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I've acquired a vintage style analogue monophonic synth - an Arturia Minibrute. It has one oscillator but has multiple waves.

I'm new to synths.

What guitar effect pedals will sound especially good with my synth?

What types of effects? (I'm thinking of phaser/modulation and delay/reverb? But what about dirt pedals?)

Any specific pedals?

Suggestions/recommendations, please.

Thanks

p.s. Question: do I need a special device to ensure the guitar pedals and synth work nicely together due to impedance issues? I plan on feeding the synth into a mixer.

#1 reverb
#2 delay
#3 phaser
#4 chorus

Prioritize in that order.

Just try everything out what you have there! Some fuzzes like a Big Muff might not work correctly, but some stuff leads to unexpected results that are terrific. The impedance stuff is often not a problem. Only with some fuzzes again, which are already odd sounding if you run them after a buffered pedal without true bypass.

I'm not sure you really get what "vintage" means, a Minibrute can be a few years old at most .

Synths typically have a hotter output than guitars (almost always line level), so effects that are very dependent on volume/dynamics will behave differently. Still, in my experience most guitar effects can be made to work with synths. Overdrives/distortions/fuzzes often have an input level control, so use it accordingly. Delays are usually great with synths, modulations like phaser/vibrato/etc. often need adjustments as they can have a much more obvious effect but they can be great too.

Just try all the pedals you already have, chances that most of them can give you great results. I played some great sets with a Casio SK-1, an old Marshall Shredmaster and a circuit bent Ibanez delay, for example.

And you shouldn't need anything between synth and pedals, and any mixer will be ok with that.

I like using envelope filters on synths, as counter intuitive as that may seem. Can give a synth a whole new character. Other than that, I'll use whatever effect I think would benefit a certain sound, do some experimentation of your own and see what you like. A bit of distortion usually goes a long way though.

oscillateur wrote:I'm not sure you really get what "vintage" means, a Minibrute can be a few years old at most .

He said "vintage style".

Devi Ever OK or similar gated fuzz. Set it up to have a decay at the end of a note and listen to it sputter and stutter.

+1 to everything above. Reverb is a lot of fun. Delays can be fun. Since the minibrute is monophonic a pitch shifting or pitch shifting delay pedal could be cool to add intervals to your original note.

Ghost Hip wrote:Since the minibrute is monophonic a pitch shifting or pitch shifting delay pedal could be cool to add intervals to your original note.

Octave up fuzz is great as well!

Meris Mercury7

Tbh I'd get something like a Zoom MS50/70/100. Loads of different effects in a lil package. Boring suggestion is boring but I believe it.

Also a timebender sounds great with synths

The OTO stuff is pricey but fantastic.

The Minibrute really opens up with stereo effects, I'd recommend a pedal or two with some stereo reverbs and delays, especially if they come modulated.

I was only using an RE-20 with it for a while because the verb, delay, and dirt on it sound like they were made for each other.

Line 6 M series might be a good first stop since it has tons of great effects to experiment with, and if you find that you gravitate towards only a couple, you can sell it and get specialized units of whatever those effect types are you like best.

popvulture wrote:The OTO stuff is pricey but fantastic.

This this this!

fcknoise wrote:Tbh I'd get something like a Zoom MS50/70/100. Loads of different effects in a lil package. Boring suggestion is boring but I believe it.

Also a timebender sounds great with synths

This this this! (realistically)


Right now, my synth board (I have a Moog Little Phatty so a mono a like yours) is a delay and reverb. All my dirt needs are covered by the synth itself and you should be fine too with the brute's own overdrive.

All great suggestions!

Personally I use an Ibanez Echo Shifter for delay. This video changed my life. I use the Echo Shifter in this video on everything now. They can be had for cheap brand new and even cheaper used.
[youtube][/youtube]


If I didn't own one of those I would have gone for any of the Malekko 616 Delays. Very inexpensive used (can be had for as little as $90). I still look at the LoFi one.

Gary Numan used an MXR Phase 90 on his minimoog for 'The Pleasure Principle'...enough said..
[youtube][/youtube]

fcknoise wrote:Also a timebender sounds great with synths

You're a timewhore.