A multi-effects pedal is a chunk of gear that combines two or more different guitar effects in one box. Since multi-effects can house an array of different effects, they're not only a space-saving solution for overgrowing pedal collections, but can even replace your entire pedalboard.
Electric Guitar Multi-Effects Pedals
Multi-effects pedals are a particularly solid choice for beginner guitarists since you can get models that set you up with a massive range of different effects in one shot, offering a more affordable way to get to know what effects are out there, what they do, how they work, and what happens when you start experimenting with your guitar sound. Some more advanced guitarists and professionals also prefer the more compact form of multi-effects units since they reduce the load on tour, and while some multi-effects pack a mountain of different effects, some focus on one kind, like a multi-reverb or delay pedal.
Bass Guitar Multi-Effects Pedal
You can also get multi-effects pedals that have been specifically designed for bass guitarists. Bass guitar multi-effects pedals offer an all-in-one solve for bassists and can include compression, a fuzz or overdrive and modulation or special filter effects.
From Practice Tools to Audio Interfaces
In recent years, the development of multi-effects units has been exponential. Plenty of modern multi-effects pedals feature various amplifier and speaker cabinet simulations as well as effects, making them a solid rehearsal tool, since you can just plug in a set of headphones and enjoy the full and fat sound of a guitar amplifier without bothering anyone. Some models include a looper - an endlessly useful tool for writing, improving solos, or nailing riffs, and some more high-end pedals will even double as an external audio interface that can easily be hooked up to a computer to record to DAW software.
With or Without Expression Pedals
A lot of the more extensive multi-effects units will offer the extra bonus of a built-in expression pedal. These tilting pedals work a lot like the accelerator pedal of a car and grant guitarists real-time control over certain effect parameters. An expression pedal can be set up as a classic wah-pedal, or to control the speed of a chorus, phaser or flanger effect, and more ambient guitarists and soundscape sculptors will also love the extra real-time control over effects like delay and reverb that an expression pedal can offer.
Professional All-Rounders: The Boss GT & Line 6 Helix
The view that multi-effects pedals are just for beginners is long dead. The computing power of the processors used by these pedals is so big now, that with more high-end units, you're essentially getting studio-grade sound as well as a stacked pedalboard. The Helix and HX Series units from Line 6 and the GT Series models from Boss are insanely progressive examples of this. Via an intuitive touch-screen interface, you can easily set up your virtual pedalboard, lay out a custom effects chain and tweak every effect in incredible detail. These units offer an endless bank of possible options and guarantee consistent and trustworthy sound.
How to Hook Up Multi-Effects Pedals
When you're picking out your multi-effects pedal it's worth having a think about how you plan to use it, since each model will come with its own setup options - in other words - how you can plug it in. If you're looking for something that'll give you a load of different effects from the classic to the extreme, then a stereo-output will probably be a useful addition. Do you want to hook other external pedals up to your multi-effects pedal? Then an FX loop will also be handy. Maybe you want even deeper control over the parameters and access to presets, in which case a MIDI compatible pedal might be the best choice. It's also worth checking for other valuable features like a headphone output for rehearsing at home, an AUX input for playing along to backing tracks, and even a microphone input.
