The Best Effects Pedals for Dawless Workflows
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Are you stuck in the box? We’re checking out some of the best effects pedals to increase the creative scope of your hardware setup.
You might have a couple of synths or drum machines lying about that were fun at first, but have started to acquire dust in a dark corner of your studio.
With a well-designed effects pedal, you can really transform the dry and seemingly unexciting output of your instruments into something truly unique without too much trouble.
Choosing The Best Effects Pedals
Effects pedals offer an incredibly wide scope of processing power that you can use to add depth and texture to your sounds. From widening the stereo and adding spatial and rhythmic qualities, there is always a new way you can approach your production.
High-end pedals do carry a high price tag, but the trick is to see them as instruments that have far more versatility than a one-trick pony in your workflow.
OBNE MAW
Vocal effects can be a catalyst in the process of writing new melodies and lyrics, and the OBNE MAW provides many different avenues for creative effects processing.
Its design consists of 2 main effects sections: one with 2 reverbs, short delay, phaser, and lower/upper octave pitch shifting; and another with 2 more reverb types, a long delay, flanger, rotary, and an FX loop for additional effects pedals.
- More from OBNE
Old Blood Noise Endeavors MAW
Endorphin.es Ghost
A design created in collaboration with Andrew Huang, the Ghost gives you a powerful multi-effects pedal with serious creative potential. At your fingertips, you have reverb, delay, a multimode filter, distortion, LFO, and amp simulation.
One of the key aspects of the Ghost’s design is the flexible signal chain that you can reconfigure at the touch of a button. What’s more, it offers MIDI I/O and stereo I/O with a line/instrument level impedance switch.
*Also available in Eurorack format
- More from Endorphin.es
Endorphin x Andrew Huang Ghost Pedal
Empress Effects ZOIA
More than just an effects pedal, the ZOIA is a customizable synthesis and effects workstation with multiple workflows. From creating MIDI devices to effects chains, the scope of utility is seemingly endless.
Although the learning curve is considerable and the sound of some effects like distortion may be a little digital for some, it would still be a vast understatement to mention the ZOIA’s value for money.
*Also available in Eurorack format
- More from Empress Effects
Empress Effects ZOIA
Eventide H9 Max Harmonizer
When it comes to effects pioneering, few manufacturers have a 50-year legacy like Eventide. The H9 Harmonizer pedal offers a digital platform with the H9 control app that gives you a complete overview of your effects chains.
Included are over 50 algorithms from other Eventide processors like the TimeFactor, ModFactor, PitchFactor, and Space, along with many more available through the app. It might not offer the most analogue feel, but its sound quality is great.
- More from Eventide
Eventide H9 Max
Meris LVX
Meris has built a reputation for creating unique and high-quality effects and the LVX is the result of years of research and design excellence. The LVX is a modular delay/looper system with 24-bit converters and a 32-bit floating point DSP engine.
Apart from the completely new algorithms, you can also access elements from the Polymoon, Hedra, Enzo, and Ottobit Jr. effects pedals. Overall, the LVX combines innovation and depth with exceptional build quality, offering great sound design features.
- More from Meris
Meris LVX
Also worth checking out:
- Hologram Electronics Microcosm
More about effects pedals:
Videos:
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- Old Blood Noise Endeavors MAW: Old Blood Noise Endeavors
- Endorphines Ghost Pedal: Endorphin.es
- Empress Effects ZOIA: Empress Effects
- Eventide H9 Max: Eventide
- Meris LVX: Meris
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One response to “The Best Effects Pedals for Dawless Workflows”
Line 6 HX Effects is missing. It can do most of this and more and constantly gets updates with all the trendy cool stuff (lofi, modulated verbs, tape emulations, etc)