Multi Effects, PC Link-ability and/or stomp box pedals

[NYC]

I’ve been out of playing and practice for 15-17 years and just getting back into things. Dusted off my pedalboard and a few pedals.

I know many folks are playing right into their PC’s these days and/or using multi effects pedals.

any insight as to newer technology beyond the good old fashioned floor pedals would be appreciated. Im using strictly at home (no gigs) and I am a tech savvy person. But I do want to preserve quality of tone. Any advice of recommendations appreciated

[Alter]

One way to do it is directly on the PC, playing through something like amplitude, guitar rig, etc. Another is using an external multi effect (choose according to budget). The direct to PC route is cheaper or even free (if you already have proper monitors), but i prefer the multi effect thing cause zero latency, plus it is lighter on the pc if you start recording with a DAW. The quality is pretty good nowadays if you like playing through monitors and don't miss a guitar amp.

[Cunamara]

The digital modeling pedals are uniformly very good. Tone is typically excellent and there's a tremendous amount of flexibility in the various parameters to get what you want. There's definitely a learning curve. Those can be addressed through an app on the computer, smart phone or tablet- much easier than trying to do it with the knobs on the device itself.

The Helix Stomp is the one that attracts my interest the most; there are many other options. But, generally speaking, my pedalboard is a cable. I have tried various pedals over the years and really have limited patience for dealing with that and tend to find them tedious fairly quickly (chorus, delay, distortion, etc.). I just like the clean guitar sound. But the Stomp really offers on a lot of things, maybe if I was dealing with setting parameters through the computer instead of a little screen, using three knobs, I would be less frustrated.

[tomassplatch]

I recently switched to Fractal (I use Blueamps Mimic 112 for home practice and live settings : Mimic 112 | BlueAmps
I used DV Mark Jazz 12, Tweed Deluxe clone and Princeton Reverb before.
I must say that I am very happy, I cannot hear nor feel that I am not playing a real amp (but granted, I am not a pro musician), and the flexibility it gives me in terms of tone, amp choices and home recording are great. Not looking back. Fractal is not cheap, I cannot compare with other modelers.

[Sean65]

I would take a look at a Boos ME90. It has more than enough effects and plenty of tech but designed in an old school knob friendly package.

You have all the expected effects but also some cool effects and features that would be very good for practice.

a Freeze control that will freeze the sound of a chord so you can play arpeggios and modes over the top.

a Looper, you can record a chord sequence and practice improv on top, an Octave that you could add a bass line over the chords sequence. Etc etc…

it works in front of an amp, as a recording interface, direct to a PA for live use.

Its a very handy piece of kit for not a lot of cash.

[Spook410]

Umm.. wait.

First of all.. congrats on dusting off the gear and thinking about getting back into it. It's a great hobby to rediscover after the typical life diversions of career and family.

There are so many options. Might be better to go slow.

Some initial thoughts:

• Going into a PC is different from playing either out loud or into headphones.
  
  • There will be a guitar or line input to a analog to digital converter. Focusrite gear is a good example.
  • Once converted you go to a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to record and play back. I like Reaper. Cheap and amazing.
  • You can use plug in's (there are thousands) to do anything pedals do and more. Some are free, some aren't.
  • You can listen in real time by sending via PC speakers or record/playback
  
  
• Lots of new pedals and stuff out there playing out loud (no PC)
  
  • All kinds of effects, loopers, and everything else
  • Amp and cabinet simulators to sound like an amp without an amp
  • Lots of ways to cut down on the weight of amps
  
  
• A lot of the new digital stuff is designed to sound like your old analog stuff. In many cases the old analog stuff, while not having the same flexibility, will sound as good or better.

I like all the new stuff. The pedals can have fewer noise problems and the amps can be lighter. And for $500-$600 you can get a multiFX box that will do anything and do it well. Line 6 HX Stomp is a good example. You'll still need a way to amplify though. Powered speaker or headphones. Still, I would work with what you have for awhile. Maybe get a copy of Real Book and the iRealB Pro application to play along with as you remind yourself of jazz tunes. It's a fun process.

[Tomcat]

Kemper is to me the nicest compromise of digital comfort and sound quality.

[Spook410]

I really don't think spending $2000 on Fractal or Kempler is good advice to someone who has been out of guitar for 15 years and is just getting back into it. Not that I wouldn't like to spend an afternoon playing with those set ups..

[jim777]

If you have a decent amp, which you appear to be looking for in another thread, and you don't necessarily need tons of distortions, you don't need the latest and greatest of anything. If you would like some delays, reverbs, choruses, and modulation effects, you could get something like a TC Electronics G System. It sounds great, can be had for a few hundred bucks used, and the learning curve isn't insane. You can add a distortion or OD in one of its loops if you want

A lot of the newer units (by literally everyone) are packed to the rafters with thousands of things you'll never use. So if you decide to go Helix/Fractal/Kemper to start do yourself a favor and get a used one, that way if the learning curve is more of a perpendicular line you can sell it for what you paid for it. IMHO if you like your amp you don't really need models of 300+ more and an additional 4 or 500 cabinet simulations either. But again, IMHO, and YMMV

[Jx30510]

The Nux Cerberus is discounted at less than 300€, replaced by the more sophisticated Trident that has just come out.
The Cerberus is great because mixes the best of both worlds. 2 stages of real analog OD/Distortion, and plenty of great sounding digital effects (chorus, Vibe, several reverbs and delays..).
The layout is very user friendly. It's really a bargain, and sounds great.
You also have the full analog Carl Martin Quattro.

I know you are asking yourself about digital multi effects with modeling, cabs, IR's, and all that stuff.. And you're also looking for a good tube amp.

My advice is to stay away from modeling stuff with a good tube amp. It's in my opinion quite a nonsense to put digital modeling on a great sounding platform.

These multi digital devices are made to be plugged in a soundcard, or mixing desk/PA, monitors, full range FrFR speakers..

I tried the latest BOSS ME90 plugged into my Gibson GA-8T point to point amp.
The effects sounded Ok/great for some of them.
But all the modeling section, overdrives, distortions sounded horrible. I tried every possible settings (line out /amp out, IR's settings and every single output setting).. My glorious tube amp was a fizzy as a AM radio..

If you buy a good tube amp, don't buy a modeling thing. (it's just my opinion, because that's what you're asking for.. Some may have different ones, and that's OK)

The Helix HX Effects has everything you want without the modeling
Or the TC electronic Plethora x 3 or x 5..

Good hunting, but be careful not to buy a device that you'll use at 50% of it's capabilities