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New Pigtronix Resotron
- Thread starter Hoyt
- Start date
Still waiting for one to appear locally. Nobody seems to have one in stock around here, or know when one is gonna come in. 
Still waiting for one to appear locally. Nobody seems to have one in stock around here, or know when one is gonna come in.
Heck it. I bought a used one off eBay. I'll update this thread once I put it through its paces.
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looking forward to the update! If it doesn't work out for you, put me in line to try it next!
Got my resotron and, while I like it, it's just not going to replace my Moog MF-101. The pitch tracking mode was a huge letdown as well.
Fortunately, I'm able to return it to the seller for a refund.
Fortunately, I'm able to return it to the seller for a refund.
can you elaborate? How was it a let down? What about the Moog is better? Is there anything you liked about the resotron?
*ahem*
I'm terrible at describing things, but it seems like the frequency cutoff doesn't go low enough in LPF mode with envelope up/down, if that makes sense. It doesn't remove enough harmonic content in a fuzzed out signal or VCO. It seems to do this better in pitch mode, but then the problem is that the cutoff frequency doesn't respond well enough. I think it might be better with attack and decay controls.
The filter isn't "juicy" enough. I like the glide function in pitch mode just wish it had better interaction with the frequency cutoff. I understand it's not envelope controlled, but I just didn't like the way it reacted. I suppose using it with an expression pedal would help but it's just not a keeper for me. The Moog is the GOAT. It sounds like you're running your signal through an actual synth module filter...because you are.
I am going to use mine with guitar and synth, not so much for bass, where I use an Eastover Mutron III clone. The filter is a SEM style, so a bit of a different flavor.
Oh yeah, Dave said that that was what he had modeled the pedal after so that makes sense.
But what does that mean, in practical terms? Could you give us a little detail, for those of us that have never heard or used this synth (or this pedal) before?
The link has a bunch of details. I imagine if you took to google or youtube you can even find sound samples if so desired?
I have no experience with it, but there is a bit in that link I just sent. It is 2-pole (so 12 dB per octave) vs a Moog which offers a 4-pole (24 dB per octave) filter, so the Moog has a much more dramatic cutoff above its LPF frequency where the SEM would be more gentle (so the SEM will inherently sound brighter set to the same cutoff). If you've ever tried a Xerograph or other filter which offers both 2-pole and 4-pole then you have heard the difference, or you can prob Google a video comparison somewhere. Words are limited to describe sound/feeling
I did. If you looked at the link, you'll see that there is only one video and it's a bunch of blips and bloops - not very useful for people like me who aren't ambient synth nerds. And sure, Google is helpful (sometimes) but not nearly as helpful as a person who owns the RESOTRON and plays bass, which is what we're talking about in this thread here on talkbass.
Ah, ok. That's helpful. Why do you prefer the Mutron sound for the bass over this SEM one?
Not sure if you meant to ask this to someone else? I was just trying to answer the filter-type question for you. I don’t have a Mutron-based filter outside my Source C4 nor have I tried the Resotron or other SEM-based filter as far as I know. Most people like Mutrons because their action is very responsive/quacky/funky. A Moog filter will often be more dramatic and less peaky (what a lot of bassists call a “synthy” sound, even though synths have used all sorts of filter topologies), while some “weaker” filters than either will tend to just get kind of lost. Not sure if the Resotron fits this last category. I tend to prefer 4-pole filters ala Moog and my Xerograph, but don’t really play “funky” bassI did. If you looked at the link, you'll see that there is only one video and it's a bunch of blips and bloops - not very useful for people like me who aren't ambient synth nerds. And sure, Google is helpful (sometimes) but not nearly as helpful as a person who owns the RESOTRON and plays bass, which is what we're talking about in this thread here on talkbass.
Ah, ok. That's helpful. Why do you prefer the Mutron sound for the bass over this SEM one?
Either way, you really need to try or hear different filter types on your own to make a decision. These are very subjective things (no one style is better for bass for everyone)
I did. If you looked at the link, you'll see that there is only one video and it's a bunch of blips and bloops - not very useful for people like me who aren't ambient synth nerds. And sure, Google is helpful (sometimes) but not nearly as helpful as a person who owns the RESOTRON and plays bass, which is what we're talking about in this thread here on talkbass.
Ah, ok. That's helpful. Why do you prefer the Mutron sound for the bass over this SEM one?
Sorry, wasnt trying to come off snarky. I meant more along the lines of my ears/opinions may prefer different from yours so seeking sound clips is where its at. Even with soundclips, nothing really takes the place of personal exploration. I would guess that resotrons would pop up in big box retailers soon if not already there.
I am actually waiting on a xerograph deluxe now to put up against a moog mf101...mostly because the moog is just so big sizewise.
I'm curious to try an MF-101 myself after so many years with a Xero Deluxe, but the size is a non-starter for me so I'd hate to fall in love with it!
I tried the Resotron for the first time last night. It appears to not be well suited for active bass, it clips harshly when I hit a low note on my E-string even at moderate active volumes. I reached out to CS to see if they had any suggestions or if there is a trim pot I can mess with to help the issue but have not heard back.
To be clear, this is an issue I have never come upon after trying more envelope followers than I have fingers and toes.
I must say it is disappointing to find lacking headroom in a pedal that requires 18V supply. Every time I play below the 7th fret on my low E string I get nasty (in a bad way) clipping on the pedal. I can't tell if the clipping is the input or output section but it doesn't sound like filter drive.
In addition, the down envelope sweep is hard to dial in, so hard I haven't yet. Pitch tracking sounds great on guitar and is easy to dial in but not so much on active bass. Plus the range of tracked pitches available do not seem well suited for bass (drop the pitch too low). The up sweep sounds great on bass if I turn down my input volume.
The pedal can't take low bass notes in active mode on a J-retro pre above 60% with out clipping. The J-retro preamp is middle of the road heat for an active preamp. Turning up the compressor/blend circuit seems to add a bit of meat but also a nasty ring, kind of like the compressor preamp is so hot that it is picking up unwanted string hum.
So far, the usable Active bass level is at a volume to low to drive my other pedals properly. However, I have found one sweet spot with Filter set low, Resonance Moderate, Blend/Comp off, LPF, Up sweep, glide disengaged and the sensitivity to taste. It is a great sound but unusable in the context of gain staging for my other pedals.
It is hard to be sure of the health of the pedal, except, that it sounds FANTASTIC on guitar. I will report back if I hear from CS but for now I would advise against this pedal if you play an active bass and don't want to drastically change your signal chains gain stages.
To be clear, this is an issue I have never come upon after trying more envelope followers than I have fingers and toes.
I must say it is disappointing to find lacking headroom in a pedal that requires 18V supply. Every time I play below the 7th fret on my low E string I get nasty (in a bad way) clipping on the pedal. I can't tell if the clipping is the input or output section but it doesn't sound like filter drive.
In addition, the down envelope sweep is hard to dial in, so hard I haven't yet. Pitch tracking sounds great on guitar and is easy to dial in but not so much on active bass. Plus the range of tracked pitches available do not seem well suited for bass (drop the pitch too low). The up sweep sounds great on bass if I turn down my input volume.
The pedal can't take low bass notes in active mode on a J-retro pre above 60% with out clipping. The J-retro preamp is middle of the road heat for an active preamp. Turning up the compressor/blend circuit seems to add a bit of meat but also a nasty ring, kind of like the compressor preamp is so hot that it is picking up unwanted string hum.
So far, the usable Active bass level is at a volume to low to drive my other pedals properly. However, I have found one sweet spot with Filter set low, Resonance Moderate, Blend/Comp off, LPF, Up sweep, glide disengaged and the sensitivity to taste. It is a great sound but unusable in the context of gain staging for my other pedals.
It is hard to be sure of the health of the pedal, except, that it sounds FANTASTIC on guitar. I will report back if I hear from CS but for now I would advise against this pedal if you play an active bass and don't want to drastically change your signal chains gain stages.
