Source audio spectrum vs. Mutron Micro-tron IV

Hey y’all. I just got back into bass playing after an almost twenty year hiatus.

I still have my bass and bass combo from high school which are treating me very well….I can’t seem to find my old Q-tron+ pedal from back in the day though! So I’m in the market for a good funky envelope filter (to be used on bass, guitar, and synthesizer).

Anybody have any comments on the spectrum pedal vs. the Mutron? Does the spectrum approximate the mutron sound well? Does the mutron have analog “mojo?” I feel drawn to the mutron since it’s the classic standard bearer and from all accounts sounds amazing, but I’m just wondering if there are people out there the like spectrum even better (I know it’s way more versatile).

the demos I’ve seen online of the spectrum make it seem incredible. I should add I recently tried a q-tron mini in a store and while it was Ok, it left me wanting more.

bonus question: I keep reading you can do phaser-like or fuzz type patches on the spectrum. Are these convincing? I currently don’t have a phaser and only have an OD pedal (no fuzz—would be fun to dial something like that in everyonce in a while).

cheers!
 
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I have had both and I still have the Source Audio Spectrum. If you go on the Source Audio Page there are literally hundreds of user posted settings you can styore in the pedal and some good Q-Tron ones as well as many others. You can store and recall 6 Presets without any external gear and mannnnnnnny more with a MIDI controler.
Yes you can do phaser dist sounds and they are convincing IMHO
 
I know the Spectrum comes with a patch that is based off the MuTron called "Tron", so if you are looking for versatility and expandability, I would assume the Spectrum is the way to go.

The Spectrum on it's own can have 6 presets burned at any time and you can swap them via the Neuro Editor (free app or Desktop) with premade, customer built/shared from other users or make your own with the editor. So in essence, you could have a pretty good version of any filter you want with extras.

If you get something like the Disaster Area DMC.micro PRO , you can burn 128 presets into the pedal and have the Micro do and up/down scroll and on/off plus some other functions. And if you go even more into the SA ecosystem and get more of their pedals, you can expand capabilities via MiDi with the Neuro Hub.
 
I don't have the Spectrum, but if it's at all like the C4, you really need to plug in external control, midi or computer, to open up all of what it can do. Lots of function in a small box, more than the simple on board controls can manage.
 
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the versatility and flexibility definitely appeal to me. Does the spectrums mutron emulation preset sound as good (better) than the micro-tron to you?

I have had both and I still have the Source Audio Spectrum. If you go on the Source Audio Page there are literally hundreds of user posted settings you can styore in the pedal and some good Q-Tron ones as well as many others. You can store and recall 6 Presets without any external gear and mannnnnnnny more with a MIDI controler.
Yes you can do phaser dist sounds and they are convincing IMHO
 
I don't have the Spectrum, but if it's at all like the C4, you really need to plug in external control, midi or computer, to open up all of what it can do. Lots of function in a small box, more than the simple on board controls can manage.
Funnily enough, I mostly use 6 patches on mine and I like to keep my spectrum very simple. My C4 is maxxed out with all 128 patches and my Spectrum lifts a lot of the octaver and (of course) filter duties off my C4's shoulders. I have full midi control (Boss ES-5 and a FaderFox PC4) and matrix switcher abilities. However, I like my C4 at the beginning of my signal path and my filter in the middle. My C4 has quite a complicated set of patches, where as my Spectrum really is an octave patch, a low pass filter patch and 4 different filters and I love it for it.
 
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Little sample of a guy playing bass with the stock setting and then some in depth of each, Tron is around 4:30 mark

**EDIT** With the editor, I can't see any reason not to get so close to whichever setting you want, you wouldn't tell the difference, especially if playing live with a band.

And maybe his video isn't the best take on the Tron**
 
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I don't have the Spectrum, but if it's at all like the C4, you really need to plug in external control, midi or computer, to open up all of what it can do. Lots of function in a small box, more than the simple on board controls can manage.
I have the C4 and feel like the knobs are just to make it appear traditional (a pedal with no knobs!?). The payoff for navigating the Neuro app is pretty huge.
 
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the versatility and flexibility definitely appeal to me. Does the spectrums mutron emulation preset sound as good (better) than the micro-tron to you?
Yes. I'm a Pfat Pfunky Pfilter Pfreak and the Spectrum and C4 have the goods and more. Straight from the box it has killer sounds but once you start to explore the shared sounds in the Neuro.Cloud or dare to create your own sounds you will find a very versatile and wide ranging pedal.
There are so many envelopes and filter variations that sound and feel phantastiQ
There is a cross section of dirt variants that can be mixed in or used alone
The Octaver is phat and juicy
The LFO offers phase shifting, vibrato, tremolo and more
 
Not sure it is the answer you are looking for since I'm going to suggest an additional purchase, but I'm the happy owner of a Mu-Tron Micro-Tron IV and of a Mu-Tron Octavider+ and all the funky bases are really well covered... The Octavider+ offers the traditional "Ringer" (adjustable, not just on/off as in the Octave Divider model) plus a dedicated fuzz circuit which I find very usable also outside the funk/synth sounds.
Adding the photo of my main board just because...

pt_metro_16-jpg.jpg
 
Ok everybody—got a spectrum on the way. Very excited.

A quick question—can I connect the “midi out” from a drum machine or synth into the “control input” of the spectrum to synchronize it’s time based modulation with that of a drum machine/synth sequencer pattern? If so I’m pumped for that. What other uses does the control input serve?
 
Ok everybody—got a spectrum on the way. Very excited.

A quick question—can I connect the “midi out” from a drum machine or synth into the “control input” of the spectrum to synchronize it’s time based modulation with that of a drum machine/synth sequencer pattern? If so I’m pumped for that. What other uses does the control input serve?
I'm virtually certain it should be externally controlled, but how one accomplishes that dark magic is beyond my current knowledge.
 

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