Anyone have any opinions/have used one of these? I was at a show last night, and while staring around at their equipment, I noticed that the guitarist was using one of these. I had seen them before, but I was suprised because thats the first real professional band I had seen using a multi-effects processor( and only that, apart from a POD). Also, they've been on the jam circuit for 35 years, I'm really thrown back why I'm not seeing more vintage gear O_O. All I heard from it were some more of its clean tones, almost Santana like, and maybe some overdrive but thats it. I didn't hear the wah enough to make a judgment on it, but there were also some other cool effects on it ( a "sliding" sound, like volume, but made this real steel pedal sound without actually moving along the fretboard, it was controlled by a pedal). Anyone have any other opinions on this? I'd really like to hear about how versatile it is, if it can make some good distortion, more in a funky style, or how "all-around" it is.

They're kind of fun for messing around with, but I am just as surprised that a professional band would be using that. Stompboxes are so much simpler, and if you know how to set them up, can be more versatile.

Pretty much any multi-effects processor with an expression pedal will do that.

I like processors simply because of the cost-per-effect value. Ultimately, I'm wanting to combine analog things with my processor. There are times when you may want to drastically change your sound within a song and have almost no time to waste doing it. In that aspect, processors are generally bad, but are improving quite a bit lately. I recently listened to a Boss GT-8 effects processors, and it was, by far, *the* best sounding and potentially versatile processors I've found to-date. It has some effects/amp switching features that don't have a pause in between. Among many other unique features that I can't even explain.

It's also one of few (if not the only) effects processor that actually lets you choose the order of your effects.

[edit: completely wrong URL :o]

Multieffects are good for effects. don't let your tone rely on these though. haven't personally checked the tonelab SE but i heard Shintock has one and it could crank out some pretty sweet tones.

but of course it's kinda limited as far as tone quality since it does everything so it can't do everything perfectly well, or everyone would have one.

I used to have a Tonelab. Cleans and slightly overdriven sounds were ****ing sweet, but anything heavy had a kind of hollow sound to it.

To get an idea of what I mean, listen to this clip I made before I sold my Tonelab: http://www.bedroomstudio.net/media/rectopre/rectoprevstonelab.mp3

First part rhythm was my Mesa Boogie Rectifier Preamp, second part the Tonelab, and the finale with the Recto pre again. All leads are with the Recto pre, and the Tonelab is using the Recto model and the same settings as the Recto preamp.

I ****ing loved the Tonelab for clean Vox and Fender sounds, and Plexi-ish overdrives, but for hard rock, it isn't all that great.

If you have a decent amp, and you're looking at added some more colours to your musical palette, you should definitely check out the Boss GT-8. It's definitely more flexible than the Tonelab SE for use in a setup with an existing amp. The Tonelab is geared somewhat more towards recording and plugging directly into a PA, while the GT-8's more flexible routing and more advanced inputs and outputs makes it more pratical for practice and live use.

That depends on whether it has effects modelling. I have one processor that's just effects, one that has modelling. Ginormous difference in tone quality.

If you plan using your amp to shape your tone, you probably wouldn't want (or need) effects modelling. Effects modelling is more geared for those who want a variety of tone colors (as if using multiple amps) and/or need to plug direct-in. However, I think all multi-effects processors that are newer have modelling on board. COSM (composite object sound modelling) and REMS are the two I think of off the top of my head. I couldn't really tell you which to look for since all I've used is REMS. REMS is proprietary to Korg brands.

Bear in mind that digital signal processing, specificially effects modelling, is something still in its evolutionary stages, and has changed considerably in the last few years.

I don't like overambundant use of effects but i think a good multieffect can be a nice workstation when you need "quick and dirty" recordings. i have a GT-6 and as far as rigging goes, i use it as midi controller for my preamp, and have an A/B switcher to make it the currently active preamp for clean tones and wierd effects.

the multieffect with my preamp completely kills the tone, but used AS a preamp i have a lot of nice clean tones and could probably find the right effect for most situations. it's a good thing to fall back on, "just in case".

Stompboxes don't kill the tone so much, and you usually have all you need. less is more.