Guitar Multi Fx Pedal

[Jordan Tucker]

Thealternative theory is that, occasionally, you can stumble on something you've never used before and it can spark your creativity. This definitely happens, and is a happy side benefit of having so many effects at your beck and call. For a beginner, the sub-$200 range has plenty to get you excited.

If packing in as many effects as you can into a single box is your aim, you'll find plenty of options to choose from at all ends of the price scale. From budget options like the smaller Zoom pedals, through to entry-level versions of the pro models from the big names in effects like Boss and Line 6.

As you move up the range, you'll start to see extra features and functionality like loopers, hardened chassis models and extra connectivity. It's not uncommon now for multi-effects to link with apps on your smart device, where you can get in for deep editing of parameters and settings.

Also common nowadays is for a multi-effects unit to double up as an audio interface or amp modeller. These USB-enabled devices can be plugged into one of the best laptops for music production, allowing you to record songs into a digital audio workstation (DAW) like Ableton Live or Pro Tools.

Testing out a multi-effects pedal is a fairly straightforward procedure, and similar to testing a standalone stompbox. Although the quality of pedals is subjective - like many pieces of musical equipment - there is a set of criteria that every pedal should meet before we recommend it to anyone.

We'll first start with the build quality of the enclosure, controls and footswitch. Pedals are designed to be stood on, so we need to ensure that the enclosure and footswitch feel robust, solid and able to withstand being stamped on. We then check the quality of the dials, making sure that they have a smooth action with enough resistance to reduce accidental movement.

We also check to see how well spaced out and easy to use the footswitches are. We'll also check the expression pedal if there is one, and make note of its action and usability. Multi-effects pedals are here to make your lives easier, after all.

We then test the pedals sonically, and much like our amp testing procedures, we start with every dial in the middle '12 o'clock' position. We then tweak each dial towards a tone we would usually go for - and make sure that we experiment with the full range of sounds on offer. We'll then check any amp or effect emulations or presets. We'll cycle through those, while editing a few as we go to see how easy the process is (or isn't).

Many guitarists have contemplated reducing the size of their live rigs, with the epiphany usually occurring a quarter of the way up three flights on narrow stairs at your local venue with a tube amp in your hands. The temptation is made even easier in the modern world, as the best multi-effects don't just replace your pedalboard, but your rig in its entirety.

In 2024 there's a huge selection of options on offer from super-advanced profilers to simpler pedals that only replicate effects. Deciding what's best for you can be a tough call, and that's where we step in. Our team of musicians has reviewed a multitude of multi-effects over the years, giving us an excellent overview of what's truly useful to guitar players. We've run them through the gauntlet too, testing them at home, in the rehearsal room, at the studio, and on our own pedalboards for live shows to make sure our picks can cut the mustard in the real world. We'll test all of the various functionality from amps and effects modelling to using them as audio interfaces all in the name of finding the very best in the world today and presenting them right here for you.

So whether you want to augment your existing pedalboard with a wider variety of effects, or you want to get rid of your rig in its entirety, there's never been a better time to jump into the world of multi-effects. If you're new to these incredible pedals, then make sure to have a look at our buying advice section which features loads of common questions answered by the guitar gurus here at MusicRadar. If you already know your stuff, just keep scrolling for the best of the best...

The dual-DSP-powered Helix combines amp and effects models in a large, rugged floor pedal. You'll find a not inconsiderable 1,024 presets loaded onto the Helix, split into eight setlists with 32 banks and four presets each. Each preset can have up to four stereo signal paths, each made up of eight blocks populated with amps and effects.

If it's sound creation you're after, then you have an absolute bounty of options to play with - the line-up includes 41 modelled amps, seven bass amps, 30 cabs, 16 microphones, 80 effects and the option to load up speaker impulse responses. Line 6 has implemented an easy editing system, complete with a joystick, and - get this - touch-sensitive footswitches offering a shortcut to parameter adjustment; you can even use these with your feet to select a parameter before adjusting it with the pedal treadle!

There are some great sounds here, especially when we got beyond the factory presets and shaped things to our own tastes. The Helix's advantage lies in its comprehensive input/output and signal routing ability, which can facilitate just about any guitar-related studio or onstage task you can think of. However, if you don't need all that connectivity, and want to save a bit of cash, there's also the Line 6 Helix LT which features further down this list.

The unit itself is compact yet extremely rugged, and we absolutely love the clever footswitch/rotary control hybrids, allowing the QC to stay smaller than the vast majority of competing amp modelers. Just imagine, all of your amps, cabs, and effects pedals in a unit no bigger than a laptop. Simply incredible stuff.

The Kemper Profiler Stage is way more than just a multi-effects pedal. It replaces your rig entirely, giving you every amp and effect combination you could ever dream of. Coming in a handy pedalboard format, this powerful profiler could well be the last guitar purchase you ever make.

The Chinese brand Mooer has slowly but surely built itself a reputation for hitting the sweet spot between price and performance. What began as a brand offering low-cost versions of existing big-name pedals has grown to them now being considered a genuine contender in the low-to-mid range.

The Mooer GE200 is a great example, offering a selection of effects, models and tools that wouldn't look (or sound) out of place on a unit far higher up the effects food chain. The 70 included effects all sound great, and we particularly liked the ability to load your own impulse responses to fine-tune your speaker outputs. Very capable, and definitely worth your attention.

The HX Stomp contains over 190 effects, including the Helix, M Series and legacy Line 6 patches, as well as the amp, cab and mic options of the full-fat Helix. It supports loading of impulse responses, too, so if you've modelled your own amps, or purchased commercial IRs from somewhere else, they can be loaded into the pedal too.

If you've been following the rise of NUX, then you'll know they pride themselves on making everything from amplifiers to electronic drum kits accessible to everyone - and that extends to multi-effects units.

The newly released MG-400 is their latest pedal, and frankly, it may be their best unit yet. This value-packed modeller builds on what NUX established with the MG-300 and is powered by their flagship White-Box Amp Modeling algorithm.

Better yet, the new MG-400 introduces scene functionality which allows you to set up "snapshots" within a preset, for easy recall of multiple effects - perfect for gigging guitar players! For us, the NUX MG-400 is an insanely powerful multi-effects unit that certainly outperforms its price range.

Chain up to five pedals together including some stone-cold classics like the Flashback delay and Hall of Fame Reverb, as well as a bunch of other modulation and more workhorse effects like a noise gate and compressor. You can stack multiples of the same pedal, although you may run into artifacts with too many.

There are not that many dedicated multi-effects pedals for bass guitar players and while the Line 6 Helix LT is primarily aimed at guitarists, it also features an excellent selection of bass amp models for four and five-string players.

There are 17 different bass amp models, with official Ampeg models as they're a sub-brand of Yamaha Guitars. You also get some fantastic models based on Fender, Mesa/Boogie, Galien-Kreuger, Orange, and Aguilar amps, plenty to satisfy even the most tone-hungry bassist.

Add in more effects than we could count, and you've got a superbly versatile bass rig. With plenty of octave effects for super low rumbling tones, synth sounds when you're feeling more esoteric, envelope filters, delays, chorus, and many other modulation effects, you can generate pretty much any tone you think of with the Helix LT.

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