Live effects - but not via effects pedals e.g. using Akai MPC, Roland SP 404, Mixing desks.

[SumOne]

I had some success using an Akai MPC as a Live Bass effects unit, it has a Tuner, Amp sims, lots of live effects with more parameter controls than most effect pedals have, all relatively easily edited via touchscreen and assigning knobs.  There wasn't noticable latency.

 

The main downside was it being relatively large and not being 'stompable' e.g. couldn't stomp on/off effects mid-song. So it could potentially sit on my amp for always on type effects but always seemed a bit big/expensive/complex for that vs just using a cheap Bass multi-fx like a Zoom MS 60B. So I never actually used it live for Bass effects but it seemed perfectly possible.

 

 

I don't own the MPC anymore but I do like using hardware for sampling and drum stuff so am eyeing up the Roland SP 404 MK2.  What is helping to convince me about it is that it seems quite a capable unit for adding live effects - basically using it as live multi-fx unit (all be it not stompable, and not bass specific). It has a big effects list - including Guitar Amp sims (unfortunately no Bass Amp sim though) so I'm hoping it could be both a useful multi-fx unit that sits on the Amp, sample trigger, and drum mackine....Bargain! 

 

I've also found that some quite limited effects on my mixing desk (Mackie FX 12v3) can be usefully assigned just to the Bass. It probably wouldn't be ideal all live stuff as again it isn't 'stompable' but does have potential to add stuff like Delay, Reverb, Chorus and use for EQ as long as you don't want them turned on/off mid-song.  

 

I also tried Laptop and interface hardware teamed up 'Gig Performer' software. It gives a huge potential for all the different effects you can use, latency was low, it turned into a faff to try and have Laptop etc for gigs though. , this

 

Any other non-standard ways you've added live effects?

Edited 5 hours ago by SumOne