Boss SY-1 Synth

[tombowlus]

I've been loving this pedal for a while, but just found this thread. If anyone missed it, you may enjoy Bass Gear Magazine's review of the ST-1 (and Bass Mono Synth).

 

[gumtown]

I now have its big Brother, the SY-1000, and the SY-300.

Great synth technology.

 

[tombowlus]

I am impressed with how well the SY-1 tracks, and noticed that it tracks better and has less artifacts than any of the dedicated octave pedals I have tried, so I played around with some settings for an "octave down, blended with dry signal" function. My success rate really ramped up once I set both the Tone/Rate and Depth to their fully counter-clockwise (lowest) settings. In this configuration, there are a number of different Type/Variation settings that work fairly well for an octave-down function, and you can pick the one that has the best feel for what you are after. Right now, I am preferring Bass, Variation 8. I have the dry signal at noon, and the effected signal slightly louder, at 2 o'clock. This seems to track better and sound better than my dedicated octave down pedals, though I haven't tried it on a gig yet (will do that tomorrow).

What settings have y'all been using for octave down? How about blended octave down with clean (if different)?

 

[PhishPhan22]

So, I picked one of these up, and I am enjoying it. Starting to run into the challenge of what to set this to that is distinct from what I have already. I have an octave / fuzz combo I'm happy with for the dirty synthy sounds (MXR BOD and 3Leaf Doom 2, if curious), and I plan on picking up a POG2 next paycheck.

Kind of hitting option paralysis. Any thoughts or starting points? On gig lockdown with coronavirus, so I have a lot of time to fiddle. I do have an expression pedal to hook in as well.

I’ve been Waiting to hear about someone using the expression pedal with it. I’m waiting for it now. I play jam music so we go everywhere this pedal could be cool but if I can’t control the rate/depth on fly then idk

 

[PhishPhan22]

I’ve been Waiting to hear about someone using the expression pedal with it. I’m waiting for it now. I play jam music so we go everywhere this pedal could be cool but if I can’t control the rate/depth on fly then idk

I’m also wondering would my phaser and octave sound better in loop of the sy1?

 

[theunknowndude]

I’ve been Waiting to hear about someone using the expression pedal with it. I’m waiting for it now. I play jam music so we go everywhere this pedal could be cool but if I can’t control the rate/depth on fly then idk

the demo of “Dave meets the sy1” he uses the expression pedal... one of the better demos there for sure.

 

[tombowlus]

I am impressed with how well the SY-1 tracks, and noticed that it tracks better and has less artifacts than any of the dedicated octave pedals I have tried, so I played around with some settings for an "octave down, blended with dry signal" function. My success rate really ramped up once I set both the Tone/Rate and Depth to their fully counter-clockwise (lowest) settings. In this configuration, there are a number of different Type/Variation settings that work fairly well for an octave-down function, and you can pick the one that has the best feel for what you are after. Right now, I am preferring Bass, Variation 8. I have the dry signal at noon, and the effected signal slightly louder, at 2 o'clock. This seems to track better and sound better than my dedicated octave down pedals, though I haven't tried it on a gig yet (will do that tomorrow).

What settings have y'all been using for octave down? How about blended octave down with clean (if different)?

FWIW, using the above settings for an octave-down effect worked great on the gig last weekend.

 

[gustobassman]

I’ve been Waiting to hear about someone using the expression pedal with it. I’m waiting for it now. I play jam music so we go everywhere this pedal could be cool but if I can’t control the rate/depth on fly then idk

I use the Boss EV-30. Great match for the SY-1. I use it mainly for pad swells and for the sequencers. So fun.

I love this pedal. I've been using organ #4 for a ragtime thing my reggae band does (drummer on melodica, lol). Sounds really good. I'll try to get a clip posted.

 

[HG1180]

I have been interested in the Boss Synth pedals, but I just don't know how to use these sounds with my metal band.

For bass solos! Might make atleast one person stay for it.

 

[Al Krow]

FWIW, using the above settings for an octave-down effect worked great on the gig last weekend.

Looking forward to giving your patch a spin! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Al Krow]

@tombowlus - yup that works just fine. The only thing I changed (and maybe because I was playing through headphones) was to max out the effect vol, rather than have it at 2pm.

Overall I felt that it was a little too 'clean' as an octave for me - I actually preferred the octave down on my Zoom multifx, that's a bit grittier and the octave down punchier as a result; so it looks like the SY-1 is going to stay focused on synth duties rather than being an octave pedal on my board

 

[tombowlus]

@tombowlus - yup that works just fine. The only thing I changed (and maybe because I was playing through headphones) was to max out the effect vol, rather than have it at 2pm.

Overall I felt that it was a little too 'clean' as an octave for me - I actually preferred the octave down on my Zoom multifx, that's a bit grittier and the octave down punchier as a result; so it looks like the SY-1 is going to stay focused on synth duties rather than being an octave pedal on my board

Yeah, I have other pedals - like my OC-2 and 3Leaf Octabvre - which do the more "synthy/quacky" obvious effect, so I was wanting an option for adding that lower octave, but without so many artifacts. Which Zoom do you use? I have a B3n which I have not used much. Maybe I should break it out again?

Thanks, Tom.

 

[theunknowndude]

For bass solos! Might make atleast one person stay for it.

I currently use my dirty robot for intros in my metal band, hoping the sy1 when it’s finally comes does a better job!

 

[Al Krow]

Yeah, I have other pedals - like my OC-2 and 3Leaf Octabvre - which do the more "synthy/quacky" obvious effect, so I was wanting an option for adding that lower octave, but without so many artifacts. Which Zoom do you use? I have a B3n which I have not used much. Maybe I should break it out again?

Thanks, Tom.

I'm using a B1-4, which should be pretty identical in terms of patches to your B3N (which I also had previously). I'd be surprised if the Zoom was anything like as good as a dedicated pedal such as your 3 Leaf Octabvre though? I'm really only using my Zoom for octave down as that's on my mini board alongside my SY-1 and I don't have a dedicated octaver on the board.

 

[Al Krow]

I currently use my dirty robot for intros in my metal band, hoping the sy1 when it’s finally comes does a better job!

As a former Dirty Robot owner, I can assure you it will

 

[theunknowndude]

As a former Dirty Robot owner, I can assure you it will

Thanks! Yeah I was just using it for long filter sweeps but figure sooooo many other things the sy1 can do!

 

[eriky4003]

Agree with Al Krow on the dirty robot. The SY-1 can do do much more.

 

[PhishPhan22]

the demo of “Dave meets the sy1” he uses the expression pedal... one of the better demos there for sure.

I cant get the expression pedal to do anything? Anyone else having an issue? Like if I play the pedal without exp pedal put in and mess with tone rate knob is entirely diff sound then when i plug in the expression pedal. Is it only certain patches you can sharply control the waves and what not? I can’t even tell I have it plugged in and I def rocking it back and forth and I’ve done most the basic research on the pedal. I’m stuck? I thought it controlled the rate/tone like as If you were actually turning the button as you played yourself. Any help? Plz!

 

[Al Krow]

I cant get the expression pedal to do anything? Anyone else having an issue? Like if I play the pedal without exp pedal put in and mess with tone rate knob is entirely diff sound then when i plug in the expression pedal. Is it only certain patches you can sharply control the waves and what not? I can’t even tell I have it plugged in and I def rocking it back and forth and I’ve done most the basic research on the pedal. I’m stuck? I thought it controlled the rate/tone like as If you were actually turning the button as you played yourself. Any help? Plz!

What sort of cable are you using to connect the expression pedal? If you're using a standard 'TS' guitar cable it won't work. You need to be using a 'TRS' cable.

 

[PhishPhan22]

What sort of cable are you using to connect the expression pedal? If you're using a standard 'TS' guitar cable it won't work. You need to be using a 'TRS' cable.

I got it figured out I was having a dumb moment. I remember i think I need stereo cable to use it. I was trying to figure out a way to hook up the expression and the tap/tempo octave changer all same time. That would be almost as good as programmable presets I think. Especially for myself, I play in a jam band so you never know sometimes where the “jam is going” hence the fun of these types of pedals! Lol

also if anyone knows what pedals are really good to throw in it’s loop let me know.. I interested. I just don’t know if I put them in the loop can I still use them without engaging the Synth?


Thanks everyone!