Quick question about Microbrute

[czed]

Hey guys I'm a complete newb here, so please bear with me I have a Microbrute and I was wondering what analog pedals or modular gear I would need to get a 100% wet signal for clean, lush, ambient soundscapes? I know this is more of an aggressive synth, but I wanted to get something that was analog/affordable. I have a carbon copy delay and supermoon reverb that I've used for guitar. I've experimented a great deal with the Microbrute and these two pedals and I still cant seem to get close to what I'm looking for... They definitely help a bit, but the carbon copy's dry/wet mix barely has any effect with this synth compared to guitar.

some examples of the sounds I'm after:





Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated

[Z]

The Strymon BigSky and Eventide Space are 2 great pedals for ambient sounds.

[meatballfulton]

the carbon copy's dry/wet mix barely has any effect with this synth compared to guitar

An interesting statement. It's a delay...are you saying you can't hear the repeats or what?

Dry/wet should be 50/50 at most if you want to hear the echoes. 100% wet isn't a good idea.

Unless you are using a volume pedal or doing volume knob swells with your guitar, the notes always have a sharp attack which makes the repeats easily audible.

The Microbrute EG times aren't very long, but if you are maxxing out the A, D and R the repeats aren't pronounced, instead, with the feedback (regen) up it's more of a sustaining/droning effect like I hear in those examples you linked.

If I have some time, I'll post an audio example later.

[czed]

The Strymon BigSky and Eventide Space are 2 great pedals for ambient sounds.

Those are some great recommendations thanks:) I'm loving the Eventide Space. Can't afford these at the moment unfortunately. Have you tried them both?

the carbon copy's dry/wet mix barely has any effect with this synth compared to guitar

An interesting statement. It's a delay...are you saying you can't hear the repeats or what?

Dry/wet should be 50/50 at most if you want to hear the echoes. 100% wet isn't a good idea.

Unless you are using a volume pedal or doing volume knob swells with your guitar, the notes always have a sharp attack which makes the repeats easily audible.

The Microbrute EG times aren't very long, but if you are maxxing out the A, D and R the repeats aren't pronounced, instead, with the feedback (regen) up it's more of a sustaining/droning effect like I hear in those examples you linked.

If I have some time, I'll post an audio example later.

I do use a volume pedal a lot of the time, but I'm still able to get a very wet/modulated sound without the volume pedal if I roll back the tone knob. I keep the modulation on and mix on the wet side. I can get it to sound pretty close to a volume swell when paired with a nice reverb.

However when I keep it 50/50 with the Brute I can barely hear the repeats. I keep the mix cranked and I can hear some repeats but at much lower volume than I want. The dry signal from the synth is still way too dominant. I've played around with the Supermoon+CC+Microbrute combo so much it seems like the filter or something else with this synth is just too harsh. I'm wondering if there is specific modular gear to help with this. I'm also considering switching out the Microbrute for something digital (sadly) if it will get me closer to these sounds...

Thanks for the quick response guys

[Z]

The Strymon BigSky and Eventide Space are 2 great pedals for ambient sounds.

Those are some great recommendations thanks:) I'm loving the Eventide Space. Can't afford these at the moment unfortunately. Have you tried them both?

Yes, I own both. Don't ask which is better because they both have their advantages. I have plenty of demos of both pedals on synths and electric grand piano on my YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/zibbybone - just type in the name of which pedal you want demos of in the search bar on MY page.

[Stab Frenzy]

The Strymon BigSky and Eventide Space are 2 great pedals for ambient sounds.

Those are some great recommendations thanks:) I'm loving the Eventide Space. Can't afford these at the moment unfortunately. Have you tried them both?

the carbon copy's dry/wet mix barely has any effect with this synth compared to guitar

An interesting statement. It's a delay...are you saying you can't hear the repeats or what?

Dry/wet should be 50/50 at most if you want to hear the echoes. 100% wet isn't a good idea.

Unless you are using a volume pedal or doing volume knob swells with your guitar, the notes always have a sharp attack which makes the repeats easily audible.

The Microbrute EG times aren't very long, but if you are maxxing out the A, D and R the repeats aren't pronounced, instead, with the feedback (regen) up it's more of a sustaining/droning effect like I hear in those examples you linked.

If I have some time, I'll post an audio example later.

I do use a volume pedal a lot of the time, but I'm still able to get a very wet/modulated sound without the volume pedal if I roll back the tone knob. I keep the modulation on and mix on the wet side. I can get it to sound pretty close to a volume swell when paired with a nice reverb.

However when I keep it 50/50 with the Brute I can barely hear the repeats. I keep the mix cranked and I can hear some repeats but at much lower volume than I want. The dry signal from the synth is still way too dominant. I've played around with the Supermoon+CC+Microbrute combo so much it seems like the filter or something else with this synth is just too harsh. I'm wondering if there is specific modular gear to help with this. I'm also considering switching out the Microbrute for something digital (sadly) if it will get me closer to these sounds...

Thanks for the quick response guys

Turn down the volume of the brute when you're using it with a CC, the reason you're not hearing the repeats very well is because it expects an instrument level input and you're crushing it with a line level signal. Turn it down to the level you'd be giving it from a guitar and you'll hear the repeats.

[czed]

Yes, I own both. Don't ask which is better because they both have their advantages. I have plenty of demos of both pedals on synths and electric grand piano on my YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/zibbybone - just type in the name of which pedal you want demos of in the search bar on MY page.

Really enjoyed the Matrix 12 through the Eventide Space. Great channel you have there!

Turn down the volume of the brute when you're using it with a CC, the reason you're not hearing the repeats very well is because it expects an instrument level input and you're crushing it with a line level signal. Turn it down to the level you'd be giving it from a guitar and you'll hear the repeats.

Yeah I'm aware that it needs to be at lower volume. I guess the problem is that I can't find a middle ground where the the modulated repeats are loud enough without the dry signal from the synth overpowering them. Not sure if I'm explaining this correctly.

When I got the Brute I was set on analog because I wanted to learn the basics of synthesis and have that hands on feel, but after looking at more digital synth videos I think I might switch this out for a Microkorg or something similar. I'm mainly interested in synths for "clean" ambient drone, and I think creating this with the analog route might be too expensive for me at this time :/

[Z]

I know Stabby was suggesting 50/50 mix as opposed to 100% wet, but he is right about making it 50/50 in order to hear the echos distinctly.

I've always used 100% wet for a completely washed out sound. I only listened to the first track and it sound like they're using a polyphonic synth. I make a quick demo with my MicroBrute, a Boss RE-20 Space Echo and an Alesis MicroVerb II. Hope this helps.
[youtube][/youtube]

[czed]

I know Stabby was suggesting 50/50 mix as opposed to 100% wet, but he is right about making it 50/50 in order to hear the echos distinctly.

I've always used 100% wet for a completely washed out sound. I only listened to the first track and it sound like they're using a polyphonic synth. I make a quick demo with my MicroBrute, a Boss RE-20 Space Echo and an Alesis MicroVerb II. Hope this helps.
[youtube][/youtube]

Thanks for that demo Z, I really appreciate it =) I think the polyphonic synth and 100% wet reverb from something like the Microverb is what I'm looking for.