Going back to a Multi FX floorboard

[thiswaythatway]

Get a looper keep your pedals

Get an AX8, Hook it up 4CM, and sell all your pedals.

I did, bought the AX8 and the FX8 but just couldnt do it. Sold them off
Will probably try again at some point

Boss ES-8 is pretty cool to use

I got the AX8 to work perfect with my Mark IV. Any noise I'm getting the gate kill it, but I'm not getting any loud HUM associated with ground loops. Since the Mark IV lead channel doesn't need much of a boost I'm using the TS808 sim from the AX8 with the level halfway and just a touch of gain. I compared directly against an Ibanez Tube Screamer and was getting the exact same sound. And the AX8 really helps R2 of the IV and turns it into a REALLY useful versatile channel now since I can dial in a BB Preamp sim for it with more gain and add any bottom end I want. I'm more than happy with how it's turning out.

 

[nevusofota]

I have an AX8 and Helix. They have great effects but I have a bunch of pedals too. You just can't duplicate some pedals. A good example are boost pedals. I love my Sparks and my TS808. I also really really like my ISP Decimator and Electro Harmonix Cathedral reverb.

This. If you're going to have a few pedals you might as well add a few more and ditch the multi fx unit. Besides, pedals will never become obsolete, fx units will. If anything pedals increase in value, making them a better investment.

 

[jlbaxe]

I have an AX8 and Helix. They have great effects but I have a bunch of pedals too. You just can't duplicate some pedals. A good example are boost pedals. I love my Sparks and my TS808. I also really really like my ISP Decimator and Electro Harmonix Cathedral reverb.

This. If you're going to have a few pedals you might as well add a few more and ditch the multi fx unit. Besides, pedals will never become obsolete, fx units will. If anything pedals increase in value, making them a better investment.

And you do not have to go into a menu to adjust them.

They only menu I want to see is at a restaurant

 

[nevusofota]

I've been using this board for the past year and couldn't be happier. The ability to adjust effects such as chorus and phaser on the fly is great. No tap dancing either. Besides my presets I only step on the tremolo for flavor on occasion as it's in front of the looper. I don't ever see me going back to a multi fx unit.

 

[JerEvil]

That's why I love the source audio pedal so much! Fully functional by using the knobs on the pedal, but with an iOS app or regular smart phone you can get into some serious deep dive parameters. The best thing, is that with their kingmaker fives, I've been able to effectively re-create a lot of my favorite settings on some of my favorite analog distortion pedals. I even posted up some clips of a side-by-side comparison and most people guess that the analog pedal was actually the digital one. Seemingly did a better job of capturing it's tone with the kingmaker than the original pedal sounded itself. Working on a couple of new petals now to capture.

 

[CaseyCor]

That's why I love the source audio pedal so much! Fully functional by using the knobs on the pedal, but with an iOS app or regular smart phone you can get into some serious deep dive parameters. The best thing, is that with their kingmaker fives, I've been able to effectively re-create a lot of my favorite settings on some of my favorite analog distortion pedals. I even posted up some clips of a side-by-side comparison and most people guess that the analog pedal was actually the digital one. Seemingly did a better job of capturing it's tone with the kingmaker than the original pedal sounded itself. Working on a couple of new petals now to capture.

I've been thinking about picking up one of the Source Audio OD/Fuzz pedals. I've got an BYOC op-amp Big Muff clone that I love, but it's quite fickle. I've already had to replace the power jack on it once, and it's busted again now. Would be nice to have a sturdier option, and add in some other fuzz sounds for versatility. How's the fuzz face and octavia sounds?

Each pedal can load all of the algorithms, right? So if I get the OD pedal, I can load up all the fuzz sounds and vice versa?

 

[JerEvil]

That's why I love the source audio pedal so much! Fully functional by using the knobs on the pedal, but with an iOS app or regular smart phone you can get into some serious deep dive parameters. The best thing, is that with their kingmaker fives, I've been able to effectively re-create a lot of my favorite settings on some of my favorite analog distortion pedals. I even posted up some clips of a side-by-side comparison and most people guess that the analog pedal was actually the digital one. Seemingly did a better job of capturing it's tone with the kingmaker than the original pedal sounded itself. Working on a couple of new petals now to capture.

I've been thinking about picking up one of the Source Audio OD/Fuzz pedals. I've got an BYOC op-amp Big Muff clone that I love, but it's quite fickle. I've already had to replace the power jack on it once, and it's busted again now. Would be nice to have a sturdier option, and add in some other fuzz sounds for versatility. How's the fuzz face and octavia sounds?

Each pedal can load all of the algorithms, right? So if I get the OD pedal, I can load up all the fuzz sounds and vice versa?

The Octavia sound is pretty kick ass. Lots of fun in the middle position on my ASAT! And, you are correct. You can load all the OD engines on both the LA and Kingmaker. I went with the latter because I like the color better!

 

[Just Mike]

To clarify, I play in a bar band so transportability, reliability and simplicity of operation are my must haves. Part of the reason I'm using the JSX over the 2204 is this. The JSX is a 3 channel switcher. I've set up a Voodoo Labs control switcher to change amp channels via midi from the GT-10. That eliminates the need for an OD pedal. The modded JSX has an adequate clean channel and the crunch channel is Marshallesque enough for live use. With the guitar volume, I can go from AC/DC to AIC rhythm. I also have a GT patch that will bump up the output (in the loop of the JSX) for mid gain solos (Classic VH). Then the Ultra channel is modded for less hair but still has enough for my non metal needs. I have this set up as my lead channel and it covers everything from AIC, Stryper, White Lion etc...
BTW, I agree with others that the Distortion/OD's on multi pedals like this kinda suck. I use the GT-10 in 4CM and use Phase, Chorus, Flange, Wah and EQ in front of the amp and Delay, reverb and boost in the loop. And Midi for amp channel switching. Not boutique, but functional and easy to set up.

 

[dfrattaroli]

Take a look at the Musicomlab 62M as well. Great unit.

 

[nevusofota]

I feel pedals are better for bar situations as they are much easier to trouble shoot. If something spills on an fx unit and fries it then you are down all your effects. With pedals just take the offending effect out of the chain. It's one reason why I like my Octaswitch more for these venues than my Musicomlabs as it's easy to pull a pedal out of the chain while playing with the DIP switch system.

 

[Just Mike]

What if somebody spills a beer in your Octaswitch?

 

[nevusofota]

What if somebody spills a beer in your Octaswitch?

It's just made of relays, not circuit boards. It holds up much better with liquids than digital multi fx boards. If it does go out you can easily take the Octaswitch out of the chain and still have fx available.

 

[Just Mike]

Well, I've gone back and forth between the two. I have a Pedal Palette switcher and a bunch of pedals that I like. I've found that whichever setup I go with i end up starting to build my board around the options and not so much the functionality. For example, I have a CM PlexiTone that sounds very good thru my 2204, but it's pretty big and it has 3 buttons on it so it needs a place on the front of the board. Well, so does the Pedal Palette. If I want to use a wah, then there's that too. Starting to get pretty wide now and with the CM being a 2 button device, going to a lead patch now requires 2 stomps. I guess my backup plan is to have my pedalboard in the truck.

 

[nevusofota]

Well, I've gone back and forth between the two. I have a Pedal Palette switcher and a bunch of pedals that I like. I've found that whichever setup I go with i end up starting to build my board around the options and not so much the functionality. For example, I have a CM PlexiTone that sounds very good thru my 2204, but it's pretty big and it has 3 buttons on it so it needs a place on the front of the board. Well, so does the Pedal Palette. If I want to use a wah, then there's that too. Starting to get pretty wide now and with the CM being a 2 button device, going to a lead patch now requires 2 stomps. I guess my backup plan is to have my pedalboard in the truck.

I understand that the front row can get quite extensive with priority switches. That's why I went with the Musicomlabs, it has 4 main presets buttons and seems to be the smallest of the bunch of loopers that are currently on the market. As you see in the pic I have a volume pedal, wah, looper and Boss tap all in the front line of a Pedaltrain 2 board. I built my layout around the pedaltrain so I wouldn't go crazy with the size.