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Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

#18,961
I really don't want to get back into pedal FX, but I'm thinking about some foot control anyway. It's mighty hard to sling faders or a joystick or mouse while playing a bass.

What I want is something like a Behringer FCB1010, but smaller, with just 2-3 switches and the two expression pedals, and preferably not Behringer. I don't see anything like that out there as a single unit, though. So I'm thinking maybe a MIDI Baby 3 or Hotone Ampero Control, plus a couple of cheap Nektar expression pedals.
 
#18,962
So my first hardware polysynth arrived today -- Audiothingies Micromonsta 2. I'm still figuring out parts of it but the interface is easy and fast, it is small and it sounds great. I am planning to use it with my band rig (Linnstrument, maybe also still the Typhon, or maybe that comes home).

Here it is on the synth table. The second shot is the Mantic Proverb that used to belong to @emjazz but now lives in front of an old bucket brigade delay on the FX send of the bluebox. Feedback heaven.

I am still waiting for the Udo Super 6 desktop to arrive. That may well be the mothership. Or maybe I'll hate it. Who knows?

tempImagel7GD9U.png
tempImageMweuky.png
 
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#18,963
dukeorock said:
Also, there’s a very cool upcoming doc on female pioneers of electronic music from the 1920’s-1980’s called Sisters With Transistors

Sisters With Transistors | Podcast
Click to expand...

I'm watching this now! (I have U-Verse, forget exactly which channel) It's awesome - a lot of what has been brought up here is addressed in the film.
 
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#18,964
Starthief said:
I really don't want to get back into pedal FX, but I'm thinking about some foot control anyway. It's mighty hard to sling faders or a joystick or mouse while playing a bass.

What I want is something like a Behringer FCB1010, but smaller, with just 2-3 switches and the two expression pedals, and preferably not Behringer. I don't see anything like that out there as a single unit, though. So I'm thinking maybe a MIDI Baby 3 or Hotone Ampero Control, plus a couple of cheap Nektar expression pedals.
Click to expand...

If you want infinite programmability and more switches for "later" I really like the RJM Mastermind MIDI controller. Great support too, and it will work with anything. Takes a bit of programming but it's worth it.

Other people like the Logidy or Morningstar controllers but I have no personal experience with them.
 
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#18,966
steubig said:
wow. that is small. lots of menu-diving?
Click to expand...

Not so much. Hit button, edit parameters, hit next button. A couple are 2-3 screens deep but it's the same stuff. Osc 1 osc 2 osc 3. The idea behind this is mostly setting up patches for playing with my band, so it's more like I need to make the patches and have performance parameters.
 
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#18,968
JES said:
So my first hardware polysynth arrived today -- Audiothingies Micromonsta 2. I'm still figuring out parts of it but the interface is easy and fast, it is small and it sounds great. I am planning to use it with my band rig (Linnstrument, maybe also still the Typhon, or maybe that comes home).

Here it is on the synth table. The second shot is the Mantic Proverb that used to belong to @emjazz but now lives in front of an old bucket brigade delay on the FX send of the bluebox. Feedback heaven.

I am still waiting for the Udo Super 6 desktop to arrive. That may well be the mothership. Or maybe I'll hate it. Who knows?

View attachment 4587849View attachment 4587851
Click to expand...

excited for that Super6 to arrive and look forward to your impressions!
I had the MicroMonsta v1 and it was pretty darn nice and easy to navigate. The MicroMonsta2 is way better. Tempting for sure



JES said:
In other news, I was dead tired last night due to drug ***ery, skipped band practice, crawled into bed at 8pm and made these (and a bunch of other stuff) on my iPad before passing out.



Click to expand...


Sounds great!
 
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#18,969
Starthief said:
It's mighty hard to sling faders or a joystick or mouse while playing a bass.
Click to expand...
not shure if this is what would serve you. but its anyway good to know that these exist.
MIDI Expression

i use these ! works great. (quad, with 5pin midi and usb)
the point: you can use common expression pedals and footpedals ( ie. cheap units)
and can "translate" these this way to do midi.
shipps from Taiwan or so ( not US, as one -afaik- could think it is)

the data looper is also interesting, since it has presets allready mapped to ableton live,
to turn ableton live into a loop-station. Has also two expression pedal inputs
- which many such devices have ! (a point to watch, when checking this type of devices)
DataLooper – The Ultimate Ableton Foot Controller
 
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#18,970
and then this: I ***NEED*** an Avalon Bassline !
in case somebody here knows somebody who has one in a closet. (hint, hint ;) )

you know, its like i´m diying,....until i have one.
Long time no see such GAS, haha


ohh, and: ....10$, .......A creative plugin sampler .
grab it to prepare some funny samples for your groovebox sampler. makes a great feeder.
for example to manipulate vocals. I had GREAT results !
can be played very musical.
30:min to 90min until you get it, feel it, and can use it like a pro, for some quick fun with samples.
CR8 Creative Sampler | Waves
 
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#18,972
steubig said:
wow. that is small. lots of menu-diving?
Click to expand...

I spent an hour with it this morning. More initial impressions:

1. I am a flat out idiot for waiting this long to buy an MPE capable hardware synth. So much more fun (and faster) to program than software, or even my iPad. So much more fun to play than a non-MPE synth. To be able to control finely-tuned modulation parameters while playing is just a real pleasure.

2. The mod matrix is quite good. In addition to choosing particular modulators (LFOs, envelopes, aftertouch, note number, etc) you can combine or multiply modulators right in the matrix. It saves using up another slot, though with 10 slots it's easy to get a crazy patch going. My only disappointment is that the effects can't me made modulation destinations.

3. The reverb is a load of fun. I wish it had a few more parameters, but they dialled in an excellent synth reverb. The delay is also nicely programmed so you can go from beat subdivisions to smooth parameter shifts all the way up into Karplus-Strong territory. And depending on how fast or slow you twist the knob, it responds quite musically. No feedback swells but that's ok.

4. Interface-wise, this reminds me of a much simpler version of the Elektron Analog 4 editing setup. No fancy graphics, no virtual knobs, just numbers, but straightforward and honestly maybe easier to see for my aging eyes. The buttons setup for "screens" makes tons of sense, and there's also an alt function for each. Global settings are where you'd expect and make sense.
 
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#18,974
JES said:
I spent an hour with it this morning. More initial impressions:

1. I am a flat out idiot for waiting this long to buy an MPE capable hardware synth. So much more fun (and faster) to program than software, or even my iPad. So much more fun to play than a non-MPE synth. To be able to control finely-tuned modulation parameters while playing is just a real pleasure.

2. The mod matrix is quite good. In addition to choosing particular modulators (LFOs, envelopes, aftertouch, note number, etc) you can combine or multiply modulators right in the matrix. It saves using up another slot, though with 10 slots it's easy to get a crazy patch going. My only disappointment is that the effects can't me made modulation destinations.
Click to expand...

yeah, the mpe thing can be very cool; can give a sense of movement to pads by slight variations of finger pressure and movement

not to sound like a broken record, but the the hydrasynth does the mpe control of effects parameters really well. i think the iridium does as well, but maybe a little be less in depth.
 
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#18,977
steubig said:
yeah, the mpe thing can be very cool; can give a sense of movement to pads by slight variations of finger pressure and movement

not to sound like a broken record, but the the hydrasynth does the mpe control of effects parameters really well. i think the iridium does as well, but maybe a little be less in depth.
Click to expand...

I am tempted but one synth at a time….
 
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#18,980
monsterthompson said:
That’s what was stated in the video. He said they kinda faded away for a bit (not that it was ever high profile) and then came back with an update.
Click to expand...

sorry. didn't watch the vid. back in the dark ages, i really wanted a bass one (sorta like i always wanted an ebow optimized for bass, which was often seemingly one the way, but never materialized). i think someone finally made one for bass.
 
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