Which synth pedal?

[moles]

So, I have been playing piano all my life, and can play all those lines on a synth. If that's the way to go, I'll start looking into that. I'll have to practice getting the tones and the portamrnto and bendy nuances nailed (that part is easier on BG for me).

So, I'm WAY behind the curve on the gear front for keys. What is a small synth that I could use for this, and has those types of tones?

MicroKORG seems like a good bet too.

 

[devnulljp]

The old EHX Bass Microsynth is awesome

 

[TheMightyEight]

I've got a Boss SYB-5; I've still trying to get a usable sound out of it and it can't track fast notes.

It could do some slow single notes, but then I figured that I could play them on pedals anyway.

I've been wondering about trying a Sonuus MIDI converter to the Minitaur.

I'll have a few more tries with the Boss...

Never tried the SYB5, as I said before I'm an octave/fuzz/filter man, even tho I DO own a BSW which I actually use live(always in conjunction with other pedals tho!) and I quite like it! Have a few more tries with the Boss!!
But anyway my real point was to tell you not to bother with a Sonnus Midi Converter!
I brought one when I first got my (fricking AWESOME!!!) Minitaur and sent it straight back more or less! I aLways use an old oxygen8 midi keyboard with my Minitaur and it SLAYS!!

 

[TheMightyEight]

I'm damn impressed with the Boss SY300
How does it compare to the Roland set up with MIDI pup etc??
Even tho I'm a happy camper with my Moog modules for synth duties, I can Deffo see a place for an SY on my board. Pure G.A.S but f*ck it, I need rehab!

 

[winterburn69]

I love the current EHX Bass Micro Synth.

I've also got great results from the 3Leaf Octabvre, Way Huge Pork Loin & a vintage MXR Envelope Filter combined any which way.

 

[Tori2013]

The best value for a bass synth at $299 is the Korg Monologue mono analog synth (not the Minilogue). It's set up E to E in a two octave KB and it will track and sound better than any boutique pedal out there.

 

[gumtown]

I'm damn impressed with the Boss SY300
How does it compare to the Roland set up with MIDI pup etc??
Even tho I'm a happy camper with my Moog modules for synth duties, I can Deffo see a place for an SY on my board. Pure G.A.S but f*ck it, I need rehab!

Compared to a bass fitted with a GK hexaphonic pickup and a Roland synth?
If comparing the midi synth part, infinitely better, the SY-300 tracking is fault-less, instant, and glitch free.
Compared to the Roland HRM instrument modelling, both are instantaneous, glitch free, no latency.

The SY-300 is also polyphonic from it's regular 1/4" jack input, although some guitarists have noted strange artifacts from playing complex chords.

 

[prowla]

Never tried the SYB5, as I said before I'm an octave/fuzz/filter man, even tho I DO own a BSW which I actually use live(always in conjunction with other pedals tho!) and I quite like it! Have a few more tries with the Boss!!
But anyway my real point was to tell you not to bother with a Sonnus Midi Converter!
I brought one when I first got my (fricking AWESOME!!!) Minitaur and sent it straight back more or less! I aLways use an old oxygen8 midi keyboard with my Minitaur and it SLAYS!!

I've got a Minitaur with Roland PK-5A; it does what it does, but it's not a full-range synth.

Thanks for the comments on the Sonuus; it seems a lot of people don't have a good thing to say for it. I've got a sneaky suspicion I will buy one anyway, though, just so I can find out for myself.

 

[David Jayne]

The old EHX Bass Microsynth is awesome

Bought one recently for the same task the OP needs it for. 24k magic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, ect. It'll get you as close as you need to be, in a club/live situation without making you crazy. Not expensive, easy to use. And it compresses quite a bit all on it's own, enough that I shut off my comp when using it. Not bad really. Very fat tones.

 

[prowla]

Bought one recently for the same task the OP needs it for. 24k magic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, ect. It'll get you as close as you need to be, in a club/live situation without making you crazy. Not expensive, easy to use. And it compresses quite a bit all on it's own, enough that I shut off my comp when using it. Not bad really. Very fat tones.

Weird - I had a dream, last night that I had one of those.
(I think I need to get out more!)

 

[Timmy-Watts]

Well I'm thinking I'll save up for a mini synth, and I'm kind of stoked to play around with it. $300 for a cool you isn't much. Though I like the idea of the Korg Micro, because it is C to C. More of a 5-string range. And it seems there is the Eb in a lot of limes, like 24k. I don't think that song is going away soon.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I've got a Minitaur with Roland PK-5A; it does what it does, but it's not a full-range synth.

Thanks for the comments on the Sonuus; it seems a lot of people don't have a good thing to say for it. I've got a sneaky suspicion I will buy one anyway, though, just so I can find out for myself.

You can get the sounds to work if you play carefully, slowly, and turn the tone down and have a rattle-free bass.

 

[prowla]

You can get the sounds to work if you play carefully, slowly, and turn the tone down and have a rattle-free bass.

I've been thinking of making a passive tone control for my pedalboard (I've got an octave pedal which can be a bit pernickety too...).

Just a box with a footswitch, a 500k pot and a .047 cap.

 

[Tori2013]

Well I'm thinking I'll save up for a mini synth, and I'm kind of stoked to play around with it. $300 for a cool you isn't much. Though I like the idea of the Korg Micro, because it is C to C. More of a 5-string range. And it seems there is the Eb in a lot of limes, like 24k. I don't think that song is going away soon.

The Micro Korg has micro keys and is not known for gut churning bass. Try before buy or make sure the store has a good return policy. Don't worry about the key of the songs you play. All these mini synths can transpose. My band plays everything half step down so my synth is set up that way.

Another contender for you is the $399 Novation Bass Station II. Once again two octaves but this one is C to C.

 

[Omega Monkey]

Well if you don't like the EH MicroSynth you're screwed because that's the best one I've heard so far. But since you play keys, there are plenty of options there. Mini or UltraNova would be good choices and they can also play chords. Stuff like the MicroBrute are monophonic. Fine if you JUST want bass and leads or sfx/textures. The Minilogue is 4 voice poly, but still analog. The synth engine is a bit limited in some ways, but if you're not coming from a synth background you might not notice that.

 

[prowla]

I've been thinking of making a passive tone control for my pedalboard (I've got an octave pedal which can be a bit pernickety too...).

Just a box with a footswitch, a 500k pot and a .047 cap.

Right - I've ordered a volume attenuator switch off ebay; I'll get that and mod it to do tone.

 

[Groove Doctor]

What did you end up using @Timmy-Watts ??

 

[Blu bro]

my personal favourite is the KORG G5. there is just something so organic sounding about it.

perfect for simple old school analogue sounding synth bass.

I use the Future Impact on my main board because of its flexibility, amount of options for different sounds and midi capabilities. But there really is something special about the Korg G5. Couldn't recommend it enough.

If you find the Korg cheap. buy it!

 

[Cat-A-Tonic]

You can also use a modular synth to process your bass

 

[prowla]

I've also just got a Sonuus guitar-MIDI interface for a bit of a play; my "bit of a play" leads me to conclude that I have to say it's more of a prototype than a working product fit for sale (and the guitar one stops when it gets down to A on the bass).