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Bit crushers, which is your favorite?

Dr Greenthumb

Dr Greenthumb

Jul 20, 2011
1,067
3,951
Montreal, Canada
#1
So I stupidly sold my Iron Ether Frantabit and ever since I shipped it I've been thinking of replacing it. Getting a new one when Taylor builds some more would be the simplest solution but I'm looking to possibly explore other options.

The Meris Ottobit jr definitely looks like a great option. Though I'm not really looking to dive into a MIDI setup, so from what I read I'm not going to get the most out of it without doing so. The Red Panda Bitmap would also fall in the same category I believe? I heard good things about the Malekko Scrutator and Dr Scientist Bit Quest also. Is the EHX Mainframe any good??

What are you using for your bit crushing??
 
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#5
Although I actually love the effect I never really had any real use for it with the music I play and never owned a dedicated one myself.

I have played around with the one in my Zoom G1Xon digital multi effect and can get a decent bit crushing sound by combining the bit crusher model with the ring modulator (giving some of that reduced sample rate effect, as the sample rate control on the actual bit crusher model doesn't really seems to work as it is supposed to), but still not quite as great a sounding a bit crusher as most of the demos I've heard of dedicated pedals.

If I really had any actual use for a bit crusher and I had the money I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Meris Ottobit Jr., but if my funds where more limited, as they are in reality I would probably go for the relatively new EHX Mainframe, really liked what I heard from the demos of it, and even though I have little use for it I might still get one of those at some point.
 
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#6
Judging by clips I heard, I really like the simple one , Bugbrand made.( Fredric now make a version of it )
Randy's revenge gets me quite close.
I realise neither is actually a bitcrusher, in that neither is digital. Still sound good to me.
 
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#9
my favorite sounding bitcrusher is the Fredric Effects Bugcrusher, it degrades without getting shrill or truly unpleasant, and in that sense it's a great pedal. but it's also only a bitcrusher, where most others pair bitcrushing with other features

the Ottobit Jr is very good but has some issues: no clean blend, so using the sequencer can be annoying. like all the Meris gear it suffers from lack of labeling for alt/secondary features (however of all the Meris pedals its alt features are at least relatively straightforward. still far from ideal for a live setting). the bitcrushing knob barely does much until all of a sudden it does way too much (pre-coffee this is the best description I've got). and I do think having it in the signal chain messes with my tone when in bypass. that said it is still very unique and capable.

I recently got the Bitmap 2 and it's a lot of fun, probably the one I'd recommend most. I'm a big fan of how Red Panda effects balance being very straightforward to use and deeply capable. it's helpful to access the online editor to tweak features and save presets, but you can forgo that without missing too much. the modulation is a great addition (which is assignable to different parameters via the editor), as is the clean blend. there are multiple forms of waveshaping and wavefolding accessible, and the envelope and saturation/drive controls are very capable. it's less capable of being subtle like the Bugcrusher, and aliasing can be a bit trebly, but the filter is very helpful there
 
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#10
I currently have a Malekko Scrutator and it is a really good sounding bit crusher, very musical. Another favorite is the way huge Ringworm, that thing was incredible very similar what you would find on a modular synth with some awesome step sequencing thrown in. I sold mine before they blew up in price due to being discontinued and in high demand, they have since reissued it at a normal price which I may have to jump on!
 
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#11
_One//Man//Mutiny_ said:
I currently have a Malekko Scrutator and it is a really good sounding bit crusher, very musical. Another favorite is the way huge Ringworm, that thing was incredible very similar what you would find on a modular synth with some awesome step sequencing thrown in. I sold mine before they blew up in price due to being discontinued and in high demand, they have since reissued it at a normal price which I may have to jump on!
Click to expand...
Edit, missed the boat on them there Ringworms, they’re back up!
 
#13
Thanks for the input folks! I'm gonna have to look further into some of the suggestions! The Bug Crusher is still being made by Fredric Effects? I was under the impression that they were out of production.. The Ottobit having a bit of tone suck would be a deal breaker for me, does anyone else feels that's the case? I'm not too worried about the secondary functions not being well labeled as I got used to that with the Strymon El Capistan so that doesn't turn me off too bad. The Geiger Counter looks like a whole lot of fun also. I know there a few versions of that one used to be made, possilbly still? I remember looking into the Civilian Issue a few years back. The Bit Quest is also a solid option I think, Dr Scientist makes really great quality pedals and I haven't had some of his stuff on my board in a while.

The Red Panda sounds totally awesome but I feel like it's a bit too much. Though that could be a case of judging by the cover type of thing because I don't feel that way looking at the Meris.. What I liked a lot about the Frantabit was how easy it was to setp to get that sweet ring mod crushing. Though I did feel like it went from not-really-enough-crushing to way-too-much a tad too fast, like @remcult described the Meris.

Still many things to ponder.. I didn't expect to miss a bit crusher that much when I decided to part with the Franta but it really adds a fun twist I miss when I doodle and drone around. Running the Count To 5 into the Franta was a lot of fun..
 
#14
I loved the Scrutator when I had it. It's the only pedal I've found useful with the expression out. I would make pads and lead lines with it as it could go from super tight to really glitchy. Wouldn't mind having one again.
 
#16
If I was in the market for one right now it woud be the Red Panda. It covers a lot of ground and is fully accessable using the knobs. The firmware can be updated and if you want to you can go deeper with MIDI / USB.

Meris pedals have strange choices made in their designs, likely by the hardware limitation thay have chosen by design. They sound great but need a whole support system to be fully utilized. (I feel it's worth it in the end for the sounds). If you are comparing a Frantabit to the Meris you can ignore the MIDI and preset side of things, then you see the differences. Franta is a great box and if you already have a filter, then you have your winner.

If you want simple, definately the bug crusher.
 
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#17
Alien8 said:
If I was in the market for one right now it woud be the Red Panda. It covers a lot of ground and is fully accessable using the knobs. The firmware can be updated and if you want to you can go deeper with MIDI / USB.

Meris pedals have strange choices made in their designs, likely by the hardware limitation thay have chosen by design. They sound great but need a whole support system to be fully utilized. (I feel it's worth it in the end for the sounds). If you are comparing a Frantabit to the Meris you can ignore the MIDI and preset side of things, then you see the differences. Franta is a great box and if you already have a filter, then you have your winner.

If you want simple, definately the bug crusher.
Click to expand...
It's doesn't have to be a super simple one, though I did enjoy that part with the Frantabit. The Bug Crusher sounds good but it might be lacking in terms of option a little. I use a Xerograph Deluxe as filter so that's taken care of. The Bitmap v1 looks easier to use than the v2, so that could be interesting. Or should only the v2 be considered? Since I'm hoping not to dig into MIDI the v1 could be a better option? The Meris sounds so tasty but I see a lot of red flags also. And it's close to 500$ CAD. ouch..

But yeah the Frantabit is great and I never should've sold mine.

Also looked into the Malekko, it does seem really nice but I think I would just get another Frantabit over that. Although it is easily available..
 
#19
Somewhat surprisingly I think I've liked the EQD Bit Commander the best out of what I've tried (others include EQD Data Corrupter, OBNE Dark Star v2, & Strymon Timeline). It's seemed the easiest to dial in so I still feel like I'm playing the bass rather than the pedal or a synth.
 
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#20
Honestly, one of my favorites was the Destroyer setting of the Strymon Mobius. It was great for bass, guitar, keys, and drums.

But one important consideration is which side of the FrantaBit you liked more. I'm a HUGE fan of IE pedals and one awesome aspect of the FrantaBit is that Taylor built in both true digital sample rate reduction and bit depth controls as well as an analog version of bit crushing that is ring mod like.

If you used the latter more, something like the Catalinbread Heliotrope would work well. Or a straight ring mod like the very awesome Randy's Revenge or Moog.

If you liked the digital bit crushing side you might want to check out the Bitquest, Geiger Counter, or Scrutator.

Side note - I also love the BugCrusher but it's a bit of a different animal. It's analog and actually a sample & hold filter (like the old Maestro FSH-1 or original Xotic Robotalk) that is running at audio rates instead of normal LFO rates.
 
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