I started on the Bass Driver V1, got a V2 and just ordered the Bass Fly Rig as it will save me plenty of space. BTW, really impressed with Tech 21's customer support; their rapid response to my query/problem with my Bass Driver was greatly appreciated. They aren't cheap but the build quality is obvious and I HATE menu surfing. :)
This was really helpful. I just got the Fly Rig 2 and like many, it took a while to get comfortable with the Octafilter. I spent a half hour with it and got a better understanding on how to best use it. Thanks.
Hey Tim, I’d love to hear how this sounds in a mix. The tech 21 stuff I have really shines when it’s in a mix. So many times bass gear sounds good when you solo it but it doesn’t sit properly in a mix. I think maybe in a mix samples would really help people appreciate how good this stuff really is.
Hi Dave! Like you said, we design all of our products with real world use in mind. That being said, it sounds killer in your bedroom, the studio, and live.
Really enjoyed this! Loved how Andrew explained it all so well to understand. At last night’s gig my zB2 crapped the bed, and lost itself. Jumped from the tone I had on and just cycled around. All I noticed was my bass signal was no more and glancing to foh and around stage I looked down to catch it and hit the bypass. Finish our song but with a flat tone and improper level. That really sucked: I can no longer trust it live. So I’ve been considering 21’s FlyRig for awhile, and after hearing you guys talk this out I’m pretty sure it’s time to get one. Thank you both.
Great video, thanks a lot! That chorus really is something and I have to say the OctaFilter did sound really good in here. (Although I'm not sure I heard some weird latency but that could have been combining multiple mic/camera/DI sources.) I would like to see these follow-up questions adressed in case you do another video: You commented on one of Tims videos that the MID knob works as the much discussed missing character knob when in VT DI mode. Why did you decide to not include a blend knob for both circuits? I thought it was the secret weapon when using the good old sansamp BDDI mode, or is it not? Also what made you decide to simplify the compressor. Personally I love it, but I have read comments of people missing the tone knob. I'll definitely give this one a try when it hits Germany. Thanks for all your products over the years and stay healthy!
I'm only one user of this pedal so take that for what it is. But i never used the octafilter or chorus on mine. I feel like that whole portion of the pedal could be used for something else. More compressor settings? A sansamp blend knob maybe?
Wow amazing ! I was wondering how the octafilter would react to a "normal" guitar sound. I currently use a EHX Bass9 to play my guitar as bass, but I can't find any demo of what the octafilter would sound on guitar. It would solve so much things for me if it sounds "enough like a regular bass guitar " when used with a guitar.
We are now curious as well. But since the Bass Fly Rig was designed for bass, we clearly didn't think of that. While we love when people think outside the box, it's hard to imagine there are many guitar players who would consider choosing this particular Fly Rig. It's your idea, so you should try it! If it works, let us know. If it doesn't work, you can always return it. 😃
@@Tech21nyc I just ordered a Fly Rig 5, I'mma record my album with it, sell some copies and then buy the Bass Fly Rig and try it out, I'll keep you in the loop! ;)
Interestingly even though the v1 and v2 have (as far as I can tell) the same octafilter circuit, I get more consistent results on my v1 than my v2. Not sure why that's happening but its just fuzzier and less pure on my v2 even with the fuzz disengaged and the drive at 0. I need to spend a little time dialing it in, I think.
The octafilter is DSP based, and the software in both versions is the same. The chip set used as well as the circuit is also the same. The Compressor module and the SansAmp module are different in both versions and may contribute to the differences you are hearing.
@@Tech21nyc hey thank you for responding quickly! That makes sense that the circuits before the octafilter would affect the result. I was able to dial everything in pretty well after spending an hour or so just playing and listening to the differences. Great little box you guys have made!
I noticed when I engage the Octafilter on my bass fly rig the volume is much higher than when it is not engaged. How do I keep the volume level the same when I engage the Octafilter? There is no gain knob on the Octafilter.
Hi Mike. Depending on what you are playing through it may seem much louder, especially if you are using monitors with a tweeter. Try adjusting the "Mix" knob to level it off a bit.
I’d like a video showing the differences between a Classic and a GT2. What makes the classic special? What makes the GT2 special? If i have a GT2, why do i also need a classic? Why is the classic more expensive? More expensive = better?? I notice the classic relies on an outboard EQ? Can it do more than nirvana sounds??
Thank you for your suggestion. The SansAmp Classic is special because it is the original version that debuted in 1989 and basically started the "going direct" movement. It has an extensive library of different amp tones that you can adjust at a granular level. Its overall tonality is more on the vintage amp side of things and great if you really want to dig in and "tweak" your settings. It costs more because it's very labor intensive to make. And yes, it can do lots more than just Nirvana tones. In fact all SansAmps are designed for maximum variety of tones, including all signature versions. The SansAmp GT2 is a bit simpler to use and adjust. It's more aggressive and has a bit more top end "sizzle." You should take a look at the sample settings in each of the owner's manuals on our website: www.tech21nyc.com/support/ Being that sound is so subjective and we all have different tastes, we always recommend trying both if possible. Once you plug in with your guitar, through your gear in a setting you are comfortable with, the decision will be much easier.
@@Tech21nyc i notice the classic has more mic placement/speaker sim options, so i can see how that would bump up the complexity of the design quite a bit. It seems to be a good general purpose studio tool, maybe a bit less specific to the electric guitar than the GT2 is. I could see myself running vocals, keyboards, or drum tracks and other things through a classic to add some special mojo to it. I’ve been using the GT2 for a metal guitar tone. And yes the top end sizzle of the GT2 is fantastic, really aggressive, lots of frequencies there to play with in the mixing process :) (what does “GT2” stand for anyway?? I always wondered) i’m also in the market for a device that i can leave on a clean/semi clean setting all the time, the classic seems like a good choice... like i could have an A/B switcher with a GT2 set to california metal style and a classic set to tweed mode, leading into two different signal chains for clean and dirty. i’m slowly building up a collection of sansamps for my home studio and live use :) so far I have the GT2 and the classic V1 Bass Driver DI. I’m really tempted by the classic and PSA 2.0 too.. i wanna collect em all :D ugh the steve harris model looks kick ass too! Random question: i’ve seen a Sansamp “Bass DI” with no knobs or controls on the outside of the unit. When was that unit made? I don’t see it on your product archive on your website. I’m curious if the circuit in there is different than the more common bass driver DI.
@@almostliterally593 Nice start to your collection! There are no bad choices, btw --Classic, PSA 2.0, etc. :-) It's really a matter of functionality and budget. The SansAmp Bass DI was the first incarnation of a bass specific SansAmp, which came out in late '92. The Bass Driver was introduced 2 years later, in response to all the requests to have the controls on the outside. While the designs/formats differ, all SansAmp share the same core DNA.
The Bass Fly Rig is based on both of those pedals but it is its own unique circuit. There is simply not enough space on the unit to provide all the controls to do what the VT Bass and Bass Driver DI's do completely. The concept is for this to be an all in one easy to transport unit for fly dates, jams etc. with the familiar sound of the aforementioned units.
Mine has a popping sound when I push the compressor and the Octafilter button. I've tried to go directly to the Gallien-Krueger 700RB-II amp, and I've tried the 4 cable mode from the owner manual.
There can be a slight noise when engaging those sections due to the speed of the FET switching. It should not present a problem under normal circumstances. If you are using the SansAmp section it can be helpful to turn that sections level up a bit and reduce the volume of the amp. When players complain about the noise they are usually just switching in a quiet setting. If you are playing in a band setting with drums and guitars you shouldn't notice any noise.
![Tee Grizzley - Detroit (Feat. 42 Dugg) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aeKfTtt0x14/mqdefault.jpg)
Andrew is a genius and is still able to explain things so that us regular mortals can understand things.
i could listen to Andrew talk all day
I started on the Bass Driver V1, got a V2 and just ordered the Bass Fly Rig as it will save me plenty of space. BTW, really impressed with Tech 21's customer support; their rapid response to my query/problem with my Bass Driver was greatly appreciated. They aren't cheap but the build quality is obvious and I HATE menu surfing. :)
Wow! Thank you both for such a clear and useful video on how to make the most of the Fly Rig.
Very clear explanation of how an octave divider works. Very cool guys, and a very flashy P Bass
Great breakdown/ explanation! Very informative, Thanks Andrew & Tim, I love these episodes of Tech Tip Tid bits with Tim . 😀👍
This was really helpful. I just got the Fly Rig 2 and like many, it took a while to get comfortable with the Octafilter. I spent a half hour with it and got a better understanding on how to best use it. Thanks.
Hey Tim, I’d love to hear how this sounds in a mix. The tech 21 stuff I have really shines when it’s in a mix. So many times bass gear sounds good when you solo it but it doesn’t sit properly in a mix. I think maybe in a mix samples would really help people appreciate how good this stuff really is.
Hi Dave! Like you said, we design all of our products with real world use in mind. That being said, it sounds killer in your bedroom, the studio, and live.
Really enjoyed this! Loved how Andrew explained it all so well to understand. At last night’s gig my zB2 crapped the bed, and lost itself. Jumped from the tone I had on and just cycled around. All I noticed was my bass signal was no more and glancing to foh and around stage I looked down to catch it and hit the bypass. Finish our song but with a flat tone and improper level. That really sucked: I can no longer trust it live. So I’ve been considering 21’s FlyRig for awhile, and after hearing you guys talk this out I’m pretty sure it’s time to get one. Thank you both.
Wow “learned more in an eighteen minute video than I ever did in school” to paraphrase The Boss
such a gooooood explanation and amazing effect!!!!
Thanks for the info and I’m gonna order one of these. Love the Tech Tips Tidbits!
Thanks for this! Can't wait for mine to arrive and I can get it dialed in to use live.
Great video, thanks a lot! That chorus really is something and I have to say the OctaFilter did sound really good in here. (Although I'm not sure I heard some weird latency but that could have been combining multiple mic/camera/DI sources.) I would like to see these follow-up questions adressed in case you do another video: You commented on one of Tims videos that the MID knob works as the much discussed missing character knob when in VT DI mode. Why did you decide to not include a blend knob for both circuits? I thought it was the secret weapon when using the good old sansamp BDDI mode, or is it not? Also what made you decide to simplify the compressor. Personally I love it, but I have read comments of people missing the tone knob. I'll definitely give this one a try when it hits Germany. Thanks for all your products over the years and stay healthy!
I got mine today..... would have been happy for it to not have the fx. Just make a slimline bass driver with a comp and fx loop.
Great video, thanks.
I'm only one user of this pedal so take that for what it is. But i never used the octafilter or chorus on mine. I feel like that whole portion of the pedal could be used for something else. More compressor settings? A sansamp blend knob maybe?
Wow amazing !
I was wondering how the octafilter would react to a "normal" guitar sound. I currently use a EHX Bass9 to play my guitar as bass, but I can't find any demo of what the octafilter would sound on guitar. It would solve so much things for me if it sounds "enough like a regular bass guitar " when used with a guitar.
We are now curious as well. But since the Bass Fly Rig was designed for bass, we clearly didn't think of that. While we love when people think outside the box, it's hard to imagine there are many guitar players who would consider choosing this particular Fly Rig. It's your idea, so you should try it! If it works, let us know. If it doesn't work, you can always return it. 😃
@@Tech21nyc I just ordered a Fly Rig 5, I'mma record my album with it, sell some copies and then buy the Bass Fly Rig and try it out, I'll keep you in the loop! ;)
@@aplanebagel That's great! Definitely keep us posted. 👍
just ordered one :)
Interestingly even though the v1 and v2 have (as far as I can tell) the same octafilter circuit, I get more consistent results on my v1 than my v2. Not sure why that's happening but its just fuzzier and less pure on my v2 even with the fuzz disengaged and the drive at 0. I need to spend a little time dialing it in, I think.
The octafilter is DSP based, and the software in both versions is the same. The chip set used as well as the circuit is also the same. The Compressor module and the SansAmp module are different in both versions and may contribute to the differences you are hearing.
@@Tech21nyc hey thank you for responding quickly! That makes sense that the circuits before the octafilter would affect the result. I was able to dial everything in pretty well after spending an hour or so just playing and listening to the differences. Great little box you guys have made!
I noticed when I engage the Octafilter on my bass fly rig the volume is much higher than when it is not engaged. How do I keep the volume level the same when I engage the Octafilter? There is no gain knob on the Octafilter.
Hi Mike. Depending on what you are playing through it may seem much louder, especially if you are using monitors with a tweeter. Try adjusting the "Mix" knob to level it off a bit.
@@TimStarace Thank you Mr Starace, I lowered the "Mix" knob to about 11 o'clock and it lowered the volume.
@@mikeartz1069 fantastic! You are very welcome.
I’d like a video showing the differences between a Classic and a GT2. What makes the classic special? What makes the GT2 special? If i have a GT2, why do i also need a classic? Why is the classic more expensive? More expensive = better?? I notice the classic relies on an outboard EQ? Can it do more than nirvana sounds??
Thank you for your suggestion. The SansAmp Classic is special because it is the original version that debuted in 1989 and basically started the "going direct" movement. It has an extensive library of different amp tones that you can adjust at a granular level. Its overall tonality is more on the vintage amp side of things and great if you really want to dig in and "tweak" your settings. It costs more because it's very labor intensive to make. And yes, it can do lots more than just Nirvana tones. In fact all SansAmps are designed for maximum variety of tones, including all signature versions. The SansAmp GT2 is a bit simpler to use and adjust. It's more aggressive and has a bit more top end "sizzle." You should take a look at the sample settings in each of the owner's manuals on our website: www.tech21nyc.com/support/
Being that sound is so subjective and we all have different tastes, we always recommend trying both if possible. Once you plug in with your guitar, through your gear in a setting you are comfortable with, the decision will be much easier.
@@Tech21nyc i notice the classic has more mic placement/speaker sim options, so i can see how that would bump up the complexity of the design quite a bit. It seems to be a good general purpose studio tool, maybe a bit less specific to the electric guitar than the GT2 is. I could see myself running vocals, keyboards, or drum tracks and other things through a classic to add some special mojo to it.
I’ve been using the GT2 for a metal guitar tone. And yes the top end sizzle of the GT2 is fantastic, really aggressive, lots of frequencies there to play with in the mixing process :) (what does “GT2” stand for anyway?? I always wondered)
i’m also in the market for a device that i can leave on a clean/semi clean setting all the time, the classic seems like a good choice... like i could have an A/B switcher with a GT2 set to california metal style and a classic set to tweed mode, leading into two different signal chains for clean and dirty. i’m slowly building up a collection of sansamps for my home studio and live use :) so far I have the GT2 and the classic V1 Bass Driver DI. I’m really tempted by the classic and PSA 2.0 too.. i wanna collect em all :D ugh the steve harris model looks kick ass too!
Random question: i’ve seen a Sansamp “Bass DI” with no knobs or controls on the outside of the unit. When was that unit made? I don’t see it on your product archive on your website. I’m curious if the circuit in there is different than the more common bass driver DI.
@@almostliterally593 Nice start to your collection! There are no bad choices, btw --Classic, PSA 2.0, etc. :-) It's really a matter of functionality and budget.
The SansAmp Bass DI was the first incarnation of a bass specific SansAmp, which came out in late '92. The Bass Driver was introduced 2 years later, in response to all the requests to have the controls on the outside. While the designs/formats differ, all SansAmp share the same core DNA.
Hey, this video is about Bass Fly rig. Why do you ask about a guitar pedal?
the circuits of the bass fly rig are the same as the bass driver di and vt bass with the character at 100%?
The Bass Fly Rig is based on both of those pedals but it is its own unique circuit. There is simply not enough space on the unit to provide all the controls to do what the VT Bass and Bass Driver DI's do completely. The concept is for this to be an all in one easy to transport unit for fly dates, jams etc. with the familiar sound of the aforementioned units.
Mine has a popping sound when I push the compressor and the Octafilter button. I've tried to go directly to the Gallien-Krueger 700RB-II amp, and I've tried the 4 cable mode from the owner manual.
There can be a slight noise when engaging those sections due to the speed of the FET switching. It should not present a problem under normal circumstances. If you are using the SansAmp section it can be helpful to turn that sections level up a bit and reduce the volume of the amp. When players complain about the noise they are usually just switching in a quiet setting. If you are playing in a band setting with drums and guitars you shouldn't notice any noise.