Synth Pedal Thread

[fcknoise]

Echo what Brands said on page one: PF has some dope cheesy sounds that are ripe for effecting. Octaver and Synthonizer.

Haven't tried it with expression, but I imagine it could do some hella spacey sounds with one plus some reverb

[Invisible Man]

Exactly what I did earlier...exp control over reverb feedback is prettttttty weird.

[fcknoise]

I've used it quite a lot with a EHX 8-step and I'd say it gets weird if you want it to

[manymanyhaha]

A future Space Station would pretty much have to be its own thing, which (to me) is more exciting than a straight port/reissue.

I was merely lamenting all the other Space Station patches I would miss if I had to just use the EX-7.

I agree! I did get by with the EX-7 in lieu of the SS for awhile but I did miss the SS. It was just too BIG!

So, I like to reserve two amps in stereo for synthy sounds. Over the years, it has changed and only because of size. I started with Space Station/HOG which was great and I would still utilize this setup if those pedals were much smaller. Then it was EX-7/POG2 which I liked the sound of a little less but they were a bit smaller. Now it is the Mel9/Superego w/TC Corona mini and Vortex mini in the loop (they sit on top of the SE). I'm very fond of the Mel9. The Superego would be great if it had a more even response but it will just not respond very well to certain parts of the fretboard and it gets lost sometimes.

I've tried to recreate some of the Space Station sounds (the basic ones towards the beginning, like on the EX-7) with mini pedals but can never quite get the same thing. When I listen to what I used to do with the SS, I miss it.

As for the Synth9, I agree with everyone else in lamenting the demo somewhat: It doesn't leave me with high expectations for it but if it tracks better than the Superego, maybe I can make one or two of the sounds work, especially if it is possible to get the same attack/sustain as the Superego.

And that there is all I gots to say about synth pedals

[Iommic Pope]

A future Space Station would pretty much have to be its own thing, which (to me) is more exciting than a straight port/reissue.

I was merely lamenting all the other Space Station patches I would miss if I had to just use the EX-7.

I agree! I did get by with the EX-7 in lieu of the SS for awhile but I did miss the SS. It was just too BIG!

So, I like to reserve two amps in stereo for synthy sounds. Over the years, it has changed and only because of size. I started with Space Station/HOG which was great and I would still utilize this setup if those pedals were much smaller. Then it was EX-7/POG2 which I liked the sound of a little less but they were a bit smaller. Now it is the Mel9/Superego w/TC Corona mini and Vortex mini in the loop (they sit on top of the SE). I'm very fond of the Mel9. The Superego would be great if it had a more even response but it will just not respond very well to certain parts of the fretboard and it gets lost sometimes.

I've tried to recreate some of the Space Station sounds (the basic ones towards the beginning, like on the EX-7) with mini pedals but can never quite get the same thing. When I listen to what I used to do with the SS, I miss it.

As for the Synth9, I agree with everyone else in lamenting the demo somewhat: It doesn't leave me with high expectations for it but if it tracks better than the Superego, maybe I can make one or two of the sounds work, especially if it is possible to get the same attack/sustain as the Superego.

And that there is all I gots to say about synth pedals

Agreed also. A new thing that was a current imagining on the spirit of the original would be awesome.
Like, all that stuff but a whole lot more.
I reckon they'd be able to make some very complex sounds now as well.

And yeah, patiently biding my time for Synth 9 demos.

[hotknife]

A future Space Station would pretty much have to be its own thing, which (to me) is more exciting than a straight port/reissue.

I was merely lamenting all the other Space Station patches I would miss if I had to just use the EX-7.

I agree! I did get by with the EX-7 in lieu of the SS for awhile but I did miss the SS. It was just too BIG!

So, I like to reserve two amps in stereo for synthy sounds. Over the years, it has changed and only because of size. I started with Space Station/HOG which was great and I would still utilize this setup if those pedals were much smaller. Then it was EX-7/POG2 which I liked the sound of a little less but they were a bit smaller. Now it is the Mel9/Superego w/TC Corona mini and Vortex mini in the loop (they sit on top of the SE). I'm very fond of the Mel9. The Superego would be great if it had a more even response but it will just not respond very well to certain parts of the fretboard and it gets lost sometimes.

I've tried to recreate some of the Space Station sounds (the basic ones towards the beginning, like on the EX-7) with mini pedals but can never quite get the same thing. When I listen to what I used to do with the SS, I miss it.

As for the Synth9, I agree with everyone else in lamenting the demo somewhat: It doesn't leave me with high expectations for it but if it tracks better than the Superego, maybe I can make one or two of the sounds work, especially if it is possible to get the same attack/sustain as the Superego.

And that there is all I gots to say about synth pedals

Agreed also. A new thing that was a current imagining on the spirit of the original would be awesome.
Like, all that stuff but a whole lot more.
I reckon they'd be able to make some very complex sounds now as well.

And yeah, patiently biding my time for Synth 9 demos.

Double agreed. Good thoughts. My Synth9 has yet to ship, but I'll try and post mah thoughts whenever I do get it (if it's still needed by then).

[ck3]

I've owned too many synth pedals over the years.

Ibanez SB7: Fun with guitar if fed into a gain source. Fierce lazer screeches aplenty.

Akai Deep Impact: Tracks decently with guitar up to the 7th fret on the high E string. I got one back when AMS had them on clearance and sold it at a loss because it was defective.

Boss GT-8: The intelligent ring mod and guitar synth effects were hours of fun, especially when the latter of them was fed into fuzz.

Tim Escobedo Uglyface: I've now owned three variants of this circuit and wish I'd kept the 4ms one with an expression photosensor. A nice, basic lo-fi atari-esque filter synth.

Digitech guitar and bass synth wahs: I preferred the bass version with guitar, as it had more useful modes. Still a great option for quirky synth bloops on the cheap. Also great in a feedback loop.

Electro~Harmonix XO Micro Synth: I'm not sure why I got rid of this pedal. Maybe it was the monophonic limitations. Either way, it was a nifty way of creating pseudo-Moog textures and cacophonous filtered octave fuzz thunder.

Line6 FM4: I sort of enjoyed the Growler mode for a minute, but it ultimately sounded too flat and plastic for my liking.

Subdecay Noise Box: Reminded me a great deal pf the Uglyface, but a bot more filtery overall. I found it to be more utile than the Harmonic Antagonizer

Sunsine Harmonic Decoder: A pocket-sized PLL seemed like a good idea ... until I plugged it in. The tracking was bogus, and there was no gating. I think mine was defective, though I've read similar problems have been rampant.

Digitech Dirty Robot: Kind of like a Synth Wah on steroids with a more refined Yah-Yah effect (featured on GNX units and the GSP1101) built in. Though the tracking can be a bit dicey, and it doesn't handle complex chords very well, this was my go-to synth for a number of months.

Electro~Harmonix Mel9: I actually received this pedal by mistake when I ordered a 720 Looper from a major retailer and decided to keep it. So mich retro prog/psych win in a single pedal. The tracking could be a bit better, but it still works well for drones amd slow passages. The only serious issue has been occasional system crashes when it powers up (there are multiple threads on various forums about this problem).

Sinister Analog Soul Provider: I was hoping for another Uglyface variant and ended up with a less tweakable PLL variant. The dual oscillators are impossible to tune. Total poop for doing anything musical for the most part, but great if you're looking to make atonal noise and enjoy random harmonizing.

Catalinbread Perseus fed into a Valeton Katfish Auto Wah: A magical combo that yields textures that fall somewhere between the Ibanez SB7 and EHX Micro Synth. The right post-gain source can unleash lazer beams.

Electro~Harmonix Synth9: My latest acquisition. Better tracking than the Mel9 and also has improved response to playing nuances compared to its predecessor. The Solo Synth mode is a bit noisy, and fingerstyle playing works better with many of its other modes. It cascades well into the Mel9, as many of their modes complement one another when layering. Though there is no formant-filter-type effect, and it doesn't distort particularly well, the Synth9 will likely replace my Dirty Robot in the near future. A polyphonic approximation of Micro Synth textures is one of its many highlights.

[Iommic Pope]

That is a comprehensive list and nice review(s).
Thanks man.
Sounds like the Synrh 9 might just do the job for me.

[fcknoise]

I've got to say I've always wanted a digitech bass synth wah

[actual]

Me too, but haven't gotten one because..well, digital. But I just might.
I also checked out the BOSS SYB-3 yesterday.

[Chankgeez]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3pmznHI-m4[/youtube]

[Jero]

I've got to say I've always wanted a digitech bass synth wah

[titbeard]

Here's a video I made for the Synth 9. I run a guitar and synth through it. Riffs from Future Islands, Portishead, A Clockwork Orange, Stranger Things, Depeche Mode and more. Party.

[youtube][/youtube]

[actual]

I see the Bass Synth Wah is starting to get the rare treatment on Reverb, better got one while they still go for 60$

[actual]

#daftpunk