Has anybody made an effects pedal that replaces the fundamental of a note with a different kind of wave? Like keeping the rest of the harmonics, but swapping the fundamental, for a sort of semi-synth effect.
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Pedal that replaces fundamental?
- Thread starter JiJ
- Start date
A crossover can kinda do that, but not accurately enough to JUST replace the fundamental no matter what note you play. It can, for instance, be used to bitcrush/synth the very lowest frequencies only and then start fading into a fuzz or whatever you'd like when you go higher up. Actually replacing only the fundamental would require very accurate tracking, which is practically impossible to do with no perceptible delay at the lowest fundamentals a bass can produce. I guess you could track at a higher frequency and then just filter out a couple of octaves below. Not aware of anything that could do exactly what you describe, but if it exists, I will buy one too! 
Using something like the Ghost MIDI system is probably the most practical way to do it as accurately as possible.
Using something like the Ghost MIDI system is probably the most practical way to do it as accurately as possible.
Last edited:
bongomania
Commercial User
It would definitely require a synth system that tracks individual notes, like with MIDI or a Roland GK system.
It sounds to me like you have a sound in your head and are looking for a way to obtain it rather than stumbling on some pre-set or other and settling on that, so bravo to you...
I don't know what processors you currently have, but if I were to search for that sound I would be thinking
a) Split the signal (any stereo FX unit will do this)
b) EQ one output to roll off lows (ideally with a good bass-tuned graphic EQ or multi-band Hi-Q parametric)
c) Pass the non-EQ signal to a synth engine of some type (Digitech BSW / BOSS SYB-5 / EHX MicroSynth or similar) and blend out the 'Dry' signal
d) If necessary, EQ the synth signal to remove highs
d) Blend the two lines back together
Good luck...
Thank you all for your advice 
are there any pedals that can give me a straight up sawtooth or square wave?
are there any pedals that can give me a straight up sawtooth or square wave?
It's not easy to get a pure sawtooth or square wave - that involves pitch tracking which may have latency or glitching problems.
Have a look at the Iron Ether Subterranea. It gives you saw/square/pulse waveforms at the octave you play, plus the same an octave down. It also gives you a more traditional analog octaver sound with a filter. You can blend your original sound with it.
It's based on an analog octaver type circuit so you may need to alter your playing style a little to get the best out of it. I find it needs a filter afterwards to tame some of the high frequencies, but it's a very cool pedal for synth tones.
Have a look at the Iron Ether Subterranea. It gives you saw/square/pulse waveforms at the octave you play, plus the same an octave down. It also gives you a more traditional analog octaver sound with a filter. You can blend your original sound with it.
It's based on an analog octaver type circuit so you may need to alter your playing style a little to get the best out of it. I find it needs a filter afterwards to tame some of the high frequencies, but it's a very cool pedal for synth tones.
The typical way to get something approaching that around these parts is to use an analog octave-down like the Subterranea and play an octave higher. Then you can blend in some clean signal to add the higher harmonics and/or play through a dirt/fuzz into a filter pedal. I liked the MXR Bass Octave Deluxe by itself because it has an optional mid-boost on the Clean signal, so you can get a synthy low Octave and blend in mostly mid harmonics from the Clean signal. Unfortunately the tracking on my MXR was very inconsistent, so I now use the Subterranea (which is far more versatile anyway, excepting that cool mid-boost on the Clean signal).
