Reasons not to put your pedals in a rack!

[Spaceboy]

If you're going to hide them away in the rack, why not just get a MIDI controllable effects unit?

Cost.

I would just get a G Major and MIDI controller, although I'm not really an effects guy. It seems like it could be cheaper than purchasing pedals individually, then needing an audio switching and controller for them. I understand how some of you fellas are about pedals though.

 

[nevusofota]

If you're going to hide them away in the rack, why not just get a MIDI controllable effects unit?

Because I haven't found one digital unit that does every effect perfectly. Plus, I am used to (and like) the sound of certain pedals (especially analog pedals). I must be old school, but "hiding" them? Come on. They sound the same no matter where you put them (meaning in a rack or board). I just don't get this "hiding pedals" and "aesthetics of pedals" thing people keep bringing up. #1. When I play I don't stare at my pedals. #2. The audience can't usually see them because they are on the floor, usually behind monitors. #3 The audience doesn't care about all the pretty colored boxes at my feet (unless your a guitarist that makes up <1% of the crowd)

 

[glassjaw7]

If you're going to hide them away in the rack, why not just get a MIDI controllable effects unit?

IMO, there's a reason why many pros have at least a couple pedals in their rack and not just a digital rack unit. Some pedals just deliver in ways that other units can't. Like a phase 90 or analog delay.
I like the idea of having a few pedals in the rack; staples of my rig like a couple boosts and my carbon copy and alesis delay.

The rest would be nice out front on a small pedal board: Comp, Wah, Volume/Exp, Drive pedals with 2 switches( BB+/Fulldrive since you can't really use both switches if they're racked) and DL4 since it has multiple switches as well. And FWIW I think racked pedals make a rig look very clean, tidy and professional.

 

[ACShreds]

i say put everything in a rack if at all possible. isnt that the whole point of having one.

 

[Shark Diver]

If you're going to hide them away in the rack, why not just get a MIDI controllable effects unit?

I use a W/D/W rig. The fx units are digital, and a tube reverb. The pedals are drives in front of the amp. No digital unit I've tried can keep the tone of the amp in front - all that A/D conversion.

 

[some dude]

I would just get a G Major and MIDI controller, although I'm not really an effects guy. It seems like it could be cheaper than purchasing pedals individually, then needing an audio switching and controller for them. I understand how some of you fellas are about pedals though.

G-Major can't do effects out front of the amp, which means I would only use it for delay... which would make it a very expensive delay compared to most pedals.

So... I'd still need a switcher to loop an overdrive pedal, vibe, and a wah, plus changing channels on my amp, so it's not like buying the multi-effect saved me from having to buy that piece of equipment...

 

[petejt]

I personally think pedals hidden in a rack looks ugly. Part of the appeal of pedals are their aesthetics, so that gets ruined if hidden in a rack.

Also I like having my pedals out in front so I can change their settings on the fly, and also I can re-wire the pedalboard however I want, since I am always changing the combinations.
.

And if you want MIDI control- it's not too difficult to build a pedalboard with an internal shelf to hold a GCX Switcher or equivalent, and then just connect a MIDI control directly to it. No need for yards upon yards of cable.

Interesting, I have never heard of aesthetics being so important to some (especially for gigging musicians). I'm not saying that this shouldn't be a factor but it has never been with me. Also, if you put a GCX on the board you would still have yards of cable if you want some efx in the loop and some up front. (sorry to the op, kind of off topic again)

Well, it's just that I personally like the look of my effects pedals and the colours of them, so I feel it is a shame to hide them from my view. They aren't on display for others to see.
I don't use the effects loop at all- everything is in front. Most of it is just short patch leads- it would be the same overall length of cable whether the pedals were mounted on a pedalboard or inside a rack.

 

[petejt]

I will say that I love checking out the amps and effects pedals etc. onstage at gigs. I always make an effort to see what they use. Who's to assume that the audience doesn't care what you use- 1% or not there are people out there like myself that enjoy these things. I was stoked when I was at the Rockwiz gig they let me jump right up onstage at the end while packing up, so I could check out and take pics of the effects pedals. Conversely I was bummed that my seat at the Fleetwood Mac gig last year was too far from the stage- the sound quality was fantastic even that far back, but I could barely see the amps onstage (they happened to be Rectos surprisingly). Regardless of whether bands have amps on stage as props or not (and they often do).

 

[petejt]

I personally think pedals hidden in a rack looks ugly. Part of the appeal of pedals are their aesthetics, so that gets ruined if hidden in a rack.

Also I like having my pedals out in front so I can change their settings on the fly, and also I can re-wire the pedalboard however I want, since I am always changing the combinations.
.

And if you want MIDI control- it's not too difficult to build a pedalboard with an internal shelf to hold a GCX Switcher or equivalent, and then just connect a MIDI control directly to it. No need for yards upon yards of cable.

Interesting, I have never heard of aesthetics being so important to some (especially for gigging musicians). I'm not saying that this shouldn't be a factor but it has never been with me. Also, if you put a GCX on the board you would still have yards of cable if you want some efx in the loop and some up front. (sorry to the op, kind of off topic again)

I thought it was interesting also. That being said .... I have always been a "What is it ?" not a "What does it look like it is ?" kind of person. I could care less what something looks like in almost any situation.

Well, for example if you like the sound of a particular device that you've heard at a gig, then it will aid identifying it later on and/or describing it to those that might not know its name, if you want to buy or try it out somewhere.

 

[Zachman]

If you're going to hide them away in the rack, why not just get a MIDI controllable effects unit?

Because certain pedals just have a certain particular characteristic that rack stuff/"MIDI controllable effects units" just don't do quite the same.

I have my pedals rack mounted in my big rack rig, but I also have loose pedals that are for grab and go situations, along w/ a mini rack.

 

[stephen sawall]

I personally think pedals hidden in a rack looks ugly. Part of the appeal of pedals are their aesthetics, so that gets ruined if hidden in a rack.

Also I like having my pedals out in front so I can change their settings on the fly, and also I can re-wire the pedalboard however I want, since I am always changing the combinations.
.

And if you want MIDI control- it's not too difficult to build a pedalboard with an internal shelf to hold a GCX Switcher or equivalent, and then just connect a MIDI control directly to it. No need for yards upon yards of cable.

Interesting, I have never heard of aesthetics being so important to some (especially for gigging musicians). I'm not saying that this shouldn't be a factor but it has never been with me. Also, if you put a GCX on the board you would still have yards of cable if you want some efx in the loop and some up front. (sorry to the op, kind of off topic again)

I thought it was interesting also. That being said .... I have always been a "What is it ?" not a "What does it look like it is ?" kind of person. I could care less what something looks like in almost any situation.

Well, for example if you like the sound of a particular device that you've heard at a gig, then it will aid identifying it later on and/or describing it to those that might not know its name, if you want to buy or try it out somewhere.

So I would not put pedals in a rack as a public service as too not confuse other musicians ?