Best snyth pedal?

Raccio14 · #1 10-03-2010, 03:05 PM

I'm looking to get a synth pedal for my bass, and so far have been looking in particular at the EHX Micro-synth and the Markbass SuperSynth; anyone wanna let me know how they stack up against each other?

Additionally, if you think that neither of those are the best choice, I'm open to different suggestions. I prefer analog stomp-boxes and my max budget is $300, so don't go crazy

additional thoughts: The EHX seems to be 'more analog' than the markbass, as the markbass almost seems like a pseudo multi-effects pedal due to its program-ability. Am I wrong?
I'm also not completely grasping why someone said the markbass features tracking. Couldn't it just be a filter, versus tracker? Is this how the EHX is?

Gah.... i'm so confused...

Jacob J · #2 10-03-2010, 03:52 PM

I think that this is quite common question here but I´ve never answered any so I´m gonna do this one.

So...I had an old 18V EHX Bass Micro Synth. It´s completely analog pedal, but this has one big disadvantage. It´s non-programmable, so in live situation it´s hard to use more sounds, and also I think it´s not true bypass. But it sounds great and it is not so expensive.

Super Synth is digital (but I don´t see it as a disadvantage) and more expensive (at least here in Europe) than BMS, but also has more features worth the money. The reasons why I would go for MarkBass is firstly that it has presets and secondly it has more comlex parameter setting. While with BMS you have to work with what you´ve got onboard, with MarkBass soft (free download on MB site) you can set and store parameters you can find on actual synth...It is true bypass and it also has stereo output.

So while BMS is still great analog bass synth pedal, development goes on and for me MarkBass SuperSynth is the best bass synth out there so far (I play electropop kind of music).

derrico1 · #3 10-03-2010, 04:08 PM

I have both. For retro-funk and plain nastiness, I prefer the BMS. It causes widespread dancing.

For more straight (think dance pop) synth, the Mark Bass has the edge. For looping and layering, IME the MB also has the edge, both for programmable presets and for the wider palette of sounds that are quickly available.

Raccio14 · #4 10-03-2010, 06:02 PM

hmmmm.. wouldn't digital give a lower quality of sound, as well as having to 'track' the notes rather than just apply filter? It almost seems like the analog is the better thing, no?

Richard G · #5 10-03-2010, 06:09 PM

i own the markabass synth pedal its pretty nice the tracking is not bad but i wish it was a little better on the tracking...i have been looking into the ehx bms which is next on my list.....i own the pog micro its cool toy too a little limited nice octave generator i like to play the "here comes the bride" song with it!

Grimoire · #6 10-04-2010, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard G

i own the markabass synth pedal its pretty nice the tracking is not bad but i wish it was a little better on the tracking...i have been looking into the ehx bms which is next on my list.....i own the pog micro its cool toy too a little limited nice octave generator i like to play the "here comes the bride" song with it!

What's wrong with the Markbass tracking? It's second only to the G5 in my experience, and easily the best bass synth pedal I have come across.

Richard G · #7 10-04-2010, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimoire

What's wrong with the Markbass tracking? It's second only to the G5 in my experience, and easily the best bass synth pedal I have come across.

like i said the tracking is not too bad at all, i just get picky sometimes .....have you tried the ehx synth...or the moogs?..just curious as a comparison...

Grimoire · #8 10-04-2010, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard G

like i said the tracking is not too bad at all, i just get picky sometimes .....have you tried the ehx synth...or the moogs?..just curious as a comparison...

I haven't tried an XO ehx, but I used to own an old one. Good unit, but doesn't play too well with active basses, and no presets is no good for me. What do you mean by moogs? I have a Freqbox, and it's tracking is fine, but then it doesn't exactly 'track' the note in the same way, and by itself wouldn't be a very good choice for synth sounds. I have tried and owned most bass synth pedals, and so far the Markbass is the most versatile and useful.

Raccio14 · #9 10-04-2010, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimoire

I haven't tried an XO ehx, but I used to own an old one. Good unit, but doesn't play too well with active basses, and no presets is no good for me. What do you mean by moogs? I have a Freqbox, and it's tracking is fine, but then it doesn't exactly 'track' the note in the same way, and by itself wouldn't be a very good choice for synth sounds. I have tried and owned most bass synth pedals, and so far the Markbass is the most versatile and useful.

Gah, i'm really confused now. Care to give me a direct side-by-side comparison of the markbass and the EHX?

cybersnyder · #10 10-04-2010, 08:01 AM

What about the M9? A lot of synth options now and if they would add the bass synth from the Low Down series it would make it even more killer.

Just a thought. I tried the Markbass and wasn't impressed with the octave. The synth was nice but I hated that you had to hook up your laptop to do any deep editing.

No experience with the EHX.

Grimoire · #11 10-04-2010, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccio14

Gah, i'm really confused now. Care to give me a direct side-by-side comparison of the markbass and the EHX?

It's been a long time since I used the ehx, so I can't really go into much detail about it. It is analog, if that makes a difference to you. You can't save presets, and it's not great with active basses. It can get some really big tones, but as I said, I haven't used the newer XO version.
The Markbass is a digital synth with three oscillators and a host of parameters that can be edited with the software. You can store nine presets, and three octave presets. It's very versatile, you can get a whole range of sounds out of it, from 70's-ish filter moog style filter sweeps, to dancey lead synth sounds. Great unit, I would recommend it.

Will006 · #12 10-04-2010, 09:29 AM

i had the same problem as you
i ended up with a Moogerfooger low pass filter
the sounds is nothing short of amazing
I have a fender squier through a solid state krueger/acoustic B200(nothing special) but it creates beautiful sounds

from the youtube demo's i have seen nothing can emulate that same sound... except for an actual moog synth

but the effect takes some time to get use to
and you can't unlock full potential until you get the expression pedal... an octave pedal with it also does wonders

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYQrW_gWTpg
on bass i have other videos with keys and ukulele

Grimoire · #13 10-04-2010, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will006

i had the same problem as you
i ended up with a Moogerfooger low pass filter
the sounds is nothing short of amazing
I have a fender squier through a solid state krueger/acoustic B200(nothing special) but it creates beautiful sounds

from the youtube demo's i have seen nothing can emulate that same sound... except for an actual moog synth

but the effect takes some time to get use to
and you can't unlock full potential until you get the expression pedal... an octave pedal with it also does wonders

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYQrW_gWTpg
on bass i have other videos with keys and ukulele

Running the Markbass into the MF-101 is superb.

Raccio14 · #14 10-04-2010, 04:39 PM

All still very confusing. Might I add that I already own the EHX Enigma:QBalls, and am quite happy with it, so an envelope filter is not necessarily what I'm looking for.

Now that you've mentioned Moog though, the 103 phaser seems quite interesting. Any opinions on how that stacks up against the aforementioned competition?

Will006 · #15 10-04-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimoire

Running the Markbass into the MF-101 is superb.

ahhhhhhh i have to try that someday

and to the OP a phaser is not specifically synthy
but i suppose you could use it with the envelope filter

Richard G · #16 10-04-2010, 06:42 PM

i use my bass wah with my MB supersyth kinda cool ..the wah also sounds good with my pog i also gotta back off on my compression when using them.

Raccio14 · #17 10-04-2010, 06:48 PM

GAH i have no clue what I want now. I came into the thread with two pedals that I was debating between, and now there are two more added to the list; the MF-101 and 103!

Some fat lot of help you are!

Grimoire · #18 10-05-2010, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccio14

GAH i have no clue what I want now. I came into the thread with two pedals that I was debating between, and now there are two more added to the list; the MF-101 and 103!

Some fat lot of help you are!

This is the effects forum, you wont get too many 'straight' answers...

The moog lpf isn't really a synth, it's, well, a filter. You can get some synth sounds out of it, but it works best in conjunction with other pedals (octave, fuzz etc). That's another, more complicated and costly route to get synth sounds. The Markbass is a simple, affordable, and versatile option.

khabalah · #19 10-05-2010, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccio14

GAH i have no clue what I want now. I came into the thread with two pedals that I was debating between, and now there are two more added to the list; the MF-101 and 103!

Some fat lot of help you are!

this probably isnt going to help matters either but an MF101 & MF103 together is a union blessed in heaven

add a CP-251 to the equation with half a dozen TRS cables and things get REALLY interesting

khabalah · #20 10-05-2010, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimoire

This is the effects forum, you wont get too many 'straight' answers...

The moog lpf isn't really a synth, it's, well, a filter. You can get some synth sounds out of it, but it works best in conjunction with other pedals (octave, fuzz etc). That's another, more complicated and costly route to get synth sounds. The Markbass is a simple, affordable, and versatile option.

agree totally..
the synth sounds you can get running octave/gated fuzz into an MF101 are truly mouthwatering, but certainly not the cheapest option...