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Source Audio Spectrum Inteligent Filter!!!
- Thread starter OhulahanBass
- Start date
Super cool pedal. Messing around with the neuro app via iPad since my iPhone doesn’t have a headphone jack - lol -
Also digging the many compatible C4 patches in the community posts including some excellent sounds from @fivestringgecko
Hey for the desktop connection - is this the correct type of cable for a thunderbolt equipped MacBook?
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Mini-Feet-Black/dp/B00UUBS0SS
Also digging the many compatible C4 patches in the community posts including some excellent sounds from @fivestringgecko
Hey for the desktop connection - is this the correct type of cable for a thunderbolt equipped MacBook?
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Mini-Feet-Black/dp/B00UUBS0SS
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
Thanks for the kind words, @Jason Hollar! Referring back to my post earlier about struggling to find motivation during Covid, I'm FINALLY getting back to doing some Spectrum/C4 programming. Should hopefully have some new patches soon!
5sg.
Ok, I’m late to the party. Been away from gear for a few years with health issues. Am blown away. First Bergantino knocked my socks off, then I start looking into rebuilding my pedal board with something more programmable than all my analog pedals so I can down size and find this Source Audio stuff and am blown away.
I’ve read for hours, listened for hours and have a question I haven’t run across an answer to.
My main interest in effects is envelope filters and fuzz/overdrive and my beloved pigtronix ep-2. I think I can give up the pigtronix to get my rig size smaller and lighter.
Here’s my question, can I get away with just a C4, or do I want an aftershock as well? Can the C4 replace the aftershock?
Im not super interested in the synth sounds, but I’d rather have the flexibility if my understanding is correct. If I load Spectrum patches into the C4, I get a full Spectrum pedal plus extra features.
It seems there is some dirt capability in the C4, but it’s unclear if it can manage the full range of tones as the aftershock.
I think my signal chain may be as simple as wireless receiver->tuner->C4->Forté HP. With a good midi controller and expression pedal, is this all I need to replace 5 analog OD/fuzz/distortion pedals and 3 envelope filters?
And as a bonus I get synth sounds, chorus and flanger? Also considering programmable EQ.
Pretty psyched to see this stuff in MA, like Bergantino, as I’m a local.
I’ve read for hours, listened for hours and have a question I haven’t run across an answer to.
My main interest in effects is envelope filters and fuzz/overdrive and my beloved pigtronix ep-2. I think I can give up the pigtronix to get my rig size smaller and lighter.
Here’s my question, can I get away with just a C4, or do I want an aftershock as well? Can the C4 replace the aftershock?
Im not super interested in the synth sounds, but I’d rather have the flexibility if my understanding is correct. If I load Spectrum patches into the C4, I get a full Spectrum pedal plus extra features.
It seems there is some dirt capability in the C4, but it’s unclear if it can manage the full range of tones as the aftershock.
I think my signal chain may be as simple as wireless receiver->tuner->C4->Forté HP. With a good midi controller and expression pedal, is this all I need to replace 5 analog OD/fuzz/distortion pedals and 3 envelope filters?
And as a bonus I get synth sounds, chorus and flanger? Also considering programmable EQ.
Pretty psyched to see this stuff in MA, like Bergantino, as I’m a local.
The C4 has some nice options, but if you're looking for a full featured dirt pedal, I think you'd be happier adding the Aftershock as well. The Aftershock has many more overdrive/distortion/fuzz options than the C4 has, definitely. You could also take it further and put the Aftershock in the loop of the C4 and use the AS to really expand the C4's sounds. Someone can correct me here, but it's also my understanding that pedals in the C4's loop can still function normally when the synth isn't on.
Like yourself, I'm a huge fan of the Pigtronix EP-2, and the Bass Envelope Phaser. There are a couple people that have uploaded patches to emulate the EP-2, but I focused more on the smaller BEP. The EP-2 and BEP have a juiciness that the Spectrum/C4 can't quite cop, but it's darn close enough that I don't mind swapping the Spectrum in for the Pigtronix, since I also have some other great recreations of pedals programmed in. I was really happy with how well the Spectrum was able to do a Bassballs patch as well. (but better than the originals, since I was able to program in an adjustable amount of dirt!)
That said, I always have my C4 on my main board since it can also load Spectrum patches, for exactly why you mentioned... Spectrum with the added benefit of synth. The Spectrum swaps in and out in place of the BEP based on mood (and is a pretty slick combination with the C4), but also functions as my filter for smaller board builds.
5sg.
Like yourself, I'm a huge fan of the Pigtronix EP-2, and the Bass Envelope Phaser. There are a couple people that have uploaded patches to emulate the EP-2, but I focused more on the smaller BEP. The EP-2 and BEP have a juiciness that the Spectrum/C4 can't quite cop, but it's darn close enough that I don't mind swapping the Spectrum in for the Pigtronix, since I also have some other great recreations of pedals programmed in. I was really happy with how well the Spectrum was able to do a Bassballs patch as well. (but better than the originals, since I was able to program in an adjustable amount of dirt!)
That said, I always have my C4 on my main board since it can also load Spectrum patches, for exactly why you mentioned... Spectrum with the added benefit of synth. The Spectrum swaps in and out in place of the BEP based on mood (and is a pretty slick combination with the C4), but also functions as my filter for smaller board builds.
5sg.
This reply just reenforced my instincts. I couldn’t wait for an answer. Picked up an EQ2 and Aftershock on the bst last night, and C4 from amazon and have an offer in on a Soleman controller. I’m just diving in. @fivestringgecko I’ve listened to every clip you’ve posted. Im not sure if my pigtronix will see life as a studio toy, but what I’ve heard makes me think I don’t need to lug it to gigs any more. The audience doesn’t care about these subtleties. There seem to be plenty of amazing sounds coming out of the C4.
So you’re running a C4 and a spectrum? Is there a reason for this? What does the Spectrum bring to the party that the C4 doesn’t already do? And if you were gonna have 2 of them, why not 2 C4s since the prices are so close?
And if I can put the aftershock in the C4 loop, and still route the signal through the aftershock without engaging the C4 synth/filter features, that sounds incredibly powerful.
I’m really excited. The compressor And drive on the Forté HP are great, but having additional levels of preset dirt is obviously a huge advantage.
And I’m the kind of guy who dials in only enough to tame his levels a little bit as I’m a amateur hack, and the bergantino compression is adequate to replace that giant compressore on my board.
This is an exciting time to be getting back into gear.
Thanks for both your preset work, and thanks to the rest of the community, and your feedback here.
Can’t wait to finish building out this rig.
So you’re running a C4 and a spectrum? Is there a reason for this? What does the Spectrum bring to the party that the C4 doesn’t already do? And if you were gonna have 2 of them, why not 2 C4s since the prices are so close?
And if I can put the aftershock in the C4 loop, and still route the signal through the aftershock without engaging the C4 synth/filter features, that sounds incredibly powerful.
I’m really excited. The compressor And drive on the Forté HP are great, but having additional levels of preset dirt is obviously a huge advantage.
And I’m the kind of guy who dials in only enough to tame his levels a little bit as I’m a amateur hack, and the bergantino compression is adequate to replace that giant compressore on my board.
This is an exciting time to be getting back into gear.
Thanks for both your preset work, and thanks to the rest of the community, and your feedback here.
Can’t wait to finish building out this rig.
You can route pedals in the C4 loop and still use them with C4 bypassed by running the C4 in Dual Input (stereo) mode, and patching the external pedals in between Output 1 and Input 2. If you use the External Loop mode, the pedal in the loop becomes tied to the C4 being engaged (IIRC). The cabling is the same, just different bypass capabilities.
For drive sounds, there are actually lots of cool options to utilize all the filter/voice/EQ controls of the C4 to expand your sounds.
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Has anyone tried the tone on sir psycho sexy on the Red Hot Chili Peppers blood sugar sex magic? It’s said it was achieved using an envelope filter with a dying battery and they were unable to reproduce it after that one take.
tone kicks in around :30 for the first time.
tone kicks in around :30 for the first time.
Thanks for the kind words @LowWay!
As for having both on the same board:
On my main board, I usually I have my Bass Envelope Phaser on there with my C4 because the BEP is so unique. I don't really have a reason for swapping in the Spectrum other than "because I can." There's probably some fun potential for running them in combo (I should explore further), but when they're both on the same board, I usually think about/treat them as dedicated synth and envelope filter pedals. Fairly redundant of course, so the BEP is usually on my board and the Spectrum is nice to have on my desk for quick filter fun, programming patches or a smaller board if I don't need synth.
@sunbeast's post will get you on the path of the external loop.
5sg.
Have you tried envelope phasing with the lunar? I’ve been listening to demos of that pedal today and it’s got some lovely sounds.
Can the C4 cover the full spectrum of the lunar? God I can’t wait for this stuff to get here and start tinkering.
Good one! Always liked that sound. Sounds Bassball-like to me..But it's not:
Here's what Flea said in Bass Player (Feb. 92): "I used an old Mu-Tron.... Its power was running out when we were recording, and I laid down a track while someone was outgetting a new battery. But we couldn't get the Mu-Tron to sound as cool with a fresh battery, so we ended up keeping the track" (p. 42).'
I've never owned or tried a Lunar, so I wouldn't be able to compare it with the C4. If I had to speculate though, I suspect it would be like the Aftershock/C4 comparison and the Lunar would offer significantly more options than what's available in the C4, since it's a dedicated phaser.
5sg.
The part that’s not clear to me, as I can’t find the sample I thought I heard, is if the lunar has envelope triggering of the phaser. I have offers in on 2 of them on the BST forum. Hopefully I’ll pick one up.
I recently moved and have been slowly going through boxes. I found some of my pedals, but not my pigtronix yet. I have 2 of my envelope filters and 2 of my dirt pedals, so I’m getting some fun going in this neighborhood again as I wait for the SA stuff to arrive.
rsmith601
Commercial User
- Apr 14, 2009
- 4,461
- 8,356
- Disclosures
- CEO and Co-Founder, Source Audio
The phasers on the Spectrum and C4 are intended to cover the ground of the Pigtronix. Not the Lunar.
So there is no envelope following feature at all in the lunar? I’m getting one either way, just trying to understand the capabilities.
There are reports the C4 (which I have coming tomorrow) doesn’t quite get as envelope phaser-y as the pigtronix. But the chorus and phaser options of the lunar are deep and lush. I’m still very excited.
deepestend
Commercial User
- Feb 21, 2003
- 6,249
- 8,171
- Disclosures
- Website and Social Media at Sadowsky
Is there a good tremolo setting on the spectrum? I was thinking of getting a trem, but if I can do it with the spectrum...
Quick gig report - after a couple weeks of prelim tweaking, I took the pedal out on a pair of cover band gigs last weekend. Special thanks to all those in the Community for submitting such cool patches. Please keep uploading those!
I basically grabbed a bunch of those patches and tried to arrange a few song-specific sounds, as well as some general utility sounds.
I edited a pretty convincing “Can’t Fight the Feeling” crunchy filter, and a decent “Dance With Somebody” synth sound ... plus a funky phaser, and a very 80’s sounding chorus perfect for Journey, et al.
Still trying to figure out how the darn thing works ... as one adjustment invariably affects other parameters in as of yet unexpected ways. I‘ve obviously got a lot to learn about filters and synth stuff - but I think picked a winner for my one & only FX pedal.
I basically grabbed a bunch of those patches and tried to arrange a few song-specific sounds, as well as some general utility sounds.
I edited a pretty convincing “Can’t Fight the Feeling” crunchy filter, and a decent “Dance With Somebody” synth sound ... plus a funky phaser, and a very 80’s sounding chorus perfect for Journey, et al.
Still trying to figure out how the darn thing works ... as one adjustment invariably affects other parameters in as of yet unexpected ways. I‘ve obviously got a lot to learn about filters and synth stuff - but I think picked a winner for my one & only FX pedal.
