FX-32 DOD Meatbox Settings ?

[quadrogong]

Anybody using their DOD FX-32 for live or recording?
I'd love to hear some of your settings,
I like keeping the Meat( blend) fairly low,
otherwise it gets buzzy and loses the low end/fundamental ..

My settings change, I like to try setting it two ways,
One setting adds crazy low end, the low octave is more felt, not really heard,

Right now it's set at 9 12 2 4

The sample settings from the manual are:
12 2 2 12 ( "thick bass")
and
1 5 5 12 ("bass from hell")
I find adding more meat(blend) brings out that cool low octave, but it kills the lows, so I keep it low..
I change my settings a lot, I took the settings from the last time I used it,

Btw it sounds amazing on a Kala U-bass

Anyone else using this effect effectively who'd like to share their settings ?

[crapusername]

meat 10o/c
rump 2o/c
flank 3o/c
lbs max

[Jerry J]

I just absolutely love this pedal! My favorite settings are:

12/11/3.5/3.5

This is with an active bass (Sadowsky). It's kinda like an octaver with a touch of synth-ness that reminds me of my microPOG. It also sounds great before a phaser, too. I'm using the DOD Bass Phaser which is not a bad phaser at all.

I bought my second Meat Box today. The shop thought it was bad because they were sure the "LBS" knob was for overdrive. The pot is dirty so it only works in a few spots. I'll try cleaning first.

[bongomania]

As far as it "losing" low end, I'd bet the actual problem is that the speakers can't reproduce the low end it's putting out! The Meat Box is all about insane amounts of low end--but you need an amp/cab that can actually handle it.

[Jerry J]

Originally Posted by bongomania

As far as it "losing" low end, I'd bet the actual problem is that the speakers can't reproduce the low end it's putting out! The Meat Box is all about insane amounts of low end--but you need an amp/cab that can actually handle it.

Hey Cyrus! I got the Meat Box here in Portland today.

You are 100% correct about the really low stuff being out of the range of most bass cabinets.

I've found that if you don't drive the 30hz setting (Rump) that it doesn't seem to be that insane. I'm using my Mesa M6 into a Bergantino ae212 cabinet and find that it works great. But I haven't tried this in a band setting which might make me worry a bit about my speakers.

[bongomania]

Yeah, one time I killed an EA VL210 with a Meat Box.

This was years ago, before I learned basic things like "if it sounds like your speakers are about to poop the bed, they probably are".

[TheMutt]

I've owned three of these pedals in the past... Probably get a fourth in the future and just keep the dang thing and get it rehoused and upgraded, or find a clone or something.

I can't remember my exact settings that I used to use, but then again I never used the meatbox live. It just seemed too woofy and would drown out everyone else if not shoot sub bass into their mics. If someone has used one live or in recordings, I'd absolutely love to hear it.

[Jerry J]

"Poop the bed" is about it!

That is where the 30hz setting is the one to be careful of. Plus the blend setting used with discretion should help keep things safer. But I think that the pedal may be more of a novelty than practical. I love the graphics and the labeling. And it does sound really great in front of the phaser but not to great in front of my Bass BB. When I get more time I'll fool around with it in front of an env. filter or a Prometheus.

[quadrogong]

I find it distorts when I treat it like an octaver,
I keep the octave subliminal, but the low end thick.. It takes some tweaking,

i used it on a Ubass in Alvin Ailey theater recently, through a tiny line six combo, but with a great sound system,
the tiny speaker distorted, but my DI signal coming out the back, into the PA sounded amaaaazing. I felt it. Huge..and not distorted, I just stood near the wedges, not the amp.
it made the gig for me, I left it on for the last 4-5 songs.
Use it subtly.

I keep the blend low,
and the both eq's fairly low,

I feel it's important to test it,Before gigs. unless u are using the same rig all the time.. I set the EQ levels according to the speakers I'm using onstage.

I've found the thing is effective if u keep it under control.
Most distortion I'll get is from
Inadequate speakers or from being too heavy-handed w the controls. The lower EQ is mega-sub-low, most rigs will take very little of it.. But the PA handles it.
Oh, it kinda works well w compression.

The manual's "thick bass" setting's an ok place to start..12-2-2-12
I raise the overall volume level slightly, otherwise there's a volume drop,
I like to feel a little boost when it's on,
so I usually begin with 12-2-2-2

[iamdenialNJ]

What cabs are you guys using and are you guys using this in a band setting where it's cranked?

[quadrogong]

I use an Aguilar DB112 at home,

my last gig I used a tiny Line6 Lowdown 10" combo,
but with very pro PA support,
good wedges, etc.. It was a big theater.
The mix through the monitors and mains were HUGE!!!

I felt it.
When I slapped it on, I could feel the lows vibrating throughout the hall, it was like.."Oh. Now I get what all the hype's about" you feel it.
.And I was using an acoustic U-bass!

The tiny combo distorted, but I stepped away from it and used the wedges up front..
It was awesome, I just left it on all night.

At home, it does kinda sound like a buzzy octaver,you can't appreciate it without good PA support.
(And believe me, my DB112 gets some pretty deep,solid lows)
I truly believe this effect just can't be appreciated in a setting like home, rehearsal,or a music shop.

That's probably why some folks hate it, or don't "get" it.. The sub frequencies are too low, too much for most smaller speakers, if I crank it at home, it will distort.

Maybe if u have a huge rig,
like a 4x10 with an 18" under it,
Or two 4x10's with an 18"
An SVT..etc

[iamdenialNJ]

I see thanks for the response quadrogong. Yeah, I'm thinking about pushing a 410hlf with the meatbox but without PA support, in a medium loud band setting. Will the hlf be ok?

[quadrogong]

Heh heh, I had one of those,
Woohoo! That's a big boy!!

I'd say.. It'll be better to keep the lowest Frequency at a conservator level, man

Even w that..Refrigerator of a cab.
Start low and ease it up.

I had that cabinet, with another 4x10" on top( SWR goliath) AND an 18" big Ben under it all.. I had to stand in a chair to turn the SVT off!

I felt when i added an 18", it propelled me into wayyyy deeper bass zones,

The second four-ten cabs add volume and mids, the 18" added lows.

If u get a used Big Ben, add it to the
SVT-410HLF,
THEN U got something to push subs.

Otherwise, no. the 4x10 adds killer volume, mids and good lows,

but add a used Big Ben 18" to it?.
Then you'll smile knowingly,
as the ceiling rattles,
your fillings rattle in your teeth
and you stick your finger in your ear as your eardrum begins to vibrate
in a very dangerous, disturbing way.
Then u got it.

That was the best rig I ever had,
One day I'll recreate it,
Although, when I replaced my big HLF with a feather light Epifani UL-410, I felt it was even louder and cleaner, and lighter!
And one 4x10 is enough with a good
(SWR or Bag End) 18" subwoofer.

Use the mega-lows sparingly at rehearsal, and when u have a good sound system,at the gig, drop the subz and go crazy!

[Jerry J]

I just finished repairing the one that I recently picked up. It had a bad LBS pot.

I noticed that the one I just bought seems to be a bit bassier. Not nearly as good sounding as my first one but I will have to fool around with it a bit.

I also noticed that it sounds a lot better with a bright sounding bass. I was using my Sadowsky PJ5 and had the blend rolled to the P pickup and the VTC rolled off to about 50%. Once I rolled the blend to the J pickup is sounded much better.

Man, Quadrogong that sounds like you had one monster rig with all the 4x10s and the 18 plus the SVT. My back hurts just thinking about that. I've been on stages that would have collapsed with all that weight.

[quadrogong]

I was playing a tiny, acoustic Ubass at that gig!
When I felt that sub shaking the hall, I started strutting around, getting into it
like some kinda badass rock n roller!...that tiny little uke body looking all goofy like a toy?.. It must've looked funny.

My old rig?..
I took my SVT CL and 410HLF to only one gig, carried that 80 LB head down a small, narrow flight of stairs, huffing and puffing..tripping all over myself..
I said,"never again"

Shortly after that,
I traded the SVT in for a little Mark II And a 1x12..
and never looked back.

[iamdenialNJ]

How does that 1x12 hold up with the meatbox?

[quadrogong]

As I said
It's ok used sparingly
But u need a concert hall to really appreciate it