For those of you who - like me - just can't stop trying to get decent synth bass sounds using a regular bass as controller, here is my initial impression of the Markbass Super Synth. I've seen it mentioned in a number of threads but have not seen an in-depth review (apologies if one is out there and I missed it). Not that this is going to be super in-depth, but I do have some info to share after a late night of playing with it.
For being a mono synth that works off the regular bass output, the Super Synth tracks really well. You have to be careful to mute when crossing from one string to the next, but by and large the Super Synth delivers. Way better than the Boss SYB 5 IME, though there are a number of TB'ers who really like that pedal so not trying to knock it.
To really get into this unit, you have to download software from Markbass. The download and install worked without a hitch. One note: the owners manual is sparse. There is online help, which has more info and it's worth reading twice as some of the functions are not totally intuitive. In particular, saving a sound to the pedal - you need to first save it on the computer by clicking and holding on one of the 12 preset icons, then it will download. If you click the Save to Pedal button without first saving to the computer, it will download the last saved version (which will be the stock sound for that preset) and happily tell you that your sound was downloaded.
The knobs on the pedal are duplicated in the software. The knob settings are saved together with the other parameters. There is no way to save any changes directly on the pedal - for example if you're in rehearsal and push the input level up a bit, that can't be saved and will be reverted when you switch to a different program and back again.
The Super Synth has three oscillators, and you can individually control volume and detuning for each. Sweet! There's no LFO, but the pedal tracks vibrato and glissando that you play on the bass (in fact, glissando are tracked amazingly well compared to other synth units that I've used). There is a glissando feature in the software but it only triggers if you play in a very legato manner - hard to explain, but it doesn't work as I would have expected. Also, there is no choice of waveforms (sawtooth only) and there's no noise generator, cross modulation, ring modulator, etc.
There is one envelope generator that is used for both VCA and VCF. It has Attack and Release, but no Decay and Sustain parameters. Too bad about that! But, still a lot more control than similar devices that I've tried.
The unit is capable of a pretty broad range of sounds - some fairly big sounding straight synth tones (i.e. with no filter resonance), swoopy resonant filter tones, slow attack string sounds, octaves / fifths / other intervals, detuned oscillators, etc. In terms of basic sound shaping the Super Synth offers way more control than the VBass (the original one; I haven't tried the new model).
Sound quality: I'll have to post again after playing it with my band - so far I've only listened with headphones and no reverb, which makes for an overly sterile and revealing environment. Comparing it to a keyboard synth such as Moog, Nord, or Oberheim the oscillators do not have the fatness I was hoping for - even with all three oscillators in unison and slight detuning. But, in a live situation and mixed a little behind my bass sound I think this will be a sweet addition to the pedal board.
For the money and size, this is a totally amazing unit. Kudos to Markbass for taking the plunge and giving us bass players such a cool toy. Bellissimo!
In case someone at Markbass is reading: my number one wish would be for a Droid / iPhone app for programming the sounds. If you decide to update the hardware in the future, I'd wish for a bass/synth blend knob (in addition to the current ones), and a Save button to save the knob settings to the current preset without having a computer attached.
For being a mono synth that works off the regular bass output, the Super Synth tracks really well. You have to be careful to mute when crossing from one string to the next, but by and large the Super Synth delivers. Way better than the Boss SYB 5 IME, though there are a number of TB'ers who really like that pedal so not trying to knock it.
To really get into this unit, you have to download software from Markbass. The download and install worked without a hitch. One note: the owners manual is sparse. There is online help, which has more info and it's worth reading twice as some of the functions are not totally intuitive. In particular, saving a sound to the pedal - you need to first save it on the computer by clicking and holding on one of the 12 preset icons, then it will download. If you click the Save to Pedal button without first saving to the computer, it will download the last saved version (which will be the stock sound for that preset) and happily tell you that your sound was downloaded.
The knobs on the pedal are duplicated in the software. The knob settings are saved together with the other parameters. There is no way to save any changes directly on the pedal - for example if you're in rehearsal and push the input level up a bit, that can't be saved and will be reverted when you switch to a different program and back again.
The Super Synth has three oscillators, and you can individually control volume and detuning for each. Sweet! There's no LFO, but the pedal tracks vibrato and glissando that you play on the bass (in fact, glissando are tracked amazingly well compared to other synth units that I've used). There is a glissando feature in the software but it only triggers if you play in a very legato manner - hard to explain, but it doesn't work as I would have expected. Also, there is no choice of waveforms (sawtooth only) and there's no noise generator, cross modulation, ring modulator, etc.
There is one envelope generator that is used for both VCA and VCF. It has Attack and Release, but no Decay and Sustain parameters. Too bad about that! But, still a lot more control than similar devices that I've tried.
The unit is capable of a pretty broad range of sounds - some fairly big sounding straight synth tones (i.e. with no filter resonance), swoopy resonant filter tones, slow attack string sounds, octaves / fifths / other intervals, detuned oscillators, etc. In terms of basic sound shaping the Super Synth offers way more control than the VBass (the original one; I haven't tried the new model).
Sound quality: I'll have to post again after playing it with my band - so far I've only listened with headphones and no reverb, which makes for an overly sterile and revealing environment. Comparing it to a keyboard synth such as Moog, Nord, or Oberheim the oscillators do not have the fatness I was hoping for - even with all three oscillators in unison and slight detuning. But, in a live situation and mixed a little behind my bass sound I think this will be a sweet addition to the pedal board.
For the money and size, this is a totally amazing unit. Kudos to Markbass for taking the plunge and giving us bass players such a cool toy. Bellissimo!
In case someone at Markbass is reading: my number one wish would be for a Droid / iPhone app for programming the sounds. If you decide to update the hardware in the future, I'd wish for a bass/synth blend knob (in addition to the current ones), and a Save button to save the knob settings to the current preset without having a computer attached.
Oh and I bought one! MB SS
