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Enzo or C4?...
- Thread starter BigN8bass
- Start date
I have both- the C4 is much easier to use/tweak using the Neuro app, mostly because the Enzo controls are super sensitive. The C4 also has far more presets available and it’s easier to set them up. The C4 has so much tweakability and sounds great, but the Enzo is pretty unique and tasty and does do a few things I haven’t been able to match with the C4. I think the C4 is the better value without a doubt and far less quirky, but the Enzo is a pedal I tend to lose myself in when playing around (it’s super inspiring).
So if it wasn’t clear, I would definitely choose the C4 as an all-around synth-emulation pedal but the Enzo (and all Meris pedals) is unique and cool in its own right at making up cool sounds and textures on the spot using layers of interesting quirkiness. The Enzo would be super frustrating to rely on for versatile synthiness on its own though IMO due to its preset limits and other quirks
@sunbeast I'm looking for something to play around with while in quarantine to learn more about how pedals work and creating my own patches. I was thinking either the C4 or the Enzo. Which would you choose for that?
Definitely the C4! The number of parameters to work with, the ease of workflow in the editor to see how sounds are built piece by piece (using a computer or tablet/phone, though the computer editor is definitely easier to work with especially for burning into the pedal), and the ability to take hundreds of existing community presets and dissect them to see how the sounds were made. The C4 is a perfect quarantine project in my opinion!
Also you can save tons of presets into your editor profile without saving them directly on the pedal, so you can tweak them to perfection before burning them on (though you have plenty of preset slots on the pedal too- the Enzo on the other hand only has a limited number of presets)
I second @sunbeast. The Enzo is cool, but I flipped mine after finding the interface and controls frustrating. If you don't like computer interfaces for patch building/editing, then something like the C4 will not be your jam. That said, it's relatively easy to learn the basics, you can get community presets as a starting point, and Zach Rizer (@Proton Lenny) did an hour-long demo video where he deep-dives on the Neuro desktop editor with the C4. Once I spent some time with the C4, it was easy enough to build on my basic knowledge of the parameters and continue digging further into features and building patches.
In contrast, I found the Meris frustrating because there was no comprehensive visual of the controls. You can see where everything is knob-wise for the primary controls. But the secondary controls is where I found things irritating. Unless you have the preset switch to save your favorite settings, it's extremely difficult to replicate the same sounds after changing settings.
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Between the two I'd say the C4. However the Panda Audio Future Impact is the best sounding of the three by far.
I think you'll find some arguments to the contrary on this board from folks who've had both...
Have you owned all three and compared them directly? They all do things that the others don’t, so I can understand feature preferences, but a qualitative “sounds better” is definitely subjective and dependent on actually finding equivalent settings (which is harder than what’s apparent).
I do agree that the C4 and Future Impact are a more sensible comparison since they are both far more feature-laden than the Enzo
Saw the post title and wandered in thinking we would be compaing these two...
Enzo
C4
I'll show myself out.
Enzo
C4
I'll show myself out.
Just bought the Enzo. I also bought the 4 switch maris switcher which will help save the pre sets. What I found so far is the poly mode give sounds hardly heard from a pedal. The mono seems to help getting the bass synth sounds which every now and then I can get but the pedal is complicated. After the afternoon I was burnt. But what I heard so far when controlled this can be the ultimate synth pedal for bassist (not excluding other instruments). Had the Future Impact and very good also but somehow I feel the Enzo is different and more of what I want but struggling to get. As far as the C4 I can't make a recommendation but they have a large fan base. Not sure if there is a Enzo thread where they can help and even have 1-800 number for a Psychotic Hospital for Enzo users. If needed, I'll let you know.
The Enzo does have a bit of a learning curve, but I found it very rewarding and now is an integral part of my EUB (electric upright bass) sound.
What helped me a lot is to connect the Enzo to a midi controller (in my case a Disaster Area DMC4) and use the Meris Enzo web editor:
Meris Enzo Editor by StudioCode.dev
What helped me a lot is to connect the Enzo to a midi controller (in my case a Disaster Area DMC4) and use the Meris Enzo web editor:
Meris Enzo Editor by StudioCode.dev
C4 or Future Impact for sure. I thought the Enzo was pretty awful to be honest. It does sound good but the workflow is a mess and you need external devices to really work with presets or edit sounds in a way that actually makes sense. Not sure if they've done any updates but it was also really prone to volume spikes. Spikes are normal on a lot of synths and aren't a problem if you're playing them with your hands but it was a big issue for a pedal IMO.
The volume spike isn't an issue anymore, as they have implemented a mod in all new models (those with a barcode above the serial number) and can be retrofitted in older models. It does require sending the unit to Meris, though.
And I agree that the Enzo only really works with a midi controller.
And I agree that the Enzo only really works with a midi controller.
The volume spike is a non issue in mine as the bar code is above the serial number. In fact its probably the best of what I played so far. Still working on it and also will get the midi. I saw on the site you can do some amazing things with the midi. Makes programming so much easier.
I got in a waitlist in August of last year to send mine back for the upgrade and have still not heard back about being able to bring it in (I live 30 minutes away from Meris). I just ended up selling mine and may one day pick up an updated version. I have both a C4 and Future Impact now and prefer them for the majority of functions due to ease of adjustment, but do really miss the ARP mode of the Enzo for any instrument and Poly mode for guitar.
The C4 & Future Impact combo is going to be hard to beat. I found the Enzo more frustrating than anything... reminded me of my MOOG MF-101 days. find the perfect sound then move any control 1/16th of an inch and it's completely obliterated... for live use I needed 4 MF-101's with their knobs all hot glued in place... but I could only afford one ;-)
The MF-101 is the only pedal where I was able to get Tuba. Still looking for that in my current Sectrum, C4, FI rig.
There is a juicy fat 'electric' quality to the FI that to me is very reminiscent of MOOG. I haven't been able to quite get there with the C4.
The ADSR in the C4 though seems to be closer to the ARP Oddessy that my key's players in the 70's and 80's had (along with their Mini's, Clavinet, Rhodes, String Ensemble and C/B3's & Leslie and Twin.. lord I do not miss the full keyboard pit).
The MF-101 is the only pedal where I was able to get Tuba. Still looking for that in my current Sectrum, C4, FI rig.
There is a juicy fat 'electric' quality to the FI that to me is very reminiscent of MOOG. I haven't been able to quite get there with the C4.
The ADSR in the C4 though seems to be closer to the ARP Oddessy that my key's players in the 70's and 80's had (along with their Mini's, Clavinet, Rhodes, String Ensemble and C/B3's & Leslie and Twin.. lord I do not miss the full keyboard pit).
I struggled to find a good filter sound in the FI, that was a while ago tho, not updated firmware. The Enzo nails it for me as long as I add a little grit to the input and output.
I know I am a new user to the Enzo. But they have come a long way with helping people program and downloading sounds. What I am getting alone I love some of the thickness but As of today ( Had the pedal 3 days) I find it hard to pin point what I am looking for. It has what I want but its a pedal unless you really know it, it will fight you. But its amazing the sounds you experience. Very Hypnotizing.
PSA: I created an editor for the Meris Enzo. Free. Available for Win10 and Mac. Downloads links in the video description.
