How are y'all using your C4 synths?

[jdch28]

I've seen plenty of posts around the web of people (myself included) saying 'Got a C4 Synth pedal, yay!', and lots of troubleshooting and technical questions... but not much discussion of how we are using em on the musical side. I've had mine for a couple of days, I'm still testing out stuff and trying to get used to the gazillion settings available. Currently I've been playing around with a couple community presets (this brass one has been giving me lots of fun) and trying to make a nice cheesy 80s bass tone from scratch.

All this tweaking made me wonder, how is everyone else using their C4s? Any presets/demos you'd like to share? Any unexpected ways you ended up using your synth pedal?

I know there are a couple of huge C4/SA threads around, but was thinking this might work as a nice way of just sharing ideas back and forth more oriented towards actual sounds n music, and who knows... Maybe making someone else pull the trigger on one lol

 

[GMC]

For me, my C4 is loaded with 6 specific tones. The first is easily my most used. It's an OC-2 clone by Proton Lenny, but with a difference. Control 1 dials in the Dry signal (voice 1 level), so I can dial in a pure wet synth tone that the OC-2 is famous for. Control 2 dials in a fuzz voice (Distortion Mix). This is easily my most used patch. If I want an analogue sounding octaver of any guise...this is my first goto.
My 2nd patch is a synth Pad sound called G Maj PAD. It's a versatile Pad sound...erm in the Key of G...lol. It has a slow attack so it swells in. I usually add a lot of modulation, a bit of crystals followed by a big reverb on my H9.
My 3rd patch is the Blade Runner Brass by Proton Lenny...this has to be played through a chorus and then a big delay to sound right. My controls are set for Envelope 1 sensitivity and Filter 1 Frequency.
My 4th patch (no 1 red zone) is a Chopper patch, which also has distortion (mix on control 2) and LFO speed on control 1 so I can speed it up or slow it down. It's already pretty synthy...but bash it into a chorus and it sounds very Devo.
My 5th Patch is a Saw Envelope +1 Octave. It's hard to describe this patch. Lightly played and it sounds like a fat filter. Dig in and it turns into a very 80's synth sound. Very fat. Again, Freq and envelope sensitity controls.
My 6th patch is a bit of random fun. I tend to swap this about a bit. But currently it's set to the "I feel love" patch for that one note "Donna Summers" moment. Sometimes I patch in the "DAFT Seq" easy Daft punk sequencer patch...that's a lot of fun!
So these 6 patches I can call up at any time on any patch on my Boss ES-5.
My C4 is currently loaded with 112 patches, a few call outs are the HP42, Wah Filter, XeroD, QM LFO divorce and QM Seamoon Funk Machine patches. Uberwaves and Nightcrawler...all fantastic patches (especially when used with an expression pedal mapped to the Filter Freq..seriously...go try it.
I don't do a lot of dedicated filters in my playing, I have a fair few great ones on my C4. My main filter patch on my Boss ES-5 is taken care of with an old patch on my H9. Although I love the MF-101 patch on the C4. I do sometimes wonder if I need an Intelligent Filter on my board as a dedicated filter if I wanted a great OC2 sound and a specific filter! However, I have a pair of H9's, a strymon Mobius and a Hog 2...all with good filters on them. I have a lot of these 112 patches on specifc patch bays on my ES-5 (I have a deedicated bank just for the C4) and I can swap over to these specific 6 at any point.

 

[GMC]

Just to add to this, my board is controlled by a Boss ES-5 and my C4 is an integral part of the process. The C4 is proably my used pedal at the moment, followed closely by one of my H9 Max's which handles my verbs & delays.

 

[bassbrad]

I am using the C4 to be creative with electronic sounds for a soundtrack I am working on as well as several musical projects. I spend a lot of time exploring the types of sounds that I can create both intentionally and accidentally and then how to additionally manipulate that signal just like I have done in the past with my other synthesizers, that are currently packed away and I feel no need to unpack them. I have really gotten into the feel of how my basses interact with the C4 and how my right hand techniques can elicit various sounds and even left hand nuances can be heard on some sounds.
While others are looking to replace other pedals with the C4 for performance that is not my prime interest or even fitting with my usual gigs I can certainly understand the desire. I have my C4 connected to a Netbook so I am constantly using Neuro with my basses to experiment and save sounds as well as record for my needs.
I have had a long time interest in electronic music, since being introdiced in the sixties, and the C4 has opened possibilities for me to delve deeply with my bass into an electronix soundscape I have dreamed about for far too long.

 

[jdch28]

The first is easily my most used. It's an OC-2 clone by Proton Lenny
My 2nd patch is a synth Pad sound called G Maj PAD.
My 3rd patch is the Blade Runner Brass by Proton Lenny

I did hear some nice OC2 coming out of the C4, definitely great for that. While I agree that in some scenarios I'd rather just take the C4 than my Vintage Octave + Envelope Filter(so it's good to have a couple of those patches around), I'm trying to avoid replacing pedals. A synth pad definitely sounds fun to have, and did manage to find a couple of nice community presets. Will probably dive deeper into em and tweak em a bit.

I'm focusing a bit more in seen what can be added to the array of sounds I got available (that's why I'm having a blast with the brass haha), for both covers and creating short fun progressions.

I have had a long time interest in electronic music, since being introdiced in the sixties, and the C4 has opened possibilities for me to delve deeply with my bass into an electronix soundscape I have dreamed about for far too long.

While I'm mostly a rock fan and a metalhead, I've been gaining lots of interest in synths and a more 'electronic' side of music in the past year. Can definitely see myself trying to create some rocky/synth short things in the future.

 

[220_Hz]

I bought mine to do the Nick Reinhart BWAAAAH sound (linked), but it also has replaced my density hulk for octave sounds. I also have programmed in a sequence of octave down on/off that my drummer friend likes playing to, but I havent quite dialed in that one yet. I would like to explore the envelope filter capabilities of it, I think the polyphonic pitches are a bit laggy, but they still sound real nice.

(4:45, 13:00ish)

 

[ReeV0]

For me, my C4 is loaded with 6 specific tones. The first is easily my most used. It's an OC-2 clone by Proton Lenny, but with a difference. Control 1 dials in the Dry signal (voice 1 level), so I can dial in a pure wet synth tone that the OC-2 is famous for. Control 2 dials in a fuzz voice (Distortion Mix). This is easily my most used patch. If I want an analogue sounding octaver of any guise...this is my first goto.
My 2nd patch is a synth Pad sound called G Maj PAD. It's a versatile Pad sound...erm in the Key of G...lol. It has a slow attack so it swells in. I usually add a lot of modulation, a bit of crystals followed by a big reverb on my H9.
My 3rd patch is the Blade Runner Brass by Proton Lenny...this has to be played through a chorus and then a big delay to sound right. My controls are set for Envelope 1 sensitivity and Filter 1 Frequency.
My 4th patch (no 1 red zone) is a Chopper patch, which also has distortion (mix on control 2) and LFO speed on control 1 so I can speed it up or slow it down. It's already pretty synthy...but bash it into a chorus and it sounds very Devo.
My 5th Patch is a Saw Envelope +1 Octave. It's hard to describe this patch. Lightly played and it sounds like a fat filter. Dig in and it turns into a very 80's synth sound. Very fat. Again, Freq and envelope sensitity controls.
My 6th patch is a bit of random fun. I tend to swap this about a bit. But currently it's set to the "I feel love" patch for that one note "Donna Summers" moment. Sometimes I patch in the "DAFT Seq" easy Daft punk sequencer patch...that's a lot of fun!
So these 6 patches I can call up at any time on any patch on my Boss ES-5.
My C4 is currently loaded with 112 patches, a few call outs are the HP42, Wah Filter, XeroD, QM LFO divorce and QM Seamoon Funk Machine patches. Uberwaves and Nightcrawler...all fantastic patches (especially when used with an expression pedal mapped to the Filter Freq..seriously...go try it.
I don't do a lot of dedicated filters in my playing, I have a fair few great ones on my C4. My main filter patch on my Boss ES-5 is taken care of with an old patch on my H9. Although I love the MF-101 patch on the C4. I do sometimes wonder if I need an Intelligent Filter on my board as a dedicated filter if I wanted a great OC2 sound and a specific filter! However, I have a pair of H9's, a strymon Mobius and a Hog 2...all with good filters on them. I have a lot of these 112 patches on specifc patch bays on my ES-5 (I have a deedicated bank just for the C4) and I can swap over to these specific 6 at any point.

I'll have to try these

 

[JRMK]

I use mine as a synth (sawtooth), pure octaver, pure phaser (yes!) and actually I will add one preset to be pure boost as I just happen to need one - thanks to C4 I don't have to buy one though

Edit: and the phwonky filter too!

 

[Wretched Banana]

In music meant for consumption by an audience: as a pure octaver or filter.

At home when no one's watching: Synths and noise for Japanese city pop and retro game soundtrack covers. Honestly, I mostly treat this pedal like a toy and it's still totally worth having one.

 

[Christophe C]

octaver
phaser
saw synth bass for eighties sound
chorus (kind of)
enveloppe "à la MXR 82"

and then some funny ones but I don't use them

 

[Goatrope]

I’ve got most of the preset slots filled from the community, but only use a handful regularly at gigs.

Phaser
Univibe
Octaver
Synth Swells
80s Synth
Solo Dragón

Sometimes I’ll bang on some wild sound if we’re just goofing around at the end of a dull night.

I’ve sprung for the updated DMC micro, with the OLED display, so I can better remember my presets live.

 

[4Mal]

Currently I'm doing OC2 and enevelopes on a Spectrum. My primary C4 patch is a tweaked version of Kesselari's Chameleon - that one is reason enough to own C4 if you are a Herbie fan... I have several others mostly focused on synth pop.

 

[bassbrad]

I bought mine to do the Nick Reinhart BWAAAAH sound (linked), but it also has replaced my density hulk for octave sounds. I also have programmed in a sequence of octave down on/off that my drummer friend likes playing to, but I havent quite dialed in that one yet. I would like to explore the envelope filter capabilities of it, I think the polyphonic pitches are a bit laggy, but they still sound real nice.

(4:45, 13:00ish)

This is exactly what much of my time is like but cannot imagine imposing those experiments on an audience, how cool would that be.

 

[220_Hz]

This is exactly what much of my time is like but cannot imagine imposing those experiments on an audience, how cool would that be.

same here. My band always looks at me square when I talk to them about my experimental side

 

[bassbrad]

same here. My band always looks at me square when I talk to them about my experimental side

Oh I have seen those looks, luckily I haven't been hanged yet.

 

[rg07]

I just got the C4 and for the life of me I just want to get like a clean pad / ambient type thing that I can play in my bass to play under our keyboardist doing their thing. But I still have not found a preset or even instructions on how to create one. Of course, I know next to nothing about synths and building patches to use. I am a bass player in need of some help.

 

[sifrancis]

I use the C4 for a load of different things.
Predominantly I have a bunch of presets setup for the most regular/go-to synth sounds in my context (which is generally pop/electro-pop sessions): things like a classic Moog bass, "Reese" bass, 808, OC-2 style octaves, sine wave subs...etc.
I've also been approaching it more as a multi fx recently too, with it then covering various drive, fuzz, distortion and modulation effects.
This is all accessible via midi control from a Morningstar MC6 (I have also used various disaster area midi controllers, and the line 6 HX stomp/effects for preset access and control too).
A lot of these presets have been published on the Neuro app if you're interested. These are all useful for me in both a live and studio context for quickly pulling up sounds which I can then augment further within a larger pedalboard, or the onboard controls of the C4.

The other context for me is on a more established gig setup where there are recorded sounds that need recreating live, in which case I will pre-program specific sounds per song/section/part ...etc.
This has effectively covered almost all bass synth sounds on gigs for me with a wide rang of artists that I have played live with since 2019.
It is worth noting that I am almost always using effects to augment the C4 further, whether that's a very light overdrive, some further detune/chorus/modulation, reverb, delay, or a Mantic Density running alongside in parallel for extra sub punch.

 

[bassbrad]

I just got the C4 and for the life of me I just want to get like a clean pad / ambient type thing that I can play in my bass to play under our keyboardist doing their thing. But I still have not found a preset or even instructions on how to create one. Of course, I know next to nothing about synths and building patches to use. I am a bass player in need of some help.

Welcome to the C4 Neuro community, if you have not already you should install the Neuro app on your phone and computer, create an account and begin to discover the preset sounds shared in the Neuro Cloud. Once you have the Community page open you can search 'pad' and you will find many already created sounds you can sample, edit and save for your use. Starting with Neuro Cloud sounds and modding them to your needs is a good way to learn how the C4 works.
The C4 is a complex pedal but give it the time and the secrets will open up.

 

[cavemanbass]

And now for something completely different…. Along with synth and octaver sounds, folks have developed some very cool upright bass emulations. I’m just a few days into the C4 and don’t yet have a favorite, but search on ‘upright’ will bring up a bunch for anyone that’s interested.
Much appreciation for the community!

 

[jdaunt]

As many others have stated, i use mine for primarily octaver and a few different variations of envelope filter. At home, it’s a free-for-all of experimentation!