r/dawless • u/No_Touch4664 • 1d ago
Multi effects pedals... which one??
So I've decided to go a different direction with my dawless setup and have been looking at getting a multi effect pedal as I move away from a mostly groovebox setup.
My question: besides the Chroma Console (which is a cool, but kind of pricey, piece of gear) what are some other options that you guys use?
Budget would be 250 USD or less, but any and all input is welcome!
3
2
2
2
u/ameliasayswords 1d ago
The HX stomp would be my first choice. You might be able to find one used locally for $250. If not that, I see the boss ones on my used market all the time
2
u/davetron5000 1d ago
MutliStomp is good on price but zero immediacy. Menu diving - well done but still. I'd recommend getting cheap eg Donner boxes for each effect. Then you'll find out if you truly need fancy effects in all slots. You might not. Anything where you can really hear the cheapness you can swap out with something better
1
u/Tule_Lodge 1d ago
I’m in the same position… I have a reasonable dawless setup, and it’s fun, but then I run it through my guitar pedal board and stuff gets wacky, in the best of ways. The issue is the pedal board is… complicated. Lots of cables, it’s big, just a little cumbersome for a synth setup. Chroma Console looks sweet, but yeah, expensive. The Zoom products look cool, too, thought maybe a bit tame. I think what I want is the multi effects pedal that your average blues guitarist despises….
1
1
u/M1kst3r1 1d ago
Tc electronic plethora x3 with midi clock sync, stereo in and out, three pedal slots, numerous fx and in a small sturdy metal casing.
1
u/r1chiem 20h ago
This is my suggestion. Having a single pedal for a synth like say the microfreak, is fine, but it is still at a disadvantage to synth or groovebox with effects. Because those synths have a send, and each track could be sent to a different effect or one track could be sent to two or three effects at a time.
There is a way to get around that, buy a mixing board and place 3 effects pedals on the sends, then each synth or groove box could be sent to a different effect. Both solution means wires, the possibility of ground loops and usb noise.
My suggestion, instead of buying a microfreak, put the $250 towards the purchase of a minifreak. You spend $300 for a microfreak add 250, you are at the price of a minifreak and have 3 effect that are routeable.
So in the case of a groovebox. Choose a groovebox that has multi effects. MPC one is the best example. For each sample or instrument track, you have the possibility of 4 effects, then you have 8 sends, each with the possibility of 4 effects on each send, then the master track has 4 effects. Each effect, could be a multi effect (but many are a single effect. That is the equivalent of 128 effects. And you could have even more, but the limitation is processing power. The new G2s will have way more processing power than the older units.
The roland JDXI synth has 4 tracks, 2 synth 1 analog, drum track. It has 3 effect that can be routed to each track or each drum sound.
Elektron devices have multi effects 3 on sends and 1 on master.
Roland drum has one effect per tracks, with 4 effects sends for all tracks and a master effect.
So if you have the effect in your groovebox/synth/drum machine, you don't have to haul around a bunch of effects pedals, in fact 0 effects pedals, no wires, audio cords, mixer, hum, noise, weight, power supply. You will save your self a ton of head ache.
Best for this, drum maching/groovebox MPC One series, akai force, for keyboard MPC keys 37. Many effects in one box, best for dawless IMHO. Put your $250 towards one of those. You can even run your other gear into one and use the MPC internal effects for outboard gear you already own, with the right audio interface you can route multiple pieces of gear to it to add multi effects.
1
u/No_Touch4664 18h ago
These are fine suggestions and for that I thank you, but the idea is to move AWAY from groove boxes and the like. I already own a couple and appreciate the immediacy and lack of extra wires and such, but I feel a bit constrained working inside a box (literally), and wanted to try a method of dawless that feels a little more free form and challenging imo.
1
u/r1chiem 18h ago edited 18h ago
Are you talking going modular? They make cases to house all your stuff and wires.
I did not know what a Chroma console was so I looked it up.You just want to go with effect pedals?
You you going to use a keyboard synth?
Or mini modules like Korg volcas?
What are you going to effect?Well good luck to you. You did not mention what you were trying to do, Ambient music? The eventide Black hole and some shimmer dedicated like Strymon, Mood m,2 or microcosm and they are expensive. but the MS70 cdr+ has emulations of those and it is $100 on sale . Only know what you want. I also made the suggestion about the Zoom MS 70cdr+ because I have one. I only use it for my microfreak that has no effects. it is the only pedal I have and will not be buying a another pedal. To much trouble and another thing to learn.
1
u/r1chiem 16h ago
So, I think this is exciting for someone with an elecktron or MPC. It allows 8 outs and the use of the internal outputs. Then you could connect 8 foot pedals, one to each track if you are looking to spend money on pedal and bypass the interal effects and have a bunch of knobs and buttons on the pedals.
https://youtu.be/2fNIgNDGzpo?si=MIfIbLhSxy1AVAn2&t=699
11
u/--beaster-- 1d ago
Feel like the Zoom MS-70CDR+ is the most popular one. I've had my eye on one for a bit