Chorus before or after overdrive? Other effect order opinions...

[DaveAceofBass]

Hey guys, I've just gotten a few new effects, and I'm trying to set up my board just right. My current order is going to be (if I can fit them all on the pedal board):

Bass--> Korg DT-1 tuner--> EHX Bass Micro-Synth--> MXR M-188 Bass Auto Q--> Demeter Compulator--> EBS Octabass--> Analog Man Clone Chorus--> Fulltone Bass Drive

Do you think I should put the Bass Drive in front of or after the Chorus? Also, I might later on add in an Emma Discombobulator--so where should that go?

I might get one of those looper pedals to bypass the Micro Synth. It's not true bypass, and I think it might be a tone sucker. Any opinions there? BTW, the EHX sounds killer when placed before an MXR M-188. You can get some crazy tones out of that setup... The compressor definitely should come after the filter to keep the peaks from clipping the amp. The Octabass likes a compressed signal for better tracking, so that comes after the Compulator.

I'm thinking the Chorus should come before the Overdrive because I think the chorus won't do as well with an overdriven signal, but the overdrive shouldn't have an issue with the chorused signal.

If I do get the Emma later on, maybe it will make more sense to get the looper at that time. Then I can bypass the EHX and the MXR, and put the Emma on the other part of the loop. Any suggestions?

My effect order opinions are usually in this order:

Bass--> EQ/Preamp DI (if not an active bass)--> Tuner--> Fuzz or Synth--> Envelope Filter or Auto Wah--> Compressor--> Octaver--> Chorus--> Overdrive--> Amp

Do you think this sounds good or not?

[T. B. Player]

Originally Posted by DaveAceofBass

My effect order opinions are usually in this order:

Bass-->EQ/Preamp DI (if not an active bass)-->Tuner-->Fuzz or Synth-->Envelope Filter or Auto Wah-->Compressor-->Octaver-->Chorus-->Overdrive-->Amp

Do you think this sounds good or not?

Not - especially if they're all on at the same time. Every box degrades the signal just a little...compressor + fuzz + overdrive is a little "over the top" IMHO. I like a compressor & a chorus, and that's about it...but that's me....

[DaveAceofBass]

Originally Posted by T. B. Player

Not - especially if they're all on at the same time. Every box degrades the signal just a little...compressor + fuzz + overdrive is a little "over the top" IMHO. I like a compressor & a chorus, and that's about it...but that's me....

I didn't mean on all at the same time. If you had all of the above categories covered on a pedalboard, then you could combine specific sequences of pedals.

For example, Fuzz + Envelope Filter for Synthy sounds, or try my favorite combo of Synth + Auto Wah.

You can follow the Auto Wah with the Overdrive for a different sound.

Compress the filter to avoid peaks....and use the compressor with the octaver to smooth out tracking. Use the the chorus with the octaver if you want, or follow that with the overdrive.

It's not good to have all the effects on, but my question should have been:
"What is the the most practical setup to have when you have pedals that fit into every category of effect?"

[Nils]

Octabass before Compulator for tracking reasons and chorus after drive for awesome sound reasons.

[fishtx]

Originally Posted by Nils

Octabass before Compulator for tracking reasons and chorus after drive for awesome sound reasons.

+1

[zippydog]

Originally Posted by Nils
Octabass before Compulator for tracking reasons and chorus after drive for awesome sound reasons.

+2

[DaveAceofBass]

Originally Posted by Nils

Octabass before Compulator for tracking reasons and chorus after drive for awesome sound reasons.

The Octabass manual states that compression should come first to help with tracking.

You're right about the chorus after the overdrive. I tried it last night, and finally got my board exactly the way I like it. I'll post some pics:

[fishtx]

interesting...

[sikamikanico]

Well, an octaver likes a clean signal, so you don't use it while other effects (before it) are on, right? in that case, your chain makes sense... (+ you also have the BMS and its octave section)

with the chorus and OD, try what you like best... when I was playing my practice amp a lot (solidstate), I had the chorus before the OD to get some sounds, but with my big Ashdown, I go OD -> Chorus -> Ashdown (amp OD) and get a wide variety of sounds...

[assboglin]

I prefer overdrive before chorus.

But I would also recommend trying your Octaver in front of your Envelope Filter (Bass Auto Q).

[JoshC]

I can only comment on what I have, but I enjoy chorus after distortion, and wouldn`t even think of putting filter before distortion.

[DaveAceofBass]

Originally Posted by sikamikanico

Well, an octaver likes a clean signal, so you don't use it while other effects (before it) are on, right? in that case, your chain makes sense... (+ you also have the BMS and its octave section)

with the chorus and OD, try what you like best... when I was playing my practice amp a lot (solidstate), I had the chorus before the OD to get some sounds, but with my big Ashdown, I go OD -> Chorus -> Ashdown (amp OD) and get a wide variety of sounds...

Right, the Octaver never has effects on before it except the Compressor. The Micro Bass Synth has some insane sounds when it goes into the MXR Auto Q, but Compressor has to come after to tame the peaks of the envelope, and to allow sensitivity to the Auto Q when it's used by itself without the Synth. I tried the Overdrive before and after the Chorus, before really sounded better.

[JanusZarate]

Targeting the OP directly: The BMS is indeed a tone sucker. However, the newer ones have 3PDT switches installed... it'd be FAR cheaper to just mod it for true bypass. It's only a matter of a little rewiring at the switch and jacks.

As for the chorus... try it both ways. There are some cool tones to be had with OD/distortion after chorus (case in point: Death From Above 1979). Generally, chorus after OD/distortion is preferred, though.

[Joe P]

Originally Posted by assboglin

I prefer overdrive before chorus.

I prefer chorus before DISTORTION -- but it's AFTER the overdrive...

..Wait-a-sec: don't you have any capablilty for clean-blend around the whole works? I find great value in that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My setup goes bass into NS-2 remote-sense expander; NS-2 send to custom growl processor (more on that in the near future - I've been working on it now for many months); growlbox to LS-2 Line switcher input.

LS-2 loop-A contains (in order) CS-3 compressor, OC-3 octaver; returns to LS-2 (loop-A).

LS-2 loop-B contains Diesel Dawg overdrive, CEB-3 vib/chorus, ODB-3 distortion, MXR flanger (sometimes - I'm still thinking about that MXR); returns to loop-B return.

LS-2 output to Aphex Bass Xciter to NS-2 return (although I miss having the Xciter immediately before the distortion - I'm kinda still thinking about that too).

NS-2 output to RC-20 phrase sampler.

Sampler to amp.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joe