Not sure why I went into detail. Maybe because I was reading @John_E posts before I replied. 
2 Likes
Typical usage on my bass might be:
Bass track in DAW ā compressor (as you would on a pedalboard) ā multiband bass tone effect I made myself with more compression on only below 250Hz ā (other effects and amp sims, etc) ā track limiter ā master limiter
so that would be four. Other tracks for other instruments will always have a track limiter (for mixing relative loudness) and usually one more for tone. Synth may have several in its patch, depending, but that kind of doesnāt count. Drums have some built in naturally plus one I will always add via another multiband effect similar to a channel strip (and the track limiter). Guitar will almost always have something similar to bass, maybe minus the custom effect, maybe plus one implicitly in the amp sim.
3 Likes
Ok. I think Iām now very happy with my pedalboardā¦for now (as Iām sure something crazy will come along at some point).
The last Lego brick came today, the Gamechanger Light Pedal spring reverb.
Iāve got a lot of learning to do across the board (literally), but have been coming up with some very interesting sounds in my limited fiddling.
The goal is some unique bass/sax songs with lots of effects on both, from ambient stuff to funky beat lines ala Too Many Zooz style but with a twist.
10 Likes
That is one hellacious pedalboard @John_E
2 Likes
Thanksā¦ya, i have some issuesā¦.hahahahaha
5 Likes
Crazy. Looks nice! What is your signal path right now?
3 Likes
Tuner > Synth > Xerograph > Envelope > Compressor > Octave > Harmonist > B7K > Plasma > Phase 90 > Chorus > Delay > Reverb > Looper
Expression controls Synth, Xerograph, Harmonist and Reverb on 4 separate programmable outputs
5 Likes
Do you actually play the Wha / Expression with your left? Or do you play with the peddle board to your right (not standing in front of the board itself)?
I think I would get turned around if I tried with my left.
I can keep beat with my left, but if I try to do anything not necessarily on beat, I need to use my right, or I need some serious training.
3 Likes
My right, and just have it off to the right a bit.
The way that pedal is set up most of the cabling (3 TS and power) comes off the left so its better suited to hang off the side for me.
Plus, thatās where Josh had his and I figured he knew something!
4 Likes
Iām doing a lot of sound tests tonight, and for now I really prefer the D7K Ultra (Darkglass B7K Ultra clone) over the VMT (Darkglass Vintage Microtubes home-made clone).
There is something weird in the midrange with the VMT. I believe itās designed to be an overdrive that you could have on your pedalboard and activate only when you want that extra punchy midrange edge to make the bass pop out of the mix. then it could/should work and the Era pot could be useful to manage this midrange thing. but in a āalways ONā configuration, the VMT doesnāt work well in my opinion, at least with my gear, playing style and musical styles.
The D7K is more agressive overall, but also way more versatile and logical to use. Iām pretty happy with this one.
This remembers me that I have a B3K clone kit somewhere ; Iāll build it sooner or later and compare it with those two other Darkglass clones.
8 Likes
My B7K still reigns supreme as my favorite pedal. Use it a lot!
There was something about the vintage micro tubes that just didnāt grab me.
5 Likes
If you play on a p-bass and roll the tone to 0% the VMT (Ultra) just sounds like the B7K. I like both very much but I would say the VMT is more aggressive. It really depends on what you like to play tbf. The D7K sounds a bit different than a B7K when I checked out some comparing clips. They say the B7K sounds smoother and the D7K more aggressive. So that kinda makes sense to what Terb is saying.
For p-bass I tend to favour the Vintage but for a jazz bass the B7K works really well. That said both these preamps are my absolute favourites.
3 Likes
I love them both. One thing thatās nice about the VMT Ultra is it loses the Era knob and gains real EQ, like the B7K.
4 Likes
@John_E Iāve been looking into Envelope Filters and I saw the C4 Synth has one. Can you talk about how it compares with the MXR?
1 Like
Although you can set it up as an envelope filter itās raallly way way more than that. Itās literally a synthesizer you can program endlessly. People write patches for it and share and you can do insane things with it. I wouldnāt buy it for an envelope filter alone. In fact, Iāve no idea how to set it up as just that. Hahahah.
The IE xerograph is also a filter which can be used as en envelope filter but also lots of āchomp chomp chompyā sort of sounds too.
The C4 and IE can and are controlled via the expression controller I have to modulate sound. The MXR does not have that capability. I leave the MXR set in classic funk filter mode and play with the other two. I guess if I sorted out how to duplicate the MRX in the C4 Iād sell it and make room for something else, but thereās nothing I want. So it stays.
3 Likes
The video starts talking about envelope setup at 6:45. The MXR is pretty basic, so Iād be surprised if the C4 canāt get pretty close. It fixes the one thing I wish my MXR could do, allows shifting the filter frequency with the note being played. It would make all notes equally funky in that mode instead of hitting the funkiest notes more where the filter is set.
2 Likes
Thanks @DaveT !
Will play with this and see.
I havenāt been really motivated to do this as the MXR does not get much in resale and I have nothing to go in itās place on the board and staring at the hole will eat away at my soul.
3 Likes
Lol. Let me know how you like it. I hadnāt really considered the C4 yet because Iām not so interested in the most synthy aspects. I can play that sort of thing on the keys easier. Until you and @eric.kiser brought it up, I hadnāt realized how good this would be at doing modulation effects over the dry signal. That makes it worth playing on the bass again for me. I like the long evolving tails for that lush layered dreamy trippy soundscape effect. Now I want one, crap! I had just accepted that I could only play envelope over a narrow range of notes or I would have to tune the pedal to the note I wanted to really pop as the funkiest accent note. That certainly has its musicality, accent by envelope and has been the fundamental effect of that type forever. I have at times wished the filter would note track though and had started to think about how to make that happen. Et voila! Letās see, what can I sell ā¦
2 Likes
You wonāt regret the C4 Dave. Itās really versatile. I use it on my pedalboard for all my synth and envelope filter needs. 
3 Likes
I love the C4, used it on the Earth Wind and Fire cover I have posted for a synthy sound.
I have not spent nearly enough time with it, need a few days to go over how modular synths work again (did that once, forgot it all) and just play.
I did spend a few days going through all the user uploaded patches (there are hundreds if not thousands) and pulled down a bunch and loaded them into the pedal. It can store up to 128, but with just the pedal as is, you can only access the first 6. If you use your PC connected to it, then you can change through all 128, or, get one of these like I didā¦
Of course there are a lot of ālook what it can do but is completely uselessā sounds posted (like the Styx āToo Much Time On My Handsā or āStranger Thingsā sequences) you can download and thenā¦ do what? Play them and say āwow, coolā. But there are really great synthy things, choppy things, etc.
Then you just tap through them all.
It is literally a hobby in itself which puts some people off.
I like having things I havenāt gotten to so when I am in the mood for something different I can hunker down and fuss with it for days.
I do like the thing you bring up with getting the funky notes across all the fretboard, I hadnāt thought about that yet, that would be really great to try. Maybe will get to it today and see.
3 Likes