Analogue or digital?

whusmaname · 2008-09-03T21:36:28+00:00

Which do you prefer, the crate full of pedals and a bucket-ful of patch cables or a digital (or multi-FX) version, and why? I'll go first. I prefer the digital version, 'cos its easier to transport, and I've had trouble with deciding which analogue to patch first in the line of FX btw the git and the amp. (old forum) Poll Results: Analogue or digital? Analogue, duh!!!: 6 Digital, duh!!!: 4 Both!: 4 Neither.: 0 Huh?: 0 It depends on what you need...: 8

deanBailey

And the teased hair ?

whusmaname

I've done both, at the same time, and I think it depends on the effect you're using.

IE: Digital delay/echo (Zoom GFX707 pedal) through analogue overdrive (Can't remember what it was, as it was a borrowed unit... it was blackish grey...) into an amp (Marshall Valve-state and/or Line 6, both clean) or vice versa (OD into Delay etc...)

but I still choose digital because of transport ease, and simplicity of use.

Manfred-Klose

His hair, lets not get started on his 80's shirt and snake skin boots, what more do you want?
I mean come on that guy is a real rock star.

I would dig a pair of snake skin boots, as i am very much influenced with the 80's.

Bane

Yip i believe this is where i belong ? Honestly I prefer the raw analogue sound BUT i don't see how anyone who wants a flexible sound can go without a digital processor. WHY?

1: The effects available on a digital processor are vast and as has been said before.....to get that amount in stomp boxes is ridiculous
2: Digital processors are wonderfull for recording purposes, whether at home or in a studio. They are easy to hook up to a pc, and sometimes you listen to a song you wrote and realise
that a particular riff or lick needs some flange or whatever..point is your digital processor probably has it
3: They are fun!! ever try the pedal bend? ?
4: If you can overcome the learning curve (downfall of most players) you can get a really good sound (not 100%) but good enough

The problem is having stomp boxes for the raw tone and a digital processor (lots of cables and equipment to lug around, yeah i am a bit lazy)
Personally i'd get a good amp, loop my gt8 through it and simply use it for effect such as reverb, chorus etc. Forget the preamp. Use your amp tone and simply overlay the effects, that way when no effect is active you are pretty much getting the most of your amp tone.
Unfortunatley i don't have a amp with awsome distortion so here is to hoping....?

Malkav

All I can say is GT-10...to me it sounds better and more responsive than the GT-8, in fact the new processor now calculates different algorythms over different eq's in order to get a realistic sounding tube gain. Whereas the GT-8 only had one algorythm for the entire frequency spectrum and couldn't recreate tones perfectly I honestly believe the GT-10 is onto something. It did take me about a week to get mine to sound good but once I got it sounding good it sounded REALLY good and gave so much more in terms of dynamic and harmonics than my GT-8 was capable of.

Digital equipment is soon going to be hitting a point where it will sound identical to analogue and for some uses even better. In cases like delay there is no chance I'd ever go analogue but that said I think analogue phasers are better than digital. It's really become a preference thing these days.

But there's the awesome and fun thing about guitars, we get new toys to play with all the time ?

Martyr

i prefer building up my own pedal board(even though i own a ME-50,but i'm selling it)...

i like how a pedal board looks(i know,a gay reason),but i prefer having what i need rather than having what i need and more... also multi effects pedals have really shitty wah pedals(IMO),but then again i've only used a ME-50,GT-6 and GT-8...

i think that multi effects pedals are better for beginners who are still looking for what they want/need(and experienced guitarists who want every effect available),but i'm over that stage of having everything,i don't use a 10th of it anyways!!!

but(IMO) if you want a multi effects pedal,atleast buy a separate wah pedal...

DNC

Most stomp boxes are digtal anyway... my DD-5 (digtal delay) ?

But perfer the a analog amp sound... if I could find one!!!

deanBailey

Maxon have an Analogue Delay Pedal

Any agency in SA would be smart to import these (for convenience) as they are better than Ibanez stomp boxes, but don't dare overprice it because it's cheap enough online.

DNC

deanBailey wrote Maxon have an Analogue Delay Pedal

Any agency in SA would be smart to import these (for convenience) as they are better than Ibanez stomp boxes, but don't dare overprice it because it's cheap enough online.

Thats always the problem is Sa isn't it? The stuff is out there but just not easy to get....

deanBailey

That's why South African's are built tougher and smarter ?

Although the latter doesn't apply to anyone in parliment.

EDIT: I take that back because I think I broke a rule.

DNC

Jip love this place... We I was in Europe I actually got bored cause nothings happens... Everything works...
I believe in music we have alot to look forward... We just need one big import company.... ?

whusmaname

Yes, parliament is not the subject of this thread.

Back to topic... I am rather impressed with the turnout on this thread, and I thank you all for your input... So far I've gathered that both have their ups and downs, and I suggest to all guitarists to try both options out for yourself, and deciding which is best for you... I am gonna put towards my analogue collection of stomp-boxes even though I have a digital pedal, just to say I've tried both.

Mr-M

I've been on both sides of this debate and back several times in terms of gear, and, at least in my case, I've come to the conclusion that using both digital and analogue elements in my signal chain gives me the most flexibility.

Yeah I would love to have a dozen filter, modulation and delay stomp boxes lying on the floor in front of me instead of my multi-EFX, but when added to my eight analogue pedals it would just be too much to handle and too much floor space. I could get a complicated switching system, but that would cost a lot of $ as well as being rather heavy and large to transport.

I don't think there is really any wrong or right route to take in terms of analogue or digital, but rather let your ears, needs, wallet and (in some of our older members as well as my lazy asses' case) lower back be the judge.

Personally I generally avoid using a digital drive sound as I prefer analogue OD/ Fuzz, but when it comes to delay, mod and filter (just not wah) I'm more than happy to go digital. In studio software like Guitar Rig on the other hand is something I'm happy to use for drive tones (flexibility being the key), but I still prefer using the real thing if I can.

deanBailey

Ok that is a fair enough point, but that is the common thing I find guitarist doing and it's OK if it works for them.

Often It's a decision between having lots of cool sounding pedals or one multi pedal that does it all but it's more convenient.

The way I see it is what your priorities are? Getting great tone and pay a little bit more and work a little bit harder or OK tone and pay a cheaper price and carry less? there is a way of having around 8 pedals and you can choose to switch and combine them to one button as you wish but it is a tad bit expensive.

In your case, you chose the multi pedal route because it's more convenient (which it is) In my case I chose to have a 4x12 cab (plus everything else) that I carry to EVERY gig, out my studio > in my car > out my car > on stage > perform > and vice versa.
lol Yes it can become a major pain and I'll sometimes wish I went the multi FX route, But it's what I sacrifice to getting and decent tone, I don't mind working a little harder or paying a little extra for tone just that little bit better. ?

Mr-M

deanBailey wrote there is a way of having around 8 pedals and you can choose to switch and combine them to one button as you wish but it is a tad bit expensive.
In your case, you chose the multi pedal route because it's more convenient (which it is)

Sorry maybe I didn't explain properly. I use the 8 analogue pedals (wah x1, OD x2, Fuzz x3, Boost x1, Volume/ Buffer x1) through a True Bypass Effect Loop pedal to make them easier to manage live. Then I go into a Multi-EFX for all my effects (mod, delay etc). That is all the Multi-EFX is for. I meant I don't want to get even more single pedals to replace the Multi-EFX for my delays etc.
By complicated switching systems I was referring to things like the Voodoo Labs Ground Control or TheGigRig effect loop managers. Those are really big, which would make my already big pedal board huge! I'd rather stick with a simple 2-loop TB Looper for now.

deanBailey wrote Yes it can become a major pain and I'll sometimes wish I went the multi FX route, But it's what I sacrifice to getting and decent tone, I don't mind working a little harder or paying a little extra for tone just that little bit better. ?

I agree wholeheartedly. My pedals are all boutique (except for the Multi-EFX), so I know what you mean. I'd also rather carry an amp (although not a 4x12 in my case) and a bunch of pedals for quality sounds, but I choose to reach an acceptable compromise (for me anyway) by going analogue drive and digital effects.

deanBailey

Mr M wrote By complicated switching systems I was referring to things like the Voodoo Labs Ground Control or TheGigRig effect loop managers. Those are really big, which would make my already big pedal board huge! I'd rather stick with a simple 2-loop TB Looper for now.

Lol Sorry my explanation wasn't very good, but I see you got what I meant though (the ground control and GCX)

That is a much less complicated method (once it's been setup that is) ?

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