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which is the right bitcrusher for me?

Discussion in 'Effects [BG]' started by Zaknafain, Apr 21, 2012.

  1. Apr 21, 2012 #1
    Zaknafain

    Zaknafain Guest

    Jan 22, 2012
    I'm looking for a bitcrusher, at the moment, i've set my eye on:

    catalinbread heliotrope
    malekko bit
    IE Franta bit

    I want a bitcrusher that sounds musical. Also I already have two fuzzboxes, so I dont need it for dirt and fuzzed-out distortion. I also dislike the tremolo thing.

    I just want a bitcrusher who delivers the disharmonic wierd sound at great quality and without lowend loss.

    the demos I watched all use different equipment, different recording techniques and different rigs, so I have a hard time figuring this one out on youtube.

    The malekko seems to be cheap and small, so if there is no good argument for one or the other, i would just pick that one...
     
  2. Apr 21, 2012 #2
    Insouciance

    Insouciance

    May 2, 2009
    Minneapolis, MN
    The Heliotrope isn't an actual bit crusher, it is a dirt box that emulates (rather musically) bit crushing. There are some wild tones in there, though.

    My vote is the Frantabit. There is a reason Iron Ether has such high praise in Talkbassville...because the products deliver!
     
  3. Apr 21, 2012 #3
    caeman

    caeman The Root Master

    Sep 17, 2008
    Ohio
    Bitcrusher and musical don't usually appear in the same sentence.
     
  4. Apr 21, 2012 #4
    DannDubblewe

    DannDubblewe Knob Wrangler

    Apr 3, 2009
    TN
    For simplicity's sake and musicality I would go with the Malekko Bit. Sounds really good and can be downright beautiful. So yes, it's very musical.

    The FrantaBit, while amazing, provides many off the wall sounds and can't really get, IME, the sound the Bit delivers. It is much closer to the BugBrand crushing units which seem the most musical to me.

    That's just me! I'm sure more thoughtful comments will come along.
     
  5. Apr 21, 2012 #5
    Jeff Moote

    Jeff Moote Supporting Member

    Oct 11, 2001
    Beamsville, ON, Canada
    I agree with Danno, BUT I think first you need to decide whether the sound you're after is bitcrushing, sample rate reduction or an emulation of one/both. The Frantabit does both whereas the Malekko Bit and Bugbrand units just do sample rate reduction but in a much easier to dial in/control format than that side of the Frantabit.

    Other nice boxes include the WMD Geiger Counter and HEXE Bitcrusher, each of which have pros/cons.