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Now that I have a mini-collection of synths, I'm considering building a new board for it.
So far the only pedals I found I like with them are my Deco, Generation Loss, and a Big Muff.
Currently the only things I can think of that I'd like or would like to build are a Matrix Mixer, Tape Delay, lo-fi reverb, and some sort of bitcrusher or clean ring mod.

I only run mine through a Boss ODB-3 and a Zoom MS70. But I'm thinking in putting my racks together and use that too.... Lexicon Vortex, Yamaha GEP50 and FX500.

My synth board is an INFANEM SEA into a walrus audio descent. For drive sounds I just use the filter overload on the Little Phatty.

Boss PS-3 is so good for synths. That detune mode is straight magic. Boss RV-3 for yr ambient needs. LAL Misty Cave can do some cool things with filter sweeps and its time knob.

When I use pedals with keys at the moment it's Fuck, Pretty Years and RRR. I think any reverb works, but finding a good dirt pedal is trickier.

Other than that a bitcrusher/sample rate reducer would be cool I think.

monkeydancer wrote:When I use pedals with keys at the moment it's Fuck, Pretty Years and RRR.

See, I couldn't find a setting I was really into with my Fuck.
It's probably because I have it down on a board and playing around with the settings is a pain, but it sounded either like a screwy boost or a blanket distortion.
The funny part is I think it's perfect with guitar.

Brian's pedals are good to consider because he's a keys player—more low end. I've loved the Mini on synth.

As I've mentioned before, the Metal Zone sounds killer on synth. Another big fave: Dispatch Master. Sounds RILL good.

Anything Strymon or Eventide is sick, ring mod is crucial, and dirt with clean blends. My synth board right now is an ODB-3, bitquest, RV-3, and a hardwire DL-8 for loops/reverse.

Strange Tales wrote:Boss PS-3 is so good for synths. That detune mode is straight magic.

Yes.

Also, the ss/bs Mini works very well with synths. You have to find the good gain range compared to guitar/bass but it can be super efficient.
My Dispatch Master is mostly used for synths too these days.

Yep, Mini is great on synth. I also like weirdo reverb and delay settings, like reverse, that I can never make sound good with other instruments.

Distortion pedals, which I mostly avoid with guitar.
Resonant hp & lp filters, like the Frostwave Resonator (obv since MS-20).
Also the obligatory mentions: DMM, Harmonic Percolator. Phasers.

SPACE is magic with synths..and everything else. it'll make an alarm sound good. pretty years is the shit as well. arf RULED while I had it

jrfox92 wrote:

monkeydancer wrote:When I use pedals with keys at the moment it's Fuck, Pretty Years and RRR.

See, I couldn't find a setting I was really into with my Fuck.
It's probably because I have it down on a board and playing around with the settings is a pain, but it sounded either like a screwy boost or a blanket distortion.
The funny part is I think it's perfect with guitar.

Haha different strokes I guess. I must say I don't like it on all synth stuff but on electric piano/Rhodes or similar type sounds the fuck is magical.

jrfox92 wrote:Now that I have a mini-collection of synths, I'm considering building a new board for it.
So far the only pedals I found I like with them are my Deco, Generation Loss, and a Big Muff.
Currently the only things I can think of that I'd like or would like to build are a Matrix Mixer, Tape Delay, lo-fi reverb, and some sort of bitcrusher or clean ring mod.

How do you personally differentiate between a clean and dirty ring mod? I use an MF-102 for mostly trem sounds, but I've coveted the Randy's Revenge for a long time. I also like to use ring mods and harmonizers on archaic analog drum machines.

What are you doing with the Muff? I had a friend who used a Muff with a cheap 1970s Hohner. He'd play slow single-note sequences on it and it sounded exactly like a guitar.

Some of the best delays I've found for keys/synths: Empress Tape Delay, Catalinbread Echorec, and the TC Alter Ego X4. (I have a lot more, but those work well with keys and can all be had for under $200 in premium condition). For reverb, you're going to lose a lot of nuance with synths, unless you're using piano/EP sounds. Once you start adding modulation and delay, the individual banks or settings on many reverb pedals will become fairly blurred together.

As was previously mentioned, the MS-70CDR is a great choice for synths---you can stack delays, reverbs, and modulation.

echorec wrote:How do you personally differentiate between a clean and dirty ring mod? I use an MF-102 for mostly trem sounds, but I've coveted the Randy's Revenge for a long time. I also like to use ring mods and harmonizers on archaic analog drum machines.

Currently the only Ring Mod I own is a DBA Space Ring which has this wild distortion in it (IIRC it uses a diode ring, tone decoder and quad opamp) and I'd like something closer to the Moog.