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Line 6 M5

MultiScaleMale

MultiScaleMale

Gold Supporting Member
Jun 19, 2003
27,212
38,992
Maryland
#1
I got my GC $30 off coupon and decided to give the M5 a try. First off, it does work with the OneSpot. On the bottom of the M5 it says that it need 9V / 500 ma, but the power supply that it ships with says that it's a 9V / 250 ma unit. The GC guys joked that it looked like a Boss power supply with a Line 6 label. I don't know about that because I haven't bought a Boss power supply ever. I assume that they've seen at least one or two and would know.

I've been screwing around with the "Ultimate Pedal Board" for the past few months. First, everything had to fit on a Pedaltrain mini. I need something that's portable or it will end up staying home. I've really liked the M13 and M9 but they have a few holes in their effects line up such that I really couldn't get what I wanted out of just the M9 and one or maybe two other effects that would fit on the PT Mini and there was also the power supply issue that made things more of a hassle. So I was interested in the M5 when it was announced.

I've always felt that the M series had a lot going for it but was a little weak on the envelope filter and compressors. So on my "Ultimate Pedal Board" I have the following:

EBS MultiComp -> MIT OC-2 -> 3 Leaf Protron -> M5 -> Submarine.

This wouldn't suit JMJ or someone effects heavy, but I think I can cover 99% of any effects situation that I might ever need with this setup.

Now, if Line 6 would add a few items from the LowDown and XT series: the LowDown synth so I can get some moogish synth tones, the BDDI model and bronzemaster to the M series, I think I would be complete.

Actually if I keep my M9, the combination of my "Ultimate Pedal Board" and the M9 would cover anything including effects heavy sets.

So, I've had good luck with the M5 and the OneSpot using the effects that I've tried but I'm sure that there are combinations that may have issues.
 
#3
I've recently went back to an M9, but am pairing it with a FEA Dual Band Compressor, and old basic Boss GEB-7 for times when I'd like a bit more mids out of my 2-band Musicman. So I try to keep the M9 for Octaver, CHorus, Phaser, FLanger, Pitch effects, etc. I'd like something like a Pork Loin on my Mini with them, but there's just not room for a OD pedal that has a blend on it, and the M9's OD's don't have blend options.
 
#4
Your wish is my command. (Sorry for the crappy cell phone flash pic.)

5641976473_73049c3a68_z.jpg
 
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#7
Was able to use the M5 last night where I could really turn up the volume. I have to give my highest recommendation to the M5 solely as a octave pedal. It kills any other octave pedal I've played. Then add the tuner, the 100 other effects you get for free and this is a no brainer. I was skeptical of the format when I was first leaked but I totally love it as an addition to my pedaltrain mini. Yes, I have an OC-2 on the same board as the ultimate octave pedal. It seems ironic, but the OC-2 is my second favorite octave pedal and I can combine it with the modulation or synth effects to really have fun with a fairly limited real estate.
 
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#8
pardon my ignorance, but am i right to assume that since the unit is digital, thus the octaver modules are polyphonic? also, are there any tone controls as compared to only volume control on the POG?

thanks in advance
 
#9
The Bass Octave effect on the M5 is monophonic, but you can sneak in some fifths and octaves. Tracking is very, very stable. There is a tone control for the octave. I don't have an expression pedal right now, but what I did in the past was to set one extreme of the pedal to the tone at the minimum and just the octave then setting the tone to about 3/4 and the direct signal all the way up at the other extreme of the pedal setting. A lot of different textures in between. Additionally there is the Pitch Glide effect and you can set up the effect like a Whammy if you have an expression pedal.
 
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#12
cultrvultr said:
Hey Snyder, how low can it track reliably? Can it do a low F on the E string? Is the response pretty quick? Some of the other digital octavers I have tried seem to be pretty slow.
Click to expand...

Tracking is not slow at all. I was playing my version of Jaco's burpy style and it tracked everything well without turning into a messy blob. I'll test the F tonight when I get home. I know that I've done some F#s in the past and they did well.
 
#14
I bought one last week. After 4 gigs I had to take it back.
My only issue was with gain matching. There's no way to turn the
Levels up or down for each preset.
Too bad, I really liked the sounds overall.
I think I'm just gonna pony up for the Modfactor.
 
#16
Thanks for testing that for me! I am going to have to try an m5 now. I use an OC-2, but it starts farting out around A. I'm not looking to reproduce all the tone of the lower octave of an F or E (cause my cabs don't go that low) but I do really want a octaver I can leave on when I hit those notes and not worry about glitching. I've been looking at an Octamizer, but for a little bit more it sounds like I could get a good octaver plus all kinds of other toys.
 
#19
cultrvultr said:
Thanks for testing that for me! I am going to have to try an m5 now. I use an OC-2, but it starts farting out around A. I'm not looking to reproduce all the tone of the lower octave of an F or E (cause my cabs don't go that low) but I do really want a octaver I can leave on when I hit those notes and not worry about glitching. I've been looking at an Octamizer, but for a little bit more it sounds like I could get a good octaver plus all kinds of other toys.
Click to expand...

I found the Octamizer to be rather glitchy. I only played it for 10-15 seconds and put it back in the case.
 
#20
I bought the M5 last weekend and have used it at 4 gigs so far. I must say that at first I wasn't sure if this one pedal was going to stand up to single unit effects but it has far exceeded my expectations and has become the only pedal I now use.

I play in a HIP-HOP jazz band and rarely have I ever used multiple effects at once so this was a perfect choice for my needs. I have loaded about 7 custom tones so far and love the ability to tweak and save on the fly. I've played through both my rig and PA systems and the tone produced was outstanding. This pedal has definitely added a much needed dimension to my tone.

After buying and playing so many different brands of pedals I think I might jinx myself by saying this but.... my GAS for effects has been cured since buying the M5.
 

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