Hey everyone, was looking into buying this pedal for my bass. How is it for synth sounds and all? Any info helps, thanks!!
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Line 6 fm4 pedal
- Thread starter garrett-777
- Start date
I actually like it for some things.
Put it this way, I sold my Original Q-Tron and FX25 envelope filters because I could dupe the tone with the FM4...
Some cool dub step kinda sounds, and a growly synth, but somewhat brittle sounding.
Put it this way, I sold my Original Q-Tron and FX25 envelope filters because I could dupe the tone with the FM4...
Some cool dub step kinda sounds, and a growly synth, but somewhat brittle sounding.
I had one for some time. You can get some cool sounds out of it. I never really liked the filters, but the synths can be interesting, and you can get some really freaky noises out of it. I got rid of mine because it had weird gaps in the tracking (low G to low A just couldn't work, but above and below that was fine), and it was too hard to control the levels. If you're interested in the FM4, my recommendation would actually be to buy an m5. Not much more spendy, has all the FM4 sounds in it with better tracking, and lots of other stuff besides.
I just purchased one second-hand a week ago & was blown away! The sounds that you can make out of it are really out there! The problem that I'm finding is significant volume drop when the pedal is initiated...I've seen a couple of sites that can do some modifications to alleviate this issue - anyone had their fm4 modded? Feedback?
I loved the FM4. Soooo many sounds you can experiment with.
I eventually just ended up buying the M9 which has all of the FM4's features on it.
If you get the FM4 for a good price, it's totally worth it. All of the synth tones on the FM4's "Synth-O-Matic" can be kind of difficult to find good use of. But other setting sound great. I'll show you some clips of me using it so you can get a basic idea on what it does for bass.
This first clip is just real short and basic. The FM4 is doing that bass swell sound.
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This second clip is the FM4's Spin Cycle (autowah) feature that can do those wobbles. So put a distortion in front of the FM4 and you can get those sounds.
Recording some dubstep - YouTube
And the last video featuring my FM4... it comes in at 2:20 and you can hear what the Throbber setting can do. Just some cool modulation stuff.
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There are a ton of other settings on there that I know you can get good use of. Simply put, in my opinion, you can't lose. But I'd follow the previous suggestion of just getting the M5 which includes all of the FM4's features plus all of the other modeller pedals in one.
I eventually just ended up buying the M9 which has all of the FM4's features on it.
If you get the FM4 for a good price, it's totally worth it. All of the synth tones on the FM4's "Synth-O-Matic" can be kind of difficult to find good use of. But other setting sound great. I'll show you some clips of me using it so you can get a basic idea on what it does for bass.
This first clip is just real short and basic. The FM4 is doing that bass swell sound.
Invalid Link Removed
This second clip is the FM4's Spin Cycle (autowah) feature that can do those wobbles. So put a distortion in front of the FM4 and you can get those sounds.
Recording some dubstep - YouTube
And the last video featuring my FM4... it comes in at 2:20 and you can hear what the Throbber setting can do. Just some cool modulation stuff.
Invalid Link Removed
There are a ton of other settings on there that I know you can get good use of. Simply put, in my opinion, you can't lose. But I'd follow the previous suggestion of just getting the M5 which includes all of the FM4's features plus all of the other modeller pedals in one.
i use a Boss Line selector pedal to balance the volumes between the line 6 and the clean sound. then you can boost or cut as needed and when not using the Line 6 it is out of your signal path for a cleaner sound
Going off my M9 experience, which I got because I wanted the fm4. Get an M9 or M5 since it is not to much extra. Then you will also have a really good Octave up or down along with other goodies.
The filters are a little thin on the bass though, but I put in parallel with other effects (Dist+OC2) and it thickens up some what.
The filters are a little thin on the bass though, but I put in parallel with other effects (Dist+OC2) and it thickens up some what.
As a self-proclaimed filter nut I would never recommend the FM4 (or M series) as a dedicated primary filter for bass. As a secondary filter to get so cool sounds out of? Sure. If you don't have a filter to begin with definitely look elsewhere. There's interesting stuff to be found but it takes tweaking and can be VERY finicky. the majority of the filter models are pretty useless on bass even with fiddling. They're just too thin. The ones that do work can't cop "normal filter sounds." My 2¢.
I found different, but again, I am not a filter nut. I had a DOD FX25 and an old Q-Tron, and both could be made (the sound I was going for) with the FM4, but to each their own.
It is a fun pedal. I use it in one original song, and not much any other time, but it is cool to fiddle with.
It is a fun pedal. I use it in one original song, and not much any other time, but it is cool to fiddle with.
I pretty much agree with this.
People often seem very divided on this pedal. I wonder if it has anything to do with the strength of signal getting fed into it. My main bass is active with a pretty hot signal - I may dig out my FM4 out and try it with my passive to see if there's a difference.
I wonder about myself but if a pedal can't handle a hot signal, what good is it? All my basses are active so I'm pretty biased but there are plenty of pedals out there that allow for control over the input sensitivity and also have a very wide range of usable sounds. If the FM4 were tuned for bass I honestly believe it could be one of the filters EVER but as it is, not so much.
I had an FM4 and loved it. I sold it to fund an M9 and I'd never look back. It really is worth the extra cash if you'll use the other features. If you're only interested in the filters and synths that are on the FM4, go with the M5.
