Greetings all.
Wondering about external effects and how much better they are than what’s in my hardware gear. Does it make a big difference? Currently running with a TR8-s, Digitone, Minilogue XD and a Typhon.
If external effects do indeed make a big difference, any recommendations for a beginning, all-rounder type unit that won’t break the bank?
Thanks in advance.
How do you mix your sources?
…any “allrounder” fx hardware won’t make a big difference in sonic quality to the common internal fx…
if external fx, than specialized stuff…like THE reverb…and THE delay…
external fx are only obviously “better”, if they’re specialized and dedicated to something…
otherwise, if there’s no truu reason for external fx, u only make things more complicated…
lot’s of xtra cabling and powering up and stuff…
but one really good exteral reverb for example, that u can also play like an instrument of it’s own, is always a good thing…but then we’re talking about stuff like space from eventide or strymons big sky…which is all at least 400 bux plus…
…and overlooking ur gear…i can’t say anything about rolands or korgs pick on internal fx…
while korg is doing a good job in most cases…
but ur digitone has a quite solid reverb and delay section, very flexible soundwise, that can always also be used for external sounds…and the chorus is also nice and handy…no matter what u compare it with…
and well, typhons internal fx are really damned good, as beeing part of the instrument and make it shine…
so, at this point, i’d say, focus on what u got in front of u…no need for external add on fx thinking right now…better to think about some resampling option for all that…
A big advantage is that external effects can be used to tie all of those instruments to a sonic reference point. If each synth, for instance, runs its own reverb… reverbs are meant to model acoustic spaces (in theory), so each synth occupies its own space if each uses its own internal reverb; if a mix of them runs through the same reverb – especially with a light touch – it can help bring cohesion to the sound, even if you use their internal effects for more dramatic sounds.
That’s not really about the quality of the effects in the equipment you have, or of the external effects, but just a possibility that external effects bring to the table. If you want to toy around with external effects, but maybe aren’t sure about the level of commitment… something like one of the Zoom multistomps? They’re cheap, flexible, small, and some of the effects are quite good.
Everything runs into my audio interface and then into the DAW.
Got it. That’s helpful. Especially the part about not overcomplicating things! Interesting about treating a specialized effects unit as an instrument. That might be worthwhile…down the road.
Thanks.
Agreed. Heck, I’m still trying to figure out how to synch all this gear up. But was just curious about external effects.
Thank you kindly.
Some extremely nice FX already (with routing possibilities) on the DN and Typhon. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to add anything until you have an unfulfilled need at some point. Tunes 4 dayz there.
…depending on the daw, u won’t need any external fx anyways…
and that’s also best solution to let stuff happen in the same place in the end, like chm jacques mentioned, anyways…
and if u also work in the box, any vst fx plugin will do better than zoom fx stuff…promise…
a damned good reverb or delay can be urs for under 50 bux, if u go for plugins…valhalla stuff will make u all happy…they even have some nice ones for free…another promise…
Yes. Getting ahead of myself for sure. As one does with the GAS. Appreciate the insight.
I love running my DT into DN then through the KP3+. Insanely fun set-up for performing.
I use Mood and Blooper pedals to create samples for the Digitakt. Thats pretty fun too
Usually with dedicated external fx (or a plugin) you get more controls and more options than a typical on-board effect.
Also, it always used to be the case that an fx unit with a dedicated processor would sound better because it had more processing power than a box that was also doing synthesis, LFOs, envelopes, sequencing etc. Nowadays processors have gotten a lot faster and cheaper (and there’s more widely available information about algorithms out there) so on-board fx have improved greatly.
Agree that if you’re multitracking into a DAW, a couple of affordable plugins on sends will do almost everything you’d need or want. I use the aforementioned Valhalla Vintageverb and Soundtoys Echoboy Jr all the time. They sound great.
(We won’t talk about my delay pedal addiction.)
Awesome. Thank you.
While I’ve got Valhalla and am looking at Soundtoys, I really want an additional high quality hardware FX box. (Just re-bought an OTO BIM and have an SE-50, Volante, and Zen Delay.)
Is there something I should be considering for vocal chain or general use that’s not by Eventide, and less mass-market than the TC Electronic vocal pedals I see? Ideally that would not overload with line-level signal.
Interesting algorithms are perhaps more important than “pristine”, character noise is fine, I’ve even considered nabbing older kit like a DP/4.