Deconstructing the BMS

[Mr. Pickles]

Deconstructing the EHX Bass Microsynth

I recently picked up a trapezoidal BMS in trade and used it for a few weeks in the studio and at band practice. Then I flipped it, partly because my band would “heckle” me whenever I used it (by spontaneously breaking into Tom Sawyer when I engaged the effect), and partly because the only sound I liked was the filter sweep (see first reason). I think that the BMS taken as a whole is more than merely the sum of its parts.

However, the individual parts were somewhat lacking, IMHO. This leads me to the conclusion that I could build a modular BMS mostly with pedals that I already own should I ever need to cop sounds from the BMS.

Basically, I’d like to break down each of the BMS’s functions and replace the respective function with a superior effect.

The BMS has sliders for the following:

Trigger

Sub Octave
Guitar
Octave (Up)
Squarewave

Attack Delay

Resonance
Start Freq
Stop Freq
Rate

For a sub octave, I prefer the OC-2. I like the sound and the tracking is superior.

To blend the guitar signal and the octaves, I can use the Barge VFB-2 or my LS-2.

I don’t have an octave up at the moment, but I might repurchase a Micro POG or Pollyanna for this purpose.

The squarewave is basically distortion, and I have a ton of dirt pedals to cover this task, (Messdrive, Supercollider, whatever).


Is the trigger a sensitivity control for the filter section? That would make sense.

The only component I think that I’m missing is something to cover the BMS’s automatic filter sweep. I have a Q-Tron and a 442 Red, but these are essentially autowahs and don’t sweep, per se… I’m assuming that a Moog LPF with an expression pedal could do this duty and do it well. The LPF even has a resonance control, IIRC. Is this correct?
Are there other options for a manually sweeping filter – wah pedals or effects with expression control?

Is my logic sound here? Suggestions?

[rratajski]

I don't know man...that squarewave doesn't sound like a typical distortion or muff-based fuzz. It really has its own flavor, especially when mixed with dry guitar, sub octave, and octave (in any combination)...
Why not get an XO version + another pedal (or maybe two)...?

[ScottB.]

I'd love to be able to have a pedal that does what the filter section of the BMS does, that would be so awesome

[SnakeAnthony]

It would suck to attempt to trigger an Octave or two, a distortion, and the LPF all in time for a specific passage before turning them all off again when the passage ends.

[Mr. Pickles]

Originally Posted by SnakeAnthony

It would suck to attempt to trigger an Octave or two, a distortion, and the LPF all in time for a specific passage before turning them all off again when the passage ends.

True.

I do use bypass loops to solve this issue, however. I also do a lot of studio work, so tap-dancing isn't an issue.

I belive there are benefits (for my goals) to going modular.

My biggest concern here is how to replicate the BMS's filter sweep. If I can pull this off with an LPF, I'd be happy.

[rratajski]

A loop switcher would be able to turn them all off.

Basically a pedalboard would be filled w/ a pedal that does only one section of what the BMS does + a loop switcher.

EDIT: I posted as you were replying to SnakeAnthony... If you're just doing studio, a pedalboard isn't soooo necessary, so I guess you'd be good to go. It would be nice to be able to get all of the pedals that you need/want for $275 (same price as the BMS XO).

[SnakeAnthony]

Originally Posted by rratajski

A loop switcher would be able to turn them all off.

Basically a pedalboard would be filled w/ a pedal that does only one section of what the BMS does + a loop switcher.

EDIT: I posted as you were replying to SnakeAnthony... If you're just doing studio, a pedalboard isn't soooo necessary, so I guess you'd be good to go. It would be nice to be able to get all of the pedals that you need/want for $275 (same price as the BMS XO).

Yeah, if studio work is the only or the main concern, then yeah, no real sweat.

But when playing live, even with the loop in mind, it is still difficult. At one point I was running an OC-2, a Q-Tron, and a LBM in a loop attempting to do what you are doing (in a more half-assed way), and it just frustrated me. Sometimes I wanted just one of the three after using the 'synth' setup, and that meant attempting to turn two off essentially at the same time. I eventually sold all those pedals because I have yet to join another band that would make use of that sound, but if I did, I would almost certainly skip straight to the BMS, with a separate fuzz and probably octave. Just my $.02.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by ScottB.

I'd love to be able to have a pedal that does what the filter section of the BMS does, that would be so awesome

This is the difficulty in my mind. All the other parts are easy to cop. The Moog LPF can't really do the job. It's great for synthy stuff (THE pedal for drum & bass synth sounds) but it behaves in a completely different way than the start & stop sliders of the BMS.

Originally Posted by SnakeAnthony

It would suck to attempt to trigger an Octave or two, a distortion, and the LPF all in time for a specific passage before turning them all off again when the passage ends.

You could always put the whole shebang-a-bang in a TBP loop so you could activate everything with one stomp. My board is set up that way, though actually for other reasons.

EDIT: I shouldn't start posting when I'm trying to do my work at the same time. I end up way behind the conversation.

As far as copping the BMS sound with other pedals - the OC-2, Brown Dog and 00Funk is as close as I've ever gotten. VERY similar sounds can be coaxed, though obviously I don't have anywhere near the control of the filter frequencies that the BMS provides.

[rratajski]

Two feet and good balance will still work to turn two on at the same time or one on/one off...
It's just when that pesky third pedal needs changing...haha

Even though I have a dual channel looper, I still find myself doing the Dave Knudson balancing act to switch pedals/loops on/off.

Pickles - what's your price range looking like? The Brown Dog alone is over $200... Are you trying to have each part of the BMS for any price or the cheapest price possible?

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pickles

Then I flipped it, partly because my band would “heckle” me whenever I used it (by spontaneously breaking into Tom Sawyer when I engaged the effect), and partly because the only sound I liked was the filter sweep (see first reason). I think that the BMS taken as a whole is more than merely the sum of its parts.

for narrow minded bandmates!!!

Sorry I got nothing constructive to add.



By the time your done you could probably spend your money on a Deep Impact,...or a gaggle of MoogerFoogers.

I'm surprised to hear that the OC-2 tracks better than the BMS.

[JMDT]

One thing you are forgetting is a slow gear or slow gear clone for the attack delay

[Mr. Pickles]

Live, I usually work with loop blocks: in other words, the intended effects are "Always On" in a loop. To activate, or bypass, I need only stomp once. I basically set up my board in advance of a gig based on necessity.


The Slow Gear is a great idea for implementing attack delay, and, as a matter of fact, that is my next BYOC build. My wife just found a toaster oven at a thrift store so that I can bake enamel, which was the only thing preventing me from placing my order.

I guess I was wrong in the assumption that the LPF could sweep like the BMS, which shoots my whole idea to sh!t
Is it really a unique effect, or does it have some historical precedent?

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by rratajski

I don't know man...that squarewave doesn't sound like a typical distortion or muff-based fuzz.

It does, and this was the first thing I missed when I got rid of mine. I play a bunch of other pedals trying to get a similar sound and finally settled on other stuff because pedals that could get me to that sound just weren't going to cut it for me. I still have some space on my board if I moved some stuff around, there may be another XO BMS in my future...

Originally Posted by rratajski

Even though I have a dual channel looper, I still find myself doing the Dave Knudson balancing act to switch pedals/loops on/off.

This has been my challenge lately as well. Gigs haven't been bad, but the space limitations in our practice room have had me almost falling down a few times haha.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pickles

I guess I was wrong in the assumption that the LPF could sweep like the BMS, which shoots my whole idea to sh!t
Is it really a unique effect, or does it have some historical precedent?

Well, the historical precedent is actual synthesizers, but as for another pedal with start and stop settings for a filter sweep, I can't think of one. Honestly, if someone built a pedal that JUST did that aspect of the BMS I would buy it.

[mikeboth]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pickles

The squarewave is basically distortion.

If you are happy to use a distortion pedal to approximate the BMS sound then that's cool, but in the BMS it IS a square-wave produced by rectification / shaping of the input signal. To my ears, this sounds different than a distortion pedal.

Is the trigger a sensitivity control for the filter section? That would make sense.

No - the trigger control determines at what playing volume the fixed-sweep filter is started / triggered. I'm not sure what single pedal would replace this. Qtrons etc work and sound very different.

[kevteop]

I suppose you'd need something to send an envelope signal to another filter (so you'd need a filter with an envelope in socket: Meatball or clone, Q-Tron+, Moog LPF, Agent 00Funk, etc.).

You'd need to be able to set min and max levels for that signal, and the rate at which it sweeps between them. The trigger slider would be harder to emulate.

You could maybe set this up using the Moog MP-201, but that's a lot more expensive than a BMS, and bigger too! Or maybe you could get a custom builder to make a box to do it? Could be worth emailing Robot Factory if you're serious about doing this.

The Chunk O.S. filter can be set up to sweep in this way (it has optional ADSR control) but again, much more expensive than a BMS.

I've said it before but the BMS really is great value.

Originally Posted by mikeboth

If you are happy to use a distortion pedal to approximate the BMS sound then that's cool, but in the BMS it IS a square-wave produced by rectification / shaping of the input signal. To my ears, this sounds different than a distortion pedal.

It doesn't sound like a square wave to me. It can even sound quite Muffy when soloed with the filter all the way open, you can get stray harmonics squealing and stuff.

[bigchiefbc]

Yeah, I don't know of any other single box that does exactly what the BMS filter does. The fact that the filter doesn't follow your envelope, instead it just sweeps a certain amount at a certain speed with every single trigger is so unique. Maybe you could do it with the ADSR functionality in the OS, I don't have one to try. But that's basically it. That's why its not going anywhere for me, probably ever. (unless I get a Little Phatty sometime (ehh, there's no smilie for rocking out on a keyboard)

EDIT: Damn it, didn't see kevteop's post right above me. So, yeah the OS can do it. That's basically it for pedals.

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

That's why its not going anywhere for me, probably ever.

I've got an O.S. and I'm still keeping my BMS. I tried for an evening to do "The" BMS sound on the O.S. - that quick, quacky down-sweep that everybody loves with the guitar slider on nil, and I couldn't make it sound as good as the BMS. Pretty full and nice and a bit quirky and appealing and so on, but not as sheer NEEOWW! as the BMS.

[OptimusPrime]

POG2 for both octave and attack control.

[sikamikanico]

and that Enigma Q balls seems to have the Start and Stop freq. option... might work in a similar fashion to the BMS

now that would be an expensive BMS-emulation