DigiTech RP1000 Guitar Multi Effects Pedal with Integrated Switching  

- Made in the USA (not a "feature," but worth mentioning)

- Has a nice complement of pro connections that seem to be well-thought out (but are missing opportunities)

- Dedicated tap tempo button

- Better amp models than Boss or Line 6 (however... *)

- State-of-the-art, 24-bit audio processing

* Although the sound of the amp models won me over in the store over a year ago, none of them sound real enough when it comes to recording. I prefer software models if I'm going to do that sort of thing. Additionally, I don't use the amp models when playing live because I have a tube amp that I like. Overall, amp modeling in a pedalboard is not that useful to me. Running my guitar to a PA system directly through this box just wouldn't suit my taste.

Solid construction. Die-cast body. The build feels more durable than the Line 6 Pod XT Live. I do prefer the Boss GT-10 footwswitches which don't "click" audibly.

This pedal let me down for recording.  The USB port is useless due to poor implementation (I'm a Mac user).  The RP-1000 doesn't resolve well to external clock, so it doesn't play nicely if you try to create an aggregate device with another audio interface.  Also, if you try using the RP-1000 on it's own, you'll immediately discover that you can't turn down the volume of your headphones.  Let me just say... OUCH!

Even though it is advertised as a USB recording interface, DO NOT buy this pedal for recording through the USB interface.  You will be disappointed.  In order to listen to my mix at reasonable sound levels, I have switched to using only the analog connection from the RP-1000 with a different audio interface.  Obviously, I would prefer to avoid the extra D/A -->A/D conversion, but... you can't have it all with this pedalboard.  Luckily, Digitech included high-quality, XLR analog outputs, so the analog connection sounds very good and clean.

The lower value score is the result of two major issues...
1) USB implementation for recording is incomplete (actually, I'd even say it's flawed.)
2) You can't use two modulation effects at the same time. (Boss gives you the ability to mix Chorus and Flange, but not Digitech.)
3) I wish it had a digital output and word clock port.

I hate it when good opportunities are missed, such as mentioned above with the USB issues.  I use the USB port for organizing the presets ONLY.

I like the software interface that Digitech included.  It crashes occasionally, but oh well.  The software is attractive and easy to use.

Bypass the amp/cab section, which is very easy to do, and it's a pretty nice multi-effects box to use with my guitar amp.  The effects sound good.  I'm always craving more overdrive options, but this box contains a good selection of useful stompbox effects.  I wish they were more configurable.  Each effect only has a few options, and some are seriously lacking in options.

Unfortunately, there is no way to tempo sync to your DAW from the the USB port.  Not a major flaw... since you can tap it out with your feet using the tap tempo button.  But it would be better if tap tempo were available.

I wish there was a software plug-in version of the effects included so I could record the guitar clean and mess around with effects later (like VOX has done with the JamBOX).

With six available outputs, you would think that someone would have included a way for the RP-1000 to send out one processed stereo signal and one unprocessed mono signal at the same time (so you could record them at the same time).  Unfortunately, it's not straightforward.  The best way I've found is to use the Stomp Loop, but you need to return the clean signal to the RP-1000 with a physical cable at instrument level or the sound doesn't get processed through the RP-1000.

There's no easy way to change the order of your effects from what I can tell.

Well 1st of all, I have owned and played tube amps all my 30 years of playing guitar from Marshall, Fender, Peavey and Mesa. They are all great. I wish I could haul all of them to a gig and switch around between them. Now I can. I was VERY skeptical about buying this thing, but I have to admit that with this unit you get a fleet of very realistic sounding amplifiers and cabinets. The combinations are infinite. How about a Fender Deluxe driving a 4x12 with greenbacks. It's like Prego- it's in there. You can literally spend hours (I know I have) building different amp and pedal combinations, all laid out in correct order or you can change the order if you want. The stomp boxes sound very good as well. Now let me say I did not get the fantastic tones I am now getting overnight with this thing. I've had it a couple of months now and at 1st I was going to send it back until I discovered some things I was doing wrong, and it just takes patience, experimentation and tweaking, which I am finding to be very fun once you figure out what you are doing.  It has several configurations for hooking it up. With a USA Fender Fat Strat, I just go staight into my clean channel on a PV Valveking 1x12 equppied with an Eminence Red Coat Governor, set my bass, mid, treble to around 2-3, and set the volume at around 3-5, depending on the situation. Then you just tweak your presets til you find your sound. Once you are familiar where everything is, the unit is very easy to program and navigate even onstage in the dark with actual knobs to turn to adjust parameters. Very bright LEDS and large display. Way better than other brands I won't mention. I tried all of them before I shelled out for this one. Another great feature is the pedalboard mode, which turns the top row of switches into on/offs for individual FX on each bank of 5 presets. Right now I have 3 banks of 5 presets. It's like having 15 different pedalboard/amp combinations and you can asighn what is on and off in a preset. Tap of a switch I'm from a Fender Twin with a Tube Screamer in front to a Marshall Plexi with a Fuzz Face. Then off to the races some Mesa Dual Rectifier metal chunk carnage or a Soldano 80's hair solo. Once you have a tweaked and found the tone, it breathes and responds to your playing as well as anything I've ever played through and the versatility it has brought to my sound and playing has broadened my mind to trying different sounds and styles. I can capture the correct tones for the cover songs I play in my band. Did I mention the 20 sec. looper? Cool for laying down a rythym part to solo over, or you can dub and layer multiple parts on the fly, tho this takes a little practice to do smoothly. On top of all this, Digitech included, power supply, 4 high qulaity 15' braided cables and 2 shorter ones with the unit.

What sold me on this unit over all the other ones I tried was the ease of use onstage and the constuction quality. It is heavy compared to other units. The chassis is metal. The switches feel like a switch when you step on them. The expression pedal feels substatial and way better to me than the other brands. Digitech obviously spent some time and research on capturing the nuances of all the different amp and pedal models. I can't say enough good things and I am WAY glad I spent the time and effort to figure out how it best suited and worked for me. Now on the negagtive side-While the programming/editing grid is very thoughtful and user friendly, it is recessed into the unit by an inch or so, to protect the kind of flimsy plastic knobs. If something were to be spilled on it, it would definetely form a pool in this recess. Something of this qulaity should have been equipped with metal knobs too. These cheap feeling plastic knobs could easily be broken off. Also some sort of handle would be nice. It's kind of awkward to pick up off the floor. There's nothing to hold on to. So a 9 on quality.

For all the amps and pedals you get, on top of the ease of use onstage, the value is unbeatable to me. It has made my set up easier and simpler, and after much patient amp experimenting and tweaking, my tone is better than ever. I don't have to do the stomp dance anymore. One step to a completely diferent amp and FX chain combonation.

This thing does it all for me. I could not be happier.

I BOUGHT THIS UNIT LAST DECEMBER HAD SOME MINOR PROBLEMS BUT NOTHING THAT COULD.NT BE FIXED BY DOING A FACTORY RESET. I WILL SAY IT SOUND GREAT WHEN IT WORKS. 5 WEEKS AGO IT CRAPPED OUT AND IT HAD TO BE SENT IN FOR A NEW PROCESSOR I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT IT WILL BE ALEAST 2 MORE WEEKS BEFORE I GET IT BACK MAYBE.

THE TROUBLE WITH UNITS LIKE THIS IS ALL YOUR EGGS ARE IN ONE BASKET .IF ONE PART FAILS YOU LOOSE EVERYTHING.

I'M NOT SAYING DON'T BUY ONE BUT SERIOUSLY GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT.

AT LEAST WITH SINGLE PEDALS YOU CAN STILL GET YOUR MAIN SOUND ,BUT IF A UNIT LIKE THIS GOES OUT YOUR UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PEDAL.

This unit has it all.

I love using Tubescreamers and the ones in the RP compare very well to the stand alone boxes. But now I can have as many as I want at different settings!

The only feature I had trouble with was trying to find a nice clean solo boost. It can be done, but you need to use an effect as far as I could figure out.

But this has that covered since it has the stop loop I just hooked up my old clean boost pedal through there.

I was hesitant about how well built this unit would be. Its built very tough and should last a good long time.

In comparison to what else is out there and the features, you can't beat this unit.

So far so good. Relability is a big factor with me so only time will tell.

First let me say that I have been playing for 30 years at the weekend warrior level and I have been through alot of gear.I've had Marshall, Fender and Mesas. I play in a classic/alternative rock cover band and needed a very compact and portable tho versatile rig.This thing gives me all the different tones I need without the hassle of 20 pedals and a half stack. It has more features than I'll ever use. I use it in pedalboard mode with my PV Valveking 1x12 and Fender American Fat Strat. I have been using an old BOSS ME30 for chorus, verb and delay FX along with my amp's distortion and Tube Screamer for solo boosts. This was an ok setup tho I had to create multiple patches for different delay times. The tap tempo has saved me from this. Being able to turn different FX on and off within a preset is just amazing. I think the models sound better than my Peavy. In pedalboard mode I have setup 5 different amp/cab presets with diffent FX on each one. Being able to switch from a Twin to a Plexi to a Rectifier is orgasmic.  I wish it had amp channel switching within the preset but I've worked around that. The looper is an awesome feature tho a little awkward to use live. I'm going to get the optional loop control pedal for easier use of this function. The expression pedal/wah works great. The acoustic models are pretty cool too. This pedal has opened up a whole new world of options for me and simplified my setup. I go straight into the FX return of my amp and send a signal to the house board when playing live. Simple and amazing sound quality.  The key to success with a processor like this is to be patient and spend time tweaking it. It is a pre amp in itself so bypass your amp's input and use the FX return which just uses the power section of your amp.                     

I've only had it a couple of months now but, I've gigged with it  3 times and it performed flawlessly. It seems to be built like tank. I bought an SKB case to carry it in tho.

It's a bit pricey but considering what all it does it was worth it to me.

I think this a great product and I would reccomend it to any working guitarist who is looking for simplicity and portability in their rig. It takes me 15 in the club and be setup and ready to rock.