4ms Nocto Loco Review

Chronicle · #1 04-01-2009, 05:35 PM

Hola amigos, would you be surprised if I was wondering if this pedal was a disaster or a blessing in a heavy disguise?

Well, I'm not sure which is the true statement. Let me first start with the construction of the pedal.

First off, I asked if i could have the jacks on opposite sides like a traditional pedal. Dann and I went back and forth with specifications and such. To my surprise, I open my USPS box and the jacks are on the right side....

Next, I notice a lousy paint job on the corners and scratches everywhere! Whata bust...

Well I thought that wasn't so bad...until I plugged it in. It was a little too explosive so I played with the trimpots for the gates. Took me several tries to get it just right for best tracking and such.

Finally I got to try it and it's a different beast to handle...It's pretty cool sounding but your bass is almost gone from the mix WITH that unity switch engaged. Let's just say, it's not a subtle effect!

Did i also forget to mention this thing is BEASTLY in size?

In conclusion, I need to play with it more to understand its ways but it has potential.

Soundclip:
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7480956

Chronicle · #2 04-01-2009, 05:41 PM

(my favorite part in the clip is at the end with that crazy loco mode doing the squeals...)

RickenBoogie · #3 04-01-2009, 05:50 PM

Seems like they could've fit those guts into a much smaller box, no? Cool clips, nonetheless, thanks. (no more pedal gas for me, 2 boards, both smallish and manageable, 14 pedals total. I'm done)

Joe Gress · #4 04-01-2009, 05:52 PM

Sounds like its a mule.

fightthepower · #5 04-01-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

First off, I asked if i could have the jacks on opposite sides like a traditional pedal. Dann and I went back and forth with specifications and such. To my surprise, I open my USPS box and the jacks are on the right side....

Next, I notice a lousy paint job on the corners and scratches everywhere! Whata bust...

That's pretty lame, I remember you posting a picture of the pedal and mentioning that it probably wasn't yours, as it didn't have said changes made to it-- When you got the picture, did you inquire about the jacks and whether or not that one was yours? Either way, that sucks, and it made my decision of buying a new painted one very easy. Any interest in trading for the Tentacle Love Superfuzz? I may or may not be into it, but I figure i'd throw it out there anyway. I have a friend that wants to build some pedals (graduating in a few months in EE) and for a 'warm up build' I was thinking about getting the kit or even just going off the schematic if possible. I'd definitely like to try and get it in a smaller box, and at very least use the same box but add level knobs for -1 and -2.

Chronicle · #6 04-01-2009, 07:47 PM

I'm not ready to get rid of it... It may stay and I might rehouse it, no biggy.

rcubed · #7 04-01-2009, 09:50 PM

Can you get a macro of those ICs?

whoatherechunk · #8 04-01-2009, 11:17 PM

are those decals?

dannybuoy · #9 04-02-2009, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcubed

Can you get a macro of those ICs?

Check out the kit links from the 4ms site, they have full graphical part lists and schematics.

Chronicle · #10 04-02-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoatherechunk

are those decals?

they don't peel off....

Grimoire · #11 04-02-2009, 08:01 AM

You didn't need to have it in such a huge box - mine is much smaller (in fact it's the one on the Nocto page on the 4ms site).
In regards to the paint-job, this is 4ms, they are a true diy collective, things are a little rough around the edges...literally in this case. That leads to the pedal - I had a feeling you were going to be a little surprised by it, given the stated purpose you were buying it for. It's a monster, I love mine...but the very nature of the thing is 'rough around the edges'. A unique pedal, versatile if you give it time, but not exactly tame.
The jacks do surprise me - Dann is great in communication, a pity that was screwed up.

Chronicle · #12 04-02-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimoire

You didn't need to have it in such a huge box - mine is much smaller (in fact it's the one on the Nocto page on the 4ms site).
In regards to the paint-job, this is 4ms, they are a true diy collective, things are a little rough around the edges...literally in this case. That leads to the pedal - I had a feeling you were going to be a little surprised by it, given the stated purpose you were buying it for. It's a monster, I love mine...but the very nature of the thing is 'rough around the edges'. A unique pedal, versatile if you give it time, but not exactly tame.
The jacks do surprise me - Dann is great in communication, a pity that was screwed up.

yeah i'm going to email him tonight requesting a smaller box to rehouse it in.

seacouch · #13 04-02-2009, 02:28 PM

The 4ms site lacks detailed descriptions of their effects. In the case of the NL, I gather it's basically an octave/fuzz with tremolo? From the sound clip it sounds basically like a fuzz effect. Is that how you'd describe it, or am I missing something?

speak_onion · #14 04-02-2009, 02:55 PM

The NL in "sane" mode produces a sub-octave either 1, 2 or 3 octaves down, and a "pulse" 4, 5, or 6 octaves down. So you have a sub-tone, and then when you mix in the -4, -5, or -6, it's so low that it's an LFO and sounds like tremolo. The sub-tones are really dirty, almost squarewaves.

In "loco" mode, instead of the sub-tone, something kinda weird happens, and it does sound like a very unique, gnarly fuzz. The pulse works the same as in "sane" mode.

seacouch · #15 04-02-2009, 03:51 PM

Nice description, thanks. I have the 4ms Atoner, which is a blast, and I'm looking at getting the Noise Swash, which also looks pretty loco. I'm still on the fence about the NL.

whoatherechunk · #16 04-02-2009, 04:12 PM

I'm getting a tremelune soon!!! Woohoo!

seacouch · #17 04-02-2009, 04:21 PM

Sweet. Have you tried one yet? Again, the description on the site is less than sketchy.

whoatherechunk · #18 04-02-2009, 10:57 PM

no i'm winging it and bought one off the classifieds!

Quote:

Originally Posted by seacouch

Sweet. Have you tried one yet? Again, the description on the site is less than sketchy.

chronicle: the reason i ask...is becasue it doesnt look like it was painted....perhaps silkscreened? i'm interested to see how he does his paint jobs.

rcubed · #19 04-02-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

Check out the kit links from the 4ms site, they have full graphical part lists and schematics.

I'm taking a look at that now. He's using some neat tricks like a ripple counter to divide the frequencies such that you get 1, 2 and 3 octaves down. It actually has octaves so low that they are used for an LFO/tremolo like effect since either of the first three octaves is blended with the 4th, 5th and 6th octaves below the input frequency.

MetroBass · #20 04-02-2009, 11:51 PM

Hmmm, not sumping I want to invest in right now. I don't know what the clips were played though, but ohhhh, not my cup of tea (Nothing against Chronicle, ura trooper with all that you've provided)