Digitech GNX4 Multiple Effects Processor / Guitar Workstation Digitech GNX4 Multiple Effects Processor / Guitar Workstation Directory Site Links In 1979 I built a multiple effects 'box'. It looked like a mixer or Moog synthesizer of the era, walnut hardwood sides, aluminum face. Tons of knobs. The idea was to combine all of the popular effects of the time (fuzz/distortion, compressor, chorus, flanger, phase-shifter, pre-amp, and a mixer) into one cabinet.

It did away with all of the mess of cables, batteries (it had a 110vac power supply).a bit a head of its time. I named it the Razorgasm. It was pretty cool.

Why someone hasn't done this before is anybody's guess, but the DigiTech® team has jumped way ahead of the pack with their new GNX3™ Guitar Workstation.

For years I have wanted a multi-effects processor that would give all the sounds I crave. After months of searching and testing I decided on the Digitech GNX4 and the. The Digitech GNX4 is much more than a multi-effects processor--it is a Guitar 'Workstation'. The GNX4 combines dozens of effects with an eight-track digital recorder, USB and MIDI interface, drum machine, and some pretty trick computer software (Pro Tracks Plus from Cakewalk). With some tweaking and correct connections (to amps and so forth), the GNX4 sounds great. A few users have complained about this and that regarding the sound quality live--chances are, they just have not explored the various setup options (Speaker Compensation, EQ, and so forth).

Amp Modeling After owning the GNX4 for almost a year, and comparing it to other amp modelers I own or have tried, I would say the GNX4 amp modeling is middle of the road (see below). As with most modelers, if you like the heavy-metal rectified, high-gain sound, the GNX4 does pretty well.

Where it lacks IMHO is in more subtle amps and applications. Though you can get a clean sound, the clean and blues-type amps just are not quite right. They miss the warmth, thickness, and sustain of a good clean tube amp. Nhl 09 Pc Demo. I also find it a bit tedious to setup an amp. The GNX4 offers cabinet (?) EQ, something I have not mastered.

Luckily, Guitar One magazine provides a variety of GNX4 settings each issue. I often use these as starting points, especially EQ- wise.

I prefer the much simpler approach of the VAMP or VOX Tonelab. Turn a dial to select an amp with separate controls for EQ. The GNX4 approach of multiple use buttons is fine if you're sitting at home and have some free time, but is a drag when you want to quickly select an amp and cabinet.

Effects In regards to effects. This is where the GNX4 beats most other modelers. I am very disappointed with the POD XT Live and its supposedly great 80 effects. Unless I am missing something, and perhaps I am, the GNX4 categorically kicks the POD XT Live's butt in this regard. (Note: there are a few great POD XTL effects.) The WAH and pickup selector settings are very useful, though to be honest, I don't use them much. The compressor functions as well as any I have tried, something I cannot say for the myriad of stompbox compressor models of the POD XT Live.

It is not just a threshold gate/cuttoff. It really seems to compress the sound and if you set the gain high, each pick of a string explodes--just like a good compressor should do. My only negative comment regarding the compressor--it does not appear to be footswitchable (on/off). The distortion models, especially the Boss DS version sounds great. I own the Boss DS-1 and cannot tell much difference between the GNX4 model and the original when a/b switching between them.

The modulation effects blow away the POD XT Live, both in quantity and quality. The GNX4 offers the standard chorus, flanger, and phaser. They all sound fine. In addition, the GNX4 offers a triggered flanger, envelope, phase shifter, synthtalk, etc. I find applications for virtually all of these effects and no other box that I am aware of provides this quantity and quality of modulation effects.

Laptop Voice Enhancer here. The delay variations are good. I am not super thrilled with them, but. The reverb variations are also good.

Again, nothing outstanding, but plenty servicable. Looper Once I got this to work, well it is a killer. You can spend big bucks just for a looper and its thrown in with the GNX4. Drum Machine Fair to good.

Serves my purposes, though this an area (drum machine, drum tracks) that I am sorely lacking in talent and technique. On Board Recorder It's okay.

The sound quality of the onboard recorder versus recording the GNX4 using the computer is night and day. Perhaps I am doing something wrong, but the onboard recorder sound quality is not great. I use it to capture riffs, ideas--perfect for that.