Iron Ether FrantaBit

[godblender]

I'll try that. The manual was a big help- the FrantaBit is a deceptively deep pedal.

I want to get a video demo up, but my stupid recording interface hates Vista and only works every fifth Sunday in Smarch.

Slightly off-topic for a sec....which interface do you use? I need one myself and use Vista, but generally I hear bad things about Vista and....everything interface-related. Thanks.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I've got a Tapco Link.Firewire. Worked fine with XP, only works sometimes with Vista. The company went under, so you won't have to worry about getting one

 

[behndy]

I'll try that. The manual was a big help- the FrantaBit is a deceptively deep pedal.

I want to get a video demo up, but my stupid recording interface hates Vista and only works every fifth Sunday in Smarch.

i LOVE Smarch! drinking Unicorn Blood, the sweet strains of the Rutting Chupacabra if his Easter Bunny Hunt was succesful..... Hawt Nekid GrrLs doing Frank Cosplay from Donnie Darko? WIN.

also, i've used my Motu 828 mk II on a pc with XP, one with Vista, a (shudders) Mac and Win7 with no problems.

 

[Wud]

Hi Bryan,

Isn't Tapco just another name for Mackie / Loud Technologies cheap(er) entry level bits?

Vista is / was terrible.
I'm still on XP for my main music making machines and have also gone over to W7 on other less critical systems.
Firewire chipset updates from the motherboard manufacturer might help as well as inf and bios updates.
Doesn't help if the Tapco Drivers a poohy though

 

[godblender]

Right on. I was actually considering the Motu mk III. But I may have found a nice deal on a used mk II. I'll have to research that one a bit more. Thanks for the input. Much appreciated.

 

[godblender]

The other thing I'd considered was getting laptop of some kind to use independently of my PC specifically for my music. Man I love spending money that I don't have. Mmmmm....credit.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Yeah, it's Mackie-based. I've got both the original Tapco drivers and more recent Mackie universal drivers that are meant to work with it, but it's always a crapshoot. It'll work, then it'll work with consistent audio clicks, then it won't work at all. I just need a new interface rather than wasting so much time trying to get this one to work.

 

[behndy]

yep. i keep a laptop in XP just for DAW use with my Motu 828 mk II. i remembet checking out the Mark III when it came out, not being that impressed with the changes, and deciding to buy a second Mk II as a backup to our llive one at half the price of the Mk III instead.

the Mk ONE was annoying. only passed through signal if the computer was on and sequencer/recording program was loaded. bleh.

 

[Basehead]

what's the bass mod do? retain low end?

Sorry for the late response....Yes!

Not to say there aren't sounds in the Geiger that enhance the higher frequencies, but some get some dangerous low end.

 

[jwr]

I can't even get my piece of **** interface to communicate with my recording program. Most useless thing I've ever spent money on. I have a PreSonus interface and the Studio One program and absolutely loathe it. Not user friendly at all.

On a good note. I love my frantabit. The manual is a must with this one.

 

[behndy]

i've been so busy i havna checked the manual yet. try to do it when i get home. if B-Tie-Fighter and jWARious, Veterans Of The Knob And Switch, say it helped and/or shed light, i'm innnnteresssted.

 

[gastric]

Yeah, it's Mackie-based. I've got both the original Tapco drivers and more recent Mackie universal drivers that are meant to work with it, but it's always a crapshoot. It'll work, then it'll work with consistent audio clicks, then it won't work at all. I just need a new interface rather than wasting so much time trying to get this one to work.

No, get a new OS. Setup a dual-boot for XP or even Windows 7. I had nothing but issues with Vista as a OS for DAW.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

While going to 7 would be nice (I have it on my netbook), changing my OS just so I can use a discontinued product by a defunct company isn't something I want to do

 

[Wud]

But at least you will also be rid of Vista.
Which can only be a good thing.

I know what you mean though, it seems like a lot of hassle just to keep the Tapco going.

Back on topic,
The Frantabit manual has some nice settings, and I got some sick sounds as a result of using them as starting points.
I love it.
Some of the sounds generated are amazing, and it's not just some pedal you turn on and sits on top of your sound doing its thing.
The more you play the pedal the more you get.
Just like Mr Pickles mentioned earler

 

[Mr. Pickles]

And sooo much fun with the exp pedals. I have an EV-5 by Roland which is working fine. I'll need another for my basic Xero. 2 exp pedals take up a lot of real estate so I think I'll keep them on the floor. How is the Moog pedal that Tay recommends?

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

The Moog EP-2 is a great exp. pedal. Very solid, and the knob is very useful. I've had 3 EV-5s, and the EP-2 is a noticeable step up from them. I've got one next to my Mission Engineering exp. pedal.

 

[behndy]

B-Tier - do you like the Mission? which do you have? i pickdc up an EP-1 i think, i like the build quality way better than the Moog, but i miss the knob and the Mission seems to be going from 0-100 when rocked forward abot a third. haveb't spent a lot of time with it though.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I like the feel of the Mission a little more than the Moog- it might be because it doesn't sit as high. I've got the LG-1 or something like that- the one meant for the Little Giant. They're all the same Crybaby chassis though. You can recalibrate it if the calibration is off- there's an instructional video on the site about it. I miss the knob on it too. The Moog's got a ton going for it, and it's really cheap. I don't like the attached cable though- that's been a pain in the ass at times. If I could solder at all I'd rip it out and put a jack in its place.

 

[Smallequestrian]

B-Tier - do you like the Mission? which do you have? i pickdc up an EP-1 i think, i like the build quality way better than the Moog, but i miss the knob and the Mission seems to be going from 0-100 when rocked forward abot a third. haveb't spent a lot of time with it though.

You still owe me money mang! $$$$

 

[behndy]

yeah, i'm worried about the sturdiness of the Moog, but it IS butt cheap and i feel you on the PermaCord.

also..... i get naughty, tingly feelings every time i read "My Chord Fingering Charts" in your sig. dirty, DERTY unwashed Connecticuttian.