DSMnoisemaker & Humboldt Electronics Simplifier Bass Station

[klattman]

I hope DSM Humboldt are listening. This thing is really good and has the potential to be a dominating preamp.

I did end up getting their compressor and it is really fantastic.

Understanding the simplifier low loop and output signal levels would be good to provide and/or modify in the future.

 

[odarellmc]

Some pedals don’t behave correctly in the loops either. Envelope filter and grit pedals don’t seem to have the same amount of input. It’s like the levels aren’t high enough across the board. Most of my pedals have a make up gain/vol so I can make it work. But it does behave differently than I expect for loops.

the simplifier is still my favorite over many many others but I agree that the manufacturer explanations would really help.

I hope DSM Humboldt are listening. This thing is really good and has the potential to be a dominating preamp.

I did end up getting their compressor and it is really fantastic.

Understanding the simplifier low loop and output signal levels would be good to provide and/or modify in the future.

I agree.

 

[odarellmc]

So in thinking more about how these inserts can be useful. Currently running in series with this being last in the chain. If I run my modulation pedals through the pre amp loop, the when I spilt the signal using the lpf on the parallel side. I should only hear modulation in the upper and not lower side of the slipt. Time to experiment again, unless someone else can confirm. What I'm trying to do is keep the low, low mids, solid, while just modulating the upper range of the sound.

 

[odarellmc]

Then again the volume levels are way low on the inserts for this to be a good alternative. Wish DSM were monitoring this thread.

 

[klattman]

So in thinking more about how these inserts can be useful. Currently running in series with this being last in the chain. If I run my modulation pedals through the pre amp loop, the when I spilt the signal using the lpf on the parallel side. I should only hear modulation in the upper and not lower side of the slipt. Time to experiment again, unless someone else can confirm. What I'm trying to do is keep the low, low mids, solid, while just modulating the upper range of the sound.

the lpf doesn’t affect the preamp loop so what you get from that loop is full range. However your can use the preamp eq to dial out some bass and accomplish that.

 

[klattman]

Then again the volume levels are way low on the inserts for this to be a good alternative. Wish DSM were monitoring this thread.

agreed would be great to get a detailed lesson on this thing, especially if there are key things we could be doing to get more out of it.

 

[odarellmc]

agreed would be great to get a detailed lesson on this thing, especially if there are key things we could be doing to get more out of it.

You know this unit is also the only pre amp where the headphone volume turns down the bass as well. Makes you think the level are louder than they are.

 

[odarellmc]

the lpf doesn’t affect the preamp loop so what you get from that loop is full range. However your can use the preamp eq to dial out some bass and accomplish that.

Right.

 

[odarellmc]

I wonder what I need to test level at the inserts

 

[odarellmc]

Just sent message with link here in hopes someone from the company will jump on.

 

[klattman]

You know this unit is also the only pre amp where the headphone volume turns down the bass as well. Makes you think the level are louder than they are.

I hadn't noticed this effect.
Can you be specific about this? Does the headphone output level change something else besides the headphone out level. This could explain some strange behavior. Looking at their wiring diagram I can't imagine how.

 

[odarellmc]

I hadn't noticed this effect.
Can you be specific about this? Does the headphone output level change something else besides the headphone out level. This could explain some strange behavior. Looking at their wiring diagram I can't imagine how.

What I'm noting here is that other pre amps headphone out just controls the headphone not the bass. this pre amps headphone out controls headphone out put for the entire unit.

 

[klattman]

What I'm noting here is that other pre amps headphone out just controls the headphone not the bass. this pre amps headphone out controls headphone out put for the entire unit.

If I understand you, you mean that only the headphone is affected? I can see that.

 

[odarellmc]

If I understand you, you mean that only the headphone is affected? I can see that.

Yeah. I just been listening via headphones. Need to use the out in an amp or daw. I think the headphone amp make you think more signal level is there than there actually may be.

 

[klattman]

Yeah. I just been listening via headphones. Need to use the out in an amp or daw. I think the headphone amp make you think more signal level is there than there actually may be.

Yeah the headphone gain can make up the difference in gain I was talking about. My main concern is the AMP and DI outs. I gigged with it yesterday (using amp on stage and DI to FOH) outdoors and the FOH said it was good, but of course good is subjective and I wasn't able to listen from out there.

I think a tutorial with examples of using the blend/filter/loops and explaining the signal levels would help. Apart from adding a gain knob to the parallel side.

Also would be nice to drive input sensitive pedals (Env filter, overdrive) within the loops, but I haven't found a way to do that yet, so I've been relying on the preamp gain in the bass station which is pretty good and putting the Efilter ahead of the bass station. (Chorus in the preamp loop, compressor in the parallel loop to add more to that side).

@Dsmnoisemaker

 

[odarellmc]

Yeah the headphone gain can make up the difference in gain I was talking about. My main concern is the AMP and DI outs. I gigged with it yesterday (using amp on stage and DI to FOH) outdoors and the FOH said it was good, but of course good is subjective and I wasn't able to listen from out there.

I think a tutorial with examples of using the blend/filter/loops and explaining the signal levels would help. Apart from adding a gain knob to the parallel side.

Also would be nice to drive input sensitive pedals (Env filter, overdrive) within the loops, but I haven't found a way to do that yet, so I've been relying on the preamp gain in the bass station which is pretty good and putting the Efilter ahead of the bass station. (Chorus in the preamp loop, compressor in the parallel loop to add more to that side).

@Dsmnoisemaker

I agree with you that the levels are to low to drive certain pedals. I still haven't played through my Amp yet. Ive heard from other posters that when running to foh the XLR are reported as working fine. It has to be a case that certain pedals don't do well in the loop/Inserts. Please @Dsmnoisemaker chime in.

 

[klattman]

Current Setup that appears to work. For something called a simplifier it seems more complicated than it should be.

Chain is Wireless->subsonic filter->tuner-->Envelope Filter ->Bass Simplifier->Quilter

Preamp Channel loop has the chorus

Parallel loop has the Compressor and a straight boost if I don't need compression.

 

[odarellmc]

Current Setup that appears to work. For something called a simplifier it seems more complicated than it should be.View attachment 4771775

Chain is Wireless->subsonic filter->tuner-->Envelope Filter ->Bass Simplifier->Quilter

Preamp Channel loop has the chorus

Parallel loop has the Compressor and a straight boost if I don't need compression.

If you increase the output of your compressor that should negate the boost pedal yes? It's a thought considering the compressor is always on...

 

[klattman]

If you increase the output of your compressor that should negate the boost pedal yes? It's a thought considering the compressor is always on...

Either the compressor has to be on and much higher output than unity to compensate, or I use the boost pedal within the parallel loop.

 

[odarellmc]

This is my proposed build going to see how well the SA lunar and aftershock does in the preamp loop and the hyper Lluminal in the parallel loop. However I need other cables for the loops...