Markbass Super Synth

the pedal is divided into two sections both numeric:
- Section octave
- Synth section

There is a USB port (cable not supplied think ahead to avoid frustration in receiving the bike ), one input and two outputs right jack (mono) and left

The pedal is true-bypass and this is a good thing

the great strength of this material is the ability to edit all sounds (including the octave part) via downloadable software on the Markbass website

First regret - already! - Is the lack of a dedicated direct output to its dry which was frankly welcome given the type of sound generated by the pedal: So I go through a splitter type ABY so that our sound engineer can mix and process as it should synthetic sounds independently of my bass sound (especially as it is also taken up by micro)
On this point ... I want to say - in grumpy fashion - .... it's really too bad!

UTILIZATION

Mastering the different settings, find the sensitivity for your game .. all this takes a little time to spend on the publisher.

Otherwise live ergonomics is very good: a push right to increment presets, a true bypass in the center, a synth selector / octaver right

For those who love and have spent time fiddling synthetic sounds all is quite simple with three oscillators (each decked 4 parameters), a resonant filter (whose frequency is the only parameter available for off-editor pedal so in real time), a simplified envelope (but not ADSR but attack, release, portamento and "envelope") and a section for tune triggers and dynamics.
It is this last part that will require some attention so that the pedal does not react anyhow and do not pick up too.

Moreover concerning the reactivity I must say that Markbass assured: it follows not bad at all! Unfortunately not as good on the rope so bad but this is a habit of this kind of digital effects.
I think the best expression is in the medium range of the bass.
It is also possible good "groover" on bass notes but the setting that you will do will be wrong for the rest .... and vice versa.

SOUND QUALITY

Octaver about, first of all, I was pleasantly surprised given the criticism he was being around me.
Indeed, what I find interesting is precisely the digital side, certainly, but with a beautiful grain. For a more classic sound octave it will not replace your analog pedal. I note that in any case among all those I've tried it is one of those who won the least or almost never!

On the synth part is simply pedal richest moment and beast out of real sounds very dynamic synths but very clean!
This is so hot and fat without a MicroSynth EH but it is much more accurate!
Besides, I think the two complement each other perfectly.

Concerning the use I make I would separate into two parts:

- The "groove" with a synth sound but never wet, direct sound of the bass is there to ensure potential dropouts and bring warmth

- Solos and other delusions that I will not hesitate to completely cut the direct sound. Here it is placed or not directly related to the style of music you play and get musical results adding external effects is a plus (reverb, delay, modulation ....)
And .... where once again the very noticeable lack of a "dry" output!
there I want to say - in calimero fashion - ..... it's really too inzuste!

OVERALL OPINION

To conclude I would say that this material is quite rich in possibilities, sold at a reasonable price and the quality of what you will directly depend on how you use it.
Test before buying is essential.
Do not lose sight that this is an effect for bass and there is no question of replacing a real synth. There is not no more a bass synth as you might imagine with a Roland GK-type sensor.

So be sure that the style of music you play will allow you to leave a little space if it is reduced to the level of guaranteed gadget (and direction closet).

This is the kind of effect that needs to be tamed and worked: again it is you who will be a very musical object is a common gadget.

This is an effects pedal that offers a synth bass and an octave.
Everything is editable, however, fine adjustments can only be accessed via the soft Markbass PC / Mac.
On the pedal, you can directly set the input gain (with clip LED to avoid saturating the input), how often trigger effect / level of the lower octave, the overall tone / level the octave and the mix of wet / dry signal.
The picture is not the AF: Markbass changed its foot and the only commercial version is the version with 4 buttons.
It's a digital pedal but it is true bypass.
Last detail, the 12V is specific, it consumes a lot of mA so you can not a priori power supply with a standard market.

UTILIZATION

The general configuration is simple to use. To create / edit sounds, you should use Markbass software (downloadable from their site). In the software, you will have access to the parameters of the synth and the octave, these are standard settings for this type of device, but there are many. If he had been put directly on the pedal, there were about thirty knobs! Check out the manual to know all the details.
Precisely this manual is clear but relatively brief, a few adjustments would have been welcome to have an overview of the possibility of the machine.
Editing sounds is easy, you can change the software, loaded into the memory of the pedal, then test immediately after hot (no need to disconnect the cables).

SOUND QUALITY

The effects of plant used to know what can pedal.
Modify these effects is very easy through the soft, if you need to adjust some basic parameters such as levels quickly, you can operate the knobs on the pedal.
Limitation for small synthesizer: a single type of waveform is possible (sawtooth, while the Deep Impact allows 4 waveforms). He does that but he does well: the sounds are great! The sound is rich, organic ... it reminds me of the Korg synth sounds G5.
The octave sounds fat but clean and synthetic.
The tracking is impeccable. Portamento is musical. You have to play clean anyway. No breath.
It's a synth bass, I use it with my bass.
Since it is an effect somewhat apart, we must have the use. Since I use it in a project that requires this kind of sounds like all the sounds available.
Feel free to return the software settings, there are examples of settings on the net, there are a lot of possibilities.
Overall, the sounds are very good.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since its purchase.
I tried the Deep Impact, the Korg G5, the Octavius ​​Squeezer ... I have kept the OS ... and Super Synth!
The strengths of the pedal are the sounds of the synth, the software that allows fine adjustments that would be impossible without it (or while doing a lot of compromises to keep an ergonomic controls on the pedal), the true bypass.
Weaknesses: the octave a bit too synthetic, only one type of waveform synthesizer and a specific power. But there are already what to do and unlike some pedals, a wide range of sounds are exploitable and usable as a group.
On occasion, the price / quality ratio is excellent, I will have thought about nine times 2.
I do it again this election, I find this pedal performs its function perfectly for a reasonable price (compared with other similar effects on the market in pedal format)