Best tracking synth for faster music?

grace & groove · #1 05-13-2008, 01:08 PM

In a rock band I used to be in, our setup was similar to the one in my thrash metal band. Two guitarists (one sung), me, and a drummer. In that band, I used a Boss SYB-3 to really make our sound heavy.

I'm now only in the thrash band, and I would like to use a synth in that band as well. I have two problems though. First, the SYB-3 belonged to one of the guitarists from that rock band and secondly it didn't track too great when I started playing faster. It would not make the cut at speeds that my thrash band is usually always over.

So with all this great technology today, please me tell me that a synth that will track my bass at those fast speeds. It does exist right?

Hookus · #2 05-13-2008, 06:27 PM

Speed really should not matter too much, any synth can track faster than you can play, really. What you need is really clean playing, and pay attention to muting technique. I've seen an SYB-3 track perfectly with a fast drum loop. Not many synths will track even mildly sloppy playing well.

markjazzbassist · #3 05-13-2008, 06:38 PM

the two best trackers i've played are the Korg G5 (not made anymore, scour eBay for one) and the Electro-Harmonix Bass Micro Synth.

kevteop · #4 05-13-2008, 07:05 PM

The BMS octave tracking is very good but I find the filter doesn't trigger very reliably on fast passages. It's almost like it needs a moment to reset before you can "Neeooww" again.

Unrepresented · #5 05-14-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

The BMS octave tracking is very good but I find the filter doesn't trigger very reliably on fast passages. It's almost like it needs a moment to reset before you can "Neeooww" again.

That can work both ways though, it can allow you to have a "glide" between notes which can be a cool effect on its own. Or you can get really good at muting a note after playing it. It's not easy or practical to do at thrash speeds but if you're willing to play eighth notes instead of sixteenths underneath the band you'll be able to get by.

TaySte_2000 · #6 05-14-2008, 09:25 AM

Something analog because it doesn't track, so look at bthe Subdecay Noise Box or the Sinister Analog Soul Provider depending which is the synthyest for your needs

fuNKmaster83 · #7 05-14-2008, 09:32 AM

buy a real synth not a pedal!!!

bassbmx · #8 05-14-2008, 06:55 PM

You'll most likely end up with something more versatile if you get several separate pedals for a 'jerry rig' synth. I've never played one but I've heard the Micro POG has excellent tracking even though it's digital.

Micro POG --> Qtron -->Blowtorch should give some good synth sounds minimal tracking issues. Swap out the Qtron and blowtorch for any good envelope filter and fuzz if you wanted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuNKmaster83

buy a real synth not a pedal!!!

+1 A Korg Microkorg, Micro-X or R3 won't cost you too much and if you can put the time in to relearn parts on a keyboard it'll most likely sound better in the long run.

Joe

markjazzbassist · #9 05-14-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

The BMS octave tracking is very good but I find the filter doesn't trigger very reliably on fast passages. It's almost like it needs a moment to reset before you can "Neeooww" again.

i didn't say it was perfect, i just said it's better than the other ones (besides the G5, that's the best IMO) out there.

niftydog · #10 05-14-2008, 08:10 PM

The beauty of the EH BMS is that you could theoretically modify the attack and decay because it's all analogue. This might make it better for faster playing.

Taylor Livingston · #11 05-14-2008, 10:14 PM

The Ibanez SB7 is a "synth" that doesn't track at all - it's a combination of filter and fuzz that creates some synth sounds. So it has no problem with fast and sloppy playing or chords. Whether the sound is right for you is a matter of taste, of course.

**DosiYanarchy** · #12 05-15-2008, 11:09 AM

i have the Ibanez SB7, and agree that while its not a synth, you can get distorted filter sounds that will track whatever you want to play, put it in a loop with an octaver (and maybe a chorus) and you're rockin.

i also have the XO Qtron+ and ive put a messdrive hybrid+, a boss Oc2 and a GLX Bass Chorus in its loop.
due to the fact that the OC2 will have the same tracking problems as any monophonic octaver,(more as in frequency range rather than speed, it seems to handle any tempo fine for me - the oc2 is analog, while the OC3 is digital, i think)it may put you off a little.
i used to use my MicroPog, and while the tracking is amazing its pretty digital sounding and i prefer the FAT oc2 octave sound.

the BMS essentially does the same thing as my setup (but is cheaper than my small 'synth' collective)

maybe try the BMS or the Ibanez, discover what sort of synth tone you're going for, whether it can be done with a distorted filter (like the ibanez) or whether its a square wave sound (the MXR blowtorch is my synth distortion that i use as a totally different synth-esque sound to the qtron setup), or maybe a keyboard-y octave sound (the Boss OC2/OC3 are pretty good for that)

if i were you, honestly id say get your hands on the ibanez and the Micropog (if u have access to one in a shop) and just link em up and hear it, the micropog does the one-up, one-down, and your regular tone, it'll track any note you play as well as chords.