Question:
Hi everyone!
Umm, I just finished a week-long gig playing at the New Wilmington Missionary Conference, and it was a blast.
I played with my Boss GT-3 multi-effects processor, which I dearly love:

Only problem is, I realized how random the volume is on each of my built-in effects. When I was switching between them, the soundboard-dude was getting highly frustrated and saying I was "spiking out" my channel when I switched stuff (I like to switch mid-song like between verse & chorus).
I know, I know, one option is to spend the next year going into each effect (all 200 of them...) and trying to 'normalize' the volume level so they all match. But what an utter pain. And I noticed that sometime it sounds way different in my amp than in the PA system, so this is unreliable.
I guess I could also get a volume stabilizing compressor pedal between the GT-3 and the PA system too, I suppose...
But I have kinda been jonesin' for a newer Multi-FX box anyway. Do you know of any that EXCEL at stable volume? Maybe the Line 6 POD? Maybe the Digitech Genetix?
Answer:
i think all multi effects will have that same problem. you should go through and level each effect out, and make the ones u use for solos a little higher. it really wont take long to level them all out. most peolpe dont use but 10-15 of them anyway. just do the ones that you use more often first. or you can try what i do and just level out 1 or 2 of them and then play in stompbox mode, turning the delay, chorus, dist/overdrive, amp channel on and off at times. your pedal should support that. if you play in stombox it will sound a lot smoother when changing sounds. i have the gnx3, its great if you like to record loops live and play them back or if you want to record stuff to practice over, it has good tone too. the VOX multi-effects is the best you can get for tone. GT-8 is nice too, its better than the gnx3 or 4
Answer:
My zoom gfx7 has the same problem. BUT there is a solution. You have to induvidualy set the level of each effect.
Answer:
Yup, you gotta set each effects setting to the same volume level. I assume you aren't using any presets (since they generally aren't that good) so you should only need to set those few that you use a lot. Shouldn't take more then a half-hour (and that only if you have a bunch of presets to change.)
Answer:
Heya,
I seriously suggest getting a good compressor. Seems to me that it would solve all your problems.
Or you could do what PianoMan suggested, I suppose.
Answer:
That too. But if you don't want to buy a nother pedal...
Answer:
I have the GNX-2 and it has the same problem so you wouldn't want to go for that one. I have been going through setting the levels and it is getting better.
Answer:
I have a POD XT Live that does a good job keeping a stable volume (I haven't had to do much tweaking). I'd try leveling out your pedal first and see if you can get it to your liking though before looking at a compressor or something, although a compressor in itself can be a useful effect.
Answer:
I'm leaning towards just getting a compressor to consistently handle the output of the unit. Any recommendations?
Answer:
Originally Posted by Jay42 I'm leaning towards just getting a compressor to consistently handle the output of the unit. Any recommendations?
The only thing I would see about the compressor is that may loose much of your dynamics in your playing.
Something to keep in mind with any sort of amp modeling is that you'll naturally run into volume problems when mixing clean/distorted amps, especially when switching between lead/rhythm stuff.