Source Audio Sorcerers Society (S.A.S.S) Part 3

[Chace90]

Dude, if it was a sub octave synth the likes of the Meatbox, they would sell hundreds if not thousands units. There are still a lot of people in the market who want a Meatbox and can't or won't pay the price they fetch. I know I got a reissue and it will never be sold. I barely ever used it, but its one of those pedals that are just game changers in a live setting. The few times I did use it, I always got asked later from audience members, "what was that that you did that made my eyeballs shake/stomach turn?!?!" haha I love that pedal.

It's unfortunate the Meatbox (original and reissue) are not more affordable. A lot of people were upset when they discontinued the reissue model, but my understanding was that they basically came across a bunch of those IC chips and did that reissue series as a limited run because there were only so many chips available. Not discontinued because people weren't interested, certainly.

 

[gregmon79]

It's unfortunate the Meatbox (original and reissue) are not more affordable. A lot of people were upset when they discontinued the reissue model, but my understanding was that they basically came across a bunch of those IC chips and did that reissue as limited run because there were only so many chips available. Not discontinued because people weren't interested certainly.

Yeah, I know the story pretty well. I'm a big fan of DOD and what Tom Cramm did with them and Digitech. I've seen him tell that story a couple times. I remember when they announced the reissue I was all over it. I always wanted an OG but wasn't willing to pay the 5 to $600 price tag they were fetching for a while. So I made damn sure I pre-ordered the reissue. It's an amazing pedal. Not something you use often. But def one that can be used to great effect when it is used.

 

[estimated_eyes]

Yeah, I know the story pretty well. I'm a big fan of DOD and what Tom Cramm did with them and Digitech. I've seen him tell that story a couple times. I remember when they announced the reissue I was all over it. I always wanted an OG but wasn't willing to pay the 5 to $600 price tag they were fetching for a while. So I made damn sure I pre-ordered the reissue. It's an amazing pedal. Not something you use often. But def one that can be used to great effect when it is used.

If this has already been discussed then I apologize in advance....

Can the C4 not hit those same sub frequencies that the Meatbox is doing? I've used an octave pedal for sections in songs where I wanted to hit one big "sub" note, but all this talk about the Meatbox has me intrigued.

 

[gregmon79]

If this has already been discussed then I apologize in advance....

Can the C4 not hit those same sub frequencies that the Meatbox is doing? I've used an octave pedal for sections in songs where I wanted to hit one big "sub" note, but all this talk about the Meatbox has me intrigued.

It can most def do sub synth stuff. But I can't say for certain if it can replicate what the Meatbox does exactly. I know I've posed this question to the group a month back. Never saw a reply or seen anyone try to make a "Meatbox" patch.

 

[estimated_eyes]

It can most def do sub synth stuff. But I can't say for certain if it can replicate what the Meatbox does exactly. I know I've posed this question to the group a month back. Never saw a reply or seen anyone try to make a "Meatbox" patch.

Gotcha.

So what is the Meatbox doing that sets it apart (I'm just curious)?

 

[Bassgeer]

I hope SA makes a compressor! I love my FEA DB-CL, but it has got me hooked on multi band compression, so much so that I want a 3 band compressor, but there is nothing available without going to rack mount gear. Really resisting the urge to pick up a Drawmer 1973 and a re-amp box so I can use it with my rig, but it is expensive lol! If SA made a comp with a multi band mode I would definitely check it out

 

[Adamixoye]

Gotcha.

So what is the Meatbox doing that sets it apart (I'm just curious)?

Here's my limited understanding (I've never owned a Meatbox): it's not *really* an octave or pitch-tracking pedal, it's more of an EQ pedal that it boosts certain sub frequencies. Again, that's my very rudimentary understanding. If I'm way off base anyone is free to correct me.

 

[Abe-of-Bass]

I hope SA makes a compressor! I love my FEA DB-CL, but it has got me hooked on multi band compression, so much so that I want a 3 band compressor, but there is nothing available without going to rack mount gear. Really resisting the urge to pick up a Drawmer 1973 and a re-amp box so I can use it with my rig, but it is expensive lol! If SA made a comp with a multi band mode I would definitely check it out

Honestly, a quality 3 band comp (preferably with respective outs) in the SA style would probably make me give up my current DIY-only dream and go back to a fully SA ecosystem.

 

[enjoi1018]

Honestly, a quality 3 band comp (preferably with respective outs) in the SA style would probably make me give up my current DIY-only dream and go back to a fully SA ecosystem.

I’m just about there. Only things on my board that aren’t SA anymore are my comp, tuner, Future Impact, Boss MD-500, and Boss ES-8.

All holes that SA has just yet to fill, or have filled and don’t have quite the feature set that works for me. There so many possibilities with the SA stuff that I just gave up going through different pedals in the same category. As mostly a hobbyist, if I can’t make a sound I want with the SA stuff.... well, it’s probably my fault.

 

[intrglctcrevfnk]

Aw man, I finally sold my OG Meatbox from the late 90’s a few weeks ago. Got it in 2000 and used it to give my passive MIM Jazz Bass some oomph. Blew 2 cones in my first speaker cab from high school (a Peavy 4x10 4ohm) because of it. Had been in a box for al last 20 years and all this GAS kicked in, so I posted it on reverb about 6 months ago. Saw that DOD feature JHS pedals did on YouTube and dropped the price. Sold in a week, but paid for half of my new HX Stomp!!! Kinda felt bad but such is the free market, if I went way under market some douche could just flip it. Went for $250, stomp I bought for $475...Got it for $20 in 2000 from the former bass player in the band. Anyway...

iirc it was an eq boost at 30hz and 60hz (maybe 15 and 30) with a gain level and a wet/dry mix. Had funny names like rump, flank, roast. But I think @Adamixoye is correct that it boosted existing subharmonic overtones fixed around those 2 frequencies.

 

[NicJimBass]

Anyone that has a Meatbox- I've seen other tbers using some kind of program to basically show the effect of a pedal in visual form. Anyone willing it able to do that, so we can get closer to an approximation?

 

[gregmon79]

Gotcha.

So what is the Meatbox doing that sets it apart (I'm just curious)?

There is a particular IC in it that makes it quite unique and hard to replicate. It's almost like have an 808 in a pedal. Not really but it has that type of bass. Like, it's the type of pedal that can and will literally suck all the air out of the room when used with a larger FOH help at a medium to large venue. The subyness of the octave is simply sickening. It's like that hella deep sub bass that makes your eye balls shake or almost like you can feel it rumbling before you hear it. It's a very powerful pedal and it will def destroy woofers and cones if your cab if you're not careful. I've never ran it the way a lot of guys used to, all 4 knobs dimed. I usually run the bass and sub backed off a bit from dimed, the octave about 1 o'clock and the level around noon. And even that makes people ask me what I did haha It's really an awesome exp when utilized the right way.

 

[BurningSkies]

There is a particular IC in it that makes it quite unique and hard to replicate. It's almost like have an 808 in a pedal. Not really but it has that type of bass. Like, it's the type of pedal that can and will literally suck all the air out of the room when used with a larger FOH help at a medium to large venue. The subyness of the octave is simply sickening. It's like that hella deep sub bass that makes your eye balls shake or almost like you can feel it rumbling before you hear it. It's a very powerful pedal and it will def destroy woofers and cones if your cab if you're not careful. I've never ran it the way a lot of guys used to, all 4 knobs dimed. I usually run the bass and sub backed off a bit from dimed, the octave about 1 o'clock and the level around noon. And even that makes people ask me what I did haha It's really an awesome exp when utilized the right way.

This is why the Density Hulk has an out for FOH, and a warning. I don't find that kind of sub terribly useful in a 'live room'.

 

[gregmon79]

This is why the Density Hulk has an out for FOH, and a warning. I don't find that kind of sub terribly useful in a 'live room'.

That’s why I said its one of those pedals that you don’t use all the time and in very particular parts. And again, sparingly. Plus it’s not for everyone. I love it live.

 

[gregmon79]

This is why the Density Hulk has an out for FOH, and a warning. I don't find that kind of sub terribly useful in a 'live room'.

also, the newer meatbox has that out too. You just have to have that Y cable coming out of the output.

 

[estimated_eyes]

So would a HPF in the chain protect your speakers in this situation?

 

[Adamixoye]

So would a HPF in the chain protect your speakers in this situation?

Running the Meatbox into an HPF would be like that old Steven Wright joke about putting a humidifier and a dehumidifier in the same room and letting them duke it out.

 

[NicJimBass]

Might have found something similar to what I was asking about earlier.

According to this video, the Meatbox was created to match the dbx Boombox/ 120 Subharmonic Synthesizer:


Watching THIS video, the dbx seems to, according to @intrglctcrevfnk, really boost the range somewhere between 15-60Hz, or thereabouts:


I'm sure there is other stuff going on, but it's a place to start!

 

[estimated_eyes]

Running the Meatbox into an HPF would be like that old Steven Wright joke about putting a humidifier and a dehumidifier in the same room and letting them duke it out.

Haha indeed, let me clarify my thinking...

I thought I read that there was a split to run the Meatbox to FOH, so I was thinking the HPF could just ensure that one's own speakers have that protection, let FOH take the full load.

 

[gregmon79]

So would a HPF in the chain protect your speakers in this situation?

Haha indeed, let me clarify my thinking...

I thought I read that there was a split to run the Meatbox to FOH, so I was thinking the HPF could just ensure that one's own speakers have that protection, let FOH take the full load.

They can help for sure. I have one on at all times anyway. Ideally, I would run that splitter cable out of the Meatbox, run the dry through my board and the effected signal to an onboard DI that I could run straight to the FOH. Ideally. I always had the things in my setup to make this possible but never utilized it that way. I was always too lazy. But I never had issues popping woofers. But again, and I can't stress this enough, I was careful and didn't dime any settings on my Meatbox when I used it.