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Doubling on bass synth -- hardware suggestions

#41
markxander said:
Not sure if this is the right section or not. I'm looking to add a standalone bass synth and not sure where to start. I'm a pretty good keys player so it'd be easier for me to just play on a keyboard instead of dealing with pedal latency or midi pickups or whatever.
  • I'd like something relatively small and light, but reasonably close to full sized keys (only an octave or two needed)
  • I'd either go direct or run it into my bass amp and cab
  • Polyphony/the ability to do some pads and chords and stuff in addition to fat bass lines would be excellent
  • I don't care if it's analog or digital
  • An onboard sequencer isn't necessary but it would be a plus
Is anyone here doubling on synth bass? What hardware are you using?
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I double on synth bass in my No Doubt tribute band, and I decided on a Moog Sub Phatty mono synth. I run the synth direct into a A/B/Y splitter, so I can switch between bass and synth, and still use my amp for the stage. They make some very inexpensive splitters these days.
 
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#42
I second Korg MS2000 and Behringer Deepmind 6. There's also Behringer MS-1 if you wanna brandish a keytar and don't care for presets. 37 keys is an optimal number IMO.
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I also recommend you to check Alesis Micron aka Akai Miniak.
upload_2024-5-3_21-23-38.png
 
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#45
Holdsg said:
I'm JPJ in a Zeppelin tribute band, so I need more than just a micro or mini keys rig. For several songs I play keys with bass in LH.
I use a Korg Kronos. a bit overkill for just synth bass, but that's what I've used for 10+ years for any sound imaginable.
I've always toyed with owning a dedicated synth just for bass, but never pulled the trigger.
A friend of mine has a Fender Rhodes piano bass like Manzarek used in The Doors. That would be a very good, but one-trick pony.
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Bass pedal, anyone :)
 
#46
I went with an ASM Hydrasynth, which is a great synth but one which I would not recommend to beginners to synthesis like I was.

I'm going to buck the trend and say that I do not recommend mono synths, I like to be able to play octaves for emphasis and effect. If you're only doing bass with it I recommend 36+ keys, which will give you a two full octaves regardless of what key you are playing in.
 
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#47
Another thing to consider is the key range. Preferably you at least want an E as the lowest note. If you need to go lower than E look for a keyboard with a few more notes below the E. For years years I avoided buying a Nord keyboard because the bottom note was an F unless you got the 88-note keyboard. When they started putting an E as the lowest note I bought one specifically so I would be able do left-hand bass when needed.
 
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#48
LordRyan said:
Another thing to consider is the key range. Preferably you at least want an E as the lowest note. If you need to go lower than E look for a keyboard with a few more notes below the E. For years years I avoided buying a Nord keyboard because the bottom note was an F unless you got the 88-note keyboard. When they started putting an E as the lowest note I bought one specifically so I would be able do left-hand bass when needed.
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Or you could press the -1 octave button.
 
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#50
Quatschmacher said:
That’s very tricky in the middle of a line and it also using the mod wheel at the same time. Some folks seem to be able to do it but it’s beyond my multitasking capabilities.
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It’s not bad at all with practice and an instrument with a well thought out interface layout. I do it all the time with my Sub 37. Left thumb on the pitch or mod wheel puts the octave buttons at the left hand’s fingertips. But again, it’s easy because of the instrument’s layout.
 
#51
I was lazy and went with this: https://reverb.com/item/65022351-ba...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=65022351

the guy who made this still makes them. He just doesn’t have them posted right now.

for 400, it scratches the itch. I run it into pedals sometimes but it is mostly a 1-trick pony for bass synth.

occasionally I wish I had another octave. But I like it because it is just a single unit. I plug in power and a 1/4” jack. Done!
 
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#53
So, just curious (tongue in cheek) how close did we come to answering the original question?

markxander said:
…I'm a pretty good keys player so it'd be easier for me to just play on a keyboard instead of dealing with pedal latency or midi pickups or whatever.
  • I'd like something relatively small and light, but reasonably close to full sized keys (only an octave or two needed)
  • I'd either go direct or run it into my bass amp and cab
  • Polyphony/the ability to do some pads and chords and stuff in addition to fat bass lines would be excellent
  • I don't care if it's analog or digital
  • An onboard sequencer isn't necessary but it would be a plus
Is anyone here doubling on synth bass? What hardware are you using?
Click to expand...
 
#54
W_R said:
So, just curious (tongue in cheek) how close did we come to answering the original question?
Click to expand...
Honestly... Really close? There's a ton of guys on here that apparently play bass and synth and some really informed opinions. I haven't bought anything (yet) but I do feel a lot more prepared while I browse.

From a musical perspective and serving the actual purpose I have planned for this piece of equipment, an analog monosynth is very cool and useful -- I really like the demos I've heard of the Korg MS-20 reissues because they're a little different from what I think of as a classic big fat sub Moog sound.

I guess because I'm a fine enough keyboard player I'm hesitant to get something that's so limited -- something like the Hydrasynth with its unique controls and flexibility is equally tempting.

It sounds like I either need to buy one of each, or reevaluate what I'd actually use it for. I already have a controller and a bunch of softsynths on my desktop so I don't really need either, but it would be very handy for live stuff.
 
#55
Eli_Kyiv said:
There's one for sale in Lviv (~500 km from me) for $150. Postal delivery would cost maybe $5. I've gotta say I'm seriously tempted.
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It's a fun little synth! I had one many years ago as the first iteration of my bass synth / pedal setup. You really needed to use the computer editor to make good use of the details, but I'd make sure something like that's available for modern operating systems as it's been a long time.
 
#57
jasonbraatz said:
It's a fun little synth! I had one many years ago as the first iteration of my bass synth / pedal setup. You really needed to use the computer editor to make good use of the details, but I'd make sure something like that's available for modern operating systems as it's been a long time.
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Sure. But, even if the editor doesn't work in Windows 10/11, I still can make a virtual Windows XP machine and run it from there. I did this with my CME U-Key 49 MIDI keyboard, and my Ensoniq TS12 before that.
 
#59
All this points to keeping it simple. For me, rigs simplify the more I use them!

still: synth and stand, midi foot pedal keyboard, mini-mixer, powered pa cab (sometimes small subwoofer too).

Add head and cab, instruments, pedal board ….
 

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