Mooer Prime P2 Black Multi-Effect Loader & Audio Interface | Review

Mooer Prime P2 Black Multi-Effect Loader & Audio Interface | Review

MSRP: (UK) £256 / (US) $237

Following the success of the Prime P1, Mooer is back with the next generation — the ultra-compact audio interface and multi-effects loader - The Mooer Prime P2. Featuring an enhanced user experience courtesy of a 1.3” touch screen and a fully revamped effects and rhythm suite, users can access 52 amp models, 25 Cab Sims and multiple impulse response options. In addition, the integrated rechargeable battery gives up to five hours of power. Nick Jennison tells us more.

Moore’s law describes how technology will become smaller and more powerful year-on-year due to the ever-shrinking size of transistors. Think about the incredible feats your smartphone can perform — the sort of tasks that would have required a high-end laptop just five years ago.

If there’s a similar thing in the guitar space, it should be called “Mooer’s Law”. The East-Asian MI giants began their mission of shrinking our guitar rigs with their hugely popular “mini pedals” in the 2010s and excellent pedal preamps. Next came their GTRS line of intelligent guitars, with built-in effects and amp models, doing away with the “rig” entirely.

The next step in this evolution of “tiny but excellent” gear is the Prime P2. Mooer is calling this an “intelligent pedal”, but I want to take exception with that name. Firstly, it’s not a pedal - there’s nothing to press with your foot. Secondly, that name doesn’t even come close to describing the breadth of what this little device can do.

In simple terms, the Prime P2 is a full-featured stereo guitar processor in a smaller package than your phone. Lighter, too. While it does bear a slightly unsettling resemblance to Hal 9000, it’s much more agreeable and very easy to use. You can operate it entirely from the circular touch screen or via a Bluetooth footswitch like the GTRS GWF4. This gives you access to banks of presets, the tuner, volume and a limited level of tweakability, but if you connect it to your phone and use the accompanying free app, you can create entire signal chains with dozens of amp and cab models and effects types at your disposal - in stereo!

Amp tones are derived from the aforementioned Mooer Preamp series, and they sound very authentic, especially when paired with the appropriate speaker cab model. There’s quite a selection here, with everything from high gain monsters from ENGL and Peavey through to boutique D-style cleans, classic American and British ‘60s amps and everything in between. Similarly, there are a ton of cab models available. In terms of effects, the selection is a little more limited, but all the major players are here in terms of overdrive, modulation, dynamics, and time-based effects - all very well organised within the easy-to-use app.

It’s actually pretty startling to think that a rig this flexible could go not only in the front pocket of your gig bag but in the front pocket of your trousers. If anyone was going to do it, though, it was going to be Mooer. This is probably the smallest “legit” gigging and recording rig in the world, and given that it costs less than a “boutique” overdrive pedal, it’s something any serious guitarist should consider adding to their rig - either as a backup rig, a “do-it-all” pedal as part of a larger pedalboard, or even just as a great sounding and hyper-portable practice tool.

For more information, please visit:

mooeraudio.com

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