New Origin Effects DCX Bass

[Derek Williams]

Arrived 15 mins ago. First impressions are excellent. Both clean and overdriven is great, the overdrive is probably the most dynamic I've played. Can get the OD set to breakup only when digging in, and the adaptive voice works perfect in those instances.

I think the only thing that could improve it is having it in a larger box with separate level and drive controls for EQ and OD mode. The Cali76 size would be perfect. There is quite a volume difference when switching modes, which is probably expected, but separate controls would have fixed that. I might have to just buy a second one

Otherwise: this thing is great!

 

[PVt40man]

I'll wait for the Demonfx version

 

[Origin_Effects]

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for taking the time to look at and discuss our latest release. As always, it's great to finally have it out there and we're really proud of what we've made. We hope those of you who opt to get one have as much fun with it as we do.

I'm going to take this as an opportunity to lighting round some reponses to comments here. If anyone has any questions, feel free to shoot them our way.


What is the difference between the DCX BOOST and DCX BASS?

The two pedals are very similar, the differences essentially amount to a shift in the EQ center points and some minor gain staging adjustments. If you want some hard numbers (though they probably aren't super useful), I've listed them below, they're measured with the pedal in EQ mode. The Q on each band is very broad, thinking rolling hills, not mountains.

DCX BOOST: HF - 3.7k || LF - 40hz
DCX BASS: HF - 5.3k || LF - 39hz


Is there a DI/Why is there not a DI?

When we developed the DCX BASS and DCX BOOST, they were designed as boost/drive pedals, using the 610 as a starting point. As with the Halcyon and M-EQ, one main aim was to keep them as small, simple and affordable (relative to other Origin products) as possible.

Though we discovered the DCX BASS made a very convincing "direct to console" pedal, we didn't want to add features specific to this use case, as it's just as capable as a gnarly drive pedal - we're pleased to see it's being well received for both!

Also, this is a pedal that will most likely go pretty near the beginning of the signal chain so it's quite likely that DI players will have another DI at the end of their boards anyway. For those who want to use this as their only pedal, the DCX BASS will make a very ordinary DI box sound as exciting as you'd hope, so that's still a relatively small and affordable option - one that doesn't force overdrive fans to buy extra stuff.

All of the interest in more complicated, fancy DI box has been noted.


How might this integrate into my setup?

Guitarists are easy, you bass players have a few potential ways of getting use out of this pedal. Being a 610 inspired pedal, using it into a DI of your choosing is a great way to get "proper" sounding direct tones. But, just like the BOOST variant, it'll work great as a drive or boost going into amps, the BASSRIG pedals or any other preamps you enjoy. For those of you who already own a BASSRIG, setting the DI CAB SIM switch to "FX" and running the DCX up front will give you the ability to have vintage amp and studio direct tones from the same rig.

Arrived 15 mins ago.

View attachment 5043141

Wow, that was fast! Thanks for the kind words.



Once again, thanks for taking the time to investigate this new device. We look forward to seeing what sounds you make with it.


- Jacob & John

 

[Avalon5]

Will the DCX Bass properly drive a power amp input? Will it drive an amp’s effects return?

 

[Erithon]

Arrived 15 mins ago. First impressions are excellent. Both clean and overdriven is great, the overdrive is probably the most dynamic I've played. Can get the OD set to breakup only when digging in, and the adaptive voice works perfect in those instances.

Sound ideal. Thanks for sharing your initial thoughts with us!

I think the only thing that could improve it is having it in a larger box with separate level and drive controls for EQ and OD mode. The Cali76 size would be perfect.

How serious is this comment? That would be so big as to be unwieldy! I, for one, would never buy an overdrive that large; space is a premium on pedalboards. Sure, some preamps approach that size, but with the BassRig enclosures Origin has shown how much better they've gotten at minimizing pedal size since releasing the big box Cali76s. The Cali76 TX, etc. can get away with it by being--depending on one's use-case--the best compressors in pedal form, but even they are hard to justify on a board since they take up the space of 3-4 pedals. I opened up my TX-L and it really looked like that enclosure did not need to be so big. I could see a BassRig-sized DCX Bass, but a Cali76-sized one? I hope not!

Hey Everyone!

When we developed the DCX BASS and DCX BOOST, they were designed as boost/drive pedals, using the 610 as a starting point. As with the Halcyon and M-EQ, one main aim was to keep them as small, simple and affordable (relative to other Origin products) as possible.

[...]

For those who want to use this as their only pedal, the DCX BASS will make a very ordinary DI box sound as exciting as you'd hope, so that's still a relatively small and affordable option - one that doesn't force overdrive fans to buy extra stuff.

Thank you for building us a drive pedal. And thank you especially for not forcing us to buy the extra stuff I already have five DIs I could use with it. I don't need or want that built into the DCX Bass.

 

[Derek Williams]

How serious is this comment? That would be so big as to be unwieldy! I, for one, would never buy an overdrive that large; space is a premium on pedalboards. Sure, some preamps approach that size, but with the BassRig enclosures Origin has shown how much better they've gotten at minimizing pedal size since releasing the big box Cali76s. The Cali76 TX, etc. can get away with it by being--depending on one's use-case--the best compressors in pedal form, but even they are hard to justify on a board since they take up the space of 3-4 pedals. I opened up my TX-L and it really looked like that enclosure did not need to be so big. I could see a BassRig-sized DCX Bass, but a Cali76-sized one? I hope not!

When I said a Cali76 size pedal, I was referring to the current, in production Cali76s, not the old discontinued.

 

[Erithon]

When I said a Cali76 size pedal, I was referring to the current, in production Cali76s, not the old discontinued.

Ah, that makes sense. You said "a larger box ... the Cali76 size would be perfect" so I understood that as the big boxes. I just looked up the dimensions and I see the DCX Bass is a little smaller than the Cali76 Compact Bass. Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[31HZ]

I have a UA SOLO/610 that I use for recording and as a live DI, and I gotta say, the demo in the first post sounds amazing.

 

[Derek Williams]

Ah, that makes sense. You said "a larger box ... the Cali76 size would be perfect" so I understood that as the big boxes. I just looked up the dimensions and I see the DCX Bass is a little smaller than the Cali76 Compact Bass. Thanks for pointing that out!

Ideal for me would be the "Stacked" layout: Cali76 Stacked Edition – Origin Effects
6 knobs: EQ Level/Gain, OD Level/Gain, and LF/HF
and then the 2 switches in place of the 2 small LEDS.

For extra fun, a box like this so we can switch between EQ and OD with a footswitch: DELUXE61 Bias Tremolo Pedal

 

[Naack]

All of the interest in more complicated, fancy DI box has been noted.

Potentially something that can contend with the likes of Noble, Khan, and Oracle!? That would be absolutely brilliant.

 

[odarellmc]

Potentially something that can contend with the likes of Noble, Khan, and Oracle!? That would be absolutely brilliant.

But they exist already? Why would they be interested in making that. Also given the cost of origin products do you have any idea how expensive that would be? I think they're doing fine with their current offerings.

 

[Jtown690]

Hey Everyone!

“most likely go pretty near the beginning of the signal chain”

How might this integrate into my setup?

you bass players have a few potential ways of getting use out of this pedal.

You think it would it be best to put the DCX bass in front of a Cali76 compact bass in most cases? As an example does UA’s 6176 have the 610 first and then an 1176?
Direct to console then compress as needed?

 

[odarellmc]

You think it would it be best to put the DCX bass in front of a Cali76 compact bass in most cases? As an example does UA’s 6176 have the 610 first and then an 1176?
Direct to console then compress as needed?

Depends on how you want to use it? Eq or OD. Personally I use the compressor last in my chain to glue everything together. I've always had much success running my compressor last.

 

[Erithon]

You think it would it be best to put the DCX bass in front of a Cali76 compact bass in most cases? As an example does UA’s 6176 have the 610 first and then an 1176?
Direct to console then compress as needed?

Depends on how you want to use it? Eq or OD. Personally I use the compressor last in my chain to glue everything together. I've always had much success running my compressor last.

I like to have compression before my dirt (except fuzz since that follows the octaver at the start of my chain for synth tones) because that way the clean signal mixes better with the saturated signal. I find an uncompressed clean signal won't blend as smoothly. This only matters because I run my dirt with a low-passed clean signal, either with a Broughton FFXL or because the dirt pedal has some sort of mix/blend or clean volume control.

 

[Naack]

But they exist already? Why would they be interested in making that. Also given the cost of origin products do you have any idea how expensive that would be? I think they're doing fine with their current offerings.

So do hundreds of overdrives and preamps for bass, but it is still nice to see different flavours on the market. I still think it would be pretty slick if they had their own version with their own flare and sound. I would fully assume it would be expensive and that is fine, I would hate for them to cheap out on it if they ever developed it.

 

[Jtown690]

Depends on how you want to use it? Eq or OD. Personally I use the compressor last in my chain to glue everything together. I've always had much success running my compressor last.

Compression position is a personal thing and also use type thing for sure.

I like to have compression before my dirt (except fuzz since that follow the octaver at the start of my chain for synth tones) because that way the clean signal mixes better with the saturated signal. I find an uncompressed clean signal won't blend as smoothly. This only matters because I run my dirt with a low-passed clean signal, either with a Broughton FFXL or because the dirt pedal has some sort of mix/blend or clean volume control.

at the moment I run my Cali76 first in my chain. But with how reactive the DCX is I’m guessing having a comp in front of it isn’t going to react like it should/could because of the altered dynamics.
That’s why I pointed to the 6176. I want to hear what Origin has to say about it.

 

[Erithon]

at the moment I run my Cali76 first in my chain. But with how reactive the DCX is I’m guessing having a comp in front of it isn’t going to react like it should/could because of the altered dynamics.
That’s why I pointed to the 6176. I want to hear what Origin has to say about it.

Maybe. Compression doesn't remove dynamics, just reduce their extremes so especially at low ratios I could see the DCX Bass reacting as it should. No way to know without trying it. In lieu of that, yes, best to hear what Origin Effects has to say.

 

[johnk_10]

You think it would it be best to put the DCX bass in front of a Cali76 compact bass in most cases? As an example does UA’s 6176 have the 610 first and then an 1176?
Direct to console then compress as needed?

yes, the UA 6176 has the 610 first, then the 1176.

 

[klattman]

Ideal for me would be the "Stacked" layout: Cali76 Stacked Edition – Origin Effects
6 knobs: EQ Level/Gain, OD Level/Gain, and LF/HF
and then the 2 switches in place of the 2 small LEDS.

For extra fun, a box like this so we can switch between EQ and OD with a footswitch: DELUXE61 Bias Tremolo Pedal

The bias tremolo is really incredible on guitar. And it sound so much better than other trem pedals and is very responsive.

I don’t think it would all fit in there..

I like their adaptive circuitry and the responsiveness. Though, based on demos, I’m struggling to determine what this can give me that is all that different than the SV.

 

[Stubb]

I like their adaptive circuitry and the responsiveness. Though, based on demos, I’m struggling to determine what this can give me that is all that different than the SV.

What it can give you is a dirt option in a small-format pedal for those of us who go elsewhere -- an Oracle, in my case -- for a preamp.