Arranging My "Electronica" Board - Suggestions?

csala · #1 04-03-2010, 03:13 PM

Ok so here's what I have on my current board:

Guyatone SV2 - (Controls attack/release) --->
EBS Octabass (Octave divider) --->
4ms Nocto Loco (Gated octave/fuzz) --->
Custom Brassmaster fuzz clone w/ starve and gate --->
Custom Low Pass Filter --->
Empress Tremolo --->
Subdecay Quasar (Phaser) --->
Robot Factory Meatwad (Envelope filter) --->
Boomstick Bottom Feeder (Envelope filter) --->
Akai Headrush (Delay/looper)

This is my "dubstep" rig, as I'm doing a project which requires those sounds. Yes, I'm also in the market for a chorus.

I'm pretty good on the front end, the octaver before the fuzz, etc, but it's the modulation effects that concern me. Is the order appropriate, or should I move the LPF to the end, move a filter around, etc?

Through trial and error, it sounds pretty good, but I want to make sure I'm not making any obvious mistakes which would compromise my sound. Any suggestions from you guys with more experience in setting up boards with similar effects would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Kwesi · #2 04-03-2010, 03:48 PM

I think the way you have it set up now is perfect. No harm in messing with it though.

faceinbass · #3 04-03-2010, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csala

Ok so here's what I have on my current board:

Guyatone SV2 - (Controls attack/release) --->
EBS Octabass (Octave divider) --->
4ms Nocto Loco (Gated octave/fuzz) --->
Custom Brassmaster fuzz clone w/ starve and gate --->
Custom Low Pass Filter --->
Empress Tremolo --->
Subdecay Quasar (Phaser) --->
Robot Factory Meatwad (Envelope filter) --->
Boomstick Bottom Feeder (Envelope filter) --->
Akai Headrush (Delay/looper)

Any suggestions from you guys with more experience in setting up boards with similar effects would be appreciated.

Thanks!

With all that custom and high dollar pedal-smack you might have trouble finding members who have the experience you are looking for.

not helpful, I know.

RickenBoogie · #4 04-03-2010, 04:18 PM

If it sounds good to you, it IS good. Besides, if you're like me at all, you're not running several modulation fx at the same time, (or, are you?) Sounds to me like you've got it well under control. I like my filters directly after the last dirt pedal, and my modulation actually *after* my delay, (tuner, comp, eq, octave, synth, fuzz, o/d, filters, delay, flanger, chorus).

Shroom · #5 04-03-2010, 07:48 PM

I'd like to hear some samples

fightthepower · #6 04-03-2010, 10:12 PM

You have enough good gear to make plenty cool sounds (assuming you forgot to list the expression pedal

), including some of the bass sounds heard in my favorite style of dubstep, but if you're going for the more mainstream 'wobble' stuff, then you're sorely lacking a controller imo.

If you could post some examples of the specific types of tones you're looking to achieve, it would be easier to make suggestions.

csala · #7 04-04-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

I like my filters directly after the last dirt pedal, and my modulation actually *after* my delay, (tuner, comp, eq, octave, synth, fuzz, o/d, filters, delay, flanger, chorus).

Hmmm... what are the benefits of putting modulation after delay?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fightthepower

You have enough good gear to make plenty cool sounds (assuming you forgot to list the expression pedal

), including some of the bass sounds heard in my favorite style of dubstep, but if you're going for the more mainstream 'wobble' stuff, then you're sorely lacking a controller imo.

If you could post some examples of the specific types of tones you're looking to achieve, it would be easier to make suggestions.

Yeah, there are two exp pedals, one for the LPF and one for the Meatwad.

Can you expand on why I would need a controller?

Caspa is probably a good example of the tones I'm going for.

RickenBoogie · #8 04-04-2010, 11:12 AM

[quote=csala;8939520]Hmmm... what are the benefits of putting modulation after delay?

Hate to be captain obvious, but the advantage is that my delays are modulated, rather than delaying my modulated signal. It's not a "one or the other" is right, but what's right for you.

Deluge Of Sound · #9 04-04-2010, 12:35 PM

Related note--Digital Mystikz 3x12" LP is due for release in about a month!!!

That rig looks drool inducing on paper, by the way.

bigblondeafro87 · #10 04-04-2010, 04:35 PM

Do you have clips? I has curious!

csala · #11 04-05-2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Hate to be captain obvious, but the advantage is that my delays are modulated, rather than delaying my modulated signal. It's not a "one or the other" is right, but what's right for you.

Gotcha

I tend to be overly analytical when it comes to this stuff.

fightthepower · #12 04-05-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csala

Yeah, there are two exp pedals, one for the LPF and one for the Meatwad.

Can you expand on why I would need a controller?

Caspa is probably a good example of the tones I'm going for.

If you're going for lots of wobbly bass, you'll probably want a means of controlling your filters. With practice an expression pedal alone can be quite effective, but for the quick changes in synced subdivisions you would need a controller that can be tap tempo'd or MIDI synced to the beat.

If you're not going for the wobblies full-tilt, an expression pedal for the majority of the filter movement, using the empress in place of the filter movement (especially with its tap-tempo, maybe with a bit of quick envelope following a choppy trem) and working the Nocto in (i imagine it would be tough to sync it up) could be quite effective. Depends on what you're going for.

iamdenialNJ · #13 04-06-2010, 12:08 AM

Pics!

rnilson · #14 04-06-2010, 06:53 AM

You might consider some type of true waveform pedal...Moog freqbox.

csala · #15 04-07-2010, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fightthepower

If you're going for lots of wobbly bass, you'll probably want a means of controlling your filters. With practice an expression pedal alone can be quite effective, but for the quick changes in synced subdivisions you would need a controller that can be tap tempo'd or MIDI synced to the beat.

If you're not going for the wobblies full-tilt, an expression pedal for the majority of the filter movement, using the empress in place of the filter movement (especially with its tap-tempo, maybe with a bit of quick envelope following a choppy trem) and working the Nocto in (i imagine it would be tough to sync it up) could be quite effective. Depends on what you're going for.

Awesome. Thanks for the info. Just need to let it sink in

I'm going to move my SV2 after the fuzz to get some nice synthy swells. I'm also going to move my delay up in the chain a bit, before the modulation pedals. More tweaks to come.

Are you guys aware of a "cheap" switching system, ala Bradshaw, so I can turn more than one pedal on at a time?

milothefultz · #16 04-13-2010, 03:44 PM

http://www.loop-master.com/

THis is what I'd recommend for effect loops. My friend has used his gear for years and it works beautifully and looks great, too.

csala · #17 04-17-2010, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamdenialNJ

Pics!

Finally snapped a pic yesterday...

megadan · #18 04-19-2010, 07:51 AM

The only change I would make is to have a filter at the beginning and at the end. But that's just an idea, maybe that doesn't work in practice for your sound.
I would put the phaser before the trem to get a cleaner trem sound, but again that might actually work against what you're trying to do, I don't know.