John Davis.Nerve Synth quest.

[The Lurker]

I can set my MAM RS-3 to be controlled only by the foot pedal, and I bet some other high-end filters are also able to disengage the envelope follower.

really? besides, the RS-3 and moog, what ones?

 

[dirtgroove]

really? besides, the RS-3 and moog, what ones?

not sure if it counts as it's more of a synth but the korg g5 allows you to control the filter w/ an expression pedal.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Any other options out there to get that sweep type sound from the first clip? Moog is probably way overkill for anything I'd want to do.

 

[moogboy]

Boss made a unit that you could control with an expression pedal. i dont remember what its called though. if you need i that bad, you can sacrifice a wah and your envelope filter, you would just do what MXR did with the VariPhase, which was a Phase 90 in a wah case with the pedal controling the speed.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Anybody got any decent clips of the MF-101?

 

[bongomania]

The Frostwave Resonator comes to mind. If you Google "analog lowpass filter", amongst the dreck you will find a half-dozen companies that specialize in boutique analog synth modules, and practically every maker of lowpass filters for that market includes an expression pedal input, and does not necessarily include an envelope follower.

 

[Joe P]

I'm guessing the both the OC2 and OC3 do this equally well- right?
Or to put it another way- does the OC3 have a specific advantage over the OC2?

'Equally as well'?: Most around hear say that when it comes to just the TONE, the OC-2 is the winner - but I find a major tendancy around here to always have it said that 'the current model sucks, compared to the discontinued one'.
When it comes to killer-fat, solid, solid tone - best I've heared is the Ampeg down-octaver. -the Scrambler-style one. But I like the more 'distant', 'blowing across a jug'-tone of the OC-3 (NOT-so 'solid').

I use OC-3. I put the OC-3 AFTER my OD - Diesel Dawg - there's a difference in how the octave sounds with the Dawg on or bypassed (remember - this is in POLY, so it can better-take more complex signals).

I usually employ it in one of a few different ways, using the 'guitar'-input (the internals of it definately get voiced differently for these two inputs), and in 'poly'-mode:
-- One is to simulate guitar/bass octave-unison - playing high notes (so I'm 'playing the guitar' and the OC-3 is 'playing the bass'). For this I'm setting the range at max (CW); the clean output volume equals the bypassed-clean at 3:00; I set the octave around noon.
-- Another is to have it work sort-of as a subharmonic synth - with the octave-mix WAAAAY-low (like 8:30-9:15). Now for this, I've been more-often turning the tuning control way-down between 9:00-10:30; this is very subtle.
-- My favorite use is for a synth-tone - with the ODB-3 cranked, the chorus OFF, the 'Dawg OFF... actually, it's CS-3 to OC-3 to ODB, with the NS-2 threshold way-up, to get a nice, quiet, sudden 'squelch'.
-- I've been working lately with running it way-way subtle, as a 'distortion modifier'.. I put the ODB-3 AFTER it (at its output). With the OC-3 OFF - it's set-up for a good high-gain, multi-stage distortion; OC-3 is between the two stages of distortion. Now I already know that "3:00" on the clean-knob will get me equal effect/bypass volume. I turn the clean AND octave all the way down - then turn-up the octave until just before it's enough to clip - in other words: it's CLEAN (this'll be way down by 8:00 or 8:30 or something). This fine adjustment is easier because of the compression FIRST in the chain. Now put the clean-blend up to normal (3:00).

Joe

 

[niftydog]

I'm guessing the both the OC2 and OC3 do this equally well- right?
Or to put it another way- does the OC3 have a specific advantage over the OC2?

The OC-3's advantages are conveniently also what make it suck. The poly mode is simultaneously enlightening and frustrating.

It's classic "OC-2" mode is pretty good, but not quite the same as the real deal. The normal OC-3 mode is good, but definitely different from the original. I prefer a bit of grit to the octave, and the OC-3 has less of it than the OC-2. To me it makes the octave less obvious, kinda subdued.

Pure sine waves are fine, if that's what you're after. Personally I want something that sounds more like it belongs with my clean bass tone, not a feeble sounding, pure, "synthesised" sound.

 

[TaySte_2000]

OK I'd like to bump this thread up as I had some fun getting this sound.

Personally I feel my Fuzz Saw and 442 nailed it using the volume on my bass for the swell. But I'd like to add an octaver to it.

But I say people that think they are getting close post your soundclips of this.

Might help as well if some one posts the 3 notes that he's playing.

Think of it as a TB challenge

 

[SpankyPants]

Might help as well if some one posts the 3 notes that he's playing.

Think of it as a TB challenge

You can't figure it out? It's 3 notes! I know you're from England and all, but come on!

Oh, and you should post clips.

And now that I have another chance to talk about, that TF 442 is really one of the most badass filter pedals I've used. I thought it was going to be too subtle, but I really think it's my favorite. It's not too extreme, but it's got a cool synth-like sweep that can sound extra gooey. It kicks ass.

 

[squarewave]

The clip is gone now. Please remind me if the expression was used as a volume swell or as a filter cutoff frequency sweep.

 

[Max Roberts]

You can't figure it out? It's 3 notes! I know you're from England and all, but come on!

Oh, and you should post clips.

And now that I have another chance to talk about, that TF 442 is really one of the most badass filter pedals I've used. I thought it was going to be too subtle, but I really think it's my favorite. It's not too extreme, but it's got a cool synth-like sweep that can sound extra gooey. It kicks ass.

The notes are something like E, B then D then slide down from there. I don't know if these are the right notes for the song but the intervals are right at least, just play around with it starting on different notes till it fits.

+1 on the 442, it really really pulls of the synth sounds with the huchleberry! I'm so glad TaySte persuaded me to buy em!

 

[SpankyPants]

TaySte git me to buy mine, too. He practically forced me to haha

It was an impulse buy gone horribly right. ;-D

 

[JohnDavisNYC]

wow, jojo told me there was a lot of discussion about my pedal setup here... he was right!

my pedal rig is always changing, but certain things stay the same. back then, i'm pretty sure the rig was:

'77 jazz bass --> boss tuner --> boss OC2 --> passive DI for discreet sub channel at FOH --> zvex wooly mammoth fuzz (or maybe a crowther prunes and custard... the ol' brain box is a bit fuzzy) --> moogerfooger mf101 (with an ancient EMU expression pedal from my Emulator II) --> cheap ibanez synth wah pedal --> really really cheap ibanez 'soundtank' flanger (that i found in a rehearsal space) --> Line6 DL4 delay modeler --> DI --> WalterWoods amphead --> whatever speaker cabinet is around --> RE20 (or another good mic)

i know i had a boss bass overdrive in the board around that time, but i can't remember if it was before or after the line 6... i don't know. that pedal board was ravaged by the airlines so many times I had to retire it, and went back to using a bag of pedals and setting up every time for a while...

i'm building a new one right now, and not sure what's going to be in it.... definitely no line6 (that thing is a tone destroyer...), most likely everything analog, probably building some myself from BYOC.

anyway, hope that helps!

cheers,
john

 

[TaySte_2000]

wow, jojo told me there was a lot of discussion about my pedal setup here... he was right!

my pedal rig is always changing, but certain things stay the same. back then, i'm pretty sure the rig was:

'77 jazz bass --> boss tuner --> boss OC2 --> passive DI for discreet sub channel at FOH --> zvex wooly mammoth fuzz (or maybe a crowther prunes and custard... the ol' brain box is a bit fuzzy) --> moogerfooger mf101 (with an ancient EMU expression pedal from my Emulator II) --> cheap ibanez synth wah pedal --> really really cheap ibanez 'soundtank' flanger (that i found in a rehearsal space) --> Line6 DL4 delay modeler --> DI --> WalterWoods amphead --> whatever speaker cabinet is around --> RE20 (or another good mic)

i know i had a boss bass overdrive in the board around that time, but i can't remember if it was before or after the line 6... i don't know. that pedal board was ravaged by the airlines so many times I had to retire it, and went back to using a bag of pedals and setting up every time for a while...

i'm building a new one right now, and not sure what's going to be in it.... definitely no line6 (that thing is a tone destroyer...), most likely everything analog, probably building some myself from BYOC.

anyway, hope that helps!

cheers,
john

Didn't you find the Mammoth was a bit funny having buffers and such in boss pedals before it?

Doug Wimbish has done a similar thing with his board he now carries them round in a rug wrapped up shoved in a bag hopefully we can give you gas for pedals since you gave us such huge gas for tone

Nice to have you around

 

[JohnDavisNYC]

nah. it's cool. i dunno.

the OC2 is a great pedal, sounds loads better than the OC3 (here i go, driving up the ebay prices...) and i have never had any issues with the buffers... they sound loads better than alot of pedals, like the line6, for example... that thing does all sorts of horrible things to one's sound. i want a diamond delay, but don't want to pay $450 for an analog delay... oh well... i will probably cave in and get it....

john

 

[bongomania]

Welcome to TB! About once a month we get somebody come on here and post "have you seen this killer DnB video on Youtube, what pedal will give me that sound?" And of course they're talking about you. Props!

 

[JohnDavisNYC]

thanks! i wish i could remember what i was using exactly...

hopefully i can help people start thinking in the right direction... it has much more to do with understanding analog synthesis than which pedals you buy....

cheers,
john

 

[TaySte_2000]

nah. it's cool. i dunno.

the OC2 is a great pedal, sounds loads better than the OC3 (here i go, driving up the ebay prices...) and i have never had any issues with the buffers... they sound loads better than alot of pedals, like the line6, for example... that thing does all sorts of horrible things to one's sound. i want a diamond delay, but don't want to pay $450 for an analog delay... oh well... i will probably cave in and get it....

john

Have you looked into the TC Electronics Nova Delay or the Eventide Timefactor you'll stuggle to get Line 6 Delay sounds out of a purely analog unit.

We'll get you boutiqued up to the hilt over here

 

[JohnDavisNYC]

my business partner at the studio just got a Diamond Memory Lane pedal, and it is the most amazing analog pedal i have heard... expression pedal, tap tempo, hi shelf filter in the feedback loop, and a great modulation section... kinda pricey. not interested in the Eventide... too complex. I can't deal with things where i have to hold button A for 3 seconds, then spin around whilst patting me head, then step on button C 4 times to locate the right bank, etc... i need more of a 'jump up and down enthusiastically, flail foot towards pedal, grab a sip of my beer, try to play the right note' kind of pedal... i know nothing of this TC box, but TC stuff is great... will have to look into it!

i actually am not really into the sound of the line6, it was just convenient, and i needed tap tempo... i would love to stay all analog.

i will probably frustrate everyone here to no end because i pretty much only like old stuff and passive electronics and stuff like that.... but i look forward to being exposed to some new stuff!

cheers,
john