm not big on fuzz pedals or overdrives. I like using the occasional compressor and modulation effect.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Analog Up Front; Digital In The Loop™

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

I’m getting a multi-fx pedal this weekend for all the fx-loop stuff. Have a Flux Echo now for reverb and delay but I’ve grown tired of not being able to just use reverb since the delay is always on. All needs before amp is analog now, just feels better most of the time.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

I go for components that fit a hybrid approach, digital unit small enough to be on a board with some pedals, pedals that take midi or relayswitching.

Reason, I go back and forth a bit…in my mind this is a/more cost effective in the long run then jumping camps all the way, b/best of both worlds is a real thing

Soundwise I’m not sure it matters, the tactile. Interaction with analog gear is a thing…the compactness and preseetty nature of digital is another

 

[Fishbulb]

This all makes sense. My situation is that I jump between different bands, and occasionally doing sessions - ultimately this would hopefully eliminate the process of tearing my board apart and rebuilding it for different gigs (ie, band number one has a super specific tremolo sound on this one song, in band number two I need chorus and some pitch stuff, etc, then there are sounds like different drives, delay and fuzz that I would use for both). I think I would keep a couple of overdrives, fuzz and a Phase 90 or Crybaby or something, then have delays, reverbs and any other effects that are more specific (or just a sound I would want during a session for example) in a multi effect. The appeal of having an ampless modeling solution in something like the HX Stomp wouldn't be a necessity but would definitely be handy in some situations too.

I've tried to do the "big pedalboard that would have everything I would need for everybody all the time" thing, and just didn't like it for a variety of reasons (space, noise, weight, troubleshooting, vanity). Pedaltrain Jr sized board for guitar seems to be the sweet spot for me, with maybe having a Crybaby off by itself on the ground. In the studio all bets are off, I'm often tearing stuff apart and running what I need to get what I hear for the song at hand.

I feel kind of counter to a lot of gear discussion in that I don't really chase tones anymore unless I'm recording something, and most of the time at home I just play thru a MicroCube or a THR10 (or no amp at all) and my pedalboard doesn't get plugged in much unless I'm dialing in sounds for a gig. I love all different types guitar sounds, however I think deep down I want to be someone who just plays a few choice pedals thru a great crunchy amp and works the guitar volume to clean up, but the nature of some of the work I get/want (plus the fact that it seems like the number of gigs where I have to play thru a mandatory Fender Twin has been increasing over the years) kind of prevents that from happening.

 

[dbagchee]

Analog Up Front; Digital In The Loop™

The TGF Mulllet™

 

[king_wombat]

Vp4 is the best I’ve had for this. Tried the helix and hx effects and the boss gt1000/gx100, tc plethora, hotone ampero 2 stomp and various other cheapo units. The vp4 wins hands down for me, I pair it up with a couple of drives, tc spark mini and a wah. Sounds great and the channels/scenes work brilliantly in this context.

I’m also trying with a gt1000 core on a small board. I prefer it sound wise to the line 6 stomp, and with either a midi controller or a couple of extra foot switches I reckon it’ll be usable for gigs. Again pair it with drives and a wah pedal.

 

[david57strat]

Back in 1997 I switched over from dedicated racl amd multi-effects rack (and floor) stuff in combination with very few pedals.

But, in 2018, I decided to go back to dedicated pedals and have been doing that, ever since.

Now, I’m tap dancing again LOL.

A nice switcher would facilitate things, but I haven’t gotten around to buying and re-implementing one yet. That, and I don't seem to want to give up any space on any of my boards, for it (Catch 22).

 

[david57strat]

I say, "Don't replace. Just add to."

Bordeom and FOMO will strike again, and the revolving door
of trying to find a solution to last for all-time will arise again.

Build options. Multiple configurations and choices in rigs is a great thing---long term.

Yep. That pretty much sums up some of the greatest motivators of G.A.S.

"I want to be prepared for everything imaginable - and then some."
"I just need one..no, two more (pedals, guitars, amps, or whatever) to make it happen. Yeah. That'll be it. I'll be done, then!"
"What? No, there's no new cost involved, here I'll sell other stuff to pay for it, so it'll be a wash."
"This will replace all these other things that aren't quite doing the job for me, and take up less space, in the process."

Nothing wrong with selling off stuff you absolutely know you'll never use again. But, unless you're absolutely desperate for the cash (bogged down with bills) and there's no other option, maybe hang onto it for a while longer - unless you have absolutely no place available to store it.

You never know when you may have the need or desire for that piece, again - only then, it may no longer be readily available, or worse, it's still available, but at many times the cost you paid for it; and you'll have to buy it all over again - maybe even more than once.

Of course, none of this ever happens to anyone here...right? You have everything you've ever needed, you bought it at a ridiculously reasonable price, you only had to buy it once, and you have vast amounts of storage space to hang on to all of it :-).

Besides, it'll last you a lifetime!

(LMAO)

 

[TSJMajesty]

Has anyone moved away from single pedals to a multi-effect like an HX Effects, Helix Stomp, VP4 etc, or replaced at least some of their pedalboard with something like that? If so, any thoughts? Thanks!

TL;DR
If I was still gigging, today I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Fractal VP4.

Yeah, I did it twice. The first time was back before the processors were good enough, and the unit I bought sucked, so I went back to pedals.

I've always liked rack units, and being able to control multiple effect changes with a single controller, so about 4 years ago I was looking to buy some high-end pieces, but I learned that most of the types of items I wanted, were now being made as pedals. (H9 for example.)

So I again looked into a multi-effects unit, and landed on an Axe III. (I just went for the big dog, even though in retrospect, for how I use it, an FM3 would've been fine.)

But I didn't buy it for the modelling aspect. I fully intended to use it with my Tri Axis + 2:90.

The effects are fantastic, and there are so many options to explore, wrt how other people have set them up in factory presets, and the modelling is also great, so as it turns out, it's now the only thing I use!

And yeah, I agree with others as in just keeping your other gear. I have 2 buddies who sorta play guitar (they used to, but now hardly ever play), and when they come over on a weekend to catch up, have dinner with me, we always end up playing guitar together. So it's nice that I have enough toys to go around. (One doesn't even own a guitar any more.)

 

[dronerstone]

Been there, done that.

First was a huge board with 15+ pedals.

Then came the pandemic/boredom-induced curiosity, and I got the HX FX, leading to a smaller, more light-weight hybrid setup. Two bags to carry, but much easier to handle.

So far, so good...

Couple years later, I went all-in and bought myself a Helix Floor for Christmas. Still really loving that one, BUT:

Not sure why, but it didn't stop me completely from buying pedals to keep on improving my "real life" boards.

The GAS went quieter, but it didn't vanish into thin air. It's just too much fun, I suppose.

I "copied" my large board with the Helix, added and tweaked some, and then translated my kitchen-sink preset back to yet another real-life board iteration, changed some stuff there, went back to the Helix and A/B'ed to make the same changes in the digital realm.

Can you see where this is going...?

I love both approaches, and at this point I don't care if I'm playing my Helix or one of my boards, each has their own perks and pitfalls.

 

[HotRats]

I did that in 2018 and replaced my pedalboard with an helix floor and it worked fine for a long time for the bands I've been in.
Worked great as multi fx and as a full digital rig too.

The choice between multi fx and pedalboard depends on what I'm playing and with whom, the style of the band, the mood.
With my current cover band I've moved back to a small pedal board because makes me stay/play in the right place, if you know what I mean.

I love to program stuff, take care of small details and therefore I love multifx units like the helix but sometimes you just need to simply focus on playing a follow the flow. The current band ha some jam band traits that made the multi fx work against me.

 

[ragingplatypi]

This all makes sense. My situation is that I jump between different bands, and occasionally doing sessions - ultimately this would hopefully eliminate the process of tearing my board apart and rebuilding it for different gigs

You might find that the convenience of having everything in one box is more of a draw than a particular sound. I have certain pedals that I love, but I don’t miss them when I show up to the gig, set up in 3 minutes and have everything I need with the press of a button.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

I've tried to do the "big pedalboard that would have everything I would need for everybody all the time" thing, and just didn't like it for a variety of reasons (space, noise, weight, troubleshooting, vanity). Pedaltrain Jr sized board for guitar seems to be the sweet spot for me, with maybe having a Crybaby off by itself on the ground. In the studio all bets are off, I'm often tearing stuff apart and running what I need to get what I hear for the song at hand.

You could also do small satellite boards. Super small board with a digital thingy, 2 to 3 expression/way pedals on a piece of floorboard, small board with analog pedals you either use with the digitalthingy, or into an amp…midi controller to add switches to the small digital thingy

That’s what I do atm…no more taking stuff off boards, I mix and match the satellites. Its a little bit more cable messy on stage..#maybeatadlessrelieable?..nothings perfect