Best Multi Effects Pedals Under $200

In the past, multi-effects pedals were unheard of, much less the best multi-effects pedal under $200. Guitarists used to have pedalboards joined by many single effect units.

And thanks to technology’s advance, the multi-effects pedal is now a must-have item, as it is convenient and able to work as a whole pedalboard.

There are many multi-effects units on the market with a wide range of prices. If you are looking for one at a reasonable price, here are some recommendations which may be of good use to you.

Things to Consider When Choosing Best Multi-Effects Pedals Under $200

Choosing a guitar pedal for yourself is a hard job, especially if it is a multi-effects pedal. So, before deciding which one to buy, consult yourself and research a compatible pedal based on some basic criteria.

Multi-Effects For Guitar

There are a variety of products on the market, and  each has its own set. Some pedals are mainly for different types of guitar, like bass for instance.

Hence, think carefully about what genre of music you want to play and effects correspondingly. For example, you usually play in a direct, simple tone, then try a pedal with many overdrives and compression effects with long looping time. 

Various Possibilities

One more factor to pay attention to is how many parameters a pedal can offer in each patch. The more it has, the more options users can choose.

You can get creative with them and mix available effects to make your sound. However, an excessive number of effects may prevent users from optimizing them to the fullest.

Compactness  

Compared to individual analog ones, multi-effects units miss some tone and functions. And to compensate for that, they can put your pedalboard into one single unit. This is a bonus point for multi-effects units as they save up more space and are easier to operate.

Where do I put my multi-effects pedal in my chain?

The first thing to know beforehand, there is no exact way to set up your pedal chain.

Usually, professional players have their own sets and orders, but beginners should follow suggested chains first until they know how to work with their pedal and build satisfactory sonic results.

A common pedalboard is arranged as follows: gain-staging effects, frequency effects, modulation effects, time effects, and the amplifier. However, with the multi-effects pedal involved, it brings us many other possibilities. 

When forming your pedal chain with a multi-effects unit and other analog pedals, there is one simple order of assembly that you can do: putting the multi-effects unit right after gain-staging effects units and before the amplifier.

Again, the arrangement is not compulsory in any way. So, start with some trial and error to figure out your favorite and compatible sequences.

How do I connect my multi-effects pedal to my amp?

Just like with the pedal chain, there are many combos to connect to your amplifier. But commonly, beginners should learn about the “Four-Cable Method” - a simple technique that brings good results. Here is how you do it:

  • Plug guitar to the guitar input of the pedal
  • Plug the send from the pedal into the guitar input of the amp
  • Plug the send from the amp’s effects loop into the return of the pedal
  • Plug the return from the pedal into the return of the amp’s effects loop

Before trying to use this method, make sure to check if your amplifier has an effects loop, as not every amplifier has it.

Top 5 Best Multi Effects Pedals Under $200

BOSS GT-1

This pedal is equipped with the GT-series engine, which provides you with a compilation of world-class amps and effects.

The GT-1 has one hundred and eight built-in effects and the phrase loop that can record up to thirty-two seconds. You are free to choose whatever you like from classic to modern effects or from acoustic to the guitar-specialized ones.

GT-1 processor can produce an exceptional sound. Thanks to the Premium sound engine, GT-1 surpasses other pedals by its sound-shaping ability and quality.

This unit is usually preferred by those who care much about the sound a multi-effects pedal can produce.

As a product from BOSS, GT-1 possesses the renowned rugged durability. This unit was designed with no hard edges and light enough for guitarists to bring around.

The modern look with three-foot switches also helps musicians with controlling tuner, loop, and patch selection.

If you buy GT-1, you will have access to the BOSS tone central and the BOSS tone studio. These can provide you with numerous patches made by the pro and you can use them as a reference to make your own.

The studio can help you edit, adjust sounds, and customize patches or effects to your liking. What’s more, you can do all for free!

However, note that this product only comes with batteries but NOT a  power adapter. In case users want to charge, they need to buy the extra power adapter from the manufacturer.

Boss GT-1 Guitar Multi-Effects Pedal
  • Modern design with no hard edges enables safe transport in a guitar bag
  • Easy select and easy edit functions for quickly choosing and tweaking Patches

Last update on 2024-03-19 at 01:29 UTC - 4/ Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros

  • Excellent sound quality
  • Portable design
  • Free supportive studio softwares

Cons

  • Power adapter costs extra

Zoom G1X FOUR

This processor features seventy-one built-in guitar effects, sixty-eight built-in rhythm patterns, and thirteen amp models. Notably, G1X can play up to five simultaneous effects and in any order. 

The X in G1X means expression. This unit is equipped with an expression pedal. Guitarists can use it to have easy control over effects and switching sound while performing.

Using G1X FOUR, guitarists have the advantage of performing live. This processor has two performance modes: preselect and stomp.

The preselect mode enables users to change patches while playing and not affect the one being played then. And stomp mode helps users switch on and off effects using the expression pedal.

The change speed of the pedal is really fast, as said by the manufacturer to be in millisecond. So performers do not have to worry about missing beats while playing.

By fluently using these modes, guitarists can make the performance even better and more successful.

Moreover, the G1X processor has an AutoSave function, which saves your patches and creations automatically.

This function can store up to fifty memory locations so you can rest assured that your latest mixed patches will not be lost after your hard work.

Zoom manufacturer has created the Zoom Guitar Lab that can help guitarists explore patches and effects online.

Along with the backup function, guitarists can make full use of available materials to experiment and craft their own patch. Zoom Guitar Lab can be downloaded free online and available on Mac and Windows.

Besides the pros, G1X FOUR doesn’t have much durability. Unlike other units, it is made of plastic and kind of fragile.

Last update on 2024-03-19 at 01:29 UTC - 4/ Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros

  • Come with an expression pedal
  • Multiple selections for users
  • Additional app helps improvising

Cons

  • Not very durable

Zoom MS-70CDR Pedal

The MS-70CDR has an appearance similar to an individual analog pedal. However, this box stores up to eighty-six effects including sixteen choruses, twenty-six delays, twenty-nine reverbs, and many other various modulation effects.

First thing first, you can not ignore the one big advantage this pedal has over other multi-effects ones - the compact and portable design.

Compared to other multi-effects pedals, MS-70CDR is significantly smaller, just the size of an analog unit.

Since it doesn’t take much space, many guitarists prefer this pedal. Still, it is usually mistaken, and some users are confused about whether it is multi-effects or single-effect.

As mentioned above, this unit offers up to nearly ninety options from vintage to modern style to make your beat.

And each of these effects has better quality than most other multi-effects pedals, arguably even as good as single-effect pedals. This pedal is preferred by many professionals.

As a bass player or a guitarist, you should consider this product.

Despite the size, an MS-70CDR can use six effects at the same time, which is a big number for multi-effects pedals.

It also comes with autosave mode and fifty patches memory to ensure you don’t lose your edited draft. Also, MS-70CDR’s footswitch can store a maximum of twenty-six patches.

Much like the analog units, the MS-70CDR may be a little hard to operate. While most of the ordinary multi-effects units have an easy-to-use interface, this unit comes with only a few knobs and buttons.

In other words, in order for users to reach desirable results, you should take out the manual and start to work on this device.

Pros

  • Compact design
  • Exceptional sound
  • Huge patch storage

Cons

  • A bit tough to handle

FLAMMA FX100 Pedal

The FLAMMA FX100 pedal processor is a new product which was just released on the fourth of July this year. This new unit possesses some exceptional values that far exceed other multi-effects pedals.

The FX100 has nine different effect blocks with one hundred and fifty-one effects and nine of which can be used simultaneously.

Also, its built-in looper can save eighty seconds at the maximum and can be arranged any way you want. With 10 metronomes and 40 drum machine options, you can push your creativity to climax: designing your original patches.

For beginners, this pedal processor is the right choice to make. The FX100 supplies users with TWO HUNDRED preset patches.

Beginner-level guitarists can look into these presets to learn more, find a suitable one and customize using the editor software.

Furthermore, the FX100 has the OTG function (On The Go) which helps to link to mobile phones or tablets. Users can utilize that for recording purposes, or direct recording, in other words, live streaming.

In case you have no available locations to practice, the FX100 can cover that. It can be used for both performing and even practicing at home.

Thanks to the extra headphone output, finding a suitable place is no longer hard work as you can now turn your room into a studio.

FLAMMA FX100 Guitar Multi-effects Pedal with 55 Amp Models 151 Built-in Effects 80' Looper 40 Drum Machine 10 3rd Party IR Slots Headphone OTG for Home Practice Performance Live Streaming
  • 【9 EFFECTS BLOCKS】Fxcomp, Distortion, Overdrive, Amp, Cab, Noise Gate, EQ, Modulation, Delay, Reverb; each block has several effects, covering 150+ effects in total; Up to 9 effects can be used simultaneously.
  • 【55 Classic & Modern High-Quality Guitar AMP Models】 that utilize non-linear digital amp modelling technology (giving a real tube amp tone, feel & response)

Last update on 2024-03-19 at 01:29 UTC - 4/ Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros

  • Easy to operate
  • Numerous presets available
  • Accessible by phones and tablets

Cons

  • A little pricey

NUX MG-300 Pedal

Rumored to be the “best multi-effects pedal under $200 on the market”, the NUX MG-300 holds many high-tech inventions with 60-second looper synced with rhythm.

The NUX MG-300 unit delivers an upgrade in sound and tone quality. This pedal is packed with TSAC-HD (True Simulation of Analog Circuit) algorithm for amp modeling, which gives guitarists a feeling as if they were using a real tube amplifier.

It also utilizes IR technology (Impulse Response) to recreate realistic studio sound. In this unit, NUX has offered five hundred and twelve sample resolutions of IR and twenty-five cabinet IRs.

The MG-300 pedal features built-in pre-effects as well as post-effects that was designed to take after classic analog pedals. As a result, the sound produced from this unit is similar to that of old models, even the quality is superb!

Before thinking of buying this unit, you shouldn’t forget to check its drawbacks. The MG-300 is made of plastic and doesn’t seem to be made to last. So it isn’t much durable and should be handled with care.

NUX MG-300 Multi Effects Pedal TSAC-HD Pre-Effects,Amp Modeling algorithm,CORE-IMAGE Post-Effects,IR,56 drum beats,60 seconds Phrase Loop
  • Update the firmware from the official website for the first playing.
  • TSAC-HD Pre-Effects and Amp Modeling algorithm providing optimum sound response and play ability. CORE-IMAGE Post-Effects sound library offering you studio sound quality.

Last update on 2024-03-19 at 01:29 UTC - 4/ Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros

  • Come with both pre-effects and post-effects
  • Realistic studio-level sound
  • No need for an amp

Cons

  • Fragile build

The Bottom Line

When reading these words, I'm sure you already have in mind what is the best multi-effects pedal under $200 for you.

Each of the five multi-effects units above has its pros and cons. Notably, Zoom MS-70CDR is a good fit for guitarists who focus on quality over quantity.

And if you are a beginner, then you should pick FLAMMA FX100. The choice is yours to make!

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