Need inspiration for making things "float"

[Micha84]

Hey guys,

I am building my first pedal board after 25 years of playing to give me some tonal options for a new trio band I'm in. I am not new to effects per se, I have been playing around with producing and mixing music all my life, so I know what most effects do, more or less.

However, I am a bit stuck in finding what I need. For quiet, melodic or chord parts I want something that gives my sound some spark, makes it float, spreads it wide... I don't even know how to call it and I don't even have a clear sound in my head, but I feel there has to be something interesting out there, if that makes any sense.
As I am trying things out, I bought a cheap Behringer chorus. That thing su... is not very good in my oppinion. But I think I don't really like chorus effects in general.

So, I am asking: What options are out there? What do you guys use? Do you have examples (sound, video) of how certain effects are used?

(For statistical purposes: My board already contains a compressor, an overdrive and an octave).

Thanks in advance
Michael

 

[Jakeman]

I’d give reverb or delay a shot.

 

[Nashrakh]

As mentioned, reverb and delay will be your friend. I like a wee bit of chorus myself, but what you may either love or hate is a shimmer reverb. That adds what I would call sparkle out the wazoo, but can be too much for me personally. But look it up and see for yourself if that's something you may like.

 

[Spidey2112]

I'd ditch the high protein diet, and concentrate on more fatty food consumption.

 

[tubedude]

Afterneath, if you can't afford a Big Sky or Collider.

 

[bassbrad]

I always like to have a bit of room reverb but for more sparkle without a cyclic swoop a nice effect is detune or in a single pedal the TC 3rd dimension works quite nicely. There are also modulated reverb/delay sounds like shimmer and flerb that can be found on a lot of multi effect pedals. Since modulation, reverb and delay effects cover such a wide spectrum I like to have access to different choices and use a Zoom MS70CDR sometimes + that pack a huge host of effects.

 

[MCS4]

For chords and upper register parts on bass, my favorite effect from a live perspective is a subtle chorus or pitch-shifter type effect that adds more high end content to help the notes pop out more. This would be distinct from a more "warm" or "thickening" type of chorus effect that a lot of bassists enjoy for low end playing.

However, when I hear "float" etc. I would be thinking more of reverb and/or subtle delay, as others have mentioned. The Dispatch Master is a nice combo of those with a little bit of modulation on the signal as well (albeit not cheap), or a simple multi usually will have some different options for this. The TC Flashback delay or Hall of Fame reverb are also flexible choices because of the "Toneprint" functionality, although I don't know when those will be readily available again.

 

[MojoPin]

I use HX HX Stomp for any verbs/delays and modulations for bass and plan on getting a QC mini for my guitar board. The QC mini is definitely overkill for me right now when it comes to bass but we'll see. Great thing about a multi-effects unit is it allows you to try alot of stuff and then pick the real deal for your favorite settings if you think it'll improve the sound you are already getting but I'll tell you, for being a hard core old school guy that loves tubes, these digital units are getting better and better. The size, power/flexibility and sound of the HxStomp already blew my mind a bit and now we've got a QC mini coming to market I'm just like OOOOF!!!

 

[EastDakota]

Reverb, just aim for subtle settings. I was on a quest for one with real springs, and I ended up at the Recovery Effects Endless Summer. I don't think the knobs are very descriptive of what they actually do; Brightness is more like how much dry signal you want, and Balance is both a light gain + reverb dwell. Really mild settings (e.g., brightness all the way clockwise, balance at ~8 or 9 o'clock) add some background springiness without taking over, and I don't find myself ever turning the brightness down at all. Anything from like noon and up on balance gets pretty crazy, it's a fun toy. They have a bunch of demos out for different instruments.

 

[toastw]

I think you have the right ones: compression and a little overdrive. Maybe check out an EQ pedal?

 

[Topkat13]

This sounds diet related.

 

[topper]

I like a little vintage flange for that.

 

[brocket]

TC Electronic Plethora X1 might be a good “throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks” and then go from there.

 

[BassBrass]

I play in an ambient & modular synth trio and have a pedal board that is (other than basic sounds) centered around an EH Superego (on auto so my attack changes the note) it's infinite sustain, like arco (if you texturize it). and That send/return runs into a bunch of effects including shimmer, Walrus Fable, Boss synth, catlynbread csidman, matroska bananana synth, so these work on the sustained note
The other avenue of delay effects could include (my favs) the Red Panda family of Tensor, Particle and the other one...oh Raster.
A simple accurate delay with other stuff is the Pollymoon. But there are many others, I've been goofing around with a Keeley Mesmer lately.
Oh do I use a reverb? Nope, not on bass, it takes away definition. I had a OBNE Procession but used it in the superego loop for the slow reverbed flanger....

 

[Bob_Ross]

Asymmetrical tapped delays FTW!
Preferably in stereo, but even in mono the asymmetrical nature will definitely get notes to “float”

I use a Chase Bliss Audio MOOD to achieve that effect.

 

[HolmeBass]

I would second a flanger, but perhaps without much regen to cut down on the “whoosh” swirl. Like a Boss Dimension C. Or Catlinbread’s Zero Point Flanger.

 

[cymbop]

I'd ditch the high protein diet, and concentrate on more fatty food consumption.

I'm thinking very small rocks.

 

[vvvmmm]

Feedback can work - it's always fun to, eh, crank up a Muff.

But do practice withit first; the idear is to get the wavey sustain, but not blow speakers or ears out.