Chunk OS Track Sensitivity

Largedon · #1 01-26-2009, 12:45 PM

I had a quick question about setting the Track Sensitivity on my Chunk Octavius Squeezer.

The book doesn't give a lot of detail about this, just something about set for the output level of your bass. I've tried adjusting this sensitivity setting all over and can't really hear any discernable difference so I'm a little confused as to what it is actually doing.

Just guessing, I'm thinking it means the tracking sensitivity, ie how strong a note has to be to be tracked by the OS. I assume this helps remove overtones or the harmonic series. Therefore the tracking system of the OS doesn't jump around. So for the OS, a higher setting on the tracking sensitivity means the more likely the OS will "hear" the overtones and may try to track those causing it to lose tracking and generally sound like crap, but like I said I'm just theorizing and/or making stuff up

If someone could elaborate on this and explain the tracking sensitivity a little better I would appreciate it.

bassbmx · #2 01-26-2009, 12:56 PM

If it's set too low, the synthesised notes won't track. If it is set too high it tries to track every little sound that comes out of your bass and it endds up being a glitchy mess.

The tracking sens won't make any difference to patches that don't use a synthesised tone ie. fuzz into filter.

niftydog · #3 01-26-2009, 05:10 PM

That pretty much nailed it. Just select a patch with an octave applied and adjust the parameter - you should notice a marked difference in the tracking performance as you adjust it.

Grimoire · #4 01-28-2009, 07:04 AM

How is the tracking on the OS overall? Anyone using it with an 18v active? Seriously thinking about off-loading the Deep Impact and G5 and trying one of these. I'm sure it could do everything those two could, my only concern is the tracking...

Largedon · #5 01-28-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimoire

How is the tracking on the OS overall? Anyone using it with an 18v active? Seriously thinking about off-loading the Deep Impact and G5 and trying one of these. I'm sure it could do everything those two could, my only concern is the tracking...

I finally got my sensitivity settings correct and the tracking is very good. Kind of surprised me how low I had to set the sensitivity as my Warwick has always had a fairly low output level for an active bass (its on a 9V so I can't comment on 18V), but now its tracking like a dream. Doesn't seem to track as well on lower notes as my Boss OC2, but oh well, the OC2 is a great pedal. Now I just have to get better at programming this dang thing.

Grimoire · #6 01-28-2009, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Largedon

I finally got my sensitivity settings correct and the tracking is very good. Kind of surprised me how low I had to set the sensitivity as my Warwick has always had a fairly low output level for an active bass (its on a 9V so I can't comment on 18V), but now its tracking like a dream. Doesn't seem to track as well on lower notes as my Boss OC2, but oh well, the OC2 is a great pedal. Now I just have to get better at programming this dang thing.

How low is 'low'? I tune to A#, and both the G5 and Deep Impact handle that well...this is my concern, it looks a brilliant synth, but if it doesn't track consistently, it's a white elephant.

Grimoire · #7 01-29-2009, 03:05 AM

Anyone with any experience on this? I have the chance to buy one at a decent price, need some feedback.

GrammarCop · #8 01-29-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimoire

How is the tracking on the OS overall? Anyone using it with an 18v active? Seriously thinking about off-loading the Deep Impact and G5 and trying one of these. I'm sure it could do everything those two could, my only concern is the tracking...

Mate, I'm still getting the hang of my Squeezer, but I would NEVER off-load my Deep Impact for this thing. The two are chalk and cheese, and one will not replace the other!

The Squeezer is supposed to have the latest whiz-bang tracking system, but in my (limited) experience the tracking is rubbish compared to the Akai. It even makes the EBS Octabass' tracking look good. If I manage to tweak up a decent, useful synth sound I'll let you know!

Bass on!

niftydog · #9 01-30-2009, 12:31 AM

+1.

The OS is great, but it is fabulously difficult to program new patches, and delightfully impossible to adjust on the fly.

Octavious Squeezer = a DIY ACME Disintegrator gun.
Deep Impact = a board with a nail in it.

The Deep Impact is a sturdy board that is easy to drive nails into.

rottenramone · #10 01-30-2009, 12:58 AM

one problem that i face with my OS is that, over time, my envelope filter won't pick up the volume and i would have to pluck even harder.

but its all back to normal once i reset and reinstall the factory settings.

Grimoire · #11 01-30-2009, 03:22 AM

The OS seems to be a 'real' synth, that's what appeals to me. I like spending time working on sounds, and from what I've heard it can do the kinds of things I need...moogish sweeps and the like. I much prefer the G5 to the DI, and in all honesty, aside from the tracking, the DI is an unstable annoyance a lot of the time. That being said, it has some distinctive sounds I use a fair bit, even if it is limited. My interest in the OS is really based on size - I currently have both the DI and G5 on my board - having just the OS would create a lot of space. But if it doesn't track well, then I'll forget it, a pity as I want it to be successful, the feature set is astounding (but so is the price).
What I really need is to demo the OS, spend a few hours with it with my rig...but sadly that's just not going to happen. Spending that kind of dough on something untried is just not an option.

judas jedermann · #12 01-30-2009, 04:54 AM

Tracking is a bit problem and I hope they can improve it with firmware updates. Now it is really difficult to find reasonable tracking sensitivity with passive jazz bass. (P-bass it tracks somewhat better.) For example octaver starts to warble if I raise the value of tracking sensitivity, it is almost like octave down random arpeggiator. As I lower the value it tracks the attack correctly the synth sound becomes almost percussive and effect cuts out in a second or two. I think it got worse after latest update...

Largedon · #13 01-30-2009, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimoire

How low is 'low'? I tune to A#, and both the G5 and Deep Impact handle that well...this is my concern, it looks a brilliant synth, but if it doesn't track consistently, it's a white elephant.

It's not really so much low as in the note, but how low I had to set the sensitivity. I forget the exact range, but its from like -24 to +24 (I have no idea what scale it is). For my Warwick I got the best results at around -2, which is surprising because my Wick tends to have a lower output level than my other basses. For any other pedals (ie filters) I had to set them fairly high to get them to open correctly for the Wick.
As far as overall tracking, it seems to give out at around somewhere between an A to C on the A string. It tends to start jumping around or just doesn't sustain. My OC-2 pedal will track almost anything very cleanly.
I would also like to stress though that I am still very much in the learning curve phase of this pedal so please take that into consideration.

GrammarCop · #14 02-01-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Largedon

As far as overall tracking, it seems to give out at around somewhere between an A to C on the A string. It tends to start jumping around or just doesn't sustain.

When using an octave effect, if it tracks consistently down to A, I'm happy. Anything lower than that and the generated sub-octave is too low to hear.

Although when I'm playing synth notes at the same pitch, I want it to track right down to low E.
Akai Deep Impact: PASS.
Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer: FAIL.
Play an open E and you get a random arpeggio. Put the tracking sensitivity down and lose your sustain. Tough choice...