Author Topic: Multi-Effects Processor & Distortion Help (Read 6998 times)

Crazy_Joe · « **on:** November 05, 2006, 06:16:24 PM »

I did write an essay for this thread, but then my internet failed so i can't be arsed to type it again, so here is a short summary of what i said.

Multi Effetcs issue:

I need one of these because buying individual pedals is proving waste of money for me when i can just buy it all in one. Also i need one which can be used for recording (if they do that).

Dist. issue:

My amp is one channel, i have found out i need 2 channels. I'm wondering whether maybe i should do what the guy from Opeth does and use a dist. from the Multi effects thing and just use the Laney for cleans. However one of the things i wanted in an amp in the first place was a good tube amp distortion.

Am i fooked or is there another way?

Back to Multi Effects:

I'm buying one anyway despite the dist. issue because i need all the other effects.
I need a floor one like Pod XT, preferably with wah.
Any suggestions for one?
I saw this and it looked pretty cool, and sounded cool from the clips: http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/demos/en/ME-50_IT/index.html

Joe Dorcia · « **Reply #1 on:** November 05, 2006, 06:25:24 PM »

Generally muliteffects "phone it in" they do everything ok. Distortion is usually a bit cr@p and most effects sound like an effect, rarther than you guitar with an effect, if that makes sense. I have found over the past five years that getting single pedals that really work for you and building up is the best way (for me anyway). I am also about to chage my amp from a DSL 50 to either a Laney GH50l or GH100l (not sure which) and then put a distortion pedal in front of that.

Distortion wise, the EMMA ReezaFratZitz is an amazing distortion pedal, the best pedal i have heard for making a tube sounding distortion, then i would also get a decent overdrive to boost it to saturation or for solos etc. That would give a very good distortion. However if you want something more modern and with more distortion and possible more variation, Keely do an unbelievable mod of boss's Metalzone pedal. It sounds stunning it really does, but it make be too modern for your tastes, but I know thats what I'm getting, to gt the tone founf on BIffy Clyro and Ocenasize albums. Its more ofa Mesa and Krank distortion, the Emma pedal is more Marshall and cranked Vox sound

Hope it helps

Joe

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #2 on:** November 05, 2006, 06:31:28 PM »

Yeah helps a bit, I'm just glad you don't think i'm a moron for buying a 1 channel amp then finding out i want 2!

Anyways are you sure there isn't one good multi-effects processor that sounds good :lol: I know individual pedals are better, but buying 2 good pedals can buy me loads of effetcs in a whole multi thingy.

Also you can't record from individual ones, and you have to buy more wires for them, and ac adapters, then when you have too many adaptors you will need a dc brick etc. etc.

I'm just saying it is so much more easier. Though i might need to buy an individual pedal for a good distortion. I'm looking for a classic heavy metal dist., though it might need to go a bit more extreme aswel from time to time.

Joe Dorcia · « **Reply #3 on:** November 05, 2006, 06:47:51 PM »

I would go for the Keeley MT-2 then (the metalzone). they have made it sound like a tube distortion with so much gain its unbelievable. and they have put a mode switch on it, so now you have the standard upgraded MT-2, then a different sounding mode that is just amazing, and finally one that has this huge bass sound that you can only use with a 4x12. AMAZING! I love keely. IF any multieffects were goin to be used, I would get a Boss ME-50. What amp have you got by the way?

Joe

Bird · « **Reply #4 on:** November 05, 2006, 06:58:18 PM »

How about the Pod XT Live or the Boss GT-8. I recently sold my Pod 2.0 and floorboard I just don't think the modeling is quite there yet. 8)

hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** November 05, 2006, 07:27:02 PM »

You know I keep trying my Tonelab with the band as it's just so convenient, but although it's probably the most dynamic and authentic modeler, it doesn't give me the response and tone of my pedals. A proper wah, distortion, fuzz pedal, will never be modeled in their complexity.

Multis are nice and the chick in the first row won't care, but I do and keep going back to the pedal hassle, with cables, DC adaptors and all the shite.

Bird · « **Reply #6 on:** November 05, 2006, 07:39:34 PM »

I was running my Pod 2.0 into the loop so it "took over" the amp. It ran like that for about a year and half or more. One day I decided to unhook it just to see what the amp sounded like and it was night and day. It's like it was suddenly alive again, tone had returned. I didn't use it much after that.

Hunter is definitley right, most people won't notice and don't care. Meshuggah used the Pod Pros live for quite a while and Garbage still use Pods. Haven't seen either band live but I doubt they get many complaints. If I were doing live gigs I'd probably go for a multi-effects unit, they're so much lighter :)

Doesn't seem to be a point to my rambling post :roll: Food for thought I guess.

froglord · « **Reply #7 on:** November 05, 2006, 08:58:36 PM »

CrazyJoe, try using a booster (or the multi-fx equivalent) in reverse: instead of using the booster to increase the signal and push your amp into overdrive, set the amp to be distorted, and set the "booster" to reduce the output until it's clean again.

This probably won't work well if you're using lots of distortion because the volume difference will be too much, but for crunch 'n' clean it should do the job.

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #8 on:** November 05, 2006, 09:33:42 PM »

Froglord, nice idea, but it won't work :p

I have a Laney GH50L with Marshall 1936 2x12 by the way. I play heavy metal/thrash metal, not wanting extreme Killswitch engage stuff here, but it has to be heavy.

Also, i don't want amp modelling, i want the least amp modelling thing you can get, i still want it to be a Laney because i love the distortion it has.

Pod XT Live has had mixed reviews and to be honest i don't like the Line 6 'fake' distortions, or any of their effects for that matter really.

Boss seems to be they way to go here, though if i don't like their distortions then i will have to go for an individual pedal. Both guitarists from Opeth have GH100L's and use the GT8 for their distortion. Though the GT8 is more on the amp modelling side of things whereas the ME-50 is more create your own tone.

Bird · « **Reply #9 on:** November 05, 2006, 09:42:06 PM »

Looks like the ME-50 & GT-8 both use COSM to get their sounds except the GT-8 uses 2 instead of 1.

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #10 on:** November 05, 2006, 09:52:01 PM »

Well the ME-50 is probably what i'll end up buying (unless there are any other suggestions), and then i'll get a separate Dist pedal if i don't like the dist.

Can the ME-50 do recording to pc?

_tom_ · « **Reply #11 on:** November 05, 2006, 10:00:46 PM »

Joe, my mate used to have an ME-50 and it was very average.. the distortions all sounded very thin to my ears and I didnt really like the effects that much either. Getting a pedal for distortion kinda defeats the purpose of having the Laney imho..

I think this would be a good idea for switching from gain to cleaner -

http://www.award-session.com/solobooster.html

Same idea as Froglord but could work better as its designed for cutting volume instead of boosting it. As it says, if you use it infront of the amp instead of in the fx loop it will make it more or less distorted.

*goes back into hiding* :lol:

Dakine · « **Reply #12 on:** November 06, 2006, 12:15:18 AM »

I have/had a Boss GT-8 and believe it's the best of the lot.
Say had as it's being sold along with Engl 1/2 stack to fund new amp (guy buying it is going back to gigging and is very impressed with it, and he's a pro who has done many records and tours back in the day).
It is extremely well built.
Yes it does amp modelling but so do most and you can turn it off.
You can record but this is a very complicated bit of kit and you are better reading about it or going to their forum than me trying to explain.
It has many distortion effects, some better than others but to my ears the rat and guvnor are great.
It of course has multiple delays,flange,phase,roto,etc.
All effects can be placed in a chain as YOU want. The pedal has multiple wah's along with other assigneable effects like vol. of course.
In fact the thing is a 'spaceship' in a box.
Also, maybe cheesy but actually very neat and works very well, you can set it up to change effects depending upon how much you 'dig' into the strings. So it could be a chorus with lil delay when strumming/picking lightly, then hit a hard powerchord and it can go to a heavy distortion effect with say flange.
It will keep you amused for weeks, trust me.
Anyway, I had an ME and traded it within two days back to the store for the GT-8.
Any more questions I will try to answer :)
Nick

gingataff · « **Reply #13 on:** November 06, 2006, 12:53:10 AM »

Do you like the distortion on your Laney?
How clean do you want to be?
What happens when you turn the volume down on your guitar, does it clean up enough?
Sometimes 1 channel is enough if you play around with your guitars controls, especially if you've got some decents pups and split or parallel wiring in there.

jt · « **Reply #14 on:** November 06, 2006, 03:46:43 AM »

:D To be honest Toms right. Getting a distortion pedal defeats the reason why you bought the Laney in the 1st place.

Trade the amp in & get a 2 channel amp instead. Then try out different FX combos in your local shop. BUY a seperate wah pedal. Job Done.

:D 8)

The prob with distortion pedals is you`ll allways be unsatisfied & after a year or so & lots of money pissed away you`ll turn the gain on your amp up & go..."This is the gain i want" & then you will feel a right prat !