lefrash Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Just mucking about with my pedal board, trying to reduce it drastically in size. I've got an oc-3 on my board which to be fair I've never really had problems with live but I thought I'd swap it out for the BSW and the tracking on the octaver 'seems' to be immense! I dont know whether to try it live or not but in practice it seems to cut the mustard. The only issue I have is that I also need the pedal for some long synthy noises, which means I'd either have to dabble with the knobs mid-set or I'd simply just need to get another BSW (meaning the point of the exercise has been lost somewhat) Anyone else tried other octavers and ended up using the BSW for you sub bass needs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I have heard of several bassists who use the Synth Wah for its octaver alone Given that they are now just [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digitech-XBW-Bass-Synth-Wah/dp/B0002GYYFO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397675417&sr=8-1&keywords=bass+synth+wah"]£32[/url] to buy new (they have been selling second hand for more!) why not buy a few?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted April 16, 2014 Author Share Posted April 16, 2014 Yep, its ridicolous how cheap they are..... I've just bought myself a zoom ms60b from thomann (plus a few other bits and bobs) yesterday, wish I thought about it and just popped another one into my basket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 It's all I use mine for apart from making laser noises with the rest of the settings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sk8 Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Sold my MXR BOD for a BSW. It is an awesome Octaver that also has the only envelope sound I like plus synthy madness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbandit599 Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Love my BSW. The octaver does all I need and I find it pretty easy to flip it onto the other channels for synthy bits as I don't need octave and synth in the same tracks. I've got some great (and much more pricey pedals) but the BSW is a real, fun and handy box of tricks that is going nowhere. My whole band love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linear Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I didn't realise it could be used as just an octaver. Is this setting 8 with the Range knob turned all the way down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted April 17, 2014 Author Share Posted April 17, 2014 [quote name='linear' timestamp='1397692642' post='2426624'] I didn't realise it could be used as just an octaver. Is this setting 8 with the Range knob turned all the way down? [/quote] That's it. I read on here somewhere that it can do the octave down with no dry signal but I can't work out how... Which suggests you probably can't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linear Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 Excellent, thanks. I must give this a try. This daft little pedal just gets better and better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 [quote name='lefrash' timestamp='1397675838' post='2426424'] Yep, its ridicolous how cheap they are..... I've just bought myself a zoom ms60b from thomann (plus a few other bits and bobs) yesterday, wish I thought about it and just popped another one into my basket. [/quote] You might find as I did that the tracking on the Zoom is pretty darn good, the 'Pitch' setting (I think that's the one I use) works better then any other octaver I've tried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted April 17, 2014 Author Share Posted April 17, 2014 [quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1397737732' post='2426952'] You might find as I did that the tracking on the Zoom is pretty darn good, the 'Pitch' setting (I think that's the one I use) works better then any other octaver I've tried. [/quote] Interesting! Although I really plan on using the zoom as a preamp/compressor/noise gate/tuner and never really use it for any effects as such. If I understand it correctly you can use it as a stomp box with the effect that you leave on the digital read out? if thats the case then perhaps thats another option. Incidentally, whilst mucking about with different options, it seems that my oc-3 also does quite an interesting synthy style fuzz when mixed with a touch of octave can sound really meaty. (at bedroom volumes I must admit) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 More people should have this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 [quote name='lefrash' timestamp='1397766140' post='2427279'] Interesting! Although I really plan on using the zoom as a preamp/compressor/noise gate/tuner and never really use it for any effects as such. If I understand it correctly you can use it as a stomp box with the effect that you leave on the digital read out? if thats the case then perhaps thats another option. [/quote] Yes I think you can do that or you could possibly have 2 patches that are identical except one has the Octave effect as well, you can then cycle between the two setting with the foot switch. I'm no Zoom expert though as I mainly use mine as a tuner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 [quote name='lefrash' timestamp='1397766140' post='2427279'] Interesting! Although I really plan on using the zoom as a preamp/compressor/noise gate/tuner and never really use it for any effects as such. If I understand it correctly you can use it as a stomp box with the effect that you leave on the digital read out? if thats the case then perhaps thats another option. [/quote] Yes, you can use the ms60b to switch one of the effects in the chain on and off. The BSW is a great octaver, it tracks better than the ebs . unfortunately it is a terrible synth pedal, can't win them all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 I find the synth ok for my needs.... Ie long drawn notes, but for anything more intricate I struggle to get anything useable out it. re ms60b.... I plan to use it as my preamp so I'd rather not have two patches, with two sets of eq to fiddle with. I like to keep things simpLe as possible. But that definitely seems to be a popular way of using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 [quote name='lefrash' timestamp='1397821008' post='2427666'] I find the synth ok for my needs.... Ie long drawn notes, but for anything more intricate I struggle to get anything useable out it. [/quote] Despite my laser noises joke earlier on, this is one of the more useable sounds it can do - sort of a big phat bass synth swell. I dug mine out on the back of this thread and had a great time with 'Sledgehammer'. Very good octaver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottle Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Bummer! I've been thinking about an octave-down pedal after seeing (hearing?) SiBob's OC-2 goodness at the last Herts Bass Bash. Gutted I sold my BSW now although that was a couple of years ago and I had an ODB-3 at the same time which I just didn't get on with. Now I'm looking into effects seriously, I'm kinda wishing I held on to the BSW. Ooops. Quick question (apologies if it's been asked) how does the BSW octave down compare with OC-2/OC-3 Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted April 24, 2014 Author Share Posted April 24, 2014 Tracking wise it seems to be just as good as the OC-3 I have. With the OC-3 though you can alter the dry and wet signals independently so its clearly going to be more versatile. its also polytone so you can play chords and it will still work where the BSW seems to be single notes (which is fine for me). The BSW seems to be quite a fat octave down, rather than a precise tone, so might not suit everyones needs. But for me, its solved a wee problem. And it means I can get away with haveing one less pedal in my chain. So in other words, Im not saying the oc-3 I have is bad (in fact its pretty good IMO) but the BSW does a good enough octaver for my needs. The OC-2 on the other hand has a very unique tone apparently which you can only get from an oc-2 (not even from the oc-2 mode on the oc-3) and thus gains a lot of love around these parts. Cant say I've tried one so cant really make opinions of my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AttitudeCastle Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 [quote name='lefrash' timestamp='1397716311' post='2426672'] That's it. I read on here somewhere that it can do the octave down with no dry signal but I can't work out how... Which suggests you probably can't. [/quote] Definitely can. Used to run that into my big muff, just a big subby dubby sound! Can't remember which setting though, I think sub with the rest if the knobs turned down all the way down? Will get back to you on that as my BSW is on my board, at my brothers place which I haven't been to in months! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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