Rack Multi Effects Units

[Winterland]

I was wondering what most of you would suggest for a rack unit that is very simple and basic. Most of the people
on this board are way over my skill level when it comes to playing and understanding equipment.

I have a SMS>Mc2100>2x12 JBL Cabinet. Its sounds awsome(thanks brad for all your help and suggestions). I now need to have some distortion, delay and other sounds.I have tons pedals but if a rack unit can be poped in my cabinet it would make it all more simple.

The Axe FX is way to complicated.

Any help would be greatly appriciated.

[gpilcher2001]

Tube works makes some good overdrive/distortion units. No longer in production but you can find them on eBay. As far as modulation delay stuff tc electronics or rocktron have decent units. You'll need a midi controller for on the fly patch switching. If you have pedals why not put a pedal board together. They make plenty of carrying cases for pedals. Greg...

[tcsned]

I have a Lexicon MPX G2 multi effects processor and it works admirably other than two areas, overdrive and envelope filter. The heavier distortion effects work well but the overdrives don't quite cut it IMHO. Now I really just use it as a delay but it does a whole lot more. Probably not as complex as the AxeFX but it ain't simple. TC Electronics makes a couple of rack units that I hear are good. I gravitated back towards stomp boxes as I had to run a Mutron and an overdrive so I started doing less with the Lexicon. They were pretty pricey when they came out ($1200 I believe) but I've seen them on eBay for less than $500. For a while, I used it as a direct to PA box and was pretty decent at it, I keep it as a backup rig for that reason.

**Edit**
I use a SMS-->Mac MC2100-->Eminence Commonwealth speakers (2x12)

[Jon S.]

On the floor but works for me: viewtopic.php?f=419&t=11933

[Smolder]

On the floor but works for me: http://www.rukind.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=419&t=11933

I'm all on the floor, but if you've seen Kimock play, you've seen various pedals strewn across the tops of his amps (and any other flat surface near by). He says it's a different configuration every night... and that he can hear the difference when his stuff is on the floor. I don't have quite those ears or the experience in large halls to know.

[strumminsix]

Get analog pedals and put them in your rack. Best solution for most. Every multi has its sacrifices less the Axe but that will require MANY days and ours to get it just exactly perfect.

[Winterland]

How do you mount them in your rack. Is it a slide out tray?

[gpilcher2001]

To rack mount you will need a sliding rack drawer and a true bypass switching unit. Voodoo labs gcx and ground control comes to mind. This is how I control my pedals and midi switchable rack effects units. http://www.voodoolab.com/. Greg...

[mgbills]

I love the GCX. Spoils you pretty quickly.
Great analog tone, and you don't have to reach to the ground to make changes.

I like the drawer, but in a 12 space rack it's pretty low. I wanted the drawer in the top spaces, but every combination I tried moving the Furman device down meant that the monstrously huge GCX wall wart didn't fit. Crazy.

Next rig...I've got a killer plan...but need time. Time. Time.
Peace
M

[strumminsix]

How do you mount them in your rack. Is it a slide out tray?

Bascially:
Drawer or rack + router of some type ( viewtopic.php?f=319&t=3876 ) + foot controller

[zambiland]

I have a Lexicon MPX G2 multi effects processor and it works admirably other than two areas, overdrive and envelope filter. The heavier distortion effects work well but the overdrives don't quite cut it IMHO. Now I really just use it as a delay but it does a whole lot more. Probably not as complex as the AxeFX but it ain't simple. TC Electronics makes a couple of rack units that I hear are good. I gravitated back towards stomp boxes as I had to run a Mutron and an overdrive so I started doing less with the Lexicon. They were pretty pricey when they came out ($1200 I believe) but I've seen them on eBay for less than $500. For a while, I used it as a direct to PA box and was pretty decent at it, I keep it as a backup rig for that reason.

**Edit**
I use a SMS-->Mac MC2100-->Eminence Commonwealth speakers (2x12)

I have an MPX G2 and I love it. Even the envelope filter works for me, but I spent a long time working on it and ended up not using the standard envelope filter included in the box, but built my own. My big problem with the box is the fact that delays and reverbs don't spill over and mine has developed a very costly fault in the digitally controlled potentiometers which renders it unreliable. I've tried other boxes, but none them have worked out all that well and none of them sounded as good. There are some really great sounding effects in there! I love Lexicon reverb.

[tcsned]

I have an MPX G2 and I love it. Even the envelope filter works for me, but I spent a long time working on it and ended up not using the standard envelope filter included in the box, but built my own. My big problem with the box is the fact that delays and reverbs don't spill over and mine has developed a very costly fault in the digitally controlled potentiometers which renders it unreliable. I've tried other boxes, but none them have worked out all that well and none of them sounded as good. There are some really great sounding effects in there! I love Lexicon reverb.

Is the issue you're having seem to randomly default to the place where the pots are set? If so, I had that issue too. I pulled it apart and cleaned the pots and it has been fine for the last couple of years. They seem super touchy for some reason. What settings did you use on the envelope filter?

[zambiland]

I have an MPX G2 and I love it. Even the envelope filter works for me, but I spent a long time working on it and ended up not using the standard envelope filter included in the box, but built my own. My big problem with the box is the fact that delays and reverbs don't spill over and mine has developed a very costly fault in the digitally controlled potentiometers which renders it unreliable. I've tried other boxes, but none them have worked out all that well and none of them sounded as good. There are some really great sounding effects in there! I love Lexicon reverb.

Is the issue you're having seem to randomly default to the place where the pots are set? If so, I had that issue too. I pulled it apart and cleaned the pots and it has been fine for the last couple of years. They seem super touchy for some reason. What settings did you use on the envelope filter?

Sadly, that's not the problem. The pots at issue are completely electronic and are digitally controlled analog pots mounted on the circuit board. So, sometimes it boots up, sometimes it doesn't and sometimes it just says "Digipot test failed."

Without being able to boot it up, I can't recall how I set up the EF. I'll see if I can get it going and work out what the patch was. The hard part was adjusting the sensitivity so it felt right. Once it was in the right place, I liked it a lot as it was a lot more consistent than my Mutron. Not as greasy sounding, but very good, nonetheless. Bear in mind that I am a bass player, so my model is more Bootsy than Jerry, but I'm sure it would work for guitar with some tweaking. Getting the downward sweep was a lot more challenging.