moog synth bass emulation in a pedal?

[tomvelsor]

okay, as ive probobly mentioned a bunch of times, im looking for a pedal to give me some synth madness.

the sounds this nutcase is making is gennerally what im looking for -

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9hufwMENvhI

..only from my bass. i know hes using a synth into a freqbox, but if i had just a freqbox and combined it with an envelope filter- would i be anywhere near this? (or anywhere usefull maybe?)

i think the EHX bass micro synth does that kinda sound well, but i hate exh (lets not discuss why here. does it matter?) so id rather not buy another EHX pedal if i diddnt have too.

more specifically im interested in the moogerfooger freqbox

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by tomvelsor

okay, as ive probobly mentioned a bunch of times, im looking for a pedal to give me some synth madness.

the sounds this nutcase is making is gennerally what im looking for -

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9hufwMENvhI

..only from my bass. i know hes using a synth into a freqbox, but if i had just a freqbox and combined it with an envelope filter- would i be anywhere near this? (or anywhere usefull maybe?)

i think the EHX bass micro synth does that kinda sound well, but i hate exh (lets not discuss why here. does it matter?) so id rather not buy another EHX pedal if i diddnt have too.

more specifically im interested in the moogerfooger freqbox

In the Moogerfooger instructional DVD, they say that the oscillator in the Freqbox is the exact same oscillator from the MiniMoog synth. The Moogerfooger LFP is simply the filter section from the MiniMoog. So, these two should give you the same sound as a MiniMoog. Now, I'm not sure how different the Little Phatty is from the MiniMoog, but I'm sure they're similar.

[Max Roberts]

From my experience with the EHX Bass Micro Synth and both the current Chunk systems pedals I'd say they'd get you pretty close to the sound. I think the BMS would probably get closer so you might have to suck up your hatred for EHX and give in . Or you could wait for the Octavius Squeezer (or whatever it's called) which supposedly has the Brown Dog and Agent 00Funk in it. I found that the BD and A00F could pull off numerous great sounds and a lot of them were similar to a BMS but the BMS does seem to have that edge that makes it sound more like that Little fatty.

[Jimbob Jones]

for the starter bits, the digitech bass synth wah is perfect, modes 3 & 4. i can get soundclips up about this time tomorrow.

try running the BSW into a freqbox, it should recreate that kind of sound well, also try using some heavy chorus with your synth, it sounds amazing!

[tomvelsor]

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

In the Moogerfooger instructional DVD, they say that the oscillator in the Freqbox is the exact same oscillator from the MiniMoog synth. The Moogerfooger LFP is simply the filter section from the MiniMoog. So, these two should give you the same sound as a MiniMoog. Now, I'm not sure how different the Little Phatty is from the MiniMoog, but I'm sure they're similar.

a minimoog sound is fine by me. but i already have an envelope filter (the vintage DOD one.) think thatll work with it as good as the moogerfooger LPF?? either way i probobly wont buy the mooger LPF, i dont NEED the filter sounds of a moog..the freqbox is what i'm looking for.

they really shouldve put the word "synth" in the name of this pedal. ive been looking for a real deal badass synth for so long, and ive always known about the freqbox, but never considered it a synth..always just considered it another useless moogerfooger..

anyway back to my filter question, will the freqbox still play my dynamics, or since its converting my signal into a synthesizer tone, will my dynamics be lost and i wont really be able to get the filter sounds without using a 'fooger LPF?

[RickenBoogie]

Every Moogerfooger is essentially a single synth component. No need for it to actually say "synth" on the pedal, it's a modular MOOG product, the very definition of synth. As to the differences between a MiniMoog vs. the Little Phatty, they are essentially the same, except the MiniMoog has 3 oscillators vs LP's 2, and a few other "extras on the Mini. The filter sections are identical, as is the ADSR.

[Unrepresented]

BMS will do those sounds minus the stuff where he messes heavily with the resonance and the part where he adds on the FreqBox.

I can relate to the not wanting to purchase gear because of a brand, but sometimes you have to suck it up if you want to get that tone.

[Ely]

I have a Freqbox and a LPF and I still haven't figured out exactly how to achieve that tone, but I'm thinking that I need to add a second Freqbox.

[niftydog]

That screams Akai Deep Impact.

EH BMS will sort of get close, but not really.

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by niftydog

That screams Akai Deep Impact.

EH BMS will sort of get close, but not really.

I disagree with the "sort of get close."

My go to tone out of my BMS sounds IMHO extremely similar to that.

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

I disagree with the "sort of get close."

My go to tone out of my BMS sounds IMHO extremely similar to that.

Have to agree. Trigger, -1 Oct, +1 Oct, Resonance all cranked, stop at about 60%, start 80%+, sounds pretty much like the first thing he plays on his Little Phatty.

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by kevteop

Have to agree. Trigger, -1 Oct, +1 Oct, Resonance all cranked, stop at about 60%, start 80%+, sounds pretty much like the first thing he plays on his Little Phatty.

From memory (board's in the rehearsal space) I think we have the same setting only my "start" is at 100%. It'll even do the "legato" thang he demonstrates if you don't trigger the filter hard enough when switching notes.

I send mine through my Psilocybe for even more liquidy synth goodness, although I'm debating picking up a fairly transparent chorus for this purpose.

[Ely]

Hmm... Perhaps an Octave pedal is what I am missing to achieve this tone.

[tomvelsor]

yeah, its definately deep-impact doable too. but for whatever reason im drawn to that damn freqbox..and drawn away from a BMS..

i cant find any good quality samples of a bass through a freqbox though. i cant immagine not being happy with it though?

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by tomvelsor

yeah, its definately deep-impact doable too. but for whatever reason im drawn to that damn freqbox..and drawn away from a BMS..

i cant find any good quality samples of a bass through a freqbox though. i cant immagine not being happy with it though?

I did a ten minute long demo of the Freqbox very recently. If you search for "freqbox demo" I'm sure you'll find it

[Colonel Monk]

Components of JR's tone in that demo:

2 Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs)
ASDR Envelope Generators (2)
Low Pass Filter
Freqbox (used like a squarewave fuzz/VCO)

VCOs: are the two sound sources - say your bass and an octave up/down. On the Little Phatty there are also controls for wave type which allows you to dial in the "timbre" of the note, among other things. Without a BMS you could substitute an octaver like an Octabass.

ASDR Envelope: The only stand alone pedal I know of is the Piggie ASDR pedal. Alot of money for just that, but it's kind of important if you want to nail that sound exactly. Stringed instruments have a rather fixed ASDR sound - it's just physics. However, there is some electronic trickery that can be done, and most synth pedals employ some of this.

Low Pass Filter: I don't know of any pedals that can do this exactly other than Moog LPF. Most env filters have a different sound, and they don't have the ability to self-oscillate with resonance.

Freqbox is like a 3rd Oscillator, so it is also generating sound, but it's "dirty" and adds an edge to it. Coooool. Fuzzbox could help, but it's a squarewave fuzz.

So you don't like EHX: that's too bad, because it has nearly all these things:
TRIGGER (Controls attack of the filter section)
Sub Octave (sorta like a VCO)
Guitar (your regular bass signal)
Octave Up (sorta like a VCO)
Squarewave (Freqbox-like fuzz tone)
Attack Delay (Can delay the onset of attack)
Resonance (Won't self-oscillate, but controls timbre of filters)
Start Freq
Stop Freq (These define how the filter sounds when you play)
Rate (controls the time it takes to go from start freq to stop freq)

I would look into the new Pigtronix and Chunk Systems pedals.

The Digitech BSW is a one trick pony IMO - the synth tones have too much square wave and it's not very tweakable. The only thing I like it for is a square wave fuzz.

Bottom Line, from my fooling around with Freqbox it won't do all the things you like about that tone. The BMS will get you close. The Little Phatty will get you exactly there, of course. If you tried to piecemeal each component of this together you might get close but it'll cost a fortune.

[Jimbob Jones]

right, I have a soundclip of the BSW up!

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=837053

firstly there is something sounding (i hope) very close to the sound used on the video, then I use a different sweep to get another sound, and play a line with, then without triggering each note.

then I used a big dirty synth sweep with some passing notes

then yet another sweep, this one more "metallic". to get the step effect i messed about with the range knob.

after that, it's the original sound with added fuzz

finally, I played some more slow sweeps, this time with chorus, because i think it's a great combo

I hope all that helps!

[supermonkey]

I've always been interested in the BMS, but I ended up buying a Korg G5 awhile back. I don't believe I'll ever need another bass synth device.

(Note that I say "Need". Not want. I'm sure I'll want another one...)

It has several great moog bass style patches. Think Stevie Wonder c/ "Innervisions". I played "Too High" at band practice the other day and freaked everyone out.
It also has a fair assortment of other waveforms, resonance control, filter control, and is digital -- so you can save your patches. Kinda the downfall of the BMS.

Does sweeps, octaves, envelope filter FX, etc. I am a fan.

FWIW, I also own a DigiTech BMS -- the G5 wipes the floor with it. The DigiTech's a nice compact pedal, but I agree that it's a bit of a one-trick pony.

I'd love to have a Deep Impact, but they're too damn expensive and like hen's teeth to find....

[Max Roberts]

Originally Posted by supermonkey

I've always been interested in the BMS, but I ended up buying a Korg G5 awhile back. I don't believe I'll ever need another bass synth device.

(Note that I say "Need". Not want. I'm sure I'll want another one...)

It has several great moog bass style patches. Think Stevie Wonder c/ "Innervisions". I played "Too High" at band practice the other day and freaked everyone out.
It also has a fair assortment of other waveforms, resonance control, filter control, and is digital -- so you can save your patches. Kinda the downfall of the BMS.

Does sweeps, octaves, envelope filter FX, etc. I am a fan.

FWIW, I also own a DigiTech BMS -- the G5 wipes the floor with it. The DigiTech's a nice compact pedal, but I agree that it's a bit of a one-trick pony.

I'd love to have a Deep Impact, but they're too damn expensive and like hen's teeth to find....

I think you might be getting mixed up with the Digitech BSW and the Electro Harmonix BMS...

[grace & groove]

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

I did a ten minute long demo of the Freqbox very recently. If you search for "freqbox demo" I'm sure you'll find it

I listened to it yesterday. The one in the clips database right?

I'm GASSing so bad now. Great demo, thank you! Only problem was I turned up to hear your voice and then had to turn down real quick so the bass wasn't booming and making this desk shake.