Effective Pedal For Ambient Sound-Scaping?

[*ToNeS*]

Hey chums,

I've been using multi-effects processors for years now, and have only just realised that I don't really like them. I've decided to scrap my long-running affair with Digitech and Boss units in favour of OLD-SCHOOL PEDAL FURY

So far I have amassed... a Hairy Balls fuzz. It's awesome, but I've run into a problem: how do I get the kind of huge-sounding, infinite-sustain ambient swells that seem to come stock with multi-effects units in a pedal? None of the ones I've looked at seem to really do anything like that.

[Jibudo]

Electro-Harmonix Freeze - I want one!

http://www.ehx.com/products/freeze

[*ToNeS*]

Originally Posted by Jibudo

Electro-Harmonix Freeze - I want one!

http://www.ehx.com/products/freeze

Cool (heh), but not quite what I'm after.

[tombaker]

analog delay maybe??

[Swift713]

volume pedal, octave, filter to taste, fuzz, delay

[Distant Cousin]

I use distortion/fuzz, delay and chorus. Lots of each, and loop loads of parts over each other.

[Jake of Bass]

You need to get a bunch of different effects together. It takes time and a lot of research and money but ultimately (IMO) the rewards are sweeter.

Most commonly people seem to use are fuzzes/overdrives/distortions, chorus/flangers, delays, synths, octavers... then you've got more unique ones like the Freeze, ring modulators... list goes on and on and on!

Check out some youtube vids for some pedals and look around on the forums. It'll give you a better idea what you may be looking for, and then post back when you have a more specific question in mind, like "pedal A vs. pedal B... opinions?" etc.

[Jake of Bass]

Here's a vid of the Freeze, it's pretty cool (heh) even if it is kinda an ad for EHX -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjFth1mg5Rc

[skulletwhip]

volume pedal, delay, reverb

[russellmania]

You might like a Line6 DL4 or EHX Memory Man with Hazarai.

[bigchiefbc]

To me, ambient soundscapes means reverb, delay, volume pedal or some sort of auto-volume swell pedal, and some sort of modulation (phaser, flanger, chorus, tremolo, vibrato)

[*ToNeS*]

This all seems like an awful lot of pedals to achieve something that seems pretty simple to me - on paper, at least. Surely someone somewhere out there has managed to put together a stomp box that just makes a big cinematic droning noise?

[Bob C]

Someone has to ask this question, so it might as well be me: Exactly what sound or effect are you wanting to achieve?

I know you said volume swell, but apparently you need to be more specific. And I'm sure a box that does just that probably does exist.

You mentioned that this feature is present on multi units you've used. Which units and what settings?

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by *ToNeS*

This all seems like an awful lot of pedals to achieve something that seems pretty simple to me - on paper, at least. Surely someone somewhere out there has managed to put together a stomp box that just makes a big cinematic droning noise?

You're going to have to be more specific about which particular effect you're talking about. It sounds kinda like you're talking about the "space station" noise. Is it kinda like this?

http://www.bassfxpedals.com/clips/ss-swell.mp3

This is me going through a few of the patches on the Digitech Space Station. Which is out of production and hard to come by. But they did take this one effect and make it part of the Digitech Expression Factory now.

[*ToNeS*]

This might do it. Anything similar to the Boss RE-20 Space Echo for bass? Or maybe it would work fine with bass?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xr9P4MSl80

[*ToNeS*]

Originally Posted by Bob C

Someone has to ask this question, so it might as well be me: Exactly what sound or effect are you wanting to achieve?

I know you said volume swell, but apparently you need to be more specific. And I'm sure a box that does just that probably does exist.

You mentioned that this feature is present on multi units you've used. Which units and what settings?

On the Digitech BP-200, it's called 'Strings'; on my big red Boss, I have no idea. That thing isn't very literate. It's actually quite similar to what bigchiefbc just posted, except the sound I'm using currently has infinite sustain and is - obviously - manipulated up and down by the unit's expression pedal.

[A440Hz]

Originally Posted by *ToNeS*

This all seems like an awful lot of pedals to achieve something that seems pretty simple to me - on paper, at least. Surely someone somewhere out there has managed to put together a stomp box that just makes a big cinematic droning noise?

Umm, a small radius bass with a bow? Or a normal bass with an EBow? Check out the song "Adhan" by Michael Manring. Two EBows at once.

I'd say EBow, then delay, reverb, maybe chorus. The EBow will give you not only controllable swells, but a lot of upper harmonics that sound fuzz-like. It also works with fuzz, but can give some real complexity that's different than picking or fingerstyle gives.

And, infinite sustain (infinite = life of 9V battery).

[Thunderscreech]

Schumann PLL

[*ToNeS*]

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

Schumann PLL

That thing is monstrous, both physically and sonically. I think I want one. Wow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xRbWmI9JOM

[BigOldHarry]

POG!