The FoxGear Multitune is a compact polyphonic tuner pedal from FoxGear, unveiled in October 2019. It tunes one string at a time like any chromatic pedal tuner, and it also reads all six strings at once in polyphonic mode, including open tunings. Foxgear listed it at $89 at launch1.
What it does and how it works
The Multitune has a single footswitch, which is the only control on the pedal. Stepping on it mutes the signal and brings up the tuning display; Foxgear's own pitch is "Just engage the foot switch and check your tuning."1 MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley described the layout: "It has a bright digital display taking up around half or more of its enclosure, with a footswitch to turn on and off."3
Mode selection is automatic. Foxgear says the pedal is "automatically placed in either chromatic or polyphonic mode, depending on whether you strike one string or all strings" at once, so there is no switch to flip between the two ways of tuning1. In polyphonic mode the display shows sharps and flats and works in open tunings, which gearnews.com flagged as the pedal's distinguishing feature2.
Under the hood, Foxgear says the note detection software runs on a DSP made by AnalogDevices rather than the common microcontroller found in other tuner pedals: "We used a real powerful DSP by AnalogDevices instead of common MCU like other competitors"1. Guitar World's coverage of the launch described the same core: "At the core of the Multitune is an AnalogDevices DSP, which Foxgear uses to run its note detection software"4.
Design and power
The pedal has a small footprint with top-loading jack configurations, so cables plug in at the front edge rather than the sides, which matters on a crowded pedalboard1. It runs on a 9 to 12V DC supply and draws less than 100mA1.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tuning modes | Chromatic and polyphonic, selected automatically1 |
| Polyphonic display | Shows sharps and flats, works in open tunings2 |
| Audio path | 100% analog, with digital note detection on an AnalogDevices DSP1 |
| Bypass | Relay assisted true bypass, gold pin relays1 |
| Jacks | Top-loading configuration1 |
| Power | 9 to 12V DC, less than 100mA1 |
| Warranty | 5 years1 |
The Multitune's audio path is 100% analog, and the signal is muted when the footswitch is engaged for tuning1. Bypass is handled by gold pin relays rather than a mechanical stomp switch alone1.
What reviewers said
Coverage of the launch was largely descriptive, with one reviewer holding judgment on the important questions. gearnews.com's Jef wrote of the display: "The proof will be in how accurate actually is and how fast it locks onto a note for the reading."2 Foxgear's own press release was less reserved, calling it "without a doubt, the best tuner on the market today," a claim worth reading as the maker speaking1.
The Multitune arrived in a tuner market with established polyphonic options, including the TC Electronic PolyTune line and the Korg Pitchblack Poly, and alongside strobe-based pedals like the Peterson StroboStomp HD. See the full range on the Tuner Pedals page.
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Questions
Is the FoxGear Multitune true bypass?
Yes. Foxgear specifies relay assisted true bypass with gold pin relays, announced in the pedal's October 2019 press release. The audio path is described as 100 percent analog, with the signal muted when the footswitch is engaged for tuning.
Does the FoxGear Multitune work in open tunings?
Yes. In polyphonic mode the Multitune displays sharps and flats and works in open tunings, according to gearnews.com's coverage of the pedal's launch. Strumming all strings puts it in polyphonic mode automatically.
How does the Multitune choose between chromatic and polyphonic mode?
There is no mode switch to set. Foxgear says the pedal is automatically placed in either chromatic or polyphonic mode depending on whether you strike one string or all strings at once.
What power supply does the FoxGear Multitune use?
Foxgear states the Multitune operates on 9 to 12 volts DC and draws less than 100mA. A center negative DC supply is the way to run it.
Is the signal muted when the Multitune is on?
Yes. When you step on the footswitch the signal is muted so you can tune up chromatically or polyphonically, as MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley described it. The audio path itself is 100 percent analog.
What warranty does the FoxGear Multitune have?
Foxgear advertises a 5 year warranty on the Multitune, along with what the company calls Foxgear quality components, in the pedal's announcement.
Sources (4)
- Foxgear Presents the Multitune Polyphonic Tuner, Premier Guitar, 2019-10-03
- FoxGear Multitune: A polyphonic tuner pedal for opening tunings, gearnews.com, 2019-10-09
- FoxGear pedals unveils the Multitune polyphonic tuner, MusicRadar, 2019-10-04
- Nail open tunings with Foxgear's new Multitune polyphonic tuner, Guitar World, 2019-10-08
