lojo Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 (edited) Could anyone recommend a good simple pedal to produce an 80s synth bass sound Think, Madonna , Tiffany, Flashdance etc I know it's a bit of a lazy question , but I don't have a lot of time and just want to grab one without researching it to death as I do with most things Thanks kind people Edited March 13, 2015 by lojo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Left Foot Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Akai Deep Impact. Or don't believe the hype and try the Digitech, Boss, korg, ehx, or any other brands. I could go into it the nuances and subjective elements of sound but I just didn't have the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 [quote name='Left Foot' timestamp='1426251822' post='2716154'] Akai Deep Impact. Or don't believe the hype and try the Digitech, Boss, korg, ehx, or any other brands. I could go into it the nuances and subjective elements of sound but I just didn't have the time. [/quote] Thanks, was just hoping for an off the shelf recommendation as wish to get one quickly , Akai out on availability and assumed price. Not sure if this is an ok thing to ask or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 There arent really any shortcuts to this. If you don't want to pay for an Akai Deep Impact, the Korg G5 is a reasonable option. There is also a good G5 emulator in the Zoom MS-60B and B1Xon but to get the best out of it you need to spend some time blending envelope filters, distortion etc with the basic synth effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 [quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1426258491' post='2716271'] There arent really any shortcuts to this. [/quote] Ok, thanks, thought this would like buying a chorus or flanger, but I guessed wrong. Not heard any demos of synths giving the sound im after, just odd synth sounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 If you're not gonna be doing loads, then try the digitech bass/synth/wah. Very cheap, always come up for sale on here. Try a you pube clip , and see if it's for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 The only one I've found that tracks really well is the MarkBass. Quite happy playing down low which works really well for that 80's synthy sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo0tsy Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Dare I say it, but a filter and a fuzz combined, might get you the synth sound you need. A decent synth pedal can set you back a lot of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 [quote name='molan' timestamp='1426296535' post='2716791'] The only one I've found that tracks really well is the MarkBass. Quite happy playing down low which works really well for that 80's synthy sound [/quote] +1 for MarkBass Super Synth. Fantastic bit of kit, far outreaches the synth patches on multi-fx units IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted March 16, 2015 Author Share Posted March 16, 2015 Thanks for the replies everyone, I had no idea that there is no pedal that can do this effectively, definite gap in the market there. I might even end up with a keytar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 [quote name='Left Foot' timestamp='1426251822' post='2716154'] Akai Deep Impact. Or don't believe the hype and try the Digitech, Boss, korg, ehx, or any other brands. I could go into it the nuances and subjective elements of sound but I just didn't have the time. [/quote] The Akai is still a hard act to follow..... I've had most of the synth pedals out there and they all have their limitations though the Akai is one of the only ones that a) sounds like the synth bass sound in your head and tracks well even on a 5 string. I've not tried a Korg G5 unit though I hear they are ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo0tsy Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 I've not tried the Deep Impact (although a re-issue is meant to be on the way if threads in Talkbass are to be believed. It's on my GAS list). I tried, liked and sold on the EHX Bass Microsynth (that is a pedal crying out for some presets). My favourite synth bar none, is the Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer. The UI is pretty horrible, but if you invest (a lot of) time with it, you basically can build your own analogue synth patches and store up to 50 presets. The OS has endless possibilities, plus the gated fuzz circuit (from the Brown Dog) and Envelope Filter (from 00Funk MkII) aren't too shabby either...unfortunately the Chunk OS is getting as hard to come by as the Akai DI these days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 The thing is that there is no single 80s bass synth sound. Even the three examples you've listed would have probably used a whole load of synths that all sound completely different from each other to produce the bass parts. Add into that the challenge of getting a bass guitar to accurately track and trigger the envelopes, you are IME on to a bit of a loser... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Just buy a synth, better sounds, better all round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1426526813' post='2718901'] Just buy a synth, better sounds, better all round. [/quote] Very much this. However which synth to buy? Back in the 80s I had synths by Akai, Casio, EDP, Korg, Roland and Yamaha. Each of them did some of the classic synth bass sounds, but none was versatile to cover everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 I use the behringer bass synth - Its not that great on its own, but it is cheap, and I currently only use it for Killer, and in a pub environment it works really well. I don't think i would record with it (well, I know I wouldn't, I would just use a synth!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1426527078' post='2718906'] Very much this. However which synth to buy? Back in the 80s I had synths by Akai, Casio, EDP, Korg, Roland and Yamaha. Each of them did some of the classic synth bass sounds, but none was versatile to cover everything. [/quote] Very true. Any purchase would have to be a compromise, unless you bought racks of gear or ran some decent emulation software for all the classic bass synth sounds. Something like a Novation Bass Station would be a good starting place, and just work on getting some approximations of the sounds needed. Nobody in the audience will care too much about authenticity anyway.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
still-young Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 If you went the Synth route I would second the Novation Bass Station. I love mine, although I'm fairly new to synthesisers so take that with a pinch of salt, to my ears it sounds excellent, and it's easy to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 My favourite is still the Nord Lead. The Mk1 version is plenty versatile enough and goes very cheaply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 Yep, the synths used on the songs I'm doing all vary, but I think a few keyboard ones would be ok and give more variation to the set over all electric bass, especially now I know I can't get anything I'd be happy with effects wise, not heard one clip get close (though the micro synth and octave pedal did ok) I think I'll just carry as I am for now, the songs still work wonderfully, and look into a small keyboard bass synth (though keytar would really suit this band) When I do get it sorted, I'll surprise the band Thanks for all the thoughts, I hope the thread can still running discussing attempts to try , and keys sounds I'm off to keyschat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 If you want actual synth - 12 step and Moog minataur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.