It’s a lot of functionality, but it doesn’t have the one necessary: the ability to switch presets both ways AND on/off. Try it, you’ll see what I mean, the manual makes it sound like it’s different. Not a huge problem with my EQ since I don’t ever need to bypass the pedal, but could get annoying with a synth.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Boss SY-200 Synthesizer
- Thread starter doran.dragic
- Start date
I guess I see what you mean. I was already planning to grab the FS-7 for a dedicated preset switch, and use the onboard switches for on/off and pitch shift.
Got my sy200 and have it hooked up to an MS3. I've figured out the minimum I think to getting the two working together. Basically, using midi to change patches, enable/disable, and then using the control outs on the MS3 to do note hold and octave up.
How does this pedal work in real life? I have seen a couple of demos, and found the pedal quite unremarkable. Lots of distorted guitar, with a thin layer of synth sprinkled on top of the tone.
Is that how it sounds for real, too? I have the FI and the C4, so benchmarks and expectations are set high for the SY-1 or SY-200.
Is that how it sounds for real, too? I have the FI and the C4, so benchmarks and expectations are set high for the SY-1 or SY-200.
If you have, and are proficient with, the C4 or FI, this really doesn't add much to you. My strong suggestion would be checking out videos of the SY-1 on bass, because there are way more. If you like the sounds in that and feel like you'd use more than 2 or 3 of them regularly, this would be the option to get.
I am not great at programming, so having the dial a sound option is better for me. For instance, I needed a synthy violin sound for a Christmas service at church. Turn to strings, dial out the dry, pitch up, save. Took about four minutes. I had a section where a bell or chime would be needed, dial to a different preset, save, and with an external switch, I can swap on the fly without needing MIDI.
If you're looking for something unique or super customizable, this isn't for you. I like it because it's basically idiot proof, I don't need MIDI, and it's super easy to run my drives in the loop to layer in extra sounds. A synth lead line with a Doom2 hitting the dry mix is a really nice combo.
Thank you! For me, the FI as I use it now is a good (not perfect) solution. I do not use the editing software, but 99 presets and the possibility to adjust and save various key parameters go a long way. But full editing makes it a whole different level.
On the other hand, the Digitech BSW is more like the SY-1, and in a way, I do like the immediacy of one main selector knob, plus 3 sweeping adjustments. But it is also tricky to get it "just right" on stage, and might require a bit of fiddling between songs if I use more than one sound in a set.
Just the fact that you are using it for an audience (not just the half drunken bar crowd) makes it more tempting to me. So far, I have only seen 2-3 members using the SY-1 on stage, and you just expanded that list now.
Doesn’t add a lot on top of those except 1) better polyphony, which on a bass forum, may not be a big selling point anyway.
2) just due to the way the SYs work differently than those, I would contend nuanced timbral aspects of playing come through more readily with the SY than c4 or FI (both of which I previously owned).
C4 has more capability under the hood. I simply don’t enjoy hooking up to the computer or using a phone to edit. My sy200 is also paired with a Zoia so I get above and beyond more options for wacko sounds.
Question about the SY-200 that someone can hopefully answer:
I have a SY-1 that I really like, and I'm thinking about upgrading to the SY-200. However, the SY-1 has an annoying feature: If I hook up an external pedal to get the latchable freeze effect, it turns off the hold freeze feature on the pedal. I really want to have both latch and momentary freeze available.
Can the SY-200 support this? One switch for latch freeze and one switch for hold freeze?
I have a SY-1 that I really like, and I'm thinking about upgrading to the SY-200. However, the SY-1 has an annoying feature: If I hook up an external pedal to get the latchable freeze effect, it turns off the hold freeze feature on the pedal. I really want to have both latch and momentary freeze available.
Can the SY-200 support this? One switch for latch freeze and one switch for hold freeze?
I managed to get that to work by editing the control 1 button to be momentary sound hold, then I set the control 2 (external pedal) to toggle sound hold. External pedal needs to be momentary.
Cool, thanks a lot for checking.
I currently have an EHX Super Ego next to my SY-1 because I want to have both these functions, so a SY-200 will save me some space and of course give me access to presets as well. Looks like I need to update my shopping list
Got curious about using a dual momentary fs with the pedal. Toggling worked, momentary did not. So it seems you will have to rely on the pedal's CTL1 button for momentary as I described above, but maybe you will get different results if your foot switch let's you choose between momentary and latching.
Then because it's already on my board, I tried with an MS3. Both toggle and momentary worked with these settings:
SY200: CTL 2 - SW Mode = toggle
SY200: CTL 3 - SW Mode = moment
MS3: CTL 1 and 2 mode = moment
.... Thought I should take another look since it seems this is influencing purchasing decisions
Then because it's already on my board, I tried with an MS3. Both toggle and momentary worked with these settings:
SY200: CTL 2 - SW Mode = toggle
SY200: CTL 3 - SW Mode = moment
MS3: CTL 1 and 2 mode = moment
.... Thought I should take another look since it seems this is influencing purchasing decisions
Got curious about using a dual momentary fs with the pedal. Toggling worked, momentary did not. So it seems you will have to rely on the pedal's CTL1 button for momentary as I described above, but maybe you will get different results if your foot switch let's you choose between momentary and latching.
Then because it's already on my board, I tried with an MS3. Both toggle and momentary worked with these settings:
SY200: CTL 2 - SW Mode = toggle
SY200: CTL 3 - SW Mode = moment
MS3: CTL 1 and 2 mode = moment
.... Thought I should take another look since it seems this is influencing purchasing decisions
I can live with having to use CTL1 for momentary, but I'll see if I can't find a latch/momentary dual ext switch. Would be nice to have both functions logically in the same place.
It's there, you have to set it up to do what you want. Look at page 11 of the manual to figure out the on/off switch settings. You have to realize that holding the button toggles between the desired behavior.
Set the on/off function to:
PREF = SYSTEM
FUNCTION = MEM/ON
PARAM = DEC.
To switch between DEC MEMORY and ON/OFF you hold the button down. Then tap for the desired function.
Set CTRL 1 to:
FUNCTION = MEM^/HLD
PREF = SYSTEM
Tapping goes up a patch. Hold to switch modes, then tapping toggles a hold.
So now you can go up and down patches, turn off and on, and do sound holds.
If you don't like this setup then go to Amazon, spend $17 on a Hotone dual momentary switch pedal (comes with a stereo patch cable) and configure the CTL2 and CTL3 to go up and down patches.
Observe:
I must say that I am guessing on the hold function in the video, was too lazy to confirm with my bass BUT it visually behaves exactly like the on/off, so.....
Thanks for the details, but that's exactly what I said in my follow up, I've been using the EQ200 since release and I'm familiar with the settings. Preset mode to bypass is one hold + one tap, which is unacceptable mid-song. The external switch is the solution.
No worries, I didn't realize you wanted to switch patches within a song, so yeah, need the external switch.
I've been thinking about upgrading from the sy-1 to the sy-200 as well, wondering if it's worth it. I really like the sy-1, but would like a little more tweak ability and the ability to save presets is nice as well. Let me know what you think if you end up pulling the trigger. Thanks!Cool, thanks a lot for checking.
I currently have an EHX Super Ego next to my SY-1 because I want to have both these functions, so a SY-200 will save me some space and of course give me access to presets as well. Looks like I need to update my shopping list
Last edited:
