Which do you feel is easier to use and why?

[NaturalBornBoy]

I'm contemplating either getting the Fractal FX-8 or keeping my current board and getting something like a Boss ES-8 to program presets and eliminate tap dancing.

Which set-up do you feel is easier to use live?

I'm not bothered about whether or not it works well in a studio or bedroom environment.

I'm more concerned about things like getting all the levels perfect for each preset, ease of set-up and things like that.

I've heard of some guys who use multi-fx units, having to tweak levels for each preset whenever they play live or even whenever they play different venues. This doesn't appeal to me at all cos' I don't have to do this with individual pedals. Basically I don't want to have to mess with the menus and all that jazz on the FX-8 when set-up and soundcheck time is limited.

And fwiw, the last time I used a multi-fx floorboard to play live was never. I've just always prefered individual pedals.

 

[JimmyBlind]

If you've got the FX8 effects set up exactly how you like them, you likely wouldn't have to do any tweaking on the fly, nor would any of the presets change, unlike knobs on a pedal. They're already optimized.

I think people have difficulty tweaking amp model patches on the fly when the sound system or room biases towards certain frequencies. You still have that problem with an amplifier, but with less to tweak on the fly.

If you've already got a board of cool pedals that you like, I'd certainly go with the looper.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

Guys who use the FX-8, have you ever tried just using the FX-8 straight into a clean amp?

How good are the drive pedal tones on the FX-8?

 

[LP Freak]

I recently picked up the FX8. I run it through my Friedman modded JMP. I've always run pedals in front and through the loop with the 4CM and pedal switcher. I got good results but wasn't able to switch all 3 channels, only 2. The FX8 allows me to switch all 3 and has stellar fx that sound way better then pedals. I also like how the you can use the 4CM on the FX8 and it allows you to choose whether you want your fx pre or post.