synth pedal: Boss SYB-3/SYB-5, Behringer BSY600

landwomble · #1 05-29-2008, 05:17 PM

anyone used these? I'm after a cheapish pedal to let me make weird noises in a D&B side project with drummer and keyboards. In theory, the Behringer as a cheapo copy of both SYB3 and SYB5 is ideal. Anyone actually used one? Can't find any decent reviews or examples on the web (which may be telling!) - has anyone got one or played thru one?

grace & groove · #2 05-29-2008, 05:20 PM

Well I used the SYB-3 for a bit back in an old band, and I've played with the SYB-5 at a music store.

They're useful but they simply couldn't track at a higher bpm. It would start to sound like the beginning of Hot for Teacher.

I imagine, since it is an even cheaper copy, that the Behringer doesn't do much better.

Jimbob Jones · #3 05-29-2008, 05:21 PM

the general oppinion is that they sound quite good and are tweakable, but the tracking is terrible, so they actually aren't very useful.

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/SYB-5/index.html

if that helps

if you want a cheap pedal that does crazy sounds, I would check out the Digitech BAss Synth wah, It's a great box for the price.

if you want something more tweakable, then try out the EHX Bass Microsynth, even though it's a bit mopre expensive.

landwomble · #4 05-29-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grace & groove

Well I used the SYB-3 for a bit back in an old band, and I've played with the SYB-5 at a music store.

They're useful but they simply couldn't track at a higher bpm. It would start to sound like the beginning of Hot for Teacher.

I imagine, since it is an even cheaper copy, that the Behringer doesn't do much better.

hmm. need some audio examples! i'm fine if it just lets me do slow-tracking weird analogue noises ("drop with the high hats, and roll with the bass" as the drum'n'bass theory goes) and give me an excuse to spend a few minutes just messing with a pedal mid song (!) but if it's total ass it'd be good to hear people's experiences...

grace & groove · #5 05-29-2008, 05:28 PM

http://www.fuzzymoto.com/demo/mota_mexicana.mp3

The SYB-5 is clicked in 2/3 the way into the clip. This was submitted into the Talkbass Wiki by MakiSupaStar. You should check there for soundclips on synths.

Happynoj · #6 05-29-2008, 05:40 PM

I don't think the tracking is as bad as people make out. I had a bit of an epiphany moment when I was trying out an envelope filter in a shop. I was talking to the head of the bass department about the pedal, and I complained that the pedal wasn't keeping up with my playing. The guy turned to me, and said "Don't expect the pedal to do the work. Sometimes, to get the sound you want out of something, you might have to change your playing style."

IME, many digital pedals are quite unforgiving with their tracking, the Boss Synth pedals being a prime example. Being slightly more precise and staccato can do wonders for a pedal with 'bad tracking'.

OTOH, Maybe people are just expecting more from the pedal than I do.

landwomble · #7 05-30-2008, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happynoj

I don't think the tracking is as bad as people make out. I had a bit of an epiphany moment when I was trying out an envelope filter in a shop. I was talking to the head of the bass department about the pedal, and I complained that the pedal wasn't keeping up with my playing. The guy turned to me, and said "Don't expect the pedal to do the work. Sometimes, to get the sound you want out of something, you might have to change your playing style."

IME, many digital pedals are quite unforgiving with their tracking, the Boss Synth pedals being a prime example. Being slightly more precise and staccato can do wonders for a pedal with 'bad tracking'.

OTOH, Maybe people are just expecting more from the pedal than I do.

good point. have found with my limited experience of synth trackers that you're bang on here - it needs a change in playing style, which is fine as I'm trying to get a completely different synth sound anyway, not just a filtered conventional bass line. I'm really tempted by the Behringer as it's going to be for playing with and it's only 40UKP online...

jomahu · #8 06-06-2008, 07:22 AM

i own a BSW (digitech bass synth wah), and i find the tracking to be really good.

you can find soundclips here: http://www.digitech.com/products/BassSW.htm
some of the clips are not really useful, since there seem to be lots more "useable" tones available on this pedal than shown on the site...

GingerConor · #9 06-06-2008, 08:33 AM

I have an SYB-5, i hate it soo much!!!! it would be horrible for D&B!

save up and get a BMS

Bassbasixx · #10 06-06-2008, 10:03 AM

I like those sound clips I want one, sounds like a fun pedal! I just don't have the cash right now to put together a small effects board.

IanAllison · #11 06-06-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happynoj

I don't think the tracking is as bad as people make out. I had a bit of an epiphany moment when I was trying out an envelope filter in a shop. I was talking to the head of the bass department about the pedal, and I complained that the pedal wasn't keeping up with my playing. The guy turned to me, and said "Don't expect the pedal to do the work. Sometimes, to get the sound you want out of something, you might have to change your playing style."

IME, many digital pedals are quite unforgiving with their tracking, the Boss Synth pedals being a prime example. Being slightly more precise and staccato can do wonders for a pedal with 'bad tracking'.

OTOH, Maybe people are just expecting more from the pedal than I do.

Big ol' +1 here.

I like having to work a little for the tracking - builds character.

MakiSupaStar · #12 06-06-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grace & groove

http://www.fuzzymoto.com/demo/mota_mexicana.mp3

The SYB-5 is clicked in 2/3 the way into the clip. This was submitted into the Talkbass Wiki by MakiSupaStar. You should check there for soundclips on synths.

Thanks for the link, Grace. There are a lot of great samples on the wiki. But about the SYB-5 pedal, there are a lot of people that hate this pedal for the very reason you're talking about. As someone mentioned above you have to learn how to play the pedals sometimes in order to get the best sound. With the SYB-5, however, I found a workaround for the tracking issue, and it really depends on your amp set up. I had pretty much thrown the pedal aside because of it, but then I switched to a pre/power set-up and fell in love with the Ampeg SVP-BSP pre-amp. It has split channels, a clean and a dirty channel, and each channel has an FX-loop. I run my FX-loop through my dirty channel, and always keep my clean channel in the mix, so when it comes to effects like the SYB-5, and even the OC-2, the effect can wig out with the digital tracking issue, but no bottom end is lost, because the sound is still there from the clean channel.