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[Gilliegorm]

Currently looking to spend some hard earned wad on a new pedal however nae quite sure what to go for:

Current options for consideration are:

Hardware option - Boss ME20, Digitech RP80/90, Zoom GFX

or

Software Emulator - Native Instruments Guitar Rig v3

Anyone any experience with these? Would software emulator work well in live environment - any experience of that?

Help/advice greatly appreciated. currently using an old Zoom 505 but it is tired and a little buzzy on connections.

Taa muckle.

[Old Gold]

I think you'd regret spending a wad on a multi fx unit if you're planning on using it live. Better off spending it on seperate stomp boxes... they pay off i the long term if you buy carefully.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SpanishArmada

I think you'd regret spending a wad on a multi fx unit if you're planning on using it live. Better off spending it on seperate stomp boxes... they pay off i the long term if you buy carefully.

Good advice - I've tried all the main multi-effects boxes and they're great in the house, but are complete ding live.

Shop around, pedals go for peanuts 2nd hand.

As a started for 10, I'll sell you a Compressor!

(smooth as fuck eh?)

[davetherave]

I've tried all sorts of rack and multi effects setups, what have I ended up with? 6 separate boss pedals, Delays, chorus , distortion, etc and a BCB6 case to carry them all in. Sounds great! Closest multi fx I have found that sounds good live and recording was my Boss GT3, which I just happen to be selling

[HairyScaryMark]

Out of the pedals you listed the ME20 is probably the best but you really would be better getting individual pedals as it gives you more flexibililty and generally higher quality.

I have Native Instruments Guitar Rig and I use it regularly just would never concider using it live. There really is no point and real amps sound better (well, the good ones do anyway). I have had Guitar Rig crash a number of times also (usually I was running other audio software at the time however). The quality of the effects is also not that great. Always feel a bit let down by their reverb and chorus and I don't really like the interface that much.

Also, what do you want multi effects for? To make whale noises?

Just get yourself a decent reverb and distortion pedal. Maybe add a bit of chorus and delay if you want a bit more excitment.

Speaking from experience. I've bought novelty items of gear before and always wish I had just got a decent (small) amp and a few pedals.

[Old Gold]

In half defense of multi fx, you can get them real cheap second hand... but then that's because everyone eventually sells them in favor of stomp boxes at a later date. If you insist on taking the plunge, my advice is get a basic one for as cheap as possible, as it'll likely serve its purpose before long.

Maybe you could buy a solid distortion pedal (a Proco Rat or a Boss Metal Zone maybe) and a bunch of the super cheap Behringer stompboxes if you want some swooshy noises.

What sort of sound are you after?

[Gilliegorm]

Many thanks for all the responses guys (including the smooth sales offers). I can quite easily deduce that individual pedals are the way to go and not a multi fx processor. Thinking about it more, the ease of changing between effects on a multi fx always seemed to be a pain in the ass however with a pedal board, it would be child's play.

I will stick with my buzzy Zoom 505 and start to scan for pedals (eBay here I come).

Thanks again.

[Pierre Von Mondragon]

I like my ME 50, but it needs a boost pedal added, and its too easy to de/reactivate the wah, I'm gonna get a Boss phaser and add an Exp pedal to control the rate in real time, so yeah, probably individual is the way.

[Jan Deal]

Originally Posted by SpanishArmada

In half defense of multi fx, you can get them real cheap second hand... but then that's because everyone eventually sells them in favor of stomp boxes at a later date. If you insist on taking the plunge, my advice is get a basic one for as cheap as possible, as it'll likely serve its purpose before long.

Maybe you could buy a solid distortion pedal (a Proco Rat or a Boss Metal Zone maybe) and a bunch of the super cheap Behringer stompboxes if you want some swooshy noises.

What sort of sound are you after?

A Proco RAT is a fuzzbox.

On the topic of multi effects units, they're baws. What you want to do it hunt around on ebay for old 70's analogue pedals...

[Old Gold]

Originally Posted by Jan Deal

A Proco RAT is a fuzzbox.

On the topic of multi effects units, they're baws. What you want to do it hunt around on ebay for old 70's analogue pedals...

Fuzz is distortion dagnabit!

These high gain dealies are too much for my old ears...