Need recommendation - Too Much Time On My Hands (Styx)

EricT43 · #1 08-31-2011, 11:05 AM

I play in a 4-piece and one of the tunes we are doing is Too Much Time On My Hands. I'd like to simulate the synth sound with an effects pedal, but I currently don't run any pedals and am somewhat of a noob when it comes to effects. Would an envelope filter be the best way to achieve the sound on this tune?

Thanks!

Bob C · #2 08-31-2011, 11:29 AM

Yes, definitely an envelope filter, although I don't know which one. It depends on how close to the original you need to get. You may also benefit from an octaver and fuzz (in addition to envelope).

You could possibly get close with an inexpensive unit like a Digitech Bass Synth Wah. I have messed with that song on guitar using my Digitech RP300 multi-fx unit.

Does your band have keyboards? If not, a pedal with a blend may be helpful - to keep some clean bass signal in the mix. On the actual song, DeYoung plays the synth, but the bass AND guitar double it (without effects) in most spots.

I love Styx.

EricT43 · #3 08-31-2011, 11:49 AM

Thanks, Bob. I like Styx too! We are just drums, bass, guitar, and vocals, no synth, which is why I thought I would try to work that sound in myself. I'd also like to be able to spice things up a bit when I'm playing underneath a guitar solo. Now that I know that the envelope filter is the way to go, I'll start doing some research as to which one...

nismaniac · #4 08-31-2011, 12:14 PM

I'm in almost an exact situation, 4 piece with 2 guitars. We also play that song and I can replicate the tone pretty dead on with my EHX bass micro synth. It cuts through and sounds great! Good luck!

EricT43 · #5 08-31-2011, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nismaniac

I'm in almost an exact situation, 4 piece with 2 guitars. We also play that song and I can replicate the tone pretty dead on with my EHX bass micro synth. It cuts through and sounds great! Good luck!

Cool, I will check that one out!

Bob C · #6 08-31-2011, 02:13 PM

Microsynth is $280 new, but can easily be had for under 200 used. I don't know how much you want to spend.

It does have filter, octave and distortion. Plus you can blend in your dry signal, I think.

If you have no keys player, that sound is put on your shoulders. Again, there are hundreds of envelope filters and multi units with synthy sounds.

AlvarHanso · #7 08-31-2011, 02:18 PM

I actually got that sound by accident, and figured out that part, and mistakenly thought it was an ELO song I'd fortuitously figured out, and learned it was Styx thanks to youtube. At the time I just used the envelope filter on my Digitech BP80 with some reverb. Since then, I've played around with it using my Groove Regulator and Source Audio BEF Pro, as well as trying it once with wah. That's is an insanely fun and cool riff.

EricT43 · #8 08-31-2011, 02:59 PM

I was just watching a demo video of the Micro Synth, that thing looks incredibly versatile.

nismaniac · #9 09-01-2011, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricT43

I was just watching a demo video of the Micro Synth, that thing looks incredibly versatile.

Yeah, it can do so many different sounds, it's worth the money. I like that it doesn't get lost in the mix, it has just enough grit and bite that it cuts through and has tons of low end (adjustable). And yes, you mix in your dry signal with a fader as well. I'll try to take a pic of my BMS with the Styx setting.

EricT43 · #10 10-20-2011, 02:25 PM

I have narrowed down my choices a bit, but I am somewhat paralyzed by the options, any recommendation on which one to go with?

A-The Microsynth looks great, but I don't like the fact that there are no presets. I will want to use this live, and I don't see any way to change sounds other than having pictures of the settings I need for different tunes, and doing it manually.

B-I checked out the MarkBass synth pedal at the store, but to be honest I didn't like the sounds I got out of it. It does have presets and bypass, though. Maybe if I spent more time tweaking?

C-The Soundblox Pro pedals, the envelope filter and multiwave distortion, it seems like possibly either one of those could do the job, but which one, if I was only going to have one pedal?

D-And then there are the simple options, like the MXR bass envelop filter pedal.

gastric · #11 10-20-2011, 02:53 PM

Someone is going down, down, down the synthy rabbit hole.

Check out my Super Synth page (see sig below) to get an idea of some other synth sounds you can make. I found the factory synth tones horrible.

EricT43 · #12 10-21-2011, 04:12 PM

Sounds like you didn't care for the Super Synth all that much.

After giving it some though, I am now leaning towards individual effects (envelope, distortion, and perhaps octave), rather than a synth pedal. And I'll probably start with a distortion/fuzz pedal, since that will most likely have more uses than the envelope filter. The Brown Dog looks pretty good to me.

gastric · #13 10-21-2011, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricT43

Sounds like you didn't care for the Super Synth all that much.

There's plenty of people that do seem to like it. And always a few for sale in the forums for as low as $180 shipped. So you could easily resell if you didn't find a use for it.

The EHX Micro Synth is a useable box, just no presets. I personally liked the Korg G5 the best of all the synth boxes. 9 presets, silly easy to use, lots of good sounds.

If you wanted to go way, Way, WAY down the rabbit hole look into the Roland GR-55. Always pros and cons, but it's a multi effect and synth box with truly great hardware synth sounds available. Makes the other synth pedals seem like children's toys.

RickenBoogie · #14 10-21-2011, 05:44 PM

...and of course, buying an actual synth will always be the best option, funds permitting.

EricT43 · #15 10-24-2011, 08:48 AM

I had a $30 off coupon for Guitar Center this past weekend, so I picked up the Super Synth from my local store to try it out (that was the only unit they had in stock). It was fun to play with, but I ended up returning it. At this point, I don't want to have to spend hours on a learning curve to get usable sounds. So I ordered an MXR M82 instead to start with, and put the extra money towards an iPhone 4S

gastric · #16 10-24-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricT43

...I don't want to have to spend hours on a learning curve to get usable sounds...

Then most of the synth boxes won't be to your liking. By their nature there's too many knobs, options, new terms and technology to learn.

I'd steer you towards the EXH Micro Synth, Digitech Bass Synth Wah (though it sounds bad imo), BOSS SYB, Korg G5 if you can find one. They should all be the easiest to learn and use.

warwick.hoy · #17 10-24-2011, 11:59 AM

I recommend setting down your instruments and playing a nice round of Ping Pong