Boss bass Synth SYB-5 digital?

[Marill]

I'm quite confused... some people claim it's a analog pedal, but I see it touting "DSP" features on the boss website. I take it to mean Digital Signal Processing, or maybe I'm wrong.

If the pedal is digital, does anyone knows what's the sampling rate and the bit-depth that it processes?

thanks

[phat daddy]

I have an SYB-3, which is the pedal the SYB-5 is modelled after, and I know my pedal is analog simply by the way it processes sounds. There may be some digital processing, but there's not in any of the settings I use. I actually use this pedal to make very lo-fi vintagy sounding sine waves and the sound is definatly not digitally processed.

[bongomania]

The SYB-5 is very definitely digital, you have the correct interpretation of DSP. I don't know the processing specs though.

[niftydog]

Originally Posted by Marill

...some people claim it's a analog pedal

Yeah, and some people think Aliens rule the planet...




























Ooops... I've said too much!

[B.C.]

Originally Posted by niftydog

Yeah, and some people think Aliens rule the planet...




























Ooops... I've said too much!

LOL!

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by phat daddy

I have an SYB-3, which is the pedal the SYB-5 is modelled after, and I know my pedal is analog simply by the way it processes sounds. There may be some digital processing, but there's not in any of the settings I use.

I guess you must not be using it, then.

Straight from the SYB-3 manual:

A/D Conversion: 19-bit AF Method
D/A Conversion: 16-bit Linear

It also says it creates sounds based on internal sampling and pitch detection, and lists a pitch detection range. It's digital, all right, from the moment your signal hits the input processor.

I've used digital synth pedals that sounded amazingly organic, so I wouldn't trust the sound as an indication of whether something is digital or analog. With that being said, I have never actually used an SYB-3 or SYB-5... and I probably should fire those up just for fun and review purposes.

Back to the OP... the SYB-5 manual doesn't specify that sort of information like the SYB-3's did, but one could probably assume it's 24-bit. That's the standard seen on most modern pedals, including most of Digitech's pedals.

[Moe45673]

despite the higher bitrate, I still hear that the SYB-3 is better from most sources.

I also hear the digitech bass synth wah is the best synth in that price point, though the SYB-3/5 does one effect pretty well that the digitech does not do

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by Moe45673

despite the higher bitrate, I still hear that the SYB-3 is better from most sources.

Higher bitrate does not equal better pedal, after all.

My favorite example is with the Boss PS-3 and PS-5. The PS-3 is simply a better pedal because of its unique features and options, even with lower-bitrate converters. The PS-5 carries over only a few of the PS-3's great features...

[bongomania]

And my very favorite digital delays are 12-bit. It's true!

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by bongomania

And my very favorite digital delays are 12-bit. It's true!

You're a traitor to the audiophile community. 12-bit converters? Bah! You probably love Windows 3.1, too...

[Moe45673]

I don't think the PS-3 is a better pedal, just different. You can certainly get some wild sounds and effects out of it.

I do, however, think the PS-5 is, overall, a better pedal than any of the Digitech Whammys for a number of reasons (small real estate, uses standard PSU, sounds better than the WH-4 but not WH-1, etc). The T. Arm function rocks, and the detune setting is beautiful in stereo.

Each has their strengths and weaknesses. The PS-3 would never get any use if I had it, as it does not fit my needs. The PS-5 is fun for, for example, radiohead type sounds which it pulls off effortlessly (and without an exp pedal!)

[B.C.]

Originally Posted by Moe45673

I also hear the digitech bass synth wah is the best synth in that price point, though the SYB-3/5 does one effect pretty well that the digitech does not do

IMHO and IME, I like my SYB-3 much much better than the digitech. Its been a while since I've tried it, but the SYB-3 is still on my board. I like the sounds of the synth on the boss more.

[B.C.]

Originally Posted by Moe45673

I do, however, think the PS-5 is, overall, a better pedal than any of the Digitech Whammys for a number of reasons (small real estate, uses standard PSU, sounds better than the WH-4 but not WH-1, etc). The T. Arm function rocks, and the detune setting is beautiful in stereo.

+1

[Moe45673]

Oh, I forgot to add that you get way more than you pay for when buying a PS-5 in relation to a WH-4 or WH-1. Excellent bang for your buck, especially on the used market. This is a hard fact to argue, even if you're a WH-1 fan (as most pitch-shifting users are ). But of course, this is all my opinion and I welcome all discourse on the matter. I never cease to find it interesting

Anyhow, sorry for the thread derailment. I'd like to see an honest shootout (even if merely verbal) displayed here between the SYB-3, SYB-5, and Digitech Bass Synth Wah.

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by Moe45673

I don't think the PS-3 is a better pedal, just different. You can certainly get some wild sounds and effects out of it.

Oops...

I forgot to add "IMO" to that post of mine.

The PS-5 does sound great, but I'm into glitchy stuff. Which is why I now have a Whammy IV.

The PS-5 doesn't have what I'm looking for, despite what it IS loaded with... but that's what the rest of the pitch-shifter market is for.

[Marill]

thanks boo!

it's weird that the SYB-5 doesn't state sampling rate and bit-depth. I'm under the impression that all Boss pedals do state sampling rate and bit-depth if it's a digital pedal.

For example the RV-3 sampling rate is states as 32kHz.

I also think most modern pedals should be 24 bit-depth as well... well, hopefully so now, we left the sampling rate of the SYB-5 to figure out.

thanks again!