Plan for new board: Working backward

[scottfeldstein]

In the field of education, good teachers start planning a lesson or syllabus in reverse: what should my students know or be able to do after having learned this lesson? With the outcomes in hand they can then work backwards, asking what materials and activities will facilitate those goals.

Similarly, I'm planning my new board in reverse. What sounds do I intend to make? Then I can start working backward, putting all the pedals on the board needed for those sounds--and nothing more. Here's my first attempt.

As you can see, I need two finger sounds (clean and dirty) and two slap tones (clean and dirty), plus two "wacky" filter/synthy sounds. I've already got the VT Bass. Now I need to snatch up the Source Audio Manta and the programmable EQ.

I should also add that I already possess a tuner, the MXR M87 Compressor and just for grins an MXR Carbon Copy delay.

Thoughts?

 

[scottfeldstein]

Just bought a Manta from one of y'all.

 

[Dave W]

I would add an octave and a fuzz to get those whacky sounds. Coupled with the filter you should be able to get synthy sounds fairly easily.

I really like the 3Leaf You're Doom for this type of fuzz. They've got an Octave coming out soon too.

Otherwise it's tough to beat a good ol' Boss OC-2. I really like the Aguilar Octamizer as well.

 

[scottfeldstein]

Yeah I have lingered over OC-2s and 3s. Classic pseudo-synth sound. But I don't think I'll need additional dirt to accopmany the filter. It has eight kinds built in, all of which I'm familiar with because I used them on the Multiwave Pro bass distortion unit. I was putting the multiwave into the envelope filter to achieve all kinds of craziness. Seems like SA has taken that formula and distilled it into a single unit, the Manta. Although it only has two presets instead of six, still quite a deal.

 

[Dave W]

How about adding the SA Midi Hub to the Manta and EQ and you can have 128 presets and easily switch between the different sounds you're looking for with a midi controller.

 

[scottfeldstein]

I'm not really sure what's required for all that. I need the hub and a midi controller?

 

[Dave W]

Yes. Something small like the Midi Mouse would be fine.

It really depends on what kind of control you want.

 

[gregmon79]

I'm not really sure what's required for all that. I need the hub and a midi controller?

Yes. Something small like the Midi Mouse would be fine.

It really depends on what kind of control you want.

This is what kept me from the HUB. Not to say the HUB is bad or anything like that, I actually thinks its genius. But for the setup I have already it isnt something I am looking for. But, for your setup OP, a small MIDI controller and a HUB may serve you very well. Do you have the VT Programmable or the regular one?? If you just have the regualr one then the HUB may do the trick for you and what youre after. The SA PEQ is really awesome. You should have no problem dialing in your EQ settings, that one has 4 presets on it but can also be used with the HUB. For what youre after, what youre getting will be a great setup IMO. The Manta is a really awesome filter too, very very versatile.

 

[Dave W]

Yep. If I had all MIDI controlled pedals and heavily used any of my SA stuff I'd love to use the Hub and a midi controller for the rest.

I've thought about racking my pedals and using a GCX Switcher, but it's just more money than I want to spend, more size, and just more crap than I really need to gig with. Plopping only a Ground Control Pro on the floor and kicking one button to make a full patch change is pretty appealing though.

 

[scottfeldstein]

Do you have the VT Programmable or the regular one?? If you just have the regualr one then the HUB may do the trick for you and what youre after. .

I have the VT DI, not the programmable one. Why's that important?

 

[gregmon79]

I have the VT DI, not the programmable one. Why's that important?

I was wondering because with the programable it would've given you more presets for different tones ala slap, dirty, clean etc. I guess you'll have that covered with the SA PEQ though. I was also thinking that if you did not have the VTP that a HUB and a MIDI controller may do you some good and would be more usable.

 

[Bob C]

Scott,

I don't have any suggestions for achieving desired sounds - and maybe you don't want or need my suggestions.

But I appreciate your thought process. There are so many areas of problem solving when constructing a dream pedalboard: space, power, connections and desired sounds - all ideally economical and practical.

As you say, better to know what sounds you want and then decide how to achieve them than to buy a bunch of cool pedals and then find uses for all of them.

 

[scottfeldstein]

Just what I thought, Bob!

Anyway, my used Manta should arrive on Tuesday. I couldn't find a used PEQ, so I just impulse bought one on Amazon. Should be here tomorrow. (Thanks, Prime!)

My board will be complete Tuesday night. One problem though. If this is all I end up putting on it, my actual board is way bigger than I need. Lot of dead space. Maybe I should downsize.

 

[scottfeldstein]

So, provided that all expected deliveries and payments shake out the way they're supposed to, I did the math on my new board project. Flipping the OFD and the BEF Pro and Multiwave Pro...then getting the used Manta and the new PEQ...factoring in shipping costs...carry the 2...

I redid the board and pocketed $32.

Pics when its all put together

 

[Feral Feline]

... better to know what sounds you want and then decide how to achieve them than to buy a bunch of cool pedals and then find uses for all of them.

Certainly that ^ is a pragmatic approach, but do not dismiss entirely the adventure that comes with sonic exploration!

Bass, the fundamental frontier. A place of roots and fifths dimensions. These are the odysseys of the Sonic Explorer, a continuing mission to explore strange new sounds, to seek out their musicality and give inspiration to subsequent generations of bassists, to go boldly where no other musician has gone before. It is an endless frontier of imagination, an area that leads to the pedal breeders' zone – a middle ground between harmony and dissonance, between holding down the bottom end and expanding it, beyond fifths and octaves, beyond rhythm and melody moving to a dimension of sound within the mind's eye, truly a key to creativity that unlocks the imagination.

 

[scottfeldstein]

A thoughtful counterpoint, FF. Quite true.

The latest: my new board is just being wired up... Still waiting for the Manta, but you get the idea: