synth effect

emurf · #1 09-10-2011, 12:29 PM

Hi guys I've recently joined a professional covers/function band.
We're playing a lot of synthy songs from people like Lady Gaga, Black eyed peas, the killers, david guette .
I want to get a decent synth sound that will still hold a good thump. I'm using a boss GEB -7 ,a boss ceb- 3 chorus and a boss syb-5 synth going through a trace elliot commando linked with a peavey 115. Any ideas how to achieved a good synth sound?It doesn't have be an exact copy of the original.

byronkowalski · #2 09-10-2011, 12:30 PM

oc-2 is a great starting point for synth sounds,

Kwesi · #3 09-10-2011, 12:47 PM

There are three things you want to get a good "modular synth" going.

1. Octaver
2. Fuzz (preferably gated)
3. Filter

Of course, it's not like this is a law or anything but a generally accepted as the basis a versatile synth board. They don't have to be in that order either but, for me, they sound best organized that way. Here's my setup:

1. MXR M288. I plan on getting a EHX Micro POG planned (for the octave up).
2. Chunk Systems Brown Dog, because it's the best sounding fuzz I've ever used. I might get a Zvex Mastotron later because it sounds pretty schweet too.
3. Personally, my favorite part of my board. I've gone through a lot and still have (and regularly use) three. A Source Audio BEF, an MXR M82, and a Chunk Systems Agent 00Funk.

emurf · #4 09-10-2011, 12:55 PM

Cheers guys but funds are tight at the moment any was wondering is there any way I can get a reasonable sound with the gear I currently have.

Gearhead17 · #5 09-10-2011, 12:57 PM

The Markbass Synth unit is pretty amazing - little complex, but sounds wonderful.

I had heard other cover bands do those songs and I have played some Killers stuff myself, getting a synth is not necessary and you are better off sticking to a clean bass tone that makes the song flow. Leave the synth line to the keyboard players. The Killers is mostly just a clean bass tone anyway.

emurf · #6 09-10-2011, 01:05 PM

Somebody told me has a really cool synth bass sound

Gearhead17 · #7 09-10-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emurf

Cheers guys but funds are tight at the moment any was wondering is there any way I can get a reasonable sound with the gear I currently have.

Ah, well, the SYB-5 is not going to produce anything decent to work with for the songs/genres you mentioned. I suggest turning the chorus pedal up and using more extreme settings for a decent synth tone. Otherwise, stick to a clean bass tone.

Kwesi · #8 09-10-2011, 01:23 PM

If you don't use the chorus I suggest selling it and getting a dedicated fuzz or filter. I'm not saying that it wouldn't work for a synth setup it would just be a secondary thing. If the SYB-5 can do a straight fuzz (no filter) then use it as a fuzz, sell the chorus and get a low pass envelope filter. Gearhead is right about the SYB-5. You want something that track well and responds quickly, the SYB-5 does neither.

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #9 09-10-2011, 02:31 PM

I have an SYB-5 and it tracks just fine for me. Better than my OC-2 does and people got ape$#!? about those things. Anywho, I don't know anything about the songs you mentioned but a lot of the sample settings in the SYB manual sound pretty good in several different modes so try a few of those with your chorus pedal after the syb. The "fat sound" setting sounds pretty good in both the square octave and sine octave modes as well as just square and sine mode for example. Just noodle around with those sample settings in different modes and you'll at least find some fun synth sounds. I don't know how useful they'll be for the tunes you mentioned though. Good luck.

Gearhead17 · #10 09-10-2011, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHILDISHGAMBINO

I have an SYB-5 and it tracks just fine for me. Better than my OC-2 does and people got ape$#!? about those things. Anywho, I don't know anything about the songs you mentioned but a lot of the sample settings in the SYB manual sound pretty good in several different modes so try a few of those with your chorus pedal after the syb. The "fat sound" setting sounds pretty good in both the square octave and sine octave modes as well as just square and sine mode for example. Just noodle around with those sample settings in different modes and you'll at least find some fun synth sounds. I don't know how useful they'll be for the tunes you mentioned though. Good luck.

Sorry if I sounded like a jerk about the SYB-5. I just watched a demo video on youtube from Boss and it seems like they refined the SYB-3 a little bit. I hated the SYB-3 a lot since the sounds were so obnoxious. I play a lot in the cover band world and the sounds the pedal produces are not helpful at all in the live band setting. That's my opinion though.

RickenBoogie · #11 09-10-2011, 04:12 PM

The SYB-5 is not a *bad* pedal, and it does do what it does fairly well, but in my opinion, if you want to do convincing bass synth sounds, a keyboard synth is the way to go. Short of that, just experiment with what you have.

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #12 09-10-2011, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

Sorry if I sounded like a jerk about the SYB-5. I just watched a demo video on youtube from Boss and it seems like they refined the SYB-3 a little bit. I hated the SYB-3 a lot since the sounds were so obnoxious. I play a lot in the cover band world and the sounds the pedal produces are not helpful at all in the live band setting. That's my opinion though.

Nah, you didn't sound like a jerk man. I was just mentioning that I don't have the tracking problems others mention. I have really hot pick ups in my basses and I think that really helps tracking. I have no experience with the SYB-3 or even any idea if the SYB-5 would be useful in a cover band. I'm just throwing some ideas out there.

Explorer · #13 09-11-2011, 03:30 AM

I'm not familiar with the artists listed, but I'm curious what songs the OP wants to cover.

I love all my various synth pedals, as well as my synthy fuzz/envelope combinations. I'm running active pickups though, and so I don't have the tracking problems a lot of people seem to run into.

I happen to think the SYB-5 is one of the more versatile synth pedals I have, as its envelope, resonance, wave types and so on cover so much ground. I'm not above combining it with modulation or reverb, which is often necessary to get even more like the signal chain on recorded synths.

I've also heard some really amazing demos on YouTube of the Electro-Harmonix Bass Micro Synthesizer. I originally didn't like the Micro Synth, but YouTube proved to be my friend in terms of learning about the sounds possible from that box.

bigchiefbc · #14 09-11-2011, 06:04 AM

I have covered Lady Gaga and similar artists without an issue using the Behringer BSY-600, which is a clone of the Boss SYB-5. You can definitely do it, don't listen to the haters. Put it on mode 2 or 5 (the octave down modes), turn the decay knob all the way up, resonance down to about 9:00, frequency noon-2:00. Play the riff up on the D and G strings. You didn't mention what bass you have; if you have an active EQ, I found that it reacts best if you turn the bass and treble knobs down, but leave the mids knob up. Play very stoccato, muting each note as you play it. That is exactly how I play "Poker Face" for example, and it sounds great. No glitching, no flubbing, tracks just fine.

sillyfabe · #15 09-11-2011, 06:07 AM

Everything bigchiefbc just said was gold! Very true that the BSY-600 can cop those tones. Main reason I got one and it's amazing just make sure you play very clean staccatto with no overtones or buzz

emurf · #16 09-14-2011, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Explorer

I'm not familiar with the artists listed, but I'm curious what songs the OP wants to cover.

I'm Surprised you never heard of The Killers, Lady Gaga or the Black eyed peas.
The synth sounding songs we're covering at the moment are:

I gotta feeling - Black eyed peas
Somebody told me - Killers
Glad you came - The Wanted
Bad Romance / Just Dance - Lady Gaga
Dynamite - David Guette
Club Can't Handle Me - Flo Rida
Give me everything - Pitbull.

cyclomatic · #17 09-14-2011, 04:12 PM

Lady who?
Black eyed what?
Maybe a little "synthie" Luther Vandross vs Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra; the Louie DePalma garage remix! Now that could motivate people to dust off some old pedals.

Explorer · #18 09-14-2011, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emurf

I'm Surprised you never heard of The Killers, Lady Gaga or the Black eyed peas.

Sorry, but my musical tastes might not match up to yours. I'm more inclined to listen to funk, or to prog like Riverside/Kansas/Crimson.

Maybe I'm more surprised than you, but my astonishment is because you can't imagine someone having a different knowledge base than you.

However... although I love synth pedals and pedals which sound like synths, and own a lot of them, it sounds like the music you listed probably has lots of fans. I imagine you'll get lots of great suggestions from those who already recognize the songs in question. Cheers!

simenandreas · #19 09-15-2011, 01:59 AM

Check out the electro harmonix microbass synth. It is the best if you can´t manage to get an Akai Deep Impact.

L-A · #20 09-15-2011, 05:58 AM

If you can try a MXR Blowtorch with the filter of your choice, I'd recommend it. It stays very musical even with the 18V gain maxed out.