[sfx] Micro Thumpinator - Page 6

jcburn · #**101** 05-29-2012, 12:48 AM

OK - cant help myself. Dumb question coming up...
Would a Thumpinator allow me to get more percieved volume from my cabs before they start the farty distortion thing. The reason I ask is that sometimes if I have no FOH support I need to drive my setup to get over the top of 2 loud guitars and a loud drummer, and usually the output/volume required starts making my speakers distort, or certainly on the verge of this.
Just wondering then with a Thumpinator engaged could this allow me to drive the speakers a little harder for volume?
My EQing certainly isn't bottom heavy - I actually usually cut my lowest EQ setting (around 60hz I think) and boost 180hz and 340hz a tad for bottom end.
Hope my question makes sense - thanks in advance.

bongomania · #**102** 05-29-2012, 02:16 AM

Partly. A lot of the problem-causing signal you're describing is probably above the frequency range affected by the mThump. However it will cut out the big subharmonic thump peaks caused by playing very percussively, and to that extent you will get more clean efficiency from your cabs.

jcburn · #**103** 05-29-2012, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Partly. A lot of the problem-causing signal you're describing is probably above the frequency range affected by the mThump. However it will cut out the big subharmonic thump peaks caused by playing very percussively, and to that extent you will get more clean efficiency from your cabs.

Bongo thanks for that reply. Slightly off topic but would a compressor help as well? I have nearly no experience with compressors. I am unashamedly a rock and metal player, and I find that even with a 500 watt amp and 2 410 cabs I only just have enough volume to compete with 2 guitars and drums. Just figured I should be able to do something to make my cabs more efficient and prevent them farting or causing them damage.

**BFunk** · #**104** 05-29-2012, 04:33 AM

yes. compression/limiting will do just that. Hard peak limiting is a special type of compression where you put a hard upper limit on the amplitude of the signal. This allows you to raise the overall volume without damaging the speakers. This is especially useful on bass since the difference between the signal peaks, like during the attack of a note, and the average overall signal can be as much as 30db. Advantage: your sound louder. Disadvantage: you loose dynamics. When hard limiting is overdone, your bass can sound lifeless and mechanical.

bongomania · #**105** 05-29-2012, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFunk

yes. compression/limiting will do just that. Hard peak limiting is a special type of compression where you put a hard upper limit on the amplitude of the signal. This allows you to raise the overall volume without damaging the speakers. This is especially useful on bass since the difference between the signal peaks, like during the attack of a note, and the average overall signal can be as much as 30db. Advantage: your sound louder. Disadvantage: you loose dynamics. When hard limiting is overdone, your bass can sound lifeless and mechanical.

Agreed, with an emphasis on "when overdone", i.e. the trick is to find the sweet spot where your signal is under control and optimized, but not lifeless or dull.

Bob C · #**106** 05-29-2012, 07:47 AM

Hey, that looks great Charley. Nice and clean. I'm guessing you mounted it there, out of the way because it's on all the time?

**BFunk** · #**107** 05-29-2012, 08:22 AM

Yeah, love the board. (Sorry for the derailing!) What are you using for patch cables?

Charley Umbria · #**108** 05-29-2012, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C

Hey, that looks great Charley. Nice and clean. I'm guessing you mounted it there, out of the way because it's on all the time?

Yeah, the Micro Thumpinator doesn't have a power button or footswitch, and there's no reason to turn it off. Before I got the VT Bass, I was using a Catalinbread SFT, so the Micro Thumpinator was my only pedalboard buffer (if no effects were turned on...). If I had more room on the top side, I might've mounted it up there just to show it off!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFunk

Yeah, love the board. (Sorry for the derailing!) What are you using for patch cables?

They're all Lava cables with the optional plastic caps. On the Micro Thumpinator cables, the caps act as insulators, to make sure that the metal cable plugs don't contact the metal pedalboard frame and cause noise. I'd originally attached the Micro Thumpinator to the underside of the board with bolts, but it caused a bad hum due to a ground loop. Once I isolated the Thumpinator's enclosure from the board, it fixed the problem.

The caps don't really have any function on the top side, but I like the fact that they make the plugs a little less noticable.

jcburn · #**109** 05-29-2012, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Agreed, with an emphasis on "when overdone", i.e. the trick is to find the sweet spot where your signal is under control and optimized, but not lifeless or dull.

Thankyou to Bongo and Bfunk, and sorry to derail thread.
Bongo - I read your tutorial on compressors and I think that may be my next purchase - I'm liking the look of the new MXR M87 for all it's options(great information BTW - it definitely helped me understand the whole concept of compression). I always had the notion that a compressor was just going to squash my sound and tone but obviously if used correctly thats not the case.
To let this thread get back on topic would you mind in the future the odd PM if I have some things to ask about compression?

bongomania · #**110** 05-29-2012, 10:37 PM

Certainly.

jcburn · #**111** 05-30-2012, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Certainly.

Thankyou sir...now back on topic...

Niff · #**112** 06-28-2012, 04:07 PM

Hey fellas. I am about to come into some money from gear sales, and the MTI has caught my eye.

I play a Rick 4001 w/ chrome flats through a vintage solid state head (a Holden DC208 for you New Zealanders/Australians out there) into an Orange OBC410 I am about to disconnect the horn on (because really, who needs 3khz+?)

I am not the softest player in the world, and I can occasionally mis-thwack a string and get that dreaded nasty flabby thump that does not sound amazing. This has been no issue through other amps, specifically all-tube heads, but this solid state head has a lot of that subsonic vibe going on and drives my speakers like mad under some heavy playing. I am looking to put some money into pedals that can save my speakers and the soundguy's patience.

Would you talkbass denizens recommend this, especially those with similar rigs/gear/playing style?

bassbrad · #**113** 06-28-2012, 04:49 PM

YES! The mThump will save your speakers and amplifier plus it's a pretty nice buffer amp. You will not "hear" any difference other than no more flabby thump.

I play in a studio with big speakers that occasionally used to jump especially with dead notes, the mThump has done away with that and the owner/engineer insists i bring it to every session.

Niff · #**114** 06-28-2012, 04:55 PM

Thanks for the recommendation!

The buffer thing could be useful too. I don't run a large series of effects any more - in fact, just a tuner and a separate footswitch for my amps 'clean'/blended fuzz channels - but that will be handy if I accidentally stumble back on the path of 10+ pedals on my pedalboard. My wallet hopes this never happens again.

Then again, that Rothwell Love Squeeze looks great for limiting any trebly peaks.. and I've always had a soft spot for innovative fuzz pedals like the SS/BS TAFM..

Oh no. Effects forum, you've done it again.

caeman · #**115** 06-28-2012, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niff

Oh no. Effects forum, you've done it again.

You're welcome.

And don't forget flanger! It works with so many music genres.

Niff · #**116** 06-28-2012, 08:27 PM

Fortunately, I have a MIJ Boss BF-2 lying around getting dusty. I know I should never sell it, because one day I'll want a flanger, and I'll simply buy that exact model again.

On topic though - what's the usual time for getting one made after an order? I am sold. I am selling a 95 Ibanez ATK 300 in order to get some pedals to rival the sound quality of the rest of my rig!

nomadhang · #**117** 02-07-2013, 03:23 AM

what kind of power will work with the micro thumpinator? will my skb stage 5 power it? I have 9v up to 18v but only 100ma....on the website it says the MT takes "Power supply: 7-10V, 2.1mm centre negative, regulated (60mA). It can be daisy chained." I'm not sure what it all means but I know it's important

**mjac28** · #**118** 02-07-2013, 04:12 AM

You're fine unless you're trying to power twenty pedals it's a great little device.

Mattbass97 · #**119** 02-09-2013, 09:28 AM

At band practice today I kicked on my bass big muff deluxe without the crossover engaged and played away but played slightly harder and had my speaker fart out until I killed the note,I notice this with a few pedals at loud volume and normal bass-amp situations Could the microthumpinator help reduce the crazy lows that are making my amp fart out?

bassbrad · #**120** 02-09-2013, 09:53 AM

It Depends, but you first have to understand the reason for the fart out. Amplifiers and speakers are designed to work within particular parameters, when pushed beyond those limits it can cause the amplifier to distort as it attempts to recreate the incoming signal when that distortion reaches your speaker it then tries to use that signal, what is not used or is beyond it's limit gets turned into heat and that heat causes speaker fatigue and failure sometimes percieved as that fart out.
Cranking your BMP or bass control on bass or amp makes a bad situation even worse.

The MThump can help to cut off some of those subharmonic lows but it will not make your amp more robust.

If you have a loop on your amp that is between the preamp and power section then a mThump there may possible help some.