Future Impact now available!! WAS: deep impact reissue!!! interested?

[Diegombass]

I am using my C4 exclusively for envelope filtering issues. Is the FI4 as responsible, quick and thick or even better than the C4? I would like to replace it because I miss instant control of the parameters.
Thnks

 

[Quatschmacher]

I am using my C4 exclusively for envelope filtering issues. Is the FI4 as responsible, quick and thick or even better than the C4? I would like to replace it because I miss instant control of the parameters.
Thnks

It can do good envelope filter sounds. I think I shared some recently. It takes a bit of work to program them though. C4 is a bit easier in that regard. Spectrum is better for hands-on control of envelope filter patches than C4 as it has secondary knob assignments.

 

[ceetee]

Yep @OhulahanBass hit the nail on the head- analog will respond quicker and the way the controls are accessed on the EHX Bass Microsynth is also very unique and cool (whereas not all of those options will be available on the face of the FI)- the EHX is great for dialing in tones quickly. IMO the Future Impact also doesn’t quite nail that analog sub-octave tone well unlike the EHX or C4, but on the EHX I always was blending that with other voices (the EHX sub-octave voice isn’t as great a standalone octave as something like the OC-2) and the mix of voices available in the Future Impact crushes the options in the EHX.

Another reason to get both and blend them. Pedal research never ends well

 

[bassbrad]

Hi!

I am currently researching C4 vs. FI and to my mind FI is in the lead for several reasons. Can the FI replace a bass micro synth or are there use cases not covered by FI's functionality?

Thanks!

I have all three of the units you mention (as well as others) each have their own sound and functions and each have their own strengths and weaknesses. As far as the FI goes the advantages are that you can also play the synth with a MIDI keyboard or sequencer (that's my main use for my V3), one down side is you will need a USB to MIDI converter cable to connect to a computer and the program takes a bit to get a handle on (I am still grappling at times). Tracking and triggering is fast and accurate but you must play precisely and articulate precisely to avoid mis-trigger glitches, but with practice those can be sonically useful.

 

[ceetee]

I have all three of the units you mention (as well as others) each have their own sound and functions and each have their own strengths and weaknesses. As far as the FI goes the advantages are that you can also play the synth with a MIDI keyboard or sequencer (that's my main use for my V3), one down side is you will need a USB to MIDI converter cable to connect to a computer and the program takes a bit to get a handle on (I am still grappling at times). Tracking and triggering is fast and accurate but you must play precisely and articulate precisely to avoid mis-trigger glitches, but with practice those can be sonically useful.

Thank you for the insight and the heads up on the software. I don't like editors anyway so it would only be a case of not liking for maybe different reasons. FI would come with the midibeam 4control anyway. That should take care of the need for an extra cable. FI is in the lead right now, let's see what comes up. From far, I prefer the on board controls of the FI and seeing that C4 and FI are different animals and the BMS competes in a slightly different category I guess I will have to have 2 of them available at the same time to find out what suits me better in any way. Everytime I am looking for a pedal I end up wanting 3.

 

[sunbeast]

Thank you for the insight and the heads up on the software. I don't like editors anyway so it would only be a case of not liking for maybe different reasons. FI would come with the midibeam 4control anyway. That should take care of the need for an extra cable. FI is in the lead right now, let's see what comes up. From far, I prefer the on board controls of the FI and seeing that C4 and FI are different animals and the BMS competes in a slightly different category I guess I will have to have 2 of them available at the same time to find out what suits me better in any way. Everytime I am looking for a pedal I end up wanting 3.

I have both the C4 and Future Impact- I expected to sell one and clearly prefer one but find the to excel at different things really and so they've both stuck around. The EHX BMS sounds I could mostly get using other pedals I had (using analog octaver, fuzz, filter, a few different attack-delay options or some of the sounds in the C4 and FI), so I finally got rid of it soon after getting my C4.
As far as editing, I like that C4 has a mobile app for that purpose and I've used that successfully to create full sounds on the fly before using my phone which would be impossible with the FI without a laptop. Most of my C4 sounds are setup so that I have all the control I'll need mapped to the pedal's onboard editing knobs (there are only a few crazier sounds where I wish that I could have direct access to a few more parameters). Having more direct parameters on the Future Impact is great, but on the v3 and earlier the resolution of the editing is pretty limited (the sweep of each parameter using the hardware edit knob isn't continuous control, it is broken into 9 incremental jumps so some parameters like Frequency are hard to set to just where I want them). The new FI v4 apparently offers finer adjustment to the onboard edit knob which I imagine is a big plus!

 

[Quatschmacher]

As far as editing, I like that C4 has a mobile app for that purpose and I've used that successfully to create full sounds on the fly before using my phone which would be impossible with the FI without a laptop.

not quite, it is possible to create sounds using the NRPN commands on FI from a controller. Mortrix can do this. The main caveat is inability to save at the moment. However, it would be possible for Morten to create a Device Surface profile on Mortrix for the FI so that saving (to Mortrix) would be possible.

The new FI v4 apparently offers finer adjustment to the onboard edit knob which I imagine is a big plus!

It is, that’s why I’ve been asking for it since 2019. I had a UI implementation fleshed out years ago and kept reminding the guys about it every so often. It ended up being not possible due to code space limitations on v3 in the end I think, so I pushed for it when the new platform was used and thankfully they went for it. That, and being able to store the edits into the patch.

 

[ceetee]

[...]The EHX BMS sounds I could mostly get using other pedals I had (using analog octaver, fuzz, filter, a few different attack-delay options or some of the sounds in the C4 and FI), so I finally got rid of it soon after getting my C4.[...]Having more direct parameters on the Future Impact is great, but on the v3 and earlier the resolution of the editing is pretty limited (the sweep of each parameter using the hardware edit knob isn't continuous control, it is broken into 9 incremental jumps so some parameters like Frequency are hard to set to just where I want them). The new FI v4 apparently offers finer adjustment to the onboard edit knob which I imagine is a big plus!

The improvements coming with V4 are the reason I prefer the FI. With 9-step-functionality I would get the C4. Editing on the fly is a sweet feature of the C4. It seems to me, that in the end I can only base my decision on gut feelings. I don't think it is possible to decide based on objective criterias.

Regarding the BMS... it seems that my future synth-endevours will live on a dedicated pedalboard as I don't want to use them just for bass. That also leaves room for some extras like your BMS-emulation-chain.

 

[postrockrocks]

Thank you for the insight and the heads up on the software. I don't like editors anyway so it would only be a case of not liking for maybe different reasons. FI would come with the midibeam 4control anyway. That should take care of the need for an extra cable. FI is in the lead right now, let's see what comes up. From far, I prefer the on board controls of the FI and seeing that C4 and FI are different animals and the BMS competes in a slightly different category I guess I will have to have 2 of them available at the same time to find out what suits me better in any way. Everytime I am looking for a pedal I end up wanting 3.

Tracking with the FI is not really fast but just ok. If you play fast songs such as Hysteria by Muse, I find it difficult to maintain perfect timing because the response is slow(tried all of the presets). Editing is also cumbersome, you need 2 midi cables and an audio interface to audition and save sounds. FI will work for you if you find a preset or sound that you like then you use it as it is. Editing using onboard controls is very difficult, there is little information visible because of the limitation of the display. Overall, C4 is a better option because eventhough it has fewer sounds, you can fine tune the sounds easily (you just need a usb cable) and tracking is superior.

 

[Mister_argentum]

Hello guys, I have one question for you experts. I had this pedal for a few years (I love it) and built a wealth of personal patches (50 or so) if I upgrade to v4 do I get to transfert my presets? I am still on the fence for the v4 as I am already happy with what I have, but GAS is strong. Many thanks and have a good day.

 

[Quatschmacher]

Hello guys, I have one question for you experts. I had this pedal for a few years (I love it) and built a wealth of personal patches (50 or so) if I upgrade to v4 do I get to transfert my presets? I am still on the fence for the v4 as I am already happy with what I have, but GAS is strong. Many thanks and have a good day.

As stated in multiple places, all earlier presets will run on V4.

 

[Mister_argentum]

As stated in multiple places, all earlier presets will run on V4.

Many thanks!

 

[Quatschmacher]

Tracking with the FI is not really fast but just ok. If you play fast songs such as Hysteria by Muse, I find it difficult to maintain perfect timing because the response is slow(tried all of the presets). Editing is also cumbersome, you need 2 midi cables and an audio interface to audition and save sounds. FI will work for you if you find a preset or sound that you like then you use it as it is. Editing using onboard controls is very difficult, there is little information visible because of the limitation of the display. Overall, C4 is a better option because eventhough it has fewer sounds, you can fine tune the sounds easily (you just need a usb cable) and tracking is superior.

As mentioned, V4 tracking is significantly improved over v3 so that’s a non-issue compared to C4 now (not that it was that problematic before). Also, the envelope improvements mean that release is now available which is not possible on the C4. Furthermore, C4 suffers from pitch deviation as the note decays whereas FI fixes the pitch after a short window to skilfully avoid this.

As for onboard editing, C4 has no display so I presume by “editing onboard” you mean using the display from the mobile app. The 7-segment display gives ample information for editing those nine onboard parameters; they also have a much extended range in v4 so you can use the entire range of those parameters.

 

[ceetee]

Tracking with the FI is not really fast but just ok. If you play fast songs such as Hysteria by Muse, I find it difficult to maintain perfect timing because the response is slow(tried all of the presets). Editing is also cumbersome, you need 2 midi cables and an audio interface to audition and save sounds. FI will work for you if you find a preset or sound that you like then you use it as it is. Editing using onboard controls is very difficult, there is little information visible because of the limitation of the display. Overall, C4 is a better option because eventhough it has fewer sounds, you can fine tune the sounds easily (you just need a usb cable) and tracking is superior.

Thanks for the info. Which version is your experience based on?

 

[OhulahanBass]

Furthermore, C4 suffers from pitch deviation as the note decays whereas FI fixes the pitch after a short window to skilfully avoid this.

Is that what gives me endless clean sustain on the FI? The amount of sustain on tap is a marvel.

 

[sunbeast]

Is that what gives me endless clean sustain on the FI? The amount of sustain on tap is a marvel.

The previous Future Impacts would decay your note with the envelope of your playing, but he has said the new one allows for the sustain envelope to follow the actual control settings instead of of your playing which is pretty awesome as a bass can't naturally sustain as long as a synth

 

[postrockrocks]

Thanks for the info. Which version is your experience based on?

FI v4

 

[Quatschmacher]

FI v4

Did you have a v3 previously? If not, I’d venture that you need to spend a bit of time learning to “play the pedal” as mentioned in the manual. It does take a bit of time to dial in the best combination of input, note-on and note-off levels for any given instrument. Certain setups (strings, string height, pickup configuration, tone settings) work better than others. There is also an element of adapting one’s technique a bit to feed the pitch detection circuit clean lines. Key to this is careful attention to muting the previous note before striking the next. Once this has been achieved, the FI responds really quickly. (You mentioned Muse earlier; Chris Wolstenholme has used the Deep Inpact and Future Impact for years.)

 

[Quatschmacher]

Is that what gives me endless clean sustain on the FI? The amount of sustain on tap is a marvel.

Yes, the fact that the original tracking routine locked the pitch meant that you’d get a held note for as long as the routine could detect sufficient string vibration. (Lower note-off level settings will also increase this.)

The previous Future Impacts would decay your note with the envelope of your playing, but he has said the new one allows for the sustain envelope to follow the actual control settings instead of of your playing which is pretty awesome as a bass can't naturally sustain as long as a synth

Yes, there’s now a buffer which stores pitch information from a short while before the currently held note; this means that at release, this information can be used to accurately determine the pitch used for the release tail. It’s a fantastic new feature.

 

[OhulahanBass]

I briefly tried the MIDI-CV on my Matriarch last night. It was pretty cool but I need to do some tuning to get the gate and pitch CV to behave properly. Perhaps it is because I was testing with the filter fully open but the tracking noise/tone I don’t like was more prevalent through the Moog than through the FI. It’s still hard for me to describe but it is in most tracker synths and seems to be most prevalent in the 1-3k range and with a single oscillator. I usually scoop that out with the FI EQ for bass patches or saturate it with heavy timbres and filtering for leads.

Tonight I will try with the Studio Electronics Boomstar as it has 1/8 CV input and doesn’t require me to split the gate to filter and VCA so it maybe a bit more simple to dial in.