I recently sold a synth with expectations of replacing it with a new bass pedal. Really liking the Spectrum, the filter envelope sounds are cool and I would like to add it to my sound. Is the spectrum the way to go or is there something better out there?
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Anyone spent time with a Source Audio Spectrum?
- Thread starter kleaver
- Start date
If you are looking for a Synth/Envelope filter Then The Source Audio C4 is the way to go. For envelope without synth The spectrum does it all pretty much.
Don't much care to make synthy sounds with the bass, the synth I sold was more than capable I just never got into it. I want to make that classic funk sound and build around that
Then the Spectrum is what you want. The big plus is you get 6 presets and with a Midi Controler you get 128 I believe. The SA Neuro Desktop has a ton of sounds available created by other users or you can find one that is close and tweak it to taste then save it to your pedal. I have both they are awesome pedals. Fore more indepth information Join the Source Audio Sorcerers Society . Many Very Smart people on there and if you have any Issues the Crew from Source Audio is on there all the time
Fair point, but it doesn't come in purple, which Ive heard sound 3 more fast than other coloured pedals
If you want to pimp it further...gold coloured knobs just look so sweet:
So far...thanks to FiveStringgecko...I've fitted black ones to my Aftershock, Silver ones on my C4 and Blue ones on my Lunar....very happy indeed!
Roland GR 88
Commercial User
One quirk with Spectrum I found annoying is that frequency control has a primary knob location but the sensitivity and resonance controls need to accessed by activating the alt. function. This isn't a big deal but you only have 5 sec. before the alt. controls revert back so for me, as these are the 3 controls I’m always tweaking made it cumbersome to use as a traditional pedal on my board.
The programming, features and sounds are top shelf so if you don't mind putting in the time it's hard to beat.
Good luck and welcome to TB.
The programming, features and sounds are top shelf so if you don't mind putting in the time it's hard to beat.
Good luck and welcome to TB.
What I understand is the Spectrum settings are included with the Source C4. I like messing with the envelope filters in the C4. And there are a lot of great community patches available too. I have a Broughton Josh Wah that I like a lot but I think I could convince myself to go all in with the C4. It’s worth the check out. But it’s also worth spending some seat time learning the dashboard to get the most out of it.
I just did a video on my board and the Spectrum is on there. It serves as an Octave pedal, a Filter pedal, and a synth pedal. Its pretty cool, it has plenty of sounds I diddnt feel the need for the C4.
I enjoyed my Spectrum so much I sold it. Bought a C4 to have the best of both but couldn’t hang on the synth stuff ... I think my playing is too fidgety to track correctly.
Anyway - I could see going back to a Spectrum again but I’m also snooping around for some pedals with a decidedly simpler interface.
Anyway - I could see going back to a Spectrum again but I’m also snooping around for some pedals with a decidedly simpler interface.
I bought the C4 when it first came out (got the very first one from Sweetwater). I love it. I picked up the Spectrum for another board and ended up getting rid of it because I got rid of the board. I still kept the C4, and was even going to pick up another one for yet another board. At first I thought the C4 was a little too much, but after a short learning curve it really fits the bill. The Spectrum was great andi wouldn't hesitate to recommend it tho!
Is the Spectrum worth it if you only use the stock out-of-the-box sounds? I'm interested in the pedal but very unlikely to go into the neuro app, since I prefer to have the pedal give me what I need without dozens of possible choices to explore. Thanks!
you just didn't move fast enough on the C4... It came in purple in the first batch ;-)
People often seem to say you might as well spend a little more on the C4 as it does everything the Spectrum does and more. This is why I bought a C4.
..... What they fail to mention is that the Spectrum has the 'alt' controls for every knob - so it works better as a stand alone pedal (without buying midi controllers to access loads more presets). So if 6 filter type options is enough for you then the Spectrum is better.....which is why I got rid of my C4 and am now looking to get a Spectrum.
With the C4 you need to know 'is preset red light/ triangle an octaver? Does that mean control 1 is tone? Or if I switch to the next preset is it a filter and that control is for depth? So you really need other control devices/midi to make the most of it and not make mistakes live. The Spectrum is a bit more obvious about what the controls are and they have their 'alt' options for added adjust via the pedal.
..... What they fail to mention is that the Spectrum has the 'alt' controls for every knob - so it works better as a stand alone pedal (without buying midi controllers to access loads more presets). So if 6 filter type options is enough for you then the Spectrum is better.....which is why I got rid of my C4 and am now looking to get a Spectrum.
With the C4 you need to know 'is preset red light/ triangle an octaver? Does that mean control 1 is tone? Or if I switch to the next preset is it a filter and that control is for depth? So you really need other control devices/midi to make the most of it and not make mistakes live. The Spectrum is a bit more obvious about what the controls are and they have their 'alt' options for added adjust via the pedal.
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