Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[Flabzilla]

Ok, seriously thinking of going to something like the Fractal Audio format to better address my recording and effects needs. The AX8 is the most appealing, despite being end of life (it has the built in switches, 4 expression pedal port, and price- wise is do-able). Of course stereo effects loop is a must, so Headrush gig board is out. (will need to have the loop for all the tasty, crazy stuff not modeled but my temptation is to address needs that are amp and cab emulation, drives, compression/ eq oriented). I've been concerned previously with the tweak- time, but I've had to tweak so much lately and need even more gear to address my needs, that it no longer is a concern. Anyone here use any of the stuff available now or have an opinion on it? Thanks!

Sold an AX8 a little while ago; if you like tweaking via a computer interface then you might like it. I didn’t.

Not much bass specific stuff on it re amps and cabs, and bassists on the Fractal forum complained often. There are some good demos on YouTube (guitar mostly) by Leon Todd showing him setting up amps via the software, which may give you an idea of how useful/annoying it may be.

 

[monsterthompson]

Having a brutal time trying to mix the live show and EQ/filter the noise. The balance is just wacky, and not as even as the room felt. Part of me thinks I should’ve gone with the big Behringer digital mixer for individual channel recording.

 

[dukeorock]

Having a brutal time trying to mix the live show and EQ/filter the noise. The balance is just wacky, and not as even as the room felt. Part of me thinks I should’ve gone with the big Behringer digital mixer for individual channel recording.

Always a crapshoot without separate outputs...but you knew that

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Sold an AX8 a little while ago; if you like tweaking via a computer interface then you might like it. I didn’t.

Not much bass specific stuff on it re amps and cabs, and bassists on the Fractal forum complained often. There are some good demos on YouTube (guitar mostly) by Leon Todd showing him setting up amps via the software, which may give you an idea of how useful/annoying it may be.

I don't mind the programming part, seems straight up enough, I have watched quite a few tutorials/videos. In that respect, the Fractal seems the best as far as options over the Headrush and Helix despite requiring a computer for the quickest solution. Not really worried about having a ton of bass amp emulations myself, for the basses a straight up clean channel with parametric is all I've ever really needed for front end (will be using this with power amp and cabs). The primary need for the coloration is for piccolo bass so I'd really be interested in a lot of the guitar oriented options. There do seem to be a lot of bass oriented IR etc. coming down the pipe though, it is a pretty big discussion with the company and on the forums, lots of 3rd party IR sharing going on. What did you think of the sounds you got from it? Was it the tweaking that turned you off or lack of amps/ sound quality?

 

[Flabzilla]

I don't mind the programming part, seems straight up enough, I have watched quite a few tutorials/videos. In that respect, the Fractal seems the best as far as options over the Headrush and Helix despite requiring a computer for the quickest solution. Not really worried about having a ton of bass amp emulations myself, for the basses a straight up clean channel with parametric is all I've ever really needed for front end (will be using this with power amp and cabs). The primary need for the coloration is for piccolo bass so I'd really be interested in a lot of the guitar oriented options. There do seem to be a lot of bass oriented IR etc. coming down the pipe though, it is a pretty big discussion with the company and on the forums, lots of 3rd party IR sharing going on. What did you think of the sounds you got from it? Was it the tweaking that turned you off or lack of amps/ sound quality?

Quality is great, I just found I prefer twiddling knobs to the software. I was really wasn’t able to work out how to make something like a Transmisser for example, smarter people might be able to.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Quality is great, I just found I prefer twiddling knobs to the software. I was really wasn’t able to work out how to make something like a Transmisser for example, smarter people might be able to.

Yeah for things like the Transmisser or my Enzo for example, having a stereo effects loop is essential. Glad to hear the sonic quality was a non- issue, I really appreciate the input!

 

[dukeorock]

More silly nonsense with my modular skiff. This jam uses a Pamela’s New Workout and Malekko Varigate 4+ sequencing a Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas Alter and SSF Entity for the tribal kinda drums. OT midi sequencing the MicroMonsta for bass and synth stuff. A4 was used for hats and snare.

 

[monsterthompson]

Well that’s fun.

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

Nice! You are getting good results pretty quickly!

 

[monsterthompson]

I started digging into Kontakt yesterday. I’m thinking of using my bass and effects to create a MIDI playable sampled instrument.

I already got some interesting results with a vocal sample. I’m not exactly sure how it worked but I liked the result. It was a spoken piece and it modulated as it sustained, not unlike a wavetable.

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

I am not doing much with samples beyond grabbing a few from my Buchla into my Analog Rytm mk2. I think I am going to use my iPad for a few samples this week - mostly from Quanta and Border Lands Granular synths. I dig them both, very different UIs and approaches to granular.

I used to do a lot more w/Kontakt but I have moved away from NI stuff - I really like NI stuff and I would probably really lean on a mostly NI set-up if I worked mostly in the box.

So, Monsterthompson suggested I pop into this thread from a comment or two I made on the Zoia thread. I know I have just started making comments without introducing myself. I will do a little intro post (maybe not so little) sometime in the next day or so.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

After learning that the Fractal looper does do sound on sound, I found one for a reasonable price and went for it.
Should be an interesting rabbit hole, really hoping for solid integration and physical simplification of my setup. Also hoping the lions share of my standard effects (pitch shifting, drives, reverb, delays) will be able to be done in the virtual environment to my satisfaction. We shall see.

 

[monsterthompson]

Anyone have experience with the EHX 95000 looper?

 

[cosmicevan]

Anyone have experience with the EHX 95000 looper?

Nope but this showed up.today...

 

[dukeorock]

Anyone have experience with the EHX 95000 looper?

I had one for 6 months or so. It’s ok. I like all the channels, but midi clocking was hit and miss. Easy to run out of headroom quick too, but that could’ve been operator error. One more for the plus category is you can save a bunch of loops. it has some serious positives, but a bit wonky in execution at times for me

Nope but this showed up.today...

Sweet! Can you control it ok?

 

[monsterthompson]

Nope but this showed up.today...

So many things.

 

[Spectrum]

Nope but this showed up.today...

Neat photo of...what, exactly?

 

[cosmicevan]

Its a montreal assembly 856 for zellersasn. I have no idea how it works. Its a looper that does montreal assembly stuff to your loops. Reading the manual amd waiting for the kiddies to go to sleep to give it a whirl.

 

[cosmicevan]

Spent some time w the zellersasn...whoooo boy. I had no idea what I was getting into. I KINDA (no not really at all) get it. I recorded a small loop and began mangling it in such glorious ways. There was a whole section I didnt touch and I barely understood what I did touch. For a while I cpuldnt get it to stop. Lol.

If I can get my head around this thing, this could change the game for me and open things up without having to dig into the rack synth world. I have too many gear things to learn now, but the process is so fun for a tweaker!

 

[monsterthompson]

I’m eyeballing the Morphagene and thinking of how to incorporate it. Of course that just opens the rack floodgates.