HX Stomp for Bass: The Perfect Mini Pedalboard w/Ian Martin Allison

Summary

In this engaging script, a musician discusses the evolution of their compact pedal setup, transitioning from a larger board to a travel-friendly Stomp for portability. They explore the versatility of the Stomp, emphasizing the importance of certain pedals like the compressor and the preamp, and share their creative process of blending synth sounds with effects like fuzz, octave, and chorus. The conversation delves into the nuances of achieving unique bass tones, from the classic pop synth to the gritty, distorted sounds, highlighting the artist's journey in finding the perfect balance between simplicity and sonic complexity.

Takeaways

• 🎛 The musician discusses the evolution of their pedal setup from a larger board to a more streamlined one for travel purposes, focusing on essential pedals.
• 🔊 They mention the importance of having a compressor in their setup for adjusting the output of the bass and for the visual feedback provided by LED metering.
• 🔧 The 'Stomp' pedal is highlighted as the central piece of equipment for creating various sounds, having evolved to replace a more extensive pedal board.
• 🎶 The musician appreciates the Noble preamp for its clean sound, noting that it doesn't distort in a musical way and is not meant to be dirty.
• 🔩 A practical tip is shared about using a blanking plate for an XLR to prevent sound engineers from accidentally unplugging the musician's setup mid-gig.
• 🎵 The script describes the creation of a specific sound using the Stomp, involving an octave, fuzz, and chorus, and how it differs from traditional synth sounds.
• 🚫 The musician expresses dissatisfaction with the Boss OCT pedal for lacking a 'bottom' to the sound and prefers the base OCT for its improved sound quality.
• 🎤 They discuss the versatility of their current setup, which allows them to play a wide range of gigs with minimal equipment, including the use of flats and rounds on their bass.
• 🔊 The use of a Fender VI King's spring reverb and tremolo is reminisced upon, which influenced the musician's sound and is recreated in the Stomp.
• 🎶 The script mentions building patches in the HX Stomp, such as 'Montana,' which utilizes the tessellator effect for chord context in recordings.
• 🔁 The musician's use of parallel loops and effects blocks within the Stomp to run external pedals in a loop is touched upon, emphasizing the flexibility of their setup.

Q & A

What type of sound setup has evolved for travel purposes in the script?

The sound setup has evolved from a larger pedal board with more pedals to a more compact 'stomp' setup for travel purposes.

What is the role of the compressor in the described setup?

The compressor is used externally to adjust the output of the bass and provides visual feedback through LEDs, which is important for the user's 'placebo-prone brain'.

What does the user refer to as the 'heavy lifting' in their sound setup?

The 'heavy lifting' refers to the primary sound processing done by the 'stomp' device, which generates the wild sounds.

Why does the user prefer not to use the drive feature on the COO?

The user finds that they rarely use the drive feature on the COO because they achieve their saturation sounds from the 'stomp' and prefer a cleaner sound.

What is the Noble preamp mentioned in the script and how is it used?

The Noble preamp is a device that the user has on their main board and uses for its clean sound, which never distorts in a musical way as it's not meant to be dirty.

What is the purpose of the blanking plate for an XLR mentioned in the script?

The blanking plate for an XLR is used to prevent sound engineers from unplugging the user's setup during a gig, which could result in losing the sound setup.

How does the user feel about the Boss OCT in the script?

The user is initially excited about the Boss OCT but finds it lacking in the bottom sound, which is a drawback for them.

What is the user's approach to creating a synth sound with the stomp?

The user creates a synth sound by using an octave, fuzz, and chorus within the stomp, and then slightly distorting it with parallel drive and chorus for a more pleasing effect.

How does the user feel about traveling with their compact pedal board?

The user loves traveling with their compact pedal board as it fits in the inside pocket of a jacket and is suitable for carry-on travel.