Synth pedal roundup/summary

OriginalCrash · #1 02-24-2009, 06:34 PM

So as I've been learning some about synth pedals, I've quickly realized how many there are and how many different features each one does/does not have. For both my own benefit and anyone else who comes after me, I figured I'd put together a quick list of some of the ones I've found and some of their defining features. By all means, please join in and correct me if necessary, add info, etc., and maybe this can become a useful beginner's guide or point in the right direction for someone looking into the world of synth... After all, as different as they all are, and considering most Guitar Centers don't stock anywhere near most (or even many) of them, the sheer number of what's out there can be kinda daunting at first...

EHX Bass Micro Synth
Monophonic
Sub-octave (-1)
Octave (+1)
Square wave/distortion
Filter
Attack delay
Layering of octaves

EHX HOG
Polyphonic
Sub-octave (-2 and -1)
Octave (+1, +2, +3 and +4)
Harmonics (+5th, +1+5th and +2+3rd)
Envelope filter
Expressions modes
Expression pedal
Layering of octaves

EHX POG
Polyphonic
Sub-octave (-1)
Octave (+1 and +2)
Layering of octaves

EHX Micro POG
Polyphonic
Sub-octave (-1)
Octave (+1)
Layering of octaves

Pigtronix Mothership
Monophonic
Sub-octave (-1)
Square wave or triangle wave (anywhere between -2 and +2)
Intelligent ring modulator
Whammy

Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer
Sub-octave (-1 and -2)
Octave (+1 and +2, also +5th)
Square, triangle, sawtooth or trapezoid wave
Variable duty on square wave and variable slope on sawtooth wave
Filter (envelope or ADSR)
Fuzz (w/ gate)
LFO and beat-locked effects
Programmable

MI Audio Pollyanna Octave
Sub-octave (-2 and -1)
Octave (+1)
Square wave on sub-octaves
"Fuzz"
"Interactive" sensitivity control (best quick way I could think of to describe it)
Layering of octaves

Korg G5
Sawtooth (same pitch or octave down)
Sawtooth (same pitch) plus Square (octave down)
"Fuzz" voices
Formant Filter-like voices
Envelope or expression-controlled low-pass filter.
9 memory locations

Moog Freqbox
Waveforms: Triangle, Square, Up Sawtooth, Pulse
Hard Sync on/off of oscillator
Freq of osc.
Envelope (controlling Freq of osc.)
FM Amount
Clean blend
All knobs controllable by CV

Robot Factory Pulse Synth
Square/Pulse wave (variable duty)
LFO modulation of duty cycle
Envelope control over LFO speed

So those are the first few that immediately come to mind. Feel free to mention some others or add some info to what I've already posted. Again, this is just intended to be a kind of one-stop shop for those new to synth effects to give them a quick glimpse at what can do what. Thanks!

Brian

Gashaponcito · #2 02-24-2009, 07:11 PM

the square waves of the OS are Trap, Triangle,Square and Saw also you are missing the fifth and the 2 octaves down

kevteop · #3 02-24-2009, 07:33 PM

Also on the Chunk you can do LFO and Beat-locked effects, at the same time.

Might be worth noting that the filter can be envelope or ADSR.

On the Bass Micro Synth the "square wave" is really just a distortion. I know they call it a square wave but it isn't, really.

Korg G5:
Sawtooth (same pitch or octave down)
Sawtooth (same pitch) plus Square (octave down)
"Fuzz" voices
Formant Filter-like voices
Envelope or expression-controlled low-pass filter.
9 memory locations.

bigchiefbc · #4 02-24-2009, 07:53 PM

Moog Freqbox:

Waveforms: Triangle, Square, Up Sawtooth, Pulse
Hard Sync on/off of oscillator
Freq of osc.
Envelope (controlling Freq of osc.)
FM Amount
Clean blend
All knobs controllable by CV

Gashaponcito · #5 02-24-2009, 08:03 PM

there should be some sorta of database of this an other pedals in the wiki =O

OriginalCrash · #6 02-24-2009, 08:36 PM

By "should be" do you mean you think there is? Or you think it "should be" added? If the second, I agree. I'm all for searching and saving people the time and effort of having to repost things over and over. But when you're looking for general information about multiple pedals, a sort of one-stop shop thread like this is an invaluable resource, in my opinion.

Brian

kevteop · #7 02-24-2009, 08:37 PM

Robot Factory Pulse Synth:

Square/Pulse wave (variable duty)
LFO modulation of duty cycle
Envelope control over LFO speed

Gashaponcito · #8 02-24-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OriginalCrash

By "should be" do you mean you think there is? Or you think it "should be" added? If the second, I agree. I'm all for searching and saving people the time and effort of having to repost things over and over. But when you're looking for general information about multiple pedals, a sort of one-stop shop thread like this is an invaluable resource, in my opinion.

Brian

It should be added, it could work with the effects clips database, instead of having everything sorted by brands they could be sorted by type of pedal, some reviews of different people and clips it takes a lot of time but if everyone here reviews at least one pedal we can start with something cool

The Lurker · #9 02-24-2009, 09:22 PM

Deep Impact?

kevteop · #10 02-24-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Lurker

Deep Impact?

I think we're waiting for someone who has/had one to show up and contribute.

OriginalCrash · #11 02-24-2009, 09:44 PM

I completely forgot about the Deep Impact.

But I don't really know enough about it to break it down... Anyone have some info/specs?

Brian

The Lurker · #12 02-24-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OriginalCrash

I completely forgot about the Deep Impact.

But I don't really know enough about it to break it down... Anyone have some info/specs?

Brian

sorry mate, haven't the foggiest....

The parameters are listed at this site: http://www.jeffnet.org/~addicott/gear/akai.html

# Note Off Level
# Note On Level
# Preset
# Attack
# Decay
# Envelope
# Dynamics
# Cutoff
# Resonance
# Balance
# Level

Gashaponcito · #13 02-24-2009, 09:57 PM

also forgot, the Saw of the OS has a variable slope and the Square has variable duty, and the Fuzz has a noise gate

twisty4678 · #14 02-26-2009, 09:36 AM

Octave = synth??

Gashaponcito · #15 02-26-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twisty4678

Octave = synth??

not really, an octave can be synthesized but some fuzz pedals also give the octave up effect

OriginalCrash · #16 02-26-2009, 11:41 AM

Yeah, it seems most synths have octave up/down, but an octave pedal isn't necessarily gonna give you a synth sound. The Pollyanna seems to be a good example of this... Its octave up does just that but also seems to impart a bit of a fuzz sound. However, it's octaves down add more of a synthy, square wave sound to it.

Brian

jetofuj · #17 02-26-2009, 11:44 AM

Sepukku FX - Sub-Octave Synthesizer
features:
Octave (-1,-2)

twisty4678 · #18 02-26-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gashaponcito

not really, an octave can be synthesized but some fuzz pedals also give the octave up effect

I just didn't think (or consider?) the Micro pog was a synth pedal.

OriginalCrash · #19 02-26-2009, 09:39 PM

Good point. I wouldn't say it is either really. I was just trying to be comprehensive so I made sure to include most or all of EHX's synth/octave flavors. Of course if you were building a synth out of individual components it might would work well as part of that.

Brian

RippinKitten · #20 03-16-2009, 12:20 PM

Just for clarification, EHX's Bass Micro Synth: Polyphonic or Monophonic?