Pedal Primer

[Llaslo]

All, I'm new to the bass, and I've tried searching. I have some basic questions about pedals and what they do. I have watched a few videos on youtube, and read through a lot of the information here. Is there a primer you all know about for pedals, their function, how they are connected, etc? A bass pedals for dummies document or thread, if you will?

I saw a few pedal threads where people mentioned that they controlled their pedals with MIDI controllers. I just am kind of lost as to what they do, how they are used, etc.

[cheapbasslovin]

If you check out the effects forum rules and FAQs there are some links in there regarding the effect types and what they do. Also ovnilabs.com has an extensive collection of literature on a few things but mostly compressors.

Most effects users (as far as I'm aware) don't use MIDI to control their stuff. There are two ways to use midi to control your effects; buy effects with MIDI capability, buy a controller and program them so they work with each other or buy a MIDI switcher that allows you to wire all your effects through it and control switching with that. The former is usually a little bit cheaper, but limits your pedal selections to those with MIDI and the latter usually involves a huge piece of hardware that isn't cheap, but doesn't limit your pedal choices.

If you run across a term you're unfamiliar with do a search here in the effects forum first, if you still can't find an answer start a thread. If starting a thread doesn't get you your answer, you're probably heading into relatively uncharted waters and then it's up to you to help us out .

[redwookie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_unit

This link is a good place to start.

I'm still kind of new myself but I got bit by Effects GAS lately. Most people seem to start with one stomp box. Keep it simple, right? Then either keep it or sell it and buy another.

Experimentation is the rule.

Another rule: what sounds good for one person's bass/amp/cab/genre/band mix may not work for another. Take all the hype around here about the flavor-of-the-month stomp boxes with a 'grain of salt' and use your ears.

Rule 3: learning a bit of basic electrical theory about mic level, line level, and instrument levels may indeed come in handy and keep you from frying your prized effect box someday : )