Many advise to use this software to create a MIDI signal and just control a (software) synth:
Or use Ovox for that:
But nothing beats the simple interface of the MXR, of course…
That looks pretty good. I would never want this, but if someone did, it looks like a good option.
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Coming from @howard, I don’t think a bass synth pedal can get higher praise than this.
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never been a huge fan of synth bass in general, but i do have to admit that this looks like it could generate a ton of really cool and useful sounds.
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I have no idea how I’m going to fit the sounds into our band setlist @itsratso but I will try !
But it does sound good in that demo.
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I am hoping this becomes a gateway drug for people in to real synthesizers 
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I am going down that road now, but:
- all software
- control via bass guitar => MIDI
- a simple synth first
@howard: we had the discussion about synths in the plugin thread.
Are there any simple (free) synths plugins out there that are as easy to control as the MXR? I just need presets that sound like the MXR and a few knobs to fiddle. Nothing as overwhelming as the MS-20, if posiible.
Any ideas?
I will test Ovox as a MIDI generator, as it’s cheap. I’m trying to find out how to send the MIDI from the recorded bass track to a synth now. In Presonus Studio 7.
It looked so easy in the Ovox video above
What @wellbi and I recommend are the best ways I know.
Personally I would give up on the “controllled by a bass” part though. Keyboards are nice and open up vastly more options
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I use the argument “XXX are nice and open up vastly more options” for anything bass, bike, kayak, stereo equipment, travel, party and many more things related.
My girlfriend always smiles and says “NO!”
So: no physical things, only software is allowed!
Primer probably.
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Oh there’s many excellent free synths, just none that are bass guitar controlled.
In terms of good free synthesizers, Surge XT and Vital are two outstanding ones. Dexed is another. There’s a lot more.
Plus of course nearly all DAW come with good synth builtins, except Reaper.
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The plan is to use Ovox. It does MIDI conversion, so I would record a dry signal, put Ovox on it and send the resulting MIDI to the synth.
Easy-peasy … ?
But the synth should be free and SIMPLE. Like the MXR. Just dial some tone, change the parms. That’s it.
(I would pay if it were simple AND great)
Don’t wanna bother too much with all those knobs and stuff…
@billn - I will download Primer and test it. Still top many knobs though
Primer is actually decent. If it’s too complex for you then you’re out of luck as it is the training synth that comes with Syntorial.
I notice u-he is finally hosting Tyrell. For years it was only available from a defunct German magazine site. It is a top tier free and very simple synth.
TAL Noisemaker is pretty simple too.
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Ah - that’s a great start. Thanks!
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no prob, TAL is a widely loved developer, as is u-he.
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Don’t you already have RipX though? Why not use it’s midi conversion?
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Actually that’s not a bad idea! Me likey!
Will try that ASAP and give feedback.
My experience with it’s conversion is soso though, but let’s see what it does!
(Also, Ovox can do a realtime conversion, but that is not as important yet).
OK, tested the RipX MIDI export.
It works instantly … conversion is really soso though. Would need to cleanup quite a lot I think, but as a proof of concept it’s already a huge leap forward.
Integrating a synth is very easy, like drag & drop. And playing around with the presets is a lot of fun.
You can just ignore all the ones you aren’t interested in. Or get syntorial and learn what all the knobs do.
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I have ignored knobs all my life, thank you very much
Again, my approach is:
- create MIDI with RipX or Ovox (if the realtime MID encoding works out well)
- test various synths
- go through all presets
- and maaaaybbeeee … learn about synths. If the presets don’t satisfy me. But currently I 'm in total awe what is happening with my MIDI-converted bass track, albeit it’s not perfect…
Good thing is: don’t need to buy the MXR!