Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[steubig]

in case you need some self-promotion from me.


another little something i did, now on bandcamp:

besides my usual array of stuff, this also features the akira noise box from Tetsuonoisebox and the particle simulator from Gastonsounds.

 

[monsterthompson]

New listening. Fun.

I just finished a cover and am about to get back into ambient sounding noises on a collaboration with a friend. He sent me a long sample to work with. It’ll end up over a four on the floor beat at some point is my guess. Still.

No crazy new effects in the collection. I did get a Damnation Amp Grinder which is a Rat clone. I’m a big fan of it.

 

[arakiri]

i updated the board a bit final form for now

 

[logdrum]

Hi. Minus the acoustic preamp and the ABY pedal. my ambient, textural and regenerative setup is only 3 pedals and sometimes I use the COSMOS also. I have 4 SOMA LABs synths and effects already. COSMOS, Enner. Lyra-8 and coming soon Rumble of Ancient Times but I am not discussing those.


I use the H90's granular algorithms and I curated about 8 patches from RustyDutch on patch storage original 40 or so granular examples and a few that I created myself . I use with the Artifact and Meris Enzo X. which are looped into H90's as inserts. I do have a proper loop / MIDI switcher but that means carrying a big board and for my avant-garde and free jazz groups that is already intimidating and frankly hampers my and their creativity.

I have 2 pickup sources and a mic on my upright bass. I always have a clean sound into one channel of my Acoustic Image or LoudBox amps. Then the piezo or specifically the electret contact pickup goes into the pedals. I use an active ABY so that I am going into the insert loop and H90 separately or together. This way I can trigger drone or freezes on the Meris, Artifakt or H90 and keep on going.

I do think that even without effects, a bowed upright has already so many sounds already. Since the COSMOS is already a wild beast, I usually do not feed it effected sounds .

I am playing at the 2 day conference called the Southwest Collaborative Music Convergence in Flagstaff this weekend hosted by the Interference Series and Thollem McDonas ( played with William Parker, Nels Clines, Stefano Scodanibbio ect) I had been playing with him since January. Monster pianist and keyboard player. Here is my setup and hopefully the pedalboard arrives on time but I do not think I have the time . I will not be bringing the COSMOS

SWCMC 2026 | Interference Series

www.interferenceseries.org

Yeah it is messy.

I know most of you are EB players and yes. I also use this on my E-C bass and Baritone acoustic tuned Pat Metheny style - Half Nashville, But here's my bass and the mic or the Full Circle will be for the clean unaffected sound and the STAT-B on the wings goes to the pedals. I also have it setup for Sax. with a clip-mic

 

[steubig]

Hi. Minus the acoustic preamp and the ABY pedal. my ambient, textural and regenerative setup is only 3 pedals and sometimes I use the COSMOS also. I have 4 SOMA LABs synths and effects already. COSMOS, Enner. Lyra-8 and coming soon Rumble of Ancient Times but I am not discussing those.


I use the H90's granular algorithms and I curated about 8 patches from RustyDutch on patch storage original 40 or so granular examples and a few that I created myself . I use with the Artifact and Meris Enzo X. which are looped into H90's as inserts. I do have a proper loop / MIDI switcher but that means carrying a big board and for my avant-garde and free jazz groups that is already intimidating and frankly hampers my and their creativity.

I have 2 pickup sources and a mic on my upright bass. I always have a clean sound into one channel of my Acoustic Image or LoudBox amps. Then the piezo or specifically the electret contact pickup goes into the pedals. I use an active ABY so that I am going into the insert loop and H90 separately or together. This way I can trigger drone or freezes on the Meris, Artifakt or H90 and keep on going.

I do think that even without effects, a bowed upright has already so many sounds already. Since the COSMOS is already a wild beast, I usually do not feed it effected sounds .

I am playing at the 2 day conference called the Southwest Collaborative Music Convergence in Flagstaff this weekend hosted by the Interference Series and Thollem McDonas ( played with William Parker, Nels Clines, Stefano Scodanibbio ect) I had been playing with him since January. Monster pianist and keyboard player. Here is my setup and hopefully the pedalboard arrives on time but I do not think I have the time . I will not be bringing the COSMOS

SWCMC 2026 | Interference Series

www.interferenceseries.org

Yeah it is messy.

View attachment 7565517


I know most of you are EB players and yes. I also use this on my E-C bass and Baritone acoustic tuned Pat Metheny style - Half Nashville, But here's my bass and the mic or the Full Circle will be for the clean unaffected sound and the STAT-B on the wings goes to the pedals. I also have it setup for Sax. with a clip-mic

View attachment 7565531

are you from az?

i’ve played with thollem. good dude.

have fun.

 

[monsterthompson]

What are the thoughts on the H90? Is it a playable pedal or menu dive-y? I’m preparing to grab one and hope it can replace a few boxes on my board. I don’t need tons of real time control, but I’m looking for something less involved than the Zoia for building patches. I’m still a tad hesitant to get a huge “do it all” effects unit vs assembling a more modular rig.

 

[logdrum]

are you from az?

i’ve played with thollem. good dude.

have fun.

No from New Mexico. He is based in NM when he is not touring. And this year he is not doing any international tours it looks likes. My buddy Al a drummer is also coming. We are out of towners

The Avant-garde dog Leo is coming

 

[steubig]

No from New Mexico. He is based in NM when he is not touring. And this year he is not doing any international tours it looks likes. My buddy Al a drummer is also coming. We are out of towners

The Avant-garde dog Leo is coming

View attachment 7565742

cool.

he and angela were on constant tour for many years.

you know roch doran out there? excellent photographer.

anyway, tell thollem hi for me.

 

[steubig]

What are the thoughts on the H90? Is it a playable pedal or menu dive-y? I’m preparing to grab one and hope it can replace a few boxes on my board. I don’t need tons of real time control, but I’m looking for something less involved than the Zoia for building patches. I’m still a tad hesitant to get a huge “do it all” effects unit vs assembling a more modular rig.

hey

i have some thoughts on the h90, but i’m traveling right now, so can’t go into it too much. maybe when i’m back.

basically i like it. has some fun stuff in that you can use midi cc and analog expression pedals (2), and can have the foot switches be either latch or momentary (performance mode). so it’s very flexible. but it’s useful even if you don’t use that stuff. i like a lot of the algorithms (but not all). ime, the fuzz stuff is gated, so not useful for me.

 

[monsterthompson]

hey

i have some thoughts on the h90, but i’m traveling right now, so can’t go into it too much. maybe when i’m back.

basically i like it. has some fun stuff in that you can use midi cc and analog expression pedals (2), and can have the foot switches be either latch or momentary (performance mode). so it’s very flexible. but it’s useful even if you don’t use that stuff. i like a lot of the algorithms (but not all). ime, the fuzz stuff is gated, so not useful for me.

Awesome. I'm not in a huge rush, so feel free to reply when you can.
I might actually sell some Erica effects to make room, so you know I'm seriously thinking about this

 

[logdrum]

What are the thoughts on the H90? Is it a playable pedal or menu dive-y? I’m preparing to grab one and hope it can replace a few boxes on my board. I don’t need tons of real time control, but I’m looking for something less involved than the Zoia for building patches. I’m still a tad hesitant to get a huge “do it all” effects unit vs assembling a more modular rig.

I mainly bought it because of the sounds and sound design in general. I had buyer' remorse for sure but I gave it time and now it's my most essential pedal but I do not bring it on my bar gig board. That's what Sonicakes and Donners are for.

Just a brief blurb about how the pedal is orbaized

Lists - 99 programs
Banks 33 per list each bank can contain 3 programs
Program or Patch -- Each program can contain 2 algorithms as a presets , all the program parameter setting (in and out gain, expression setup etc) plus a routing setup
Preset -- a preset is an algorithm that is saved with certain parameters. there are factory presets and you can save them as well
Algorithm -- the core of the pedal --- there are 74 supposedly but I think there are 22 more into 12 xategories. Some parameters are common among algos but may not behave the same, Number and type of parameters cary. Many algorithms have more than one effect. Many times delay and reverb and even filtering is another effect in an algorithm.

So the pedal comes with a factory list of 99 programs. They are grankly to spacy and ambient and more cimenatic sound design except for a few and this is where most users get frustrated/ You just paid 900 or so for a pedal and it is overwhelming and not useable beyond noodling. I also felt this way. So the first think you should do is create another list where you can copy some of the factory programs you like or use, you can get Nate Navarro's list for bass and you can grab the Studio Box list

So when you do an init program, --- you have an A and B slot You choose by category and then choose an algorithm and then take the default or a preset. You can only use A if you like, Then you can decide whether A or B are parallel effects or series. And then they give you 2 inserts where you can connect external pedals as stereo or 2 monos. And there the dual input mode --- which limit you to only 1 algo. But it can even do more in that mode. I haven't tried it yet, About bank, Bank 1 is program 1 -3, Bank 2 is 4-6.. Currently in select mode you have to confirm your selection, but in bank it is instant. But in it's simplest form. Choose a category, which give you a list of presets to audition for A and then another for B or not . Change routing from series (default) or parallel if you need to and call it a day, Save and name and you are done. You can probably get a patch done in 2 - 3 minutes,


Now I am getting into the weeds -- but yeah at any time you can only have 1 list but any time with just 2 - 3 clicks you can load another another list. The app is definitely the way to do all this organization of your list , but it is worth it to

Now for on the fly tweaking. It comes with 3 knobs which you can assign to parameters for A, B and P respectively you jsut have to switch to that context with the params buttons. So if A is Delay, you can assign those to 3 delay parameters that you will be adjusting more and then also when you are in B and then overall patch parameters. And then a Hot Knob assignment. So, with just 1 - 3 movements can get to 10 parameters, Ans then in Switch mode where you have 2 context -- the 3 footswitches x 2 can do simple on or off, momentary and latching and the best thing it can do is be hot switch. I do not think there is a limit of what parameters you can assign to a hot switch. It's like a scene control .

 

[monsterthompson]

I mainly bought it because of the sounds and sound design in general. I had buyer' remorse for sure but I gave it time and now it's my most essential pedal but I do not bring it on my bar gig board. That's what Sonicakes and Donners are for.

Just a brief blurb about how the pedal is orbaized

Lists - 99 programs
Banks 33 per list each bank can contain 3 programs
Program or Patch -- Each program can contain 2 algorithms as a presets , all the program parameter setting (in and out gain, expression setup etc) plus a routing setup
Preset -- a preset is an algorithm that is saved with certain parameters. there are factory presets and you can save them as well
Algorithm -- the core of the pedal --- there are 74 supposedly but I think there are 22 more into 12 xategories. Some parameters are common among algos but may not behave the same, Number and type of parameters cary. Many algorithms have more than one effect. Many times delay and reverb and even filtering is another effect in an algorithm.

So the pedal comes with a factory list of 99 programs. They are grankly to spacy and ambient and more cimenatic sound design except for a few and this is where most users get frustrated/ You just paid 900 or so for a pedal and it is overwhelming and not useable beyond noodling. I also felt this way. So the first think you should do is create another list where you can copy some of the factory programs you like or use, you can get Nate Navarro's list for bass and you can grab the Studio Box list

So when you do an init program, --- you have an A and B slot You choose by category and then choose an algorithm and then take the default or a preset. You can only use A if you like, Then you can decide whether A or B are parallel effects or series. And then they give you 2 inserts where you can connect external pedals as stereo or 2 monos. And there the dual input mode --- which limit you to only 1 algo. But it can even do more in that mode. I haven't tried it yet, About bank, Bank 1 is program 1 -3, Bank 2 is 4-6.. Currently in slect mode you have to confirm your selection, but in bank it is instant. But in it's simplest form. Choose a category, which give you a list of presets to audition for A and then another for B or not . Change routing from series (default) or parallel if you need to and call it a day, Save and name and you are done. You can probably get a patch done in 2 - 3 minutes,


Now I am getting into the weeds -- but yeah at any time you can only have 1 list but any time with just 2 - 3 clicks you can load another another list. The app is definitely the way to do all this organization of your list , but it is worth it to

Now for on the fly tweaking. It comes with 3 knobs which you can assign to parameters for A, B and P respectively you jsut have to switch to that context with the params buttons. So if A is Delay, you can assign those to 3 delay parameters that you will be adjusting more and then also when you are in B and then overall patch parameters. And then a Hot Knob assignment. So, with just 1 - 3 movements can get to 10 parameters, Ans then in Switch mode where you have 2 context -- the 2 footswitches x 2 can do simple on or off, momentary and latching and the best thing it can do is be hotswitch. I do not think there is a limit of what parameters you can assign to a hot switch. It's like a scene control .

Great feedback. I'll give it another read or two but I think I get most of what you're driving at.

Man, I hate(d) Reaktor based synths and effects for understanding patches and presets. It is super powerful but super confusing. I like the sounds but struggled to store them and recall them easily for a long time.

Ultimately, the H90 is attractive for the quality of the effects and the ability to run two stereo paths and have spillover. I don't do a ton of tap dancing when playing, but I'd like to be able to turn a few key knobs while loops run. I'm also looking into Morningstar MIDI controllers for Ableton, and being able to use them on the H90 would be a bonus.

 

[sunbeast]

What are the thoughts on the H90? Is it a playable pedal or menu dive-y? I’m preparing to grab one and hope it can replace a few boxes on my board. I don’t need tons of real time control, but I’m looking for something less involved than the Zoia for building patches. I’m still a tad hesitant to get a huge “do it all” effects unit vs assembling a more modular rig.

I find the H90 relatively easy to use once you get the hang of it. The limitation of two algorithms at once is a kind of blessing in that regard, but also not sure that I would consider it a "do it all" box compared to things like the Anagram, Quad Cortex or HX Stomp because of that limitation (that is very dependent on your needs though). It doesn't do amp/cab emulation stuff, has fairly limited drive/distortion/fuzz capabilities, and any of those more basic building blocks that you use (including the combined comp/EQ algorithm) mean you only have one other more interesting algorithm to add in. I think in a synth-based rig it could definitely do most of what I could want from a stand-alone multi-FX unit for adding depth and space to sounds that already have alot going on, but for bass or guitar not so much. For "ambience" it is absolutely killer for anything I've run through it.

Some of the algorithms have alot of settings that can be adjusted, but I've found most of them pretty intuitive once I've messed with them and tried a few of the presets using each algorithm to see the range of sounds available. The bluetooth editing app capabilities are fantastic, though editing on the box itself isn't terrible considering the size of the unit and screen. For the stuff I've used it for, I generally find the assignable "on the fly" control options sufficient, though adding external MIDI control would definitely open even more doors in that regard.

 

[logdrum]

cool.

he and angela were on constant tour for many years.

you know roch doran out there? excellent photographer.

anyway, tell thollem hi for me.

If I say from Steubig -- he'll know? I sure will

 

[monsterthompson]

Man.
The Reverb effect here at 11:58 is nice.

 

[steubig]

ps on the h90

if you have an ipad, programming over bluetooth becomes *way* easier, as you can see almost all the parameters at once—no “page turning”…

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

since their are a lot of folks into synths here, I thought I would share a video of my Rob O’Reilly Midi Bass Pro controlling my Moog Sub37

 

[Bob_Ross]

Does ^^^that Rob O’Reilly MIDI Bass use a combination of wired-fret sensors and a pitch-sensing pickup, like the Industrial Radio, Steve Chick, and Peavey instruments did?

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

Does ^^^that Rob O’Reilly MIDI Bass use a combination of wired-fret sensors and a pitch-sensing pickup, like the Industrial Radio, Steve Chick, and Peavey instruments did?

For all of those, the fret determines the pitch and velocity is picked up by the pickup (open notes triggered by a string being played without contacting a fret).
The ROR is a similar concept to what Steve Chick designed (he did the tech for the Peavey and Wal midi basses and Industrial Radio is his current brand). The execution is different though. I don’t recollect the exact differences but rather than the frets being hardwired, they are somehow consistently scanned.
I have had a Peavey CyberBass and Industrial Radio midi basses. The ROR has even less latency and is easier to dial in to your playing style. Another bonus is no proprietary cables or rack mounted piece required. You just plug directly into your Synth/Computer/iPad or whatever.

 

[logdrum]

cool.

he and angela were on constant tour for many years.

you know roch doran out there? excellent photographer.

anyway, tell thollem hi for me.

Message conveyed to both of them and back at you. They are doing cool things in Flagstaff

Great show — mix of pre planned and spontaneous , My pedal setup worked. — Granular patches were tasteful bu provided surprises when trigger by percussive and louder notes. A young woman played excellent electric bass and was next to me. Great, show I played next to Thollem and we had some interest in conversations with the sax and upright, it was a 15 piece ensemble but everyone self mixed and worked withe the acoustic and the room resonance of Bb

The vinyl effect on the Source Audio Artifakt bookended the show. I hit it by mistake and the second set ended as if we were listening to the end of a record.