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Good Bit Crusher for Bass

#2
AFAIK, all the "bit crushers" available in pedal form are actually sample rate reducers, so the sound is different from crunchy 8-bit Nintendo sounds - these pedals sound more like a really low quality mp3, or a square wave ring moduator. They can sound very cool, but really different from old video game synths IMO.

I'm not aware of any pedal-format bit crushers, but some people use the Alesis Bitrman with guitar and bass with good results. You have to do some modding on these because they don't have 1/4" input or output and the levels are made for record players.

There's also Doepfer and Harvestman modules, but again these aren't meant for bass and some effort/extra gear would be needed to make it work.
 
#5
conical johnson said:
I'm not aware of any pedal-format bit crushers, but some people use the Alesis Bitrman with guitar and bass with good results. You have to do some modding on these because they don't have 1/4" input or output and the levels are made for record players.
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Actually I have a Bitrman, and it does have quarter-inch inputs and outputs, and actually has an input gain knob which when you crank it up a bit, can take in instrument level just fine. I use it with my bass all the time. Great unit. The only real problems with it is that it doesn't have a stomp switch for bypass, just a plastic button (whatever, I step on it anyway), and it has funky power requirements (9VAC).

Also, +1 on the WMD Geiger Counter.

The Devi Ever Bit is actually just a really gated fuzz, but can cop the 8-bit sound pretty well.
 
#6
Hmm, for some reason I thought the Modfx series only had RCA i/o. In that case, it's not really a good design for either bass/guitar or DJs. Weird.

You're (both) right about the WMD. I had forgotten about that one. I have to try one of those out, it has a lot of interesting sounds to offer - though the aesthetic seems a little like it's trying to appeal to the XTREME FLAVOR-BLASTED DORITOS scene (or maybe people who want a Metasonix box that won't offend the wife). But of course looks aren't what it's all about.
 
#7
I have a suggestion. Its totally just an idea with next to no experience in it.

You could just run your signal through an octave or two up then run that through a down octave or two. Follow that up with a gated fuzz.

I have played around with octave ups and they make your tone super flat and thin.
 
#9
From what I understand it's a lot cheaper to build yourself a bit crusher out of some old electronic gizmo with the right components than it is to buy one. They're a new concept and the big-name pedal companies haven't developed any yet, so boutique is the only way to go.
 
#15
BOSS VF-1 has some good, usable bit crusher/lofi effects available. Includes a lot of functionality - bit rate, sample rate, clean blend, and a resonant (but static) LP/BP/HP filter as well. Not to mention you get tons of other effects, too. 1/2 rack unit, can be controlled via MIDI or 1-2 foot switches.
 
#17
cybersnyder said:
I'm thinking about giving the red panda a try. I already have a stereo tone core dock with my Echo Park pedal, so all I would need is the module.
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The Red Panda Labs bitcrusher is in fact awesome. I have one, and have blathered on about it at great length over at I Love Fuzz ( http://www.ilovefuzz.com/viewtopic.php?f=149&t=6986 ). It does far more than bitcrush, and can do all kinds of crazy oscillating / effect doubling things when you use a stereo dock. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to make crazy sounds.
 

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