Could anyone help me with effects boxes/effects pedals?

Lbsword · Joined: Jan 22, 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Massachusetts

Hello everyone.

I own a nord lead 2x, and like it a lot.

But it comes with no onboard effects, which is kind of a bummer.

I have no knowledge of effects pedals, or effects boxes, and really have no idea what to get, or how to use them.

I'm mostly looking for chorus effects, and more is a nice bonus.

whenever i watch a synth video, the people almost always run their synths through some sort of effect, and i am curious to know what to get.

can anyone help me out?

egw · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject:

What kind of music? For home use or gigs? What's your budget?

Lbsword · Joined: Jan 22, 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Massachusetts

Gigs, and recording.

Its used always in a live setting, so I need something that wont crap out on me mid gig, or work poorly in a live setting.

I really dont know anything about effects boxes, so any help is good.

GovernorSilver · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:28 am Post subject:

I'd say start simple and just get one pedal. The Boss brand is very popular for people just starting out and have a good reputation for reliability. There are other popular brands, but their pedals either break down more often or simply draw more complaints about their sonic qualities. There are more expensive "boutique" pedals that some claim to sound "better", but I'm not sure they are worth your money at this time.

Check out the Boss pedal descriptions here, as well as the sound examples - should help you decide whether you actually want a chorus, or actually another "modulation" effect such as phaser or flanger.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/boss-guitar-pedals-digital-recorders-modulation-chorus-flanging-phasing-tremolo-guitar-effects-pedals?N=100001+338516+201078

egw · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:28 am Post subject:

If you have no effects at all, I would start with reverb and delay. Maybe a multi-effects pedal like the Boss me-20. Then you can see which effects you really want.

radiospace · Joined: Apr 09, 2008 Posts: 13 Location: USA

I agree that you should start with delay or reverb. Delay is probably the best choice if you don't get a pedal that has both.

I would look for something that has stereo inputs. (The Lead 2x has stereo outputs but I can't tell that it has any way to pan anything except up the middle; nonetheless as a long term investment as a keyboard effect the option to have stereo inputs would be a plus, and would allow you to experiment with things like using the Lead's multitimbral outs A+B into the L&R of a delay pedal, etc.) Most cheaper guitar pedals are only going to have mono input (because electric guitars are almost always a mono signal).

Boss wouldn't be my first choice. I would recommend Electro-Harmonix; for example the Stereo Memory Man delay pedal. TC Electronic makes both delay and reverb units that have stereo inputs. If you do go Boss the Space Echo might be cool. Certainly worth trying out at least. Their DD-7 and RV-5 (delay and reverb, respectively) are both stereo in & out and less expensive than the other things I've suggested.

Jyoti · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject:

I have quite a few pedals now and I personally love the Behringer stuff. Cheap, cheerful and I've had no problems gigging them. There was another discussion that veered into that area:

http://electro-music.com/forum/viewtopic.php?highlight=behringer&t=25099

I also love the Electro Harmonix stuff but it is pricey!