source audio c4

[GMC]

I use an EQ2 close to the end of my chain. My EQ2 has an expression pedal attached and I use it mostly for swells and final out put volume control. Apparently, my pedal board can crank out an outrageous gain levels, so I need something that’s quick and intuitive to pull my gain back to mixing desk levels of appreciation!

 

[bassbrad]

I use an EQ2 close to the end of my chain. My EQ2 has an expression pedal attached and I use it mostly for swells and final out put volume control. Apparently, my pedal board can crank out an outrageous gain levels, so I need something that’s quick and intuitive to pull my gain back to mixing desk levels of appreciation!

Do you use the limiter in the EQ2 as well?

 

[moley6knipe]

I like to use a limiter after effects like the C4 and other filters. Sometimes I want the crazy swells, but want to keep the crazy and energy without the “OMG why so loud???” For the sound man and audience.

That’s a very good shout. I run a Keeley comp always on at the end of the board (C4 is first) set to 4:1 with a pretty low threshold - it’s mainly for my clean playing but helps tame the “worst” from the C4 etc!

That said, if money and space were no problem, I’d have a Keeley at the front compressing, on/off as required, and another at the end as an always on limiter.

 

[moley6knipe]

Hey all. Question about using the C4. Obviously some patches have huge volume swings, and are super sensitive to how you play. Was wondering if others use compression with this pedal to tame it? Or is it that I just need to get better at muting to prevent the large volume swings I sometimes get.

As others have said, finding your ideal input gain and setting it per patch is often best… but some patches sound different / nicer when driven with more input. I’ve found it really hard setting in and out gains and EQ etc at home and then those settings working first time at rehearsal, especially for bass synth sounds like a 303.

Now there’s two way comms with the iPhone, I plan to hook it up next rehearsal and get the boys to blast out the bits of the relevant songs so I can tweak both and save.

 

[moley6knipe]

In fact, for the money no object solution: C4 > EQ2 > Atlas comp with a Morningstar handling the MIDI CCs. Then you could EQ, compress and limit every last C4 preset to perfection.

(Buys lottery ticket)

 

[sunbeast]

Hey all. Question about using the C4. Obviously some patches have huge volume swings, and are super sensitive to how you play. Was wondering if others use compression with this pedal to tame it? Or is it that I just need to get better at muting to prevent the large volume swings I sometimes get.

"Patches" on the C4 hold all the settings of the pedal, including the Sensitivity and Input Gain settings of whoever posted each patch that likely don't match the output of your bass (there is no global Input Gain setting to automatically make all the patches fit your instrument). You'll need to tweak and resave each patch you like

 

[PaulS]

"Patches" on the C4 hold all the settings of the pedal, including the Sensitivity and Input Gain settings of whoever posted each patch that likely don't match the output of your bass (there is no global Input Gain setting to automatically make all the patches fit your instrument). You'll need to tweak and resave each patch you like

ah the plot thickens. I realized that I played the patch with one bass at home and another at practice, so I’ll have to be consistent with which instrument I use also. One was passive and the other active.

 

[GMC]

In fact, for the money no object solution: C4 > EQ2 > Atlas comp with a Morningstar handling the MIDI CCs. Then you could EQ, compress and limit every last C4 preset to perfection.

(Buys lottery ticket)

I use a Boss ES-5 as my midi controller. I also use a FaderFox PC4 which is big array of midi CC assignable knobs. There’s a number of Source Audio pedals that really need some extra / external knobs. I’ve also struggled with output volume with my C4, Spectrum and Lunar. The Ultrawave and Aftershock have gain knobs, which is the same as an output / master volume. So they are easier to keep at unity. Mapping some FaderFox PC4 knobs to the output volume on my C4, Spectrum and Lunar really helps taming any wild cascading line levels. These three pedals really need a few extra knobs to make them shine!

 

[Gsnorgathon]

<3 knobs

 

[TheBass]

These three pedals really need a few extra knobs to make them shine!

Absolutely. The C4 is extreme. Without a PC editor it's definitely not operational.

 

[moley6knipe]

The other thing I really ought to do is go thru my presets and map the most useful parameters to the knobs, per preset. And always ensure output is mapped bottom right so I know where to find it!

Because I’ve used editor and Morningstar from day one I’ve never actually touched any of the knobs!

 

[DrHooper]

Because I’ve used editor and Morningstar from day one I’ve never actually touched any of the knobs!

Same. Then I get to the gig and wonder "what does this knob do?"

 

[GMC]

Absolutely. The C4 is extreme. Without a PC editor it's definitely not operational.

I use my C4 a lot and in live situations. It important to realise that this isn't trying to be "live edit" machine, it's a tiny 4 knob pedal with 6 pre-sets and 128 Midi presets. It's live control can be vastly expanded via midi. However, with any complex pedal, there are limitations. The Neuro Desktop / phone app opens up a huge world of possibilities but in my opinion, the editor isn't really intended for live use (there's the added USB noise for a start). It's intended to create patches. I get by with re-mapping the 2 control knobs a lot and assigning control tot he external expression. There are some things that you can't control via midi or from the device knobs, these are usually on/off functions for the different internal blocks and these can only be changed in the editor. If I want control over that then I need to create another patch and a/b them.

 

[matybigfro]

I recently picked up a C4 and love it but trying to work out where to sit it in my effects chain.

It particularly interested in where you folks place it in comparison to compressors, octavers and dirt pedals and how you find it plays best with those.

 

[DrHooper]

I recently picked up a C4 and love it but trying to work out where to sit it in my effects chain.

It particularly interested in where you folks place it in comparison to compressors, octavers and dirt pedals and how you find it plays best with those.

Current signal chain is:
Accountant
2020s
C4, i/o 1
Plus
HWUA
MBD2
True bypass for C4, i/o 2
Echolution3
Order switcher for mxr reverb
Omnicomp
2020s
RFE
Morningstar controls the e3 and C4, expression pedal in an omniport, and I've since added back a second 10k pot-in-a-box to the other omniport.
The accountant can get a bit gritty, so is nice in front of filters. Having the second channel of the C4 on a loop, let's me add a phaser to the dirt in front of it, or split voices pre and post dirt. I'll be building a bigger/better laid out board in the next few weeks; gotta get my fuzzes back, and more dirt, and the gas list never shrinks.

 

[bassbrad]

I recently picked up a C4 and love it but trying to work out where to sit it in my effects chain.

It particularly interested in where you folks place it in comparison to compressors, octavers and dirt pedals and how you find it plays best with those.

I generally use the C4 as a synth only preferring a clean or octave up signal going into it only then adding modulation, delay and reverb to flesh out the sounds. It is more capable but I also have a Spectrum and other pedals on my Change Machine.

 

[jam.majors]

My board goes
Tuner
Comp (gentle "fattening" [FEA DB-CL])
C4
UltraWave (mostly for dirt)
Microcosm (textural synthesis of a sort)
Limiter (Aguilar TLC)
Aftershock

 

[GlassToMouth]

My signal chain in the photo posted is tuner, MXR Comp, C4, DG Harmonic Booster, NUX NBP-5. The DMC Micro is for control of the C4

 

[Mohawk]

Hey all. Question about using the C4. Obviously some patches have huge volume swings, and are super sensitive to how you play. Was wondering if others use compression with this pedal to tame it? Or is it that I just need to get better at muting to prevent the large volume swings I sometimes get.

I use a Becos COMPIQ Mini as a limiter on the output of the C4 to protect all subsequent equipment. The huge volume spikes that can happen especially when using a new patch before setting the levels on the C4 have the potential to damage other pedals and equipment as well as your ears. This has worked well as the string of LEDs on the Becos indicates how much the limiter is being activated and I set the C4 patch output level so that it rarely kicks in the limiter. You can get by without a limiter but it's a good safety precaution in my opinion.

 

[nanbanpapa]

Hey everyone!
I thought I saw someone addressing this issue in this discussion, but now I cannot find it.

I just received my Disaster Area midi, which means I am now transitioning from having just 6 presets available in the C4, to have as many available presets as I want (at least until 128). I am wondering if you guys organize your presets in a certain order. For example, do you have all your octaves together, and then your filters, then your pads, etc etc, so you can find the effect spontaneously; or do you organize your presets according to the gig, or rehearsal, in which you already know what are you going to play and which effect you will use, thus you organize them in the corresponding order? Or alternatively, you don't think about it, you create your patches and just add them as you go.
Thanks!