Math question: does (Enigma Qballs + Micropog = bass microsynth) ?

[steak'n'roll]

Hi guys,

I tried to find something about this with the search function and couldn't find anything related...

I have an enigma qballs and a micropog and I was wondering if I this combination gives me the exact same sounds the BMS would give me. I presume the micropog covers the octave section but does the qballs cover the filter section of the BMS?

Thank you

[markjazzbassist]

you're missing square wave. also the octaver is analog not digital like the POG.

but you're close, i'm sure you can still get some great synth textures.

[FreaqyFrequency]

That, and the BMS' filter section is a static filter rather than envolope-controlled, which is the Enigma's filter type.

That said, with a good fuzz, analog octaver, and filter, there are always cool sounds to be had, many probably not too dissimilar to BMS sounds.

Keeping the Enigma, here's what I would try.

Boss OC-2-->Fuzz of your choice, perhaps a Devi Ever creation-->Enigma.

[newbold]

Not the same...not close...but not at all bad either.

Could maybe even sound better!

[bigchiefbc]

Yeah, the BMS's filter section is not an envelope filter. It is a triggered filter that always sweeps the same way on every note (based on the start/stop/rate sliders). Can't think of any other filters in a pedal that do that off the top of my head. And the micro pog's octaves will sound much cleaner and brighter than the BMS's. You might want to consider an analog octaver to do those tones, like maybe the Octron or something like that.

[fightthepower]

The micropog covers the octave about as much as the Qballs covers the filter--- they have some similarities, but they will sound and feel a bit different; as mentioned the Qballs's filter is envelope controlled and therefor responds to your playing dynamics, whereas the BMS's filter's is triggered by your playing but the range and speed are controlled strictly by the sliders. *edit* that was a slow post.. excuse the redundancy regarding the filter sweep lol..*

Using what you already have: Micropog into the Qballs with the distortion switch on, and if you have an expression pedal, use it to sweep the filter in a linear fashion that repeats itself (manually), starting from the same position on each note you play. This will get you closest to the 'classic' BMS style tones by mimicking the BMS's unique filter sweep.

[WaldoNova]

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

Boss OC-2-->Fuzz of your choice, perhaps a Devi Ever creation-->Enigma.

I roll with the BOD-->Battering Ram-->Enigma sounds awesome!!!!

[bass.bert]

...for some synth sounds, i really like the attack decay/swell function of the BMS. To get a similar effect, you could add a boss slow gear/guyatone slow volume/behringer slow motion/byoc lazy sproket to your setup.

[3toes]

I use it all the time for great synthy sounds. Enigma on band-pass with the distortion and a good bit of dry signal blended in, then add the pog.

[Bootzilla]

The best part about the BMS is the squarewave (IMO) so no it doesn't.

[steak'n'roll]

Originally Posted by 3toes

I use it all the time for great synthy sounds. Enigma on band-pass with the distortion and a good bit of dry signal blended in, then add the pog.

You'd put the POG after the qballs? Is it wired like this in the bms (filter section than the octave section)?

[WaldoNova]

Originally Posted by 3toes

I use it all the time for great synthy sounds. Enigma on band-pass with the distortion and a good bit of dry signal blended in, then add the pog.

I put the MicroPog 1st then Dist/Fuzz then the Enigma. I'm pretty sure it doesn't sound like the BMS but it sounds good nonetheless.

[3toes]

Originally Posted by steak'n'roll

You'd put the POG after the qballs? Is it wired like this in the bms (filter section than the octave section)?

No, sorry that was misleading. The POG is first in my chain.

[DerHoggz]

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

Yeah, the BMS's filter section is not an envelope filter. It is a triggered filter that always sweeps the same way on every note (based on the start/stop/rate sliders). Can't think of any other filters in a pedal that do that off the top of my head.

I'd be interested to know if one of these does exist, anyone?

[bass.bert]

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

Yeah, the BMS's filter section is not an envelope filter. It is a triggered filter that always sweeps the same way on every note (based on the start/stop/rate sliders). Can't think of any other filters in a pedal that do that off the top of my head.

Originally Posted by DerHoggz

I'd be interested to know if one of these does exist, anyone?

an Octavius Squeezer can do this. great unit for stuff like that...

[3toes]

I keep meaning to record some samples of my POG+Enigma... I'll try and do that tonight and we can prove or disprove your mathematical formula :P

[cheapbasslovin]

It's a pretty awesome combination, and possibly more versatile than the BMS, but it wont get you an exact BMS sound.

[3toes]

Originally Posted by cheapbasslovin

It's a pretty awesome combination, and possibly more versatile than the BMS, but it wont get you an exact BMS sound.

Yeah, pretty much the best answer... The disto in the Enigma and the square-wave of the BMS are just too different. And by the same token, the octave generated by the POG and that of the BMS are too different as well.

It'll be ballpark, but not the same.

And that isn't to say one is better than the other either...

[3toes]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-lqdvyuwnc

Now you can judge for yourself

Enigma in Bandpass mode, blended about 66% dry, with distortion on. MicroPOG set to unity on the dry, with the suboctave dialed a little back from unity.

[cheapbasslovin]

Nope . Cool, but not Microsynth.