Meet Bastl Bestie: 5 Channel Stereo Distortion Pedal / Mixer

Bastl sent over one of the funnest distortion modules I´ve ever laid my hands on. In this video I go over its general features and show you a bit of what it can do. Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: Bastl sent me a unit for review, yet they have no say over the contents of this video. I´m not being paid for this review and they don´t see it before you do.
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[@paulmakl6282]

I really like the signal flow arrows at 1:20 in the video. They made the hardware setup easy to understand!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thanks for the feedback my friend! I’m trying to incorporate those small Improvements so that things are easier to explain and understand🤟🏻 thank you for watching!

[@billybartcody3591]

I just got one of these things and it's an invaluable toy / tool. Amazing little box with tons of oomph very musical distortion. DIY hack: if you take the cover off you can color code the LEDs by painting the underside of their windows with translucent/neon acrylic paint. And if you want to change or remove a color, it just peels right off.

[@weddiedon]

Oh nice i might have to try this I bet that looks really cool

[@glueball9511]

bastl continually delivering user-minded experimentally-oriented gear without gouging or exploiting the power of the BRAND

[@huntersandell859]

I love my Bastl Dude. But this is the thing I’ve always REALLY needed. Awesome.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thanks for watching my friend! Cheers!

[@jsieb]

"DOLBY!" 🤣🔥

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

😅 🔊

[@aloisroger2300]

Thank you so much for giving me a recommendation for the bastl bestie! This powerful gear is the needed glue to my shrinking setup! Hearts, word!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@Benutzer101]

Ich habe einen nach deinem Video gekauft, vor ein paar Monaten. Und nun ja, es ist wirklich der coolste Mixer seiner Größe, gute Verarbeitung. Qualität!

[@pyrox2518]

if this had a post send/return it would be absolute game changer

[@barnabycross]

Game-changing. A very interesting/exciting take on mixers. I always find that for tiny devices sizewise Bastl create very powerful tools. Distortion fans this is a must!

[@swalectrix]

Looks amazing !!!! Analog heat fx was on my wish list but may have to get this as a stop gap before. Nice demo. 🙌

[@grayshadowglade]

Ok, Stank Face cam was a good chuckle. Well done sir!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Lol thanks mate!

[@jackjackjackncoke9666]

Great review! I had to pull the trigger on one, it just fits my needs so perfectly even without the extra goodies. No battery cover seems a little odd to me but it's an acceptable quirk I can live with.

[@Lorneplumber]

That does look and sound great. I’m waiting for the oto cherie babe release though

[@jamesorvis_mixhackers]

I’m listening on my iPhone and I can say it’s doing it justice 🔥🤣 that’s how good that thing sounds! Ordering!

[@kalmarnagyandras]

Ooof. The initial distortion totally reminded me of Nine Inch Nails. That fuzzy is just scrummy.

[@JamesRamboPearce]

Brutal *in Nathan Explosion*

[@volsteh]

was looking at the patchulator but this is what I need👍

[@unclemick-synths]

Interesting! I can imagine that finding its way into a jamming rig.

[@Reyescult]

I'm gonna have to get this. I really need a new Bestie!

[@DoctorJRx]

Sold

[@zurlocker1]

Sounds cool. Wow, I wish it had pan. I guess I can hope for a Super Bestie.

[@CNTRRNDM]

Wow😮 I want this mixer! Now!!!🙈

[@Vanilla_Sun]

As much as I love my Heat, this thing cranks the gain and distortion way further!

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

100%!! It’s a beast🤟🏻

[@cornishwavesmusic]

Love your channel dude,wish there was more

[@SequentialSnep]

Been looking for a mixer for my eurorack and synths, I think this may be the one!!!

[@ZetaCarinae]

Extremely minor issue: the bastl website link is not an active link for some reason. This thing looks pretty fun.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Thanks for the heads up! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@adognamedshinji]

Is there no battery cover? 🤔 looks awesome nonetheless

[@JohnDoe-yr5tg]

Ok I have an issue where I have an Mpc hydrasynth rtymmk2 digitakt 2 and octatrack mk2 what would you recommend me using as a small footprint mixer I see this and wondered if this would work as I ha the digitakt going into the rtym into a+b on octatrack but I can run the mpc and hydra into the c+d on the octatrack so. Could you please recommend a small footprint mixer with 3 or 4 stereo inputs that would lead into the octatrack many thanks

[@alvaroapablaza5471]

you bought the microcosm back? thought you sold it. glad to see you still have it

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Yeah! It found it’s way back into my studio and into my heart😜

[@horstdunoch3546]

Ok. So... Basically... If you do fuzz/distortion with that gain, you'll need another mixer after because that track will be much louder than the other... Cool. :D

[@Dmogul]

Wow 🤩

[@patricknecighi1227]

I love my TX-6... I know... not the same price range.😅

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

😅

[@trevormalcolm4328]

I WANT ONE!

[@757SoundLab]

I can’t find the answer to this question, is the output mono or stereo? The manual just says it’s a 3.5mm Jack output, and the pictures have one speaker. Can it be split with TRS into true stereo? You said there’s no pans, but could do panning later in DAW or on a mixer if it’s not mono or just two of the same mono tracks.

[@vaclav_mach]

The both outputs (Mix Out and Headphones) are regular stereo outputs using TRS jacks. The outputs keep the L+R signals separated the same way as they were on the input. There is no “mono mixdown”, only mono thing is that you can use “R” input of channels 1 and 5 as a mono input (eg. from eurorack or a guitar) using mono cables. That will “copy” the signal to both sides. Or you can use two mono patch cables for separate L+R for channels 1 and 5 (again, for eurorack use).

[@757SoundLab]

@@vaclav_mach Awesome, this is what I was hoping! I was just worried since I couldn’t find anything explicitly talking about the output in the manual.

[@DJDiskmachine]

2:50 the sadly defunct but at one time excellent Patchblocks mixer. 😥

[@michaelpalumbothispatcher8325]

Cool! Annnnd now I'm imagining it as a no-input mixer 😮😮😮

[@patrikveltrusky]

We build it for that purpose 🤭

[@antonystannard3333]

I'm getting audible pops when pressing mute buttons even with channel volume down. Annoying and makes it unusable live. Anyone else experienced this?

[@I.O.M.]

Question. I know the hack for the dude is to split channel 5 and run it back into the mixer. Does the new feedback channel actually do anything different or just built that in?

[@vaclav_mach]

Yes, it’s basically that - in stereo - and with a slight low pass filter for more “warm” sound. The advantage of this is that it will keep the Mix Out free to use and you don’t have to use a splitter. And you can still use Ch 3 as a regular input if you plug something into it. There is also tuning trimmer on the right side of Bestie to tune the feedback left-right amount. Since Bestie is a pure analog device, the various tolerances cause the feedback is not equal by default - that can be adjusted by the trimmer. Without the trimmer you would have to use a cable with a pot or something to adjust it.

[@haslo_]

Oh man oh man oh man! I can't afford new hardware, I just bought a new thing 😂

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Lol, I have a discord screenshot that says otherwise🤣😜

[@sanakassara]

Hey, what's the device on top left at 1:20?

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

It’s the audiothingies micromonsta 2👍🏼 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3aTk5usbNR0m9U (my video review!)

[@sanakassara]

@@MidlifeSynthesist Cheers. 👍

[@dyscotopia]

I'm not much for overdrive and distortion... More of a fan of ambient tones.. But if I wanted to do some aphex twin style drill n bass, this would ease it in for sure

[@patrikveltrusky]

Have you ever overdrive a reverb?

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

@@patrikveltrusky is that legal?😱

[@patrikveltrusky]

@@MidlifeSynthesist No and that's the fun part in it

[@DD-co1zn]

What have Bastl got against stereo pan /balance ? ... So disappointing, especially for the price.

[@vaclav_mach]

Have you seen how small Bestie actually is? Yes, pan/balance could be there, but mute switches would have to be removed. There is just no space for an additional controls/features… Sure, you can get more features for “better price” buying a “small” noname/behringer/… mix, but they all will be much bigger. You can get more features in similar size with TX-6, but that’s 5 times more expensive. Bestie has a full metal case and high quality potentiometers and other components, we just wanted to make the best smallest stereo mixer for a reasonable price so here it is ☺️ (I’m writing “we”, because I’m the main developer of Bestie.)

[@stylinghead]

switch pots exist. Maybe mk2?

[@SonicVibe]

i'm just sad it only has 2 mono inputs i need one with 5 @@vaclav_mach

[@RegebroRepairs]

Ah, but is it insanely overpriced and only compatible with Bastl's own cables? No? Then I don't want it. 😀 I guess we can credit Teenage Engineering for showing that there is a market for small stereo mixers with a creative flair.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

😂

[@mowbyone]

Decent review - but it’s not a Pedal

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Anything is a Pedal if you’re brave enough🤣

[@StephenMcLeod]

Dirty.

[@MidlifeSynthesist]

Yummy

[@FastRCToys]

Way too expensive for what it is. You take a xenyx or a MicroMix MX600 6x stereo with 6.35 jacks (almost same size) and a disto pedal and you have something better for less. Bastl Bestie is just a way of making money with cheap hardware...

[@robotlovesyoudotcom]

Totally GASed out after watching this and picked one up at SchneidersLaden. Oh. My. God. It is fun.

[@alexeykurilo4381]

expwcted to see usb audio recording functions..