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SFX Thumpinator(or micro)

#8
Willem said:
(...)
Could you compare it to a speaker simulator? That cuts off the lowest frequencies too... or is that more audible?
Click to expand...

It is different from a speaker simulator.

It is less audible because it doesn't add any colour to the sound but it is more agressive from the processing viewpoint because the filtering is very steep.
 
#9
I thought I'd share my experience with this nice little box :bassist:

I always played through a Glockenklang stack, consisting of a Soul II and a TakeFive. The Microthumpinator was between the pedalboard and the amp. I never noticed any difference with or without (got to admit, that I wasn't REALLY paying attention to it :ninja:)

Then I bought a Fender TBP-1 preamp and everything changed. The signalchain was more or less the same, pedalboard->microthumpinator->fender tbp->soul poweramp. While playing I noticed that the speakers moved a lot more than with the Glock preamp. Once I pushed that overdrive button on the TBP-1 I thought my speakers are gonna pop out. DAMN, they moved so much I almost **** my pants. Never saw that before :eek:

I was kind of frustrated. The idea to put the Microthumpinator in the footswitchable effect way of the TBP crossed my mind.
And I saw that it was good :)
The difference is HUGE. The possibility to A-B with a stomp on the footswitch shows that in a great manner:

Without the little box, the speakers move like crazy. Then I switch the Microthumpinator in and I hear almost NO difference in tone, but the speakers don't seem to move at all anymore. Volume stays exactly the same.

For me this is a winner/keeper/champion/hero. Protects my cab from very low frequencies that I don't need at all.

Thanks Max!:hyper:
 
#10
Yep, it is an excellent, excellent box. In case anyone's curious, the main difference between the "regular" and "micro" versions is that the regular one can be run at either balanced or unbalanced, and can convert signals from unbalanced to balanced (like a DI box); while the micro is just unbalanced.

It's nothing like a speaker sim--those have a gradual rolloff of the lows and the highs, with everything below 100 Hz (typically, give or take) being affected to some degree. This unit is ruler-flat down to around 30 Hz, then it drops sharply like a steep cliff. IOW, nothing from the low B and up is affected at all, but nothing below that low B can get through. This nulls string thump, mic stand rumble, the thump when you drop/bang your bass against something, and any other source of subharmonic pops/booms.
 
#12
Nope. The fundamental will be cut off, but all the harmonics (including the all-important first harmonic) will be fully transmitted. Considering the nature of practically all amplification, frequencies that low are basically non-existent anyway, and I seriously doubt you'd hear any difference in tonality.
 
#14
Smurf-o-Deth said:
Nope. The fundamental will be cut off, but all the harmonics (including the all-important first harmonic) will be fully transmitted. Considering the nature of practically all amplification, frequencies that low are basically non-existent anyway, and I seriously doubt you'd hear any difference in tonality.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the clear explanation Smurf-o-Deth.

G said:
But if I have a hipshot on my B, and it drops to Ab because my director can't live without those low octaves at the end of the piece, what happens? Is it just muted? I really like the idea of this pedal otherwise!
Click to expand...

The only thing to add to what Smurf-o-Deth said is that removing the subsonic content it is likely that will allow you to increase the volume without making your amp clip.

Because of the limitation of some cabs, often the low-Ab cannot be reproduced. For this reason, we often turn up the bass knob to increase the volume of the harmonics of the notes that the cab cannot reproduce (Ab in your case). The fundamental of the Ab is louder than the harmonics so it makes the amp clip (or work) to amplify something that cannot be delivered.

From the cabinet viewpoint, the cabinet receives a huge amount of energy that cannot be converted in sound. This energy is inevitably converted to heat that in some circumstances can damage the speakers or reduce their lifespan.

You can see this in the video in the micro-Thumpinator web page.
 
#17
I have one on my pedalboard. It's not one of those effects where someone will run up after a gig and gush about how good your Thumpinator sounds. But the sound guy appreciates it when you tell him you're filtering subsonic notes to help protect his PA. Of course, it's nice to know that it's protecting my speakers and lessening the possibility of my amp going into protect mode.
 

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