Moog FreqBox? Subdecay Noisebox? Bit Cruncher?

Shroom · #1 04-04-2008, 09:50 PM

I know there are a hundred threads related to this, but none of em seem to give me the info I'm interested in. I'm looking for a synthy fuzz (who isn't?), preferably one thats pretty versatile. I really like that glitchy, bit-crunched sound, like the Subdecay NoiseBox or even this goofy 8-bit fuzz thing I found in a search thats used for recreating NES sounds

, but I know there are also gonna be times where I want something closer to a smooth fuzz (in terms of synthy fuzz :P ), especially in a band setting. No matter what I do, I'm also eventually gonna get a blend pedal, if for no other reason to preserve some low end but also probably to maintain that solid foundation in music that bass provides and fuzz can corrode.

So anyways, I've only heard one soundclip of the Moog FreqBox, and I like it, but it's 'spensive :/ . It can make some of the same noises the Noisebox does, but from what I've heard don't get as freaky. I REALLY like the Subdecay Noisebox, but I donno if it's as versatile as the FreqBox and it seems like it might be hard to tame. I'm open to other suggestions to, as long as I can find soundclips to use for comparison

Hit me with your best shot!

TaySte_2000 · #2 04-05-2008, 05:23 AM

Check out the Wiki for clips of the

Subdecay Fembot proto as this is similar to the Moog Freq box

also the

Sinister Analog Soul Provider this is really good at the 8 bit fuzz stuff and more, does octave down and 2 octave down so sounds really thick and lush and you can do thinner sounds as well with the tracking.

But I have both of these and a Subdecay Noise Box and they are all different but I think you can buy 2 of these for the price of the moog and do more.

Hope this helps

Ely · #3 04-05-2008, 05:36 AM

I only have experience with the Freqbox, but I can tell you that it has a very wide range of sounds, but it functions quite differently from a traditional fuzz. I never turn the Mix past 50% or sometimes 60%, as the oscillated sound is much higher in pitch than your actual bass sound. If you turn the Envelope up a bit and crank the FM it gets sounds similar to clips I've heard from the Noisebox, but definitely different. I must warn you though, once you buy one Moogerfooger, you will soon discover the need to own several more because the ability to interconnect control voltages is just foogin' awesome.

speak_onion · #4 04-05-2008, 08:08 AM

You've got some great choices above, but you may also want to look into a Robot Factory Pulse Synth. It takes your signal and creates from it a pulse wave (or rectangle/square wave), and then gives you uber-control of the wave. There's an LFO for pulse width and enveloped control of the LFO rate. I like mine quite a bit, and have found several different uses for it. I made some clips and wrote a more detailed review here, you can find it by searching for Pulse in the title field.

**SoComSurfing** · #5 04-05-2008, 08:25 AM

Does FXDoctor still do an 8-Bit Fuzz for bass?

Swimming Bird · #6 04-05-2008, 08:28 AM

EHX Bass Micro Synth. I bet if you stuck mainly to the square wave and down octave settings, you'd be a very happy guy.

Oh, and supposedly EHX is coming out with an XO version soon, so either there will be an upgrade on the market or the price of an older style BMS should drop.

Shroom · #7 04-06-2008, 02:10 PM

Thanks to everyone for your responses so far

So i looked around and listened to a few sound clips, and so far my favorites are the Fembot and the Soul Provider. I like the tone/sound/whatever you'd call it of the Fembot more, but like the Noisebox it seems like it'd be hard to tame. There's some part in Tayste's clip where individual notes are hard to discern. The Soul Provider, on the other hand, sound a little bit more like fuzzy synth than synthy fuzz, if you catch my drift, but it's a little cleaner (key phrase is "a little").

I also listened to some clips of the EHX bass micro synth, and it's got an impressive variety of sounds, but it doesn't seem like the pedal for me. Neither is the Robot Factory Pulse Synth, which I'd probably be interested in if I played guitar, but otherwise doesn't sound BIG enough to me.

As a side note, I listened to clips of the Akai Deep Impact for the first time and DAYUM! That thing is sweeeeet. Why did they ever stop making em? I know it's not really fuzz-oriented, but still..

Anyways, what else is out there? And how would I go about getting my hands on a prototype Fembot?

Oh yeah! Almost forgot, i listened to some more clips of the SubDecay Noisebox, and I'm not so sure its the right sound for me anymore. I don't like that gurgly stuff it does so much.

TaySte_2000 · #8 04-06-2008, 02:28 PM

The clip I did of the soul provider is when I first got it I've since played with the gate on it and you can get a very keyboard like response from the pedal very clean and hard cut notes or you can have it bubble about a bit.

I think there are about 10 Proto Fembots out there they do pop up on other forums but the production model will do the same sounds and a few more, it's got a tunable oscilator in which leans it more to a synth type sound.

Personally I prefer the Soul Provider but they are very different

Shroom · #9 04-06-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

The clip I did of the soul provider is when I first got it I've since played with the gate on it and you can get a very keyboard like response from the pedal very clean and hard cut notes or you can have it bubble about a bit.

I think there are about 10 Proto Fembots out there they do pop up on other forums but the production model will do the same sounds and a few more, it's got a tunable oscilator in which leans it more to a synth type sound.

Personally I prefer the Soul Provider but they are very different

Hmmm.. I'm not looking so much to sound like a keyboard synth, but the Soul Provider DOES have the advantage of the octave stuff and a sweet sounding name, not to mention it's more available. Any idea where I could find some more sound clips of it or the Fembot?

Swimming Bird · #10 04-06-2008, 08:54 PM

I just tried an MXR Blue Box and that may be the pedal for you. I'm thinking of picking one up and MAP is down to $64.99.

Shroom · #11 04-15-2008, 12:45 PM

So I know this thread was dead for a bit, but I was browsing Tonefactor's website and found the Sinister Analog Ultralord. Anyone have any thoughts about it?

This is a soundclip of it on guitar, which sounds pretty cool, but it'd be better to hear it on bass.

speak_onion · #12 04-15-2008, 01:09 PM

The ultralord, to my knowledge, is just a way out of control fuzz, not quite as innovative or unique or out as your other choices. Check the Sinister Analog Soul Provider, though. That one seems to sit with your other choices more comfortably.

Shroom · #13 04-15-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speak_onion

The ultralord, to my knowledge, is just a way out of control fuzz, not quite as innovative or unique or out as your other choices. Check the Sinister Analog Soul Provider, though. That one seems to sit with your other choices more comfortably.

Sounds good. Now I just gotta keep an eye out for a deal

WeightedWings · #14 04-15-2008, 09:53 PM

You might want to have a browse about here:

http://www.deviever.com/fx/

KarateKid25 · #15 04-16-2008, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeightedWings

You might want to have a browse about here:

http://www.deviever.com/fx/

Yeah, then buy my devi ever OK off ebay

It doesn't suck at all... Thats err, why im selling it

(apologies to any OK fans, but for me its totally unusable...)