Ok effects experts: What order would you connect these in

[BiigM]

Hi guys I have the following pedals, and I'd like some input on the best order to connect them in.

Let me know what you think, and if you could tell me why you like a specifik order it would teach me something too :-)

Here goes:

Sonic research turbo tuner

Barber "Linden" EQ

3leaf groove regulator

EBS MultiDrive

Markbass Compressore

Markbass SuperSynth

[René_Julien]

compressore -> supersynth -> groove regulator -> EQ -> multidrive

and the tuner in the tuner out on my amp... (I don't like a tuning pedal on the floor, can't read it)

^ this is how I'd try it at first... it's not set in stone.

And I like EQ before drive... many will suggest drive-pedal before EQ pedal

[FreaqyFrequency]

I'm sure you already know most of us are going to say "experiment" and "whatever works for you", so I'm going to skip past that and go with how I would set those up personally.

Turbo Tuner-->MultiDrive-->Super Synth-->Groove Regulator-->Compressore-->Linden

And I might not even do it that way once I heard the way these pedals interacted with each other. So here, I really do stress the "Experiment" comment, as shown above.

[BiigM]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I think I would like to put the linden first in the chain, because i use it for my passive basses so they match my active ones. Would it be a bad idea to put it second right after the tuner?

My dilemma is where to put the comp. I use it as always on. But if it's before the synth and envelope filter, they won't be as effective right?
And if the comp is after those, it might compress synth and envelope sounds to the point where they sound squashed.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by BiigM

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I think I would like to put the linden first in the chain, because i use it for my passive basses so they match my active ones. Would it be a bad idea to put it second right after the tuner?

My dilemma is where to put the comp. I use it as always on. But if it's before the synth and envelope filter, they won't be as effective right?
And if the comp is after those, it might compress synth and envelope sounds to the point where they sound squashed.

Yeah... hate to sound like "figure it out yourself"... but like in this case experiences differ so much on signal chains.

I like to put a compressor before synth and filter pedals.
I have good experiences with that.
(Otherwise these pedals don't seem to like my passive precision bass it seems to me.)

However I've seen several guys here with big pedalboards, mostly synth and filter pedals, and they put the compressor last to even out volume levels cause of the different output levels of these pedals. (What someone told me.)


I like EQ after compression.
Some like EQ before so some bands get compressed harder than other... or to equalize that every band gets en equal compression.


Everything, everyway how you order it will give a different effect.

[FreaqyFrequency]

I should stress as well that there's really no wrong way to set up a board like that. I'm sure every possible way to set up the five of those pedals that aren't basic utilities (tuner) yields splendid results.

Rene' nailed the bit about synth guys usually putting compression at the end of the chain for general level control/fattening of the effects. However, fightthepower, one of the leading synth-men around here (sounds like an agency of some sort ) was recently spotted placing a limiter in front of his other pedals for sustaining purposes. So really, I once again posit that there is no wrong way to go about it. You'll find it works best for you either in front (sustainer) or near last (level manager).

I placed the drive before the synth because I, personally, would want a bit of grit blended in with my clean sound (and, again, blended in with the synth itself). While I haven't tried it, I don't think I'd find much use for a synth to be driven, although you may find it great. And I don't want my suggestions to turn you off to any possibilities either.

As for the rest: GR after the Synth, to let the envolope of the synth effect the dynamics of the GR envelope, and in dead last, the EQ, as sort of a master tone control to the whole shebang before it hits the preamp/rig.

Cheers. That seems like a great pedal setup, FWIW.

[BiigM]

Thanks for the education guys, I appreciate it :-)

I'll try the different ways to see what I find most useful. I know that thats the way to do it .

If anyone else has opinions on this please chime in :-)

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

Cheers. That seems like a great pedal setup, FWIW.

Yes, I forgot to mention that too.

Seems like a bunch great effect pedals. You definately could have done a lot, a lot a lot, worse.



And yes, I use compression as sustainer so maybe that's why I like it first.
(I have two compressors, a pedal first in line and a rack-unit in the effects loop... not a definitive setup though.)

[OriginalCrash]

As many have said, you just gotta experiment and see what works... But personally, I would avoid putting the compressor (or the drive pedal, for that matter) before the Groove Regulator, as the compression is going to reduce the dynamic range (which is what the envelope filter relies on to give you its sound). The synth pedal may actually benefit more from being after the compressor in the signal chain. Lastly, I, too, like a little eq before the drive, so I'd probably set it up like this:

Tuner -> EQ -> Envelope filter -> Compressor -> Synth -> Drive

I don't know, the more I look at it, the more I might place the drive pedal before the filter, but I'm still not sure...? Anyway, there ya go...

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by OriginalCrash

Tuner -> EQ -> Envelope filter -> Compressor -> Synth -> Drive

This is the way I'd start, too.

I run my tuner at the front of my chain (as opposed to an amp send/return) so I can mute/tune silently whenever I need to. Super handy. I tune frequently and also don't have to communicate with the soundguy if I'm going to switch basses.

I run my filter before my compressor for the exact reason people have already mentioned... it smooths out the spikes and gives it a more "liquidy" sound.

As far as running synth & drive before or after a filter, that's what's REALLY about personal taste. Your mileage may vary.

If you're feeling particularly saucy, get another drive pedal and add it before the filter. Then you've got one before, one after.

5sg.

[ctothej]

I use a compressor both before and after my eq and envelope filter, for the reasons given above. IMO i think that the envelope filter will track better and sound more even if you compress before hand, so that it is getting a more constant, even level to react to. EQ can be put pretty much anywhere, total personal preference on that one. I would start with this, but without hearing what it sounds like, hard to know what i would change...probably mess with fuzz before and after filter and synth before and after filter too....

tuner > compressor > EQ > multidrive > groove > synth