How can I acheive a synth bass sound?

[waytoodeep03]

I am looking for a pedal or box or something that has good synth bass, R&B bass type sounds.

Is there a pedal that does this? If so which one sounds best?

[Happynoj]

There are tons of threads on this, and the conclusion is that there might be a pedal that does this, or there might be a combination of pedals that do this, or there might not. It depends what sort of sounds you are looking for, what your budget is, etc.

My advice would be to do a search and read through the threads that come up. You will get ideas of different pedals and what they can do, and what combinations of pedals you might be able to use to achieve certain sounds.

[gnasher1993]

A few recommended reads:

Markbass Supersynth

Rnilson's synth thread, lots of good info in here

Another synth thread

Chronicle's EHX BMS Review thread

A few ideas in here

[chris.gotfunk]

I am playing in a band that does a lot of synthy stuff like Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce', etc... and I just snagged the Source Audio Bass Multiwave Distortion pedal. It is MONEY!!!! Programmable to 6 presets, everything from Muse type fuzz to 80's keyboard synth tones. There are "0" tracking issues and it just kills. My band is in love with me now that I can really hit some of the cool tones.

Check them out.

Here is a link. Plus, at $219 you cannot go wrong!
http://www.sourceaudio.net/products/...distortion.php

[topper]

I don't use it anymore, but I found the Digitech X-series synth pedal in combo with a Boss PH3 phase shifter to have some pretty broad possibilities. Both can be found used on Ebay relatively cheap.

[topper]

Hmmm... Just checked the bay and a digi synth pedal and Boss PH3 will set you back more than I thought.

Checked out the sounds on the Source Audion mentioned above, that looks pretty awesome.

[robgo]

Originally Posted by waytoodeep03

How can I acheive a synth bass sound?

Get a synth bass?


And while I'm at it, remember 'i before e except after c'

[Mike Shevlin]

Boss has a pedal for bass that's pretty good~

http://www.amazon.com/BOSS-SYB-5-SYB.../dp/B000LPNTFM

[gnasher1993]

Originally Posted by Mike Shevlin

Boss has a pedal for bass that's pretty good~

http://www.amazon.com/BOSS-SYB-5-SYB.../dp/B000LPNTFM

I'll have to disagree. Wasn't impressed by the Boss synths.

[bigblondeafro87]

The Boss can do a reasonable couple of sounds depending on your needs but I think it really needs an expression pedal or a Moog LPF after it to get any kind of usable tones.

[Govier966]

compression, something that emulates square waves, wah wah, octave, distortion, envelope filter. I don't believe you should only have one pedal to emulate a bass synth but multiple ones for versatile sounds.

[Dom Phenom]

if you really need real synth sounds, instead of just "synthy" sounds, get a synthesizer and an A/B pedal. You can get a used moog, or any other number of great synths for less than some people sink into pedal boards.

of course, that's just imo.

However, you'll notice that most of the bands you name have actual synth on stage covering the bass parts for lots of songs, and probably have synth doing bass for half or more of their studio stuff.

[RickenBoogie]

The new Moog Taurus 3 bass pedals are coming real soon. That's what you really want.

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by gnasher1993

I'll have to disagree. Wasn't impressed by the Boss synths.

I have the Behringer clone of the SYB, and find it quite useful. I use it in my cover band and can cop Alice Deejay/Lady Gaga-style synth pop, and also the synth tone from NIN's Head Like a Hole pretty closely. Tracking just requires a bit of good technique. Don't let extraneous strings ring out.

[rakirksey]

Originally Posted by Dom Phenom

if you really need real synth sounds, instead of just "synthy" sounds, get a synthesizer and an A/B pedal. You can get a used moog, or any other number of great synths for less than some people sink into pedal boards.

of course, that's just imo.

However, you'll notice that most of the bands you name have actual synth on stage covering the bass parts for lots of songs, and probably have synth doing bass for half or more of their studio stuff.

This is the route that I went. I actually just picked up a used Nord Lead 2 for $500 on CL to add to the DSI Desktop Evolver that I was already using with a Midi controller.

[jrmy]

This might do the trick: an additive synthesizer pedal made using a Line 6 open source ToneCore module:

http://www.youtube.com/user/PsiKTrOn.../0/0R7PeDA1S00

[gnasher1993]

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

Tracking just requires a bit of good technique. Don't let extraneous strings ring out.

I know what you're saying but that wasn't my problem. My technique is fairly clean anyway. I just want that inspired by the sound and the latency was annoying.

[varunkapahi]

oh oh...... a g a i n
get a lot of pedals (dirt+filters+mod effects) put them in a line and turn them all on

[ricknote]

I use this combo for synth bass sounds in this signal chain order:

1. Digital Octaver for fast tracking. ( I currently use the MXR Bass Octave.)
then into,
2. Fuzz or Overdrive. ( I currently use the Swell Pedals B-TOD.)
then into,
3. Chorus Pedal. ( I currently use the MXR yellow chorus pedal.)

This simple chain sounds great and can be put together with many
combinations of brands.

Have fun,
Rick

[gumtownbassman]

If cost is not an issue, the Roland VB-99 will do the job very nicely.