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  1. Originally posted by thechicken:[..]

    I don't really know how they work, but one of those external MIDI pick ups that you don't want to get may work really well. If it works as I imagine, you can put the signal into any kind of synthesizer that works with MIDI and you will be able to get virtually any sound using your guitar as an interface. I imagine this is not really what are you looking for, but speaking guitar+MIDI, it can't get any better than something that works like this (if that thing really works as I think it does).

    Hm... thank you very much for answering. I understand your point about the quality of the trigger signal. But what kind of synth would you recommend to use with Hex p/u? As I understand it the Roland GR-20 is merely a preset sound library, I'd prefer to tweak around on the fly. I like knobs and faders.

    As I said, I'm haven't decided anything yet, not even IF I'll get a guitar synth.

    Any other opinions / suggestions?

    Alex
  2. Originally posted by Alex:[..]
    Hm... thank you very much for answering. I understand your point about the quality of the trigger signal. But what kind of synth would you recommend to use with Hex p/u? As I understand it the Roland GR-20 is merely a preset sound library, I'd prefer to tweak around on the fly. I like knobs and faders.

    As I said, I'm haven't decided anything yet, not even IF I'll get a guitar synth.

    Any other opinions / suggestions?

    Alex


    It really depends on the kind of sounds you want to get out of it. I would like to put it through a regular synthesizer, like my old Yamaha DX21, so I could play piano sounds on the guitar, things like that. You could get a good prommagrable unit, it could be just with the "head" or a more conventional unit with the keyboard interface atached. It could cost a lot, depending on the unit you get. I don't know a lot about synthesizers, but basically anything that works with MIDI would be a way to go, you just have to find one that can turn your ideas into noise

  3. I haven't worked with MIDI interfaces yet, it's kind of mysterious voodoo for me. Not quite sure if I can learn how to use it without external help.

    Hm... guess I'll take a lucky shot at a Behringer BSY600 for 40€ and see how that turns out to be when used with a guitar.

    I know that most people don't like the Behringer brand, but I have a US600 (Harmonizer - third up) and a RV600 (Shimmer) and both work just fine for me despite mixed reviews on HC. Guess I'll give the BSY600 a chance. If it all goes wrong I can still sell it used for 20 bucks. Nothing much to lose on that.

    Thank you very much. You've been most kind and informative.

    Alex
  4. Originally posted by Alex:I haven't worked with MIDI interfaces yet, it's kind of mysterious voodoo for me. Not quite sure if I can learn how to use it without external help.

    Hm... guess I'll take a lucky shot at a Behringer BSY600 for 40€ and see how that turns out to be when used with a guitar.

    I know that most people don't like the Behringer brand, but I have a US600 (Harmonizer - third up) and a RV600 (Shimmer) and both work just fine for me despite mixed reviews on HC. Guess I'll give the BSY600 a chance. If it all goes wrong I can still sell it used for 20 bucks. Nothing much to lose on that.

    Thank you very much. You've been most kind and informative.

    Alex


    You are welcome.
    Just ask when you need!
  5. Got my BSY600 today and fooled around with it. Guess it's more a little fun toy than a serious piece of gear. But for 40€, what did I expect?

    Short review for those who care:

    It's got 9 digital synth modes and 2 (analog?) wave modes which remind me of a processed autowah. The synth modes include saw, square and pulse waveform. Saw sounds harder than square, square is more smooth. The pulse waveforms sound a little like a talkbox. The saw and square settings offer a lower octave setting and a moving auto- filter setting. The wave modes are "filter up" (ooouuuaaah) and "filter down" (aaaooouuuh). Other controls include filter speed, filter intensity, filter frequency, effect volume and dry volume. Filter intensity can be set zero. Maximum filter speed fixes the filter in highest frequency. Filter speed can be adjusted on-the-fly with an expression pedal (but I don't use that option). The synth modes offer a "hold" function which allows you to play dry guitar over a frozen synth background. Wow. Quite some stuff packed into this cheap machine - half a dozen of fake moog- sounds, a fake talkbox and a synth- ed autowah.

    It's quite easy to dial in a basic synth sound. Choose saw or square with or without low octave, set filter intensity, speed and frequency - finished. Filter speed has to be set very slow (4 o'clock), on faster settings you'll get lazergun attack sounds that can be entertaining or downright annoying. After an hour or so you start to discover that it's not as versatile as it seemed at first glance. I miss a slow- attack setting most. Guitar volume fade- ins don't trigger the tracking, so you don't get any bowed- instrument sounds. Well, you don't get any mellow unobtrusive sounds at all - everything is straight in-your-face, like it or not. I'd also like a glissando option, but that's probably too much to ask from a 40€- pedal. I'd also like an octave- up mode option, but there is none. The talkbox modes are fun, but I haven't given them enough time to judge them yet. Won't use them anyway most likely.

    I decided for square with octaver, set filter intensity at 11 o'clock, frequency at 1 o'clock, effect level at 9 o'clock and dry level at 11 o'clock. The dry signal covers some of the smaller tracking glitches (see below). This gives me a starting point for some moog-y seventies synth sound. I haven't yet combined it with other effects (overdrive, harmonizer, phaser, vibe, tremolo, shimmer), but I will.

    ATTENTION: This device has got some serious tracking problems when used with guitar in one of the synth settings, especially on higher strings. The 2 wave modes track very good and even accept chords and bends, but they sound much less spectacular than the synth modes - haven't found a sweet spot there yet. The 9 synth modes track just acceptable with the low E string, but tracking gets worse with higher strings, and the synthed notes flutter easily - and this will DESTROY the tone. Probably that's because it's meant for bass guitar. It accepts absolutely NO bends, chords or unwillingly touched open strings. PLAY ONLY SINGLE NOTES! NO SHREDDING! USE ONLY THE WOUND STRINGS! The guitar has to be PERFECTLY tuned. And at last - USE THE EFFECT SPARSELY - or you might annoy your audience to death.

    I'll take the BSY600 to our thursday rehearsal and put it between between preamp and poweramp. Maybe it tracks better there in the effect chain. My US600 sits there and tracks very well, so I have some hope. If not I'll have to search for a sweet sound spot in one of the the wave modes (hope there is one).

    Questions? Ask them if you want to.

    Alex
  6. Anyone know which songs specifically Larry played the electronic drum set on? I'm curious.

  7. If I remember what Lanois said correctly, GOYB and MoS were the two main ones. I have a feeling he said something about Cedars of Lebanon too?


  8. I think Unknown Caller and Magnificent too...

    But that said, Larry's used them in the studio since POP; at least in the writing stage - I've seen studio pics of electronic kits since Pop sessions.. So I think there are some on POP through NLOTH.

    Some of the electronic drum loops, like "In A Little While" might be a loop of Larry playing electronics and not a drum machine (Although, could be a drum machine). Same can be said of other 'electronic' drum and percussion sounds on Pop to now.
  11. Check todays 'countdown' to the tour clips on U2.com

    They are playing Magnificent. Edge is playing what appears to be the Vertigo Tele. (Definitely a Tele). Interesting after using the Country Gent for many of the promo shows. Perhaps he felt that since the Tele was used on the album for the majority of the song (judging by the u2.com vids during the sessions)... he would go with it for the tour after all? Or perhaps he's still weighing his options.

    No matter... glad to see that rehearsals are up and running and the tour is on the way!

    Adam using the RD Artist on Magnificent stil.

    And what the heck is Dallas doing in the new video? Looks like he's taking video clips or pictures with a digital camera?
  12. Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:Check todays 'countdown' to the tour clips on U2.com

    They are playing Magnificent. Edge is playing what appears to be the Vertigo Tele. (Definitely a Tele). Interesting after using the Country Gent for many of the promo shows. Perhaps he felt that since the Tele was used on the album for the majority of the song (judging by the u2.com vids during the sessions)... he would go with it for the tour after all? Or perhaps he's still weighing his options.

    He used the cherry sunburst Tele. for the BBC outdoors show didn't he? Maybe he's harking back to that? Although that said, why not just stick with that lol...ah, who knows, Edge is Edge, he's allowed to be fussy 'course, being rehearsals, it couldn't simply have been a whim thing and just trying something different for the hell of it.
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U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.