MOOER GE250 Multi Effects Processor With MIDI

While I don’t rescind my previous positive review of the Zoom G1x, I wish I had gotten this first. While using my Zoom, I kept missing the sound of a Peavey 5150, which the Zoom does not provide. The Mooer GE150 provides two models of that specific amp: the original Peavey 5150 as well as the later EVH 5150 III. Both sound awesome here. It’s good to have my old stage sound fully accounted for on a portable unit that I can take pretty much anywhere. While, yes, there’s some plastic involved in the pedal’s construction, it’s very well-made. It’s a guitar pedal, not an automotive jack, so it beats me why some people sneer at such things. The knobs and switches are solid enough that they’ll probably last longer than you do.

There’s a slew of other amps to choose from here other than my fav 5150, and they all sound very convincing. As with some other multi-effects units, you can mix and match heads with cabs. You’ll be able to change microphone models as well as tubes, and your changes take effect as you’re selecting them so that you’ll know right there and then whether or not you’ve made a good choice. Still can’t find a sound you like? You’ll be happy to find that you can add your favorite custom IR via PC and Mooer’s free studio software download (more on that later).

The effects are a bit limited but make sense. Chances are good you’ll find something you like to add that final bit of polish to your sound. While it’s concerning that your effects chain is fixed (the position Mooer makes available for each effect is the only place you’ll be able to use it), for my own purposes I haven’t found that to be a headache, and I doubt it’ll be for most other players as well. If you tend to be a straight-into-the-amp player, you probably only have one or two effects that you like to use on occasion to begin with, and you’re likely to place them in the same position of your chain as Mooer would. If you’re in love with your existing pedalboard, you can simply use the Mooer as an amp replacement: just because Mooer gives you a position for a given effect doesn’t mean that it forces you to use it, and you gain the ability to easily switch between different amp models. Not a bad deal at all.

The tuner is accessible by holding down the left foot switch, and it’s quite nice; very easy to see and use from an average standing height. Otherwise, tapping either foot switch allows for you to march up or down the presets list. All presets are editable, so you can fill them with the tones you need for your setlist and tap accordingly. Or what the heck? Play around with them as pre-configured. It’s your pedal. You decide. My only issue here is that each patch changes the moment your foot *leaves* the switch, not the moment you stomp *down* on said switch. It’s an adjustment to one’s stage performance, but doable, so I can’t bring myself to ding a star for it.

Mooer’s free studio software makes editing presets (or creating your own) a breeze. No lockups, no nagging popups… it just works. Most of its functionality can be done on-the-fly using the pedal itself, but the software’s going to be your first stop for updating firmware or loading a custom IR. This is downloadable on Mooer’s website, which gives you access to the most current release.

The rear panel offers some good input/output options, as well as a headphone jack for private listening (apartment dwellers, rejoice!). You shouldn’t have any trouble patching it straight into the house PA during live gigs, or linking it to your favorite recording software. If you own an amplifier, it’s bound to become sad and lonely–assuming you don’t sell it, of course. If you’ve used the Mooer preamp pedals before and it irked you that those awesome little candy-bars don’t come with a power adapter, this one does. It also comes with a USB cable for linking it up to your PC.

It’s a budget unit that doesn’t sound like one. Sure, you can grab a Mooer Radar and a Mooer preamp pedal and do the Cradle of Filth thing, but you probably would have paid more for those than you would have for the GE150–only to give yourself fewer options. This is a better deal, and highly recommended.

Its nice and small and has so many sound effects built in. You can create your own or use the present ones. There is a bit of a learning curve but not too bad. Nice that it has a drum machine and metronome too. Fits right in my guitar case. Great for practice on the go. Just plug and play. Recommended!

My personal experience with similar devices starts in the early 2000’s with a Digitech RP12 multi-fx/preamp running into the power section of a rackmount Randall RG120 that I had bolted to the top of a ratty marshall 4×12. So getting this unit was pretty nostalgic in a weird way.

In terms of features, it is very robust; plenty of IO, headphone out for silent practice, USB connection that turns the device into an interface that can be picked up by your DAW of choice (I’ve tested it in Reaper and ProTools, though I typically just run a cable from the L-Mono out into my actual interface), as well as allowing you to create/save/import/export signal chains through Mooer’s desktop software.

The sounds offered out of the box need usually need tweaking, but are passable, my only complaint is how the various patches aren’t built at a unity volume level, so even with the master volume knob turned to about 9 o’clock, some come in extremely loud, but the next might be whisper quiet.

Creating signal chains in the desktop app is fairly simple, you get access to common pedal types, such as OD’s, distortions, reverb, delay etc. as well as a pretty diverse range of amp profiles and cabinet sims. Just keep in mind the order of effects in your chain! Additionally, this unit doesn’t just slap an IR on the output, it also simulates the poweramp section, with a choice between various tubes, such as EL34’s, EL84’s, 6L6’s and so on, AS WELL as even handling mic type and placement on the virtual speaker. I go for the classic metal recording approach of an SM57, right up the grill, just off-center; so right about 5 and 5 on the two available settings. This virtual mic functionality is unfortunately lost if you load 3rd party IR’s, so keep that in mind.

While the unit handles 3rd party IR’s quite well, you cannot load your own amp profiles in the same way as say a Kemper or AxeFX. You’re stuck with what Mooer offers (really not a bad selection, mind you), though it does seem as if they do occasionally release updates that add new profiles.

I was also pleasantly surprised when I discovered certain OD/Distortion pedals work perfectly well even without an amp profile in the signal chain. I was trying to re-create the classic Swedish death metal “Chainsaw” sound using the modeled Digitech Metal Master pedal, and on a whim tried to disable the amp entirely. It worked!

Updating the unit was surprisingly easy. The instructions on how to do so on Mooer’s site and in the included manual are straightforward with no frustrating vagueries. The unit ships at v1.2.3, and as of writing this review, the current version is v2.0.0.

If you’re considering this unit and are concerned about the lack of an FX loop, keep in mind that it technically operates as one already, the outputs of the device (it has stereo L/R) act as the send, and whatever you plug it into on the other side, be it an interface for front of house audio, or a poweramp (Turn off the cabsim!) will act as the receive, so if you have a specialized pedal that you can’t part ways with, this unit won’t exclude that. You also have access to a second programmable expression pedal jack, though I haven’t tested that functionality as I rarely use one to begin with.

My biggest gripe comes with the form factor, just having a single footswitch and exp pedal can limit what you’re able to do with a single patch and forces you to get creative with the up/down switches to move between chains themselves. But this is to be expected with the budget friendly nature of it, and the big brother version- the GE300, offers significantly more footswitches that can be tied to individual effects. With this one, you have a single switch to turn on/off effects.

In summary, this unit will act as the perfect foundation for a budget live rig, as it can either run straight to front of house, or to a poweramp (again, turn OFF cabsim!) and cabinet. For recording, I’ve gotten some more than decent tones so far, certainly on the level of some ampsim/IR plugins that I’ve tested and certainly better than the vast majority of free ones.

Okay this isn’t a GT-1000 or a Helix, but for the price and what it is – it is a really cool little practice unit with an excellent variety of sounds for its size. It does take a bit getting used to the operational interface – once you work with it a little it becomes easier to operate. I won’t sugar coat it, it does take some digging and tweaking to get the sounds you want – but they are in there. The effects quality is so much better than I imagined it would be.
It runs on 2 AAA batteries and it also comes with a power adapter. I am using this to practice when I go to bed at night, I just plug in my guitar, phones, and I can start conjuring up some spacey ideas with reverb and delay – ambient sleep music. Or whatever comes to mind at any given time.
The bottom line is this is a super portable effects unit (with amp models) that doesn’t break the bank and it works surprisingly well. You just have to take the time to dial in your sounds. I have been playing guitar for 58 years so I have used many effects pedals over the years – just saying that this is a real surprise for the price.

Every single feature, knob, switch, pedal, works perfectly. I am confident that anyone can build or reproduce any guitar sound from it. Almost anything can be done and adjusted as desired. Configure it on board or on your computer in real time through the app, download new firmware and tons of sound models and add-ons from the website and upload to the device via USB. The sound is crystal clear, no buzz or hum etc. Been using it for a couple weeks now and I am very satisfied. Jack-in an amp, a cab, a studio console and a computer all at once. Add an extra external expression pedal? Loop countless guitar recordings and play in real time? why not? Enjoy!