Posted by Paolo De Gregorio
Apr 9, 2021
Best Multi-Modulation Pedals

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Updated on 06.30.2020

A Guide to the Best Multi-Modulation Pedals on the Market

In the audio realm, “modulation” is an umbrella world that includes all those effects that rely on a Low-Frequency Oscillator (aka, LFO). This electronic device gradually changes, at a customizable speed, a parameter inside a device that affects your audio signal, creating a sweeping, swirling effect. Even though the “L” in LFO seems to imply slow movements, these oscillators can also operate at rather high frequencies, delivering choppier, more frantic effects.

Types of Modulations

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Depending on what parameter is affected by the LFO, a different kind of modulating effect will result. Here’s a list of the various types of modulation with links to audio examples with a clean guitar tone:

Parameter affected – Name of Effect
Delay = Chorus and Flanger
Pitch = Vibrato
Phase = Phaser
Volume = Tremolo
Filter = Wah Sweep
Phase + Pan = Rotary
Pitch + Delay = Uni-Vibe and Leslie

Another weirder type is Ring Modulation, which we explain in depth in our Best Ring Modulator Pedals article.

All modulation effects feature controls for depth (basically a clean vs. wet blend) and speed (controlling the speed of the LFO).

Types of LFOs:

The Low-Frequency Oscillator can “move” (or oscillate) following different “wave patterns,” from sine to triangle to square or even randomly – and everything in between. If you are not familiar with these waveforms, you can check out this guide featuring audio examples.

Stereo Vs Mono:

Some modulation effects (Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Rotary, Uni-Vibe) shine in their stereo version because they can beautifully open up a Mono sound, while others (Tremolo, Filter Sweep, and Vibrato) are normally used in a single-channel configuration. As a rule of thumb, if you plan on using your pedal exclusively with your amp, you can stick with a Mono pedal, while guitarists who have a two amp setup or like to experiment with multiple tracks when recording might want to look into a Stereo pedal, which is normally more expensive.

Our Categories

We organized this article in four different categories. Click on the link below to jump to the one you are interested in:

Best Multi-Modulation Workstations (Stereo + Large Case)
Best Stereo Compact Multi-Modulation Workstations
Best Mono Compact Multi-Modulation Workstations
Best Multi-Modulation Pedals with Dual Engine

Best Multi-Modulation Pedal Workstations (Stereo + Large Case)

The pedals in this list are the top of the modulation line and give the player access to deep editing features to control every detail of each of the many modulation effects they offer. All DSP based and Stereo, these devices sport a larger footprint that allows them to include several controls, presets, extra routing and external control options like Midi and Expression Pedal.

Strymon Mobius
$449 - It has robust editing features via Sharc DSP over 12 types of modulation. There are 200 presets that allow full customization. It has stereo I/O, MIDI capability, and expressional pedal utility.
Sweetwater | Reverb | Amazon
Wampler Terraform
$299 - A multi-mode, stereo, digital modulation pedal featuring 11 effects including wahs and filtering with pristine digital conversion. It offers flexible routing, 8 presets, tap tempo, MIDI, and expression pedal control.
Sweetwater | Reverb | Amazon
BOSS MD-200
BOSS MD-200
$250 - This is a robust 32-bit, 96kHz multi-effect with 12 modulation modes. Four memory slots hold your presets. Routing includes stereo and MIDI I/O, dry analog output, and optional expression pedal. A micro USB allows for updating firmware.
Sweetwater | Reverb | Amazon
Eventide Modfactor
$399 - Studio-quality sound in a versatile multi-effect with 10 mono/stereo modulation effects and 10 controls. Standard modulation is present but also includes wah and some other unique effects. It has guitar and line inputs to take multiple types of sources and control over MIDI, expression, and tap tempo.
Sweetwater | Reverb | Amazon
GFI Sytstem Synesthesia
$430 - Dual modulation in a multi-mode stompbox, with over 30 on-board algorithms and more accessible through the SymmLab app. The various algorithms can be organized in three different DSP routing schemes.
Perf. Circuit | Reverb | Amazon
Empress Nebulus
$299 - A small effect with big sounds, it provides chorus, vibe, and flange with three variations of each. Eight presets hold your sounds and there is a special switch to tweak setting-specific parameters. Each effect has a warm, clean, bright voicing for tonal variation.
Perf. Circuit | Reverb | Amazon
Keeley Super Mod Workstation
$299 - Fully-featured and great sounding, it includes 2 channels offering 8 different effects each like chorus, tremolo, phaser, ADT, rotary speaker, delay, flange, and reverb. The channels are placed in parallel and feed each other when both on. It also includes tap tempo and expression pedal functions.
Sweetwater | Reverb | Amazon
Zander Junipero
$345 - With eight effects total including two types of chorus, three types of tremolo, flange, vibrato, and ring modulator this MIDI compatible unit provides some truly esoteric modulation sounds. It has stereo I/O, tap tempo, five presets, and selectable bypass – which can be set per preset.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
Line 6 MM4
$100+ used - Now out of production, this is the unit that started the "stereo modulation workstation" trend. A little bulky compared to newere devices, it offers a lot of the same features (including presets) and quality sounds.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon

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Best Compact Multi-Modulation Pedals with Stereo Outs

If a compact size and Stereo out are your priorities, this is the list for you. These pedals are a lot more streamlined than the ones in the Workstation list, but offer as many effect options with fewer knobs and features.

TC Electronic Dreamscape
$169 - Designed by John Petrucci, this pedal features six of his signature modulation sounds including chorus, flange, and vibrato. Control the EQ with a normal, bright, or dark toggle switch. TonePrint provides additional variation. It can run in mono or stereo.
Sweetwater | Reverb | Amazon
UAFX Astra Modulation Machine
$399 | A Stereo, digital, 3-mode (plus 1) multi-modulation pedal with 2 variations for each mode (A/B toggle), preset capability, and six knobs controlling Speed, Depth, Intensity, Shape, Shape and Mode. Modes include Chorus Brigade, Flanger/DBLR, Trem 65 (Blackface-style) and 2 downloadable at registration: Phaser X90 and Dharma Trem 61.
Sweetwater | Reverb | Amazon
Flamma FS05
$88 - A multi-modulation unit with 11 modes and 7 presets.  The controls couldn't be simpler, with fixed Rate and Depth knobs and two extra controls whose function varies according to the selected mode. Includes all the classic modulation effects but also Liquid, Autowah, Stutter, Ring Mod and Bit Crusher modes.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
NUX Mod Core Deluxe
$79 - There are 8 different modulation effects across two algorithms for a total of 15 sounds. Global rate and depth controls with a Tweak control that manipulates a different parameter for each effect. Stereo routing and tonelock for saving settings.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
M-Effects Muza FD-800
$84 - A modulation swiss army knife, there are 16 modes of different effects across 4 modes. The controls perform differently depending on the selected setting. It fits easily onto your pedalboard and has mono input with stereo output.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
Donner Alchemy
$42 - Out of production but worth mentioning. Incredibly packed with features, for the price, it includes 8 different modes and Stereo in and outs. It also offers two styles (the subtler "Normal" and the deeper "Deluxe") and a Tone Lock feature that disables the knobs to prevent accidental changes.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon

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Best Compact Multi-Modulation Pedals with Mono Out

An overwhelming majority of guitarists use their pedals exclusively with their mono amp. If you belong to the category, why waste money on a stereo pedal? In this list, you’ll find some great mono option delivering all kinds of modulation effects.

Sonicake 5th Dimension
$51 - A mini multi-modulation pedal offering 11 effects, Tap TEmpo and three knobs to control the sound (Mix, Depth and Rate). Among the unique touches, it also sports a lo-fi effect.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
Mooer Mod Factory
$78 - This 32 bit digital pedal offers a 11 classic modulation effects. Mod selects the effect, while Control 1 adjusts the speed/intensity of the effect. Control 2 adjusts tone, and Depth adjusts the depth of the modulation.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
Electro-Harmonix MOD 11
$152 - It gives you access to all the modulation effects you can think of (two Tremolo algorhythms, Vibrato, Univibe, Through Zero Flanger, Modulated Pitch Shifter, and Filter Sweep) and also to some sonic "treats" in the shape of hidden parameters accessible through a Secondary Knob Mode. Momentary Mode lets you switch in and out of effects mode for quick accents.
Sweetwater | Reverb | Amazon
Alexander Pedals Wavelength
$199 - An expanded version of the company's Waveland Multi-Modulator with more modulation engines and tap tempo, and some cool surprises like selectable waveforms.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
Mad Professor Double Moon
$289 - A multi modulation pedal that features 11 different modes: 3 choruses, 3 dual chorus effects, 3 flangers, flanger+chorus, and vibrato. Four shared controls manipulate the tone of the modulation setting: Speed, Depth, Tone, and Control – which shapes the LFO wave or Regen of the selected effect.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
Foxgear XYZ Waves
$129 - Rather than offering "pure" modulation tones you can find in many other pedals, the XYZ Waves sports five modes with a more creative/ambient angle, with reverb added to four of them. The Mix knob is the only set controller, while the X, Y and Z knobs change varying parameters depending on the mode you are in
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
Crazy Tube Circuits StonedHz v2
$275 - A multi-mode modulation pedal featuring an all analog signal path controlled via a microcontroller. It gives you total control over the 3 basic waveforms of the LFO (square, triangle and sine) with the ability to distort them. Tremolo can be added on top of phase/pitch modulation. V2 adds ring modulation and 4 CV inputs
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
ZCAT Q-Mod
$153 - A simpler multi-effect with a complex sound, it includes three bypass modes - buffered, true bypass, and reverb always on. A rotary knob selects between chorus, flange, phaser, or tremolo and. Depth, speed, and reverb knobs provide global control over the selected effect.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
Southampton Pedals Utility Knife Modulator
$350 - Provides four high-quality effects that are designed to sound good in all control settings in a true bypass setup with top mounted jacks. Featuring flange, chorus, tremolo, and a 6-stage phaser, this could be the only modulation pedal you need.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon

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Best Multi-Modulation Pedals with Dual Engine

The stompboxes in this list are a modern reinterpretation of the multi-mode modulation pedal and, thanks to a dual engine, they let you either blend two different modulation effects for new textures or quickly switch from one to another.

Keeley Super Mod Workstation
$299 - Fully-featured and great sounding, it includes 2 channels offering 8 different effects each like chorus, tremolo, phaser, ADT, rotary speaker, delay, flange, and reverb. The channels are placed in parallel and feed each other when both on. It also includes tap tempo and expression pedal functions.
Sweetwater | Reverb | Amazon
GFI Sytstem Synesthesia
$430 - Dual modulation in a multi-mode stompbox, with over 30 on-board algorithms and more accessible through the SymmLab app. The various algorithms can be organized in three different DSP routing schemes.
Perf. Circuit | Reverb | Amazon
Joyo Vision
$89 - An affordfable dual engine multi-modulation pedal that lets you either switch from one effect to the other or blend the two together for new, original soundscapes. Each channel has 9 effects (they are all different, adding up to18 in total) and three knobs for Speed, Depth and the Control one, which varies depending on the effect selected. Each channel has separate Tap Tempo functionality
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
MOOER Mod Factory Pro
$168 - A tiny yet deep, Stereo dual multi-modulation pedal offering 16 different effects per channel with 3 separate knob controls and a routing toggle switch that lets you place them in series or parallel (both A-B and B-A). Offers also Tap Tempo, presets and momentary accelerating effects.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon
Poly Effects Beebo
$399 - A touchscreen-based multi-FX unit with modulation and synth algorithms that allows for different combinations, and orders, in series or parallel. It includes Eurorack style effects, like slew limiters and LFO applications, all programmable by touch screen. Four freely routable input and outputs allow processing of up to four instruments or creation of quadraphonic effects!
Perf. Circuit | Reverb | Amazon
Old Blood Noise Visitor
$199 - A parallel multi-modulation offering three primary modes (tremolo, chorus, phaser) and two parallel secondary ones (tremolo and chorus). The secondary modulation is mostly controlled by the primary one, with the Secondary knob controlling at once depth, rate, and delay offset of secondary circuit. It produces a wide range of creative effects.
Perf. Circuit | Reverb | Amazon
Matthews Effects The Chemist
$199 - Offers two channels of the same three-mode modulation effects (chorus/vibrato, octave, and phaser). Select which algorithm is active on each channel, then quickly switch between two modes and settings. The Reaction knob controls the dry signal, and the Catalyst and Formula knobs change depending on the algorithm you select.
Sweetwater | Reverb | Amazon
Tsakalis Audio Works Galactic Multi-Modulation
$273 - A multi-modulation pedal offering five basic modulation effects (Phaser, Univibe, Vibrato, Rotary and Flanger) that lets you combine and blend them in pairs, delivering new textures and great potential for sonic exploration.
Ebay | Reverb | Amazon

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Here’s a video shootout featuring many of the best multi-modulation pedals included in this article.

See also our list of the Best Chorus Pedals and Best Modulation Pedals for Synths with CV In.

By Brandon Stoner and Paolo De Gregorio

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