Bass Synth Instruments

So for those of you playing bass through RoxSyn on an iPad: How are you getting audio in and out of the iPad?

I'm currently using UA Volt 276

Nice interface, well constructed, solid controls, runs @ 96K, DIN MIDI, seems glitch free, sounds good.

If i had a do-over I'd consider the one channel version because I never use 2 basses at once...
 
I'm currently using UA Volt 276

Nice interface, well constructed, solid controls, runs @ 96K, DIN MIDI, seems glitch free, sounds good.

If i had a do-over I'd consider the one channel version because I never use 2 basses at once...
Interesting...I'm due for a new iPad and don't currently have a small, portable USB-C interface.
Even if things didn't work out with RoxSyn, I'd be using the iPad and interface for other things anyway.
 
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Interesting...I'm due for a new iPad and don't currently have a small, portable USB-C interface.
Even if things didn't work out with RoxSyn, I'd be using the iPad and interface for other things anyway.


It can be another rathole, but with pro quality audio processing apps available for relatively small coin it's a pretty interesting one.

AUM is a great app mixer

Eventide
Fab Filter
Nembrini
Bleass
Yonac

are some of the audio developers porting to iPad

New iPads will stack a lot of apps before running out of gas.

I've been running multiple channels with increasingly positive results trying to come up with a usable rig

1 for main amp
1 for sub bass
1 for effects
1 for RoxSyn and more effects

Different compressors/EQ/filtering on each channel into a multiband compressor & limiter.

I'm still in the tweaking part.

Getting all the gains set properly so the chains don't accumulate digital gank is a work in process as is setting the channel compressors but I'm getting it, slowly but surely.
 
Epic (in the original sense) build times and really poor communication. I can’t say I wholeheartedly recommend it. You need to have nerves of steel. I paid in December 2019 and still have no bass and have had zero replies to my emails since August 2021. The last two people to receive theirs waited between 3 and 4 years after ordering to receive their instrument! Those who have do enjoy them and the two I’ve played were lovely. I’m still never quite sure if I’ll ever see mine, but remain hopeful.
I had a terrible experience with Industrial Radio as well. Bought a used one that was available locally but had a fret that didn't respond.
I couldn't get an answer from IR even when I called in (which was a challenge as well because I live in Europe).

The tracking on mine was nowhere near as good as the videos that you can find on their YT channel. To make matters worse, I wasn't able to use the imprint technology because I bought an old model. I spent hours trying out different settings and it didn't help much.

I ended up selling the thing. I'd still consider getting one second hand if it were to be the new version and if I would get to try it before playing.
 
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@cosmicevan - really excited to hear about your experience with the Unisyn - this is the first i've heard of it - I'm guessing you are using the MIDI out on it to drive the Minitaur? (I have the Minitaur as well - it sounds awesome - but its CV implementation is horrible). How low does it track, does it track down to low B decently? Despite having a Arturia MiniBrute2 - which can be the base of a good eurorack setup - i'm not quite ready to go down the black hole of eurorack just yet.


I am using a Sirin which is a Minitaur w added range. So far my search for an answer is over. I play 4 string w a D detuner and it tracks the D perfect. I recently started exploring with a pitch shifter (using a Meris Hedra) in front and it is working fantastic as well. I haven't tried the CV yet but plan to. I am using just the MIDI out and the tracking is a dream. It handles note bends and everything...just gotta dial in the unisyn right for your playing and your instrument. Super happy with the unisyn.

Someone buy my Ghost Writer!!! It's pretty cool too and at that price you can't beat it
 
I am using a Sirin which is a Minitaur w added range. So far my search for an answer is over. I play 4 string w a D detuner and it tracks the D perfect. I recently started exploring with a pitch shifter (using a Meris Hedra) in front and it is working fantastic as well. I haven't tried the CV yet but plan to. I am using just the MIDI out and the tracking is a dream. It handles note bends and everything...just gotta dial in the unisyn right for your playing and your instrument. Super happy with the unisyn.

Someone buy my Ghost Writer!!! It's pretty cool too and at that price you can't beat it
Agree with UniSyn. I too am using it with a Moog Sirin, and the UniSyn tracks very well with MIDI, but less well with CV/Gate. I’ve also used the UniSyn with various Roland synths and the results have been excellent. I’m using a p-bass with flats. Not the instrument one would expect to play synth with, but why not? ;)
 

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I think I've pretty much made up my mind - for now - that I'm holding off the purchase of a MIDI/GK equipped bass guitar. There are too many quirky issues to sort out, and this is an expensive endeavor for me to be completely unsure if it will work for me.

Most likely, I'll dig in with dedicated pedals for traditional synth sounds. The Boss SY series, Future Impact, Source Audio C4 all seem to get excellent reviews in that department. For triggering more esoteric PCM sounds, I'll probably find a local music shop that carries the Electro-Harmonix "9" series pedals and see if they can be made to work or not.

I'm disappointed that there haven't been more strides made, and that there seems to be little interest (especially in the USA) for development of bass guitars that can trigger/track with latency under 10msec or so. NOT pitch-based recognition, but the other "fret sensing" technology that seems to be much faster, accurate and flexible. I'm thinking of a system much like the GR-55, but based on fret-sensing rather than pitch so that PCM sound triggering is much faster, and with the benefit of alt tunings and individual string programming. Oh well...not holding my breath.

I appreciate all of the excellent info and advice. Thank you!
I had play all of the devices that you mentioned such as the GR55, SY-1000, C4 and also FI V3. They all have a very good synth sounds. The synth sound that you like does not sound right when you connect to bass amp. I was so frustrated. I finally found out that you must route your synth sound to either a keyboard amp or to front of house PA to get the synth sound correctly. I still don't like the result. I end up ordered the RoR Expressiv Bass Pro.
 
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I had play all of the devices that you mentioned such as the GR55, SY-1000, C4 and also FI V3. They all have a very good synth sounds. The synth sound that you like does not sound right when you connect to bass amp. I was so frustrated. I finally found out that you must route your synth sound to either a keyboard amp or to front of house PA to get the synth sound correctly. I still don't like the result. I end up ordered the RoR Expressiv Bass Pro.

For what it's worth: I suspect more keyboard players use powered PA speakers than keyboard amps these days (for personal monitoring, or for the audience in the absence of a front of house PA).

Yup. For sure. I use full-range cabinets for my bass rig, and my modeling setup is designed with FOH/Monitor full-range speakers in mind, so not a problem.

I'd love to see one of the Rob O'Reilly basses in action, so I hesitate to get in line to purchase, then wait 12 months, only to figure out whether it is what I want or not ( or worth the investment). I've reached out to RO'R to see if there is anyone in my region ( Northeast USA ) who has one of the Expressiv basses so I can see/hear/play it in the flesh, but they evidently don't have anyone who can rep their products in the USA, and aren't interested in poking their user base. Oh well. If anyone out there has a lead, please do keep me in mind. THX
 
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Yup. For sure. I use full-range cabinets for my bass rig, and my modeling setup is designed with FOH/Monitor full-range speakers in mind, so not a problem.

I'd love to see one of the Rob O'Reilly basses in action, so I hesitate to get in line to purchase, then wait 12 months, only to figure out whether it is what I want or not ( or worth the investment). I've reached out to RO'R to see if there is anyone in my region ( Northeast USA ) who has one of the Expressiv basses so I can see/hear/play it in the flesh, but they evidently don't have anyone who can rep their products in the USA, and aren't interested in poking their user base. Oh well. If anyone out there has a lead, please do keep me in mind. THX

this guy from Ohio Rob O' Reilly Midi Bass Guitar | Reverb
 
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I'm currently using UA Volt 276

Nice interface, well constructed, solid controls, runs @ 96K, DIN MIDI, seems glitch free, sounds good.

If i had a do-over I'd consider the one channel version because I never use 2 basses at once...

It's occurred to me that I might be able to use some flavor of POG to add an octave up into my second channel to trigger MG2 and then transpose the MIDI down an octave.

I suppose I'll need a POG now, but I'm trying to avoid outboard gear.

Anybody with a POG already try this?
 
It's occurred to me that I might be able to use some flavor of POG to add an octave up into my second channel to trigger MG2 and then transpose the MIDI down an octave.

I suppose I'll need a POG now, but I'm trying to avoid outboard gear.

Anybody with a POG already try this?
Should work, but keep in mind the POG will add significant latency on lower notes
 
Should work, but keep in mind the POG will add significant latency on lower notes

I'll be blending the output with dry in any case. That helps hide the more latent layer.

Trying to decide if I want to spend a couple hundred bucks on the experiment.

I'll probably wait till a deal floats by...

I've heard the micro POG has the cleanest octave up so I'll give it a try.

I already have the SWAM double bass whenever I find something to drive it that won't drive me crazy...

If that works OK then on to brass & woodwinds
 
Questions about the Second Sound Unisyn:
After reading your reflections here, and seeing the demos, I was not very impressed by the demos themselves. The integrated filter/synth was uninteresting, and hooking it up to the Moog was OK, but not more.

Can the Unisyn be used live (on stage), to trigger a MIDI synth module? With my current pedals (C4, FI V3, BSW, and SY-1, plus regular fuzz/octave pedals), I have no need for additional, traditional bass synths, but pianos, pads, FM synths etc would be useful and fun.
 
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Questions about the Second Sound Unisyn:
After reading your reflections here, and seeing the demos, I was not very impressed by the demos themselves. The integrated filter/synth was uninteresting, and hooking it up to the Moog was OK, but not more.

Can the Unisyn be used live (on stage), to trigger a MIDI synth module? With my current pedals (C4, FI V3, BSW, and SY-1, plus regular fuzz/octave pedals), I have no need for additional, traditional bass synths, but pianos, pads, FM synths etc would be useful and fun.
Just keep in mind the Unisyn is monophonic, so pretty limiting for something like a piano, etc. What makes the Roland system special IMO is having full polyphonic processing, which is something much more difficult to implement reliable tracking for without individually processed strings
 
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