M9 Bass Octave vs. EBS Octave

CopperheadLXXIX · #1 04-29-2011, 09:32 AM

Hey guys, I'm thinking about picking up an M9 mostly for the delays, looper and tuner, but was wondering if anyone has ever actually a/b'ed the Octabass with the octave modeled after it on the unit. The reason I ask is because I have the EBS, really like it, but if I can cop the same sound out of the M9 it would be cool and free up some pedal space.

Also, as a side note, general thoughts on the filters? Read they weren't that great, but I don't use my Enigma Q-Balls much, and when I do it's usually for my "subtle" filtering (slight low pass to give a bump in the low end, or maybe low>high for a "rising" effect) as opposed to really squelchy funky stuff, if that makes sense.

Did a search and read through a couple threads and gave me some good info, but was hoping for some more specific input on the octaver and maybe a bit more on the filters.

CopperheadLXXIX · #2 04-29-2011, 02:12 PM

Nobody?

andydye · #3 04-29-2011, 02:16 PM

I have no experience to offer but I would really like an octabass...

CopperheadLXXIX · #4 04-29-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andydye

I have no experience to offer but I would really like an octabass...

I might well sell mine if I get the M9 and like their octaver.

andydye · #5 04-29-2011, 02:24 PM

I have such trouble trying decent gear in the UK, so few shops stock high end stuff!

andydye · #6 04-29-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andydye

I have such trouble trying decent gear in the UK, so few shops stock high end stuff!

Well, ones anywhere near me anyways!

I'd definitely be interested in your ebs if it comes to that

cybersnyder · #7 04-29-2011, 02:32 PM

I have an M9 (plus an M5) and an EBS Octave. The M9 is probably my most favored octave pedal. Very stable, tracks well and quickly and it has a nice tone.

CopperheadLXXIX · #8 04-29-2011, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

I have an M9 (plus an M5) and an EBS Octave. The M9 is probably my most favored octave pedal. Very stable, tracks well and quickly and it has a nice tone.

Thanks for the input! I really like the sound of the EBS; would you say the M9 cops the actual tone of it pretty well? Not necessarily looking for an exact reproduction, but something that sounds as "organic" for lack of a better term.

stflbn · #9 04-29-2011, 02:53 PM

M9 over all the others i've tried... IMHO...

OC-2
OC-3
Octabass
MXR BoD
Aguilar TLC
Eventide Pitchfactor (This tracked the best of all, but I felt the tone lacked life or character)

M9 with the Octave blend amount controlled by an expression pedal is exquisite IMHO. Soooo easy to nudge it right where you need it or alter it for dynamics.

CopperheadLXXIX · #10 04-29-2011, 02:57 PM

Cool, that is quite an endoresment. My only concern now then is that because I'm planning on using the delays *A LOT* the M9 would likely go after my Oxide, Second Voice, Red Dragon, etc...distortion/fuzz stuff. Right now my EBS is first in line with only a compressor before it. Worried running say fuzz>octave instead of the other way around will mess with tracking.

cybersnyder · #11 04-29-2011, 07:16 PM

Instead of using the Bass Octave after fuzz, use Smart Harmony tuned down one octave or Pitch Glide down one octave. Yes, it sound different than octave -> fuzz, but maybe different is better sometimes.

I was screwing around with Pitch Glide and remembered playing around with the Morpheus Drop Tune. It sucked on bass, so I thought I'd try the Pitch Glide. First down a half step. It changes the tone of the bass, if I can get that to work then if we're playing a song down a half step I can just use effects and play in normal tuning. I tried running Pitch Glide into one of the EQ effects and boosting the bass while cutting some highs. Much closer to the original tone, but still not perfect. So for now it's a work in progress but it seems to have some promise. Of course the next thing I tried is running the tuning at a 4th below so that now my 4 string is BEAD. It wasn't terrible -- well worth some more tweaking. Maybe Pitch Glide -> EQ -> Tube Boost?

EDIT: Found a very useable tone using Pitch Glide (down 4th) -> 4 Band Shift EQ to boost some lows and cut some of the artifact highs -> Tube Comp. It sounds pretty good through headphones but I'll have to wait until tomorrow to try it through the amp. If this works it will be great. I'll setup a scene with the first slot being Pitch Glide in both and use an expression pedal to switch between down a half, down a whole in the first slot, down two whole steps and down a 4th in the second Pitch Glide effect slot. Mix at 100%. Run that into two different EQ settings in the second slot and then in the third effect slot, Tube Comp for "normal" tone and your favorite effect in the other effect bank in that slot. I will choose either chorus or octave.

cybersnyder · #12 04-29-2011, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CopperheadLXXIX

Thanks for the input! I really like the sound of the EBS; would you say the M9 cops the actual tone of it pretty well? Not necessarily looking for an exact reproduction, but something that sounds as "organic" for lack of a better term.

Yeah, it does "organic" fine especially when you turn the tone down. Really wish they would add the OC-2 model from the POD XT to the M series.

LM Bass · #13 04-29-2011, 07:43 PM

I really like the octaver in the M9. I use the reverbs and delays mostly, but the thing I'm into right now is having a parametric EQ in combination with the expression pedal. Down for "dark" and up for "bright" -works great! The filters are not amazing, but I don't need them. The trick is that they seem to work better when you turn you bass' volume down.

cheapbasslovin · #14 04-29-2011, 08:27 PM

You have to work pretty hard to get the filters to work right since there is no sensitivity or gain control on them. I roll my bass volume down on all of my basses into my M13, if I didn't a lot of effects I use on it would flat out suck.

I think the filters sound alright, especially if you are looking for a blended BP sound. The LP sounds have a very narrow range where they are both bassy and funky, and those don't extend very far into the high end to really bring out the funk. Mostly they're thin-ish and quacky or boomy with no burp. I've made them work for me though and I don't feel compelled to get my Qtron+ or Bassballs back in the mix, but if you NEED THAT ONE FILTER SOUND then you probably wont want it out of an M#. Once you work them over a few times it is easy to dial in the sound you need (provided it is in there).

I have a dreadfully hasty clip in the wiki. It has a few filter tones in it. The LP Up isn't that sweet spot I mentioned above where it gets real bassy and funky. I hadn't found that setting when I recorded it.

I like the octaver, but cannot compare it to the EBS.

CopperheadLXXIX · #15 05-07-2011, 01:50 PM

Just wanted to thank everyone for the input-received an M9 a few days ago, and am loving it so far.

andydye · #16 05-07-2011, 01:58 PM

That's great news, glgsd you're happy with it! Why is it so good? How is it different from the ebs?