I am looking to buy an SY-1 this weekend. I also would like to purchase the Boss FV-500 to use as an expression/volume pedal. I play both passive & active guitars & basses. The FV-500 comes in either a high or low impedance version. Does anyone have any experience with this combination, SY-1+ FV-500, or a recommendation regarding which impedance would best suit both passive/active types of instruments into the SY-1. Thanks
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Boss SY-1 Synth
- Thread starter Phagor
- Start date
FV-500H is for instrument input (high impedance) and FV-500L is for line level input (low impedance).
not sure how you plan on using the EXP for instrument volume and SY-1 Expression controller at the same time,
it will have to be one or the other.
The FV-500 is a very large pedal.
Have you looked at the both the Boss FV-30 and EP_30 pedals?
They are much more compact, and if you want FV and EXP functions at the same time, a pair of these will not be much more than one FV-500.
not sure how you plan on using the EXP for instrument volume and SY-1 Expression controller at the same time,
it will have to be one or the other.
The FV-500 is a very large pedal.
Have you looked at the both the Boss FV-30 and EP_30 pedals?
They are much more compact, and if you want FV and EXP functions at the same time, a pair of these will not be much more than one FV-500.
Right...As far as using the FV-500 with the SY-1, I wasn't thinking of using both functions at the same time(not possible), I did like the idea of having the pedal being capable of either or for use in other applications. Unfortunately, the FV-30 & EP-30 are each $100, the FV-500 is $120. It is big, but I've tried it and liked it.
Thought it might be good to hear a bit more what our SY1s are sounding like in action! Here's a little clip from me in Bass-6 mode.
(I did also do one in Arp-6 mode for us, but sounded quite "noisy" when I tried converting from wav --> mp3 which I think we have to do to up-load? I'm using a basic VLC media player to do the file conversion - anything better for Windows 10 you'd recommend? Ideally not too pricey - the VLC was free!)
(I did also do one in Arp-6 mode for us, but sounded quite "noisy" when I tried converting from wav --> mp3 which I think we have to do to up-load? I'm using a basic VLC media player to do the file conversion - anything better for Windows 10 you'd recommend? Ideally not too pricey - the VLC was free!)
here's my son and I using the organ sound on the SY-1
I like that your boy has his 70's 'stache rocking.
@stonehenge - you made using the SY-1 look like child's play! (Loved it btw!)
Tap tempo?
Question for the forum: I think a few of us (me included) have used the SY-1 with an expression pedal. Are any of you using it with a footswitch to allow tap tempo? It would be great to lock the arp speed with the drums and, in practice, that can be pretty tricky to do with an expression pedal.
If you've done this - be very interested to hear how you got on and any recommendations for a tap tempo footswitch pedal.
Tap tempo?
Question for the forum: I think a few of us (me included) have used the SY-1 with an expression pedal. Are any of you using it with a footswitch to allow tap tempo? It would be great to lock the arp speed with the drums and, in practice, that can be pretty tricky to do with an expression pedal.
If you've done this - be very interested to hear how you got on and any recommendations for a tap tempo footswitch pedal.
With regard to my tap tempo query - had a useful steer on what might / might not work from a mate on UK Basschat, and ordered this today - just over $20 from Amazon Prime over on this side of the pond.
Works just fine as a tap tempo (left switch). The right switch activates the "hold" mode which plays / sustains the last synth note at the pitch when pressed, allowing you to play your clean bass line alongside this. To reset hold mode need to switch on and off with Boss pedal but this still usefully leaves at the adjusted tap tempo.
For non SEQ/ARP effects, the left switch engages an octave glide up, with the right switch for "hold" mode. Boss pedal on / off to reset both to normal synth settings.
For the money, I'd say worth getting.
Works just fine as a tap tempo (left switch). The right switch activates the "hold" mode which plays / sustains the last synth note at the pitch when pressed, allowing you to play your clean bass line alongside this. To reset hold mode need to switch on and off with Boss pedal but this still usefully leaves at the adjusted tap tempo.
For non SEQ/ARP effects, the left switch engages an octave glide up, with the right switch for "hold" mode. Boss pedal on / off to reset both to normal synth settings.
For the money, I'd say worth getting.
Thought I'd share a few settings I'm finding to be very "usable":
Just got this pedal, and I already know fiddling with it will take me awhile 
I'm searching for the Chameleon / Thriller Moog sound, do you have any advices how to dial it ? So far Bass 1/2 is the closest but it sound too close to envelope filter.
I'm searching for the Chameleon / Thriller Moog sound, do you have any advices how to dial it ? So far Bass 1/2 is the closest but it sound too close to envelope filter.
I like having it. You can control the pad swells, the speed of the sequencers, very useful. I use the Boss EV-30. It's dual expression - one side goes to the SY-1, the other to my Wonderlove Deluxe and 3leaf synth section. Check my previous posts for descriptions of this.
One thing I've really begun to love is the hold feature. I use the organ or string sounds for the root and play over the top. Adds so much depth to a 3pc if you set the amount of effect vs direct correctly.
Is there a way to hook up some kind of latching pedal to cycle through sounds? I have the expression pedal. And it def is needed I thjnk if you want to use this pedal live; but I’m wanting to get rid of it cause of the not being able to cycle through presets.. idk how I would do that live but other then that I love the sound quality and price for this pedal. It just might be a deal
Breaker if I can’t find a way to cycle through sounds live. I was thinking of running that pedal up to my waist somehow live so I could control it with my hands as well. Idk though
Also the expression pedal has to have a stereo cable plugging it in correct? My expression doesn’t seem to work all the time and I can’t seem to get my hold feature to work either.
And finally lol, has anyone put fx through the loop or found any use for the fx loop on it?
Breaker if I can’t find a way to cycle through sounds live. I was thinking of running that pedal up to my waist somehow live so I could control it with my hands as well. Idk though
Also the expression pedal has to have a stereo cable plugging it in correct? My expression doesn’t seem to work all the time and I can’t seem to get my hold feature to work either.
And finally lol, has anyone put fx through the loop or found any use for the fx loop on it?
This is what makes me want to unfortunately sell mine. I play in a jam band so if I could cycle through the sound patches with like a latching pedal have the expression this pedal would be an absolute monster. I mean it still
Is. I use it for the opening of “time” by Pink Floyd and the sound is so thick and it tracks even low B really really well. Just that not being able to cycle through sounds on the spot is killing me! I wish I could mod it or somehow have a cheap MIDI that could somehow do this! Cause as I seen posted Earlier to get these many sounds and have saves presets and to have it sounds this rich, it usually costs aaalllooottt more! Which is why I’m trying to make this pedal
Work for me somehow! Lol
As far as I know, no there is no MIDI and all the expression input can do is either tap tempo or expression pedal... boss also has a particular style they like to use which is why a boss/Roland expression pedal is recommended or one that you can have multiple options of the cable style...
The best you can do is pick 2 or 3 sounds you like and only use them one per song and manually switch in between songs. anymore than that I think would be too hard to dial in live. If you need more functionality you really need the bigger units... sy300 will do all you are asking and more but then you get the price tag too.
The best you can do is pick 2 or 3 sounds you like and only use them one per song and manually switch in between songs. anymore than that I think would be too hard to dial in live. If you need more functionality you really need the bigger units... sy300 will do all you are asking and more but then you get the price tag too.
I don't have the SY-1, but I do have the SY-300 and SY-1000.
I use the SY-1000 all the time, I know its not the SY-1, not even close, but if you like the SY-1 and want more,
I recommend trying the SY-1000, even better with a GK setup installed on your bass,
giving you up to 3 different synth/tones which can be allocated to specific strings or mixed in as you play up/down the scale.
I use the SY-1000 all the time, I know its not the SY-1, not even close, but if you like the SY-1 and want more,
I recommend trying the SY-1000, even better with a GK setup installed on your bass,
giving you up to 3 different synth/tones which can be allocated to specific strings or mixed in as you play up/down the scale.
AlexanderB,
All's quiet on my front. Our Covid-19 shut down has been very stringent even in terms of practicing AND we lost our close to 20 yr(!) rehearsal room at the beginning of 2021. That C4 looks very interesting and reasonably affordable considering it's flexibility. Not being able to program patches on the SY-1 will definitely limit its' flexiblity when playing live.
