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THE SYNTH BASS THREAD

#61
I've been playing with soft synths lately and got so into it I bought a Microbrute and a Volca Beats. I have always loved Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk sort of stuff but never learned keys or had the time or money to mess with real synths until now. There is a slew of analog synths on the market which sound great and don't break the bank account. So during the down time between rock band work I can finally do some of the spacey stuff I've been wanting to do for a long time.

Not exactly synth "bass", so much as just "synth everything": http://youtu.be/Dm1SIYzreUg
 
#62
I use a DSI Mopho for my live synth bass needs (in all its analog goodness :) ). I run it into the A/B of my Bassbone and use my bass amp, sounds great, keeps my system self contained.

I also have an M-Audio Venom (couldn't resist the blowout pricing) and have the full Arturia softsynth SW (Jupiter-80, Minimoog, Moog Modular, ARP 2600, Yamaha CS-80, Prophet 5/VS). They sound fantastic but I just use them in my studio.

Got my eye on the new ARP Odyssey remake coming from Korg, could be interesting.

Here is a picture of my setup...

IMGP0261.jpg


Later
Rob
 
#66
ERIC31 said:
Well my laptop is just an HP G6 Pavilion which isn't really appropriate for music production. Lol
Click to expand...

I don't really know, but I have a strong feeling that your laptop can be (at least) adequate enough for the purpose, esp if only for the synth bass. Years ago I use much weaker laptop than yours.

In my case, Aside of the fact of that it's a mac , logic etc that have their not so cheap price of course, but It's the 'cheaper' way I can go because I also do production etc with the DAW things, beside playing bass. Much cheaper than if I have to buy dedicated hardware synth, more if it's only for synth bass sound.
Not that I never tempted to buy them :D .
I often look at moog website to drool on LOL
 
#71
So since September I've been using this baby:
888D66EA-593A-4F93-9D49-2FEFC0612450.jpg

It shares a Radial Bassbone with my De Gier and goes into my Aguilar amp from there. I love this machine, it's very easy to set up and except for 1 major software flaw it works perfectly. I hope Moog fixes that problem soon.
 
#73
ERIC31 said:
For those that have one, what do you think of the bass station II?
Click to expand...

I got a bass station II last spring and I've really been enjoying it. I have some experience with synths, but not a whole lot. I find it pretty easy to use. I couldn't say how it compares sound-wise to a Moog, but I am pretty happy overall with the sounds I get out of it.

I love the portability. I can take it with me places I don't have room for or don't feel like carrying a bass. I got the bag that goes with it.

The band likes the new sounds I have been bringing in, and it's gone over well at the couple gigs I've brought it to. I don't do much knob twiddling when practicing with the band or playing live. I do when I am experimenting with it at home or working out parts and sounds for songs.

Mostly I've been just having a lot of fun with it. I've always liked analog synth sounds. I'm glad they are making them more affordable and easier to use.

I can't really compare it to the other synths available now, but it seems pretty well put together, and it hasn't given me any trouble. I haven't quite figured out the arpeggiator or the sequencer (or at least I can't remember how to work them from one time to the next). Also, I haven't quite gotten the hang of setting the envelope, but that may just be my synth-inexperience more than anything else.

For some of the controls, I find it difficult to figure out the original setting that I am changing. The LEDs help in most cases, but sometimes I don't quite get what they mean, especially when there is a knob whose function changes with a switch.

Overall, though, I would highly recommend the bass station II. I am really happy I got mine.
 
#75
rob2966 said:
I use a DSI Mopho for my live synth bass needs (in all its analog goodness :) ). I run it into the A/B of my Bassbone and use my bass amp, sounds great, keeps my system self contained.

I also have an M-Audio Venom (couldn't resist the blowout pricing) and have the full Arturia softsynth SW (Jupiter-80, Minimoog, Moog Modular, ARP 2600, Yamaha CS-80, Prophet 5/VS). They sound fantastic but I just use them in my studio.

Got my eye on the new ARP Odyssey remake coming from Korg, could be interesting.

Here is a picture of my setup...

IMGP0261.jpg


Later
Rob
Click to expand...

Rob, what are your thoughts on the Mopho? I've been debating between that and the Bass Station II, since used prices are surprisingly close together. I like that it has the multiple filters and an extra 1/2 octave. Do you have any regrets with it?

Also, how is everyone running their synths with their bass? I was thinking of running it with an A/B box, after my pedalboard, to not run my synth through the board, although that might not be a bad idea.
 
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#77
birdman14 said:
Also, how is everyone running their synths with their bass? I was thinking of running it with an A/B box, after my pedalboard, to not run my synth through the board, although that might not be a bad idea.
Click to expand...

I have been using an A/B box. Haven't settled on before/after the pedalboard. Usually before.

Have been thinking about a 2-channel mixer to have both going at the same time. I switch between bass and synth back and forth in the same song, and it would be nice if I didn't have to worry about hitting the switch and if the synth could sustain over the bass.
 
#79
Sounds like an A/B box would just be the easiest way to go, and there was a need to have both going, use one of the A/B boxes that you can have both going and use volume knob/pedals. Anyone have some cool tracks of their synth playing, or even just examples of bass/bass synth playing? It's tough finding clips/videos of bass players doubling.
 
#80
ERIC31 said:
The 2-track mixer is interesting..would it require an additional power source though?
Click to expand...

I think there are some passive ones that don't require power, but I think you are liable to lose tone, especially for the bass.

birdman14 said:
Sounds like an A/B box would just be the easiest way to go, and there was a need to have both going, use one of the A/B boxes that you can have both going and use volume knob/pedals.
Click to expand...

That's right - I forgot they make ones that can have both on. I'm using a homemade one that is either/or.

I kind of like the idea of a mixer to give me more tone control options with the synth, and maybe a high-pass filter. I worry that the synth can go lower than the bass and what effect that might have on my speakers. My current head doesn't pass through a lot of deep bass, so I don't think that is much of an issue for me now.

I've been looking at the Radial Bassbone OD, which can be used as a 2-channel mixer and has an HPF. But my current setup does most of what I want, so I am holding off on getting one.
 

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