how to achieve swelling effect?

tranceFusion · #1 10-09-2008, 01:03 PM

How do I get a swelling effect, such as in this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgDPkqiXrjc

('Climbing Up The Walls' by radiohead)

I'm not looking for the exact tone.. I just want to know what type of effect or filter produces the swelling.

Thanks!

fretlessman71 · #2 10-09-2008, 01:07 PM

A Boss Bass Synthesizer ought to do what you're asking.

T-bolt · #3 10-09-2008, 01:11 PM

I believe the original was done on a Novation Bass Station keyboard synth. I'd suggest the Electro-Harmonix Bass Micro Synth to achieve a similar slow filter sweep effect on bass guitar as its warmer sounding than most synth pedals.

tranceFusion · #4 10-09-2008, 01:12 PM

I figured a synth could do it but I wasn't sure which of the effects contained in a synth pedal would do the trick.. also it seemed like a synth was overkill for the one effect?

fretlessman71 · #5 10-09-2008, 01:15 PM

Not to me, it doesn't. It's a synth in the first place; it's actually prudent rather than overkill.

kevteop · #6 10-09-2008, 01:18 PM

Bass Micro Synth will just about do it, but the sweep is so slow it's at the very limit of the rate slider.

Yes I just had a go.

tranceFusion · #7 10-09-2008, 01:22 PM

I guess I don't have a grasp on what a synth is. I always thought them basically a multieffects box with unlimited blend potential.. you know, a fuzz, an octaver, envelope filter, etc. built into one box. I didn't realize that there was a specific effect called a "synthesizer".

Muusers · #8 10-09-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranceFusion

How do I get a swelling effect

uhm...

WarriorJoe7 · #9 10-09-2008, 01:27 PM

try looking up cream pie in google images with safesearch off... that'll give you a swell

JimmyM · #10 10-09-2008, 01:28 PM

I get a swell occasionally but a trip to the can takes care of that

tomhanzo · #11 10-09-2008, 01:29 PM

digitech bass synth wah. it does that exact thing

fretlessman71 · #12 10-09-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I get a swell occasionally but a trip to the can takes care of that

Thanks for playing Too Much Information - your parting gifts are backstage waiting for you.

tranceFusion · #13 10-09-2008, 01:31 PM

wow talkbass is getting dirrrttay..

looks like I can get a Novation Bass Station for cheaper than the EHX pedal haha..

T.O.Bass · #14 10-09-2008, 01:31 PM

That sounds EXACTLY like my Boss SYB-5.

That said, it's the only thing that p.o.s. can do well...

rasthedoctor · #15 10-09-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarriorJoe7

try looking up cream pie in google images with safesearch off... that'll give you a swell

Or reduce your swell, depending on your taste... (double whammy!)

RCCollins · #16 10-09-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranceFusion

I guess I don't have a grasp on what a synth is. I always thought them basically a multieffects box with unlimited blend potential.. you know, a fuzz, an octaver, envelope filter, etc. built into one box. I didn't realize that there was a specific effect called a "synthesizer".

Well there are various bass synthesizer pedals, but in fact, what they all do is emulate the sound of an actual sythesizer - the part you asked about is not a bass at all, but a bass part played on a synthesizer, an altogether different instrument. Sometimes they have a keyboard, but not always.

tranceFusion · #17 10-09-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

Well there are various bass synthesizer pedals, but in fact, what they all do is emulate the sound of an actual sythesizer - the part you asked about is not a bass at all, but a bass part played on a synthesizer, an altogether different instrument. Sometimes they have a keyboard, but not always.

yeah .. I mean maybe I am wrong.. but a synthesizer doesn't have a sound of its own does it? its just a bunch of effects, emulations, etc controleld by some input pitch (ie a keyboard)?

Swimming Bird · #18 10-09-2008, 01:40 PM

Get stung by a bee..?

For a non-synth attached swell effect, you can use a volume pedal, the volume knob on your instrument or a Boss Slow Gear clone (I use a BYOC Lazy Sprocket, but there are a couple variations around).

T-bolt · #19 10-09-2008, 01:49 PM

Its not really a volume swell, but a filter sweep.

I've covered this song before, and before I delved into synth pedals, I did an OK impression of it with a Big Muff and Micro-Q-tron. The filter was a bit fast, but it did the job in a live context.

Jimbob Jones · #20 10-09-2008, 01:51 PM

digitech bass synth wah

sens: 5 o'clock
control 2 o'clock
range 10:30
Mode 3

then cut your mids drasticly, leave treble flat and boost your bass a bit

got me pretty close, might be worth a try?