It can also be an octaver or envelope filter. Those are two pretty commonly used effects. It’s not just weird synthy stuff. However, if you both bought it then you already know this. 😉
0:48 Beverly Hills Cop 1:04 Black or White 1:29 EDM Larger than lyfe toanz 2:13 Tracking... 3:05 Sustain......... 3:31 no attack 3:42 polyphony 5:51 Popular presets 9:13 Aliens Thanks Jayme!
I just ordered one. About your one gripe, remember these pedals, especially the newer ones, are getting firmware updates all the time, flashed through the desktop software similar to a filter profile, so as long they receive feedback, and continue to support and improve the software, it's possible to weed out problems like this, and even add cool features down the road. Typically if the community stays strong the support will follow. I can't wait to try this (lack of) latency, I've been on a synth hiatus for about 17 years now, it took something like this to grab my attention
@@jmgmarcus808 well so far, packaging is great, nice presentation, out-of-the-box use is good, but you really need to hook up to a PC (or smartphone) to get presets from the community to hear what really can be done. The PC software is much better to work with than the phone app, both good but PC is just easier, and dont use a laptop trackball if you will be adjusting all the trim pots and settings, have a actual mouse. I'm a 40 year old guy that played bass for a long time getting back into it, so its at home this will be played mostly but with forethought and a little time you could prepare your best 6 presets for a gig. At first the input and output volume were concerningly off (especially when downloading other users presets, which makes sense being from other rig setups) but once you realize, the pedal itself even, has a way of sensing the perfect input via the 1st pot, and adjusting/saving the output volume the problem is gone. The pedal has alot of possibilities, if it holds up which I think it will, it would easily be worth upwards of $300 what's the amount of possibilities within the software. I've read on forums that there isn't much more room with the DSP to add many features down the road, but I would assume things can be removed and replaced and more importantly tailored and fixed with no problem, as my previous post stated. I did notice did my pedal did not include a cable to hook up to the PC, only one for the app. Which I think is more specialized. I just happen to have a USB to mini USB laying around. Sound quality is great, I really had to push settings to get artifacts to pop, and only when the input was not set correctly did it track bad. Wants that was set up you could play pretty fast and it sounds exactly the same. Changing the parameters is easy as well, if your smart with a synth, and even if not I think it would be a great learning tool. Only setting I had a little trouble with was the path the signal went, but its explained in the manual. I did have it set up in my effects Loop on my bass combo, but realized the input was less touchy if I ran it in line with my bass just into input. If you have any specific questions please reply, btw my setup is pretty simply, USA g&l SB-2 into a Fender Rumble 200. I have noticed a high demand all over for them as well, so investment wise you should be ok for a while.
Edward Brown Whoa, thank you very much for the reply. Very much appreciated. It won't work with a Mac though? Really? I haven't checked that deep into its specs online yet, but that's a bummer if it's only for pc. Kind regards.
Awesome video, Jayme. I love that you demo'd some useful tones. Bunch of videos out there already showing off the weirdness, but I was looking for sounds I'd actually use playing with others. So thanks for that! FYI, from what I've seen, I think there is a toggle button on the top, where the connectors plug in, that switches to an additional 3 presets using the toggle, so 6 presets in all. Cheers!
Dude, I’m really starting to love your reviews. You present a very experienced and balanced viewpoint and do a good job of separating the difference between a “con” and a “use case”. As a guy interested in this pedal, I’m tired of hearing people complain about the lack of on-stage control. Having some edm production experience, it takes time to build sounds - I have whole “sound design” sessions that work _only_ on sound for a track. At a certain level, I believe that showing up “prepared” for practice/gigs/sessions _includes_ having tone worked out (obviously subject to change depending on venue/engineer desires).
Wanted to comment on what you mentioned around 6:50 - the C4 supports full midi mapping, which means you can actually assign the knobs on a MIDI controller to control any of the pedal's parameters. You'd have to set it up using the app beforehand, but you wouldn't need the app for the actual performance. Once you've assigned the params you'd like to have available, you're basically adding an endless amount of knob control to the pedal.
That 3 position toggle is capable of 6 presets, not 3. Press the button on the back of the pedal and then flip the toggle switch. Led turns red, boom, you're in a different bank. To get full midi access you need to buy additional hardware. You could of course assign your preferred patches over the top of the 6 factory presets if you don't want to go full midi by using your phone (1/4 to 1/8 cable included for this purpose). Then it's a matter of selecting the patch before you start playing. Personally I bought the extra stuff needed to hook it up to my boss ms3.
Octave tracking gets better if you put an eq before the C4 and roll off all your highs. the upper partials on the low note are part of what confuses the tracker. won't completely solve it, but it'll help
Two questions. Can it do a clean octaver effect with no synth (and if so how does it stack up to the EBS Octabass), and is it capable of encompassing the gnarly Bit Commander soundscape?
Incredible demo, I'm sold. I'm using the EHX Bass Micro Synth which is amazing fun but has its limits(heavily gated like it or not), but I'm absolutely going to add a C4 to my board ASAP. Thanks for the demo!!
Your "Talking to Aliens" sounds like it could be a "new" track from Larry Fast/Synergy :) Very cool! Thanks for a great demo and for the Podcasts. They're very entertaining and informative!
Hey Jamie! The super produced edm bass tone that you play from 1:29, it's the edm swell right? What are the tweaks you did to the original preset to get that tone in the video?
Great review! Would love to see a video digging deeper into the software. I have a Manta that I use all the time in conjunction with an OC-2. It has the same octave downside, btw. The only working solution I've found is putting a slight separation between attacks. Playing with a slightly lighter touch also seems to produce better results overall.
Yes. My bass player uses one of these for sustaining notes over time, because his diy fretless job (yes. Seriously) doesn't hold out for as long as it use to. While we're at it. czar.bandcamp.com/album/life-is-no-way-to-treat-an-animal
I got one of those it's hard to program with so many options and just need to just send a loop through it and start tweaking until I know what all the parameters do so I can start making my own patches instead of going through a zillion patches every one else came up with it's capable of so much
A lot of people are buying this over the Spectrum because you can load Spectrum presets on the C4. I bought the Spectrum because I find an envelope filter and octaver more useful (actually I just love envelope filters) and you dont have the ability to tweak those Spectrum presets with the controls on the C4 and anyone thats ever owned an envelope filter knows that control knobs are your friends.
Hello, do you have these sweet settings as custom tone prints for the PC/MAC side of the pedal, or are you using some of the preset functions with whats already built into the custum settings and tweakingit all there? I'm really digging this pedal and all your playing on other channels I've seen you on. Thanks in advance, liked & subscribed!
Thanks for being honest. That legato octave low to high isnt a deal breaker, but it's solid info that could potentially turn some ppl off who are super fast or in the moment. My position is that a synth pedal is like a magnet from a robot. It's NOT natural. If I wanted natural, I'd click it off.
Someone pointed me to this pedal when I said someone needs to make a pedal that just turns a bass guitar into a midi controller so I plug it into multiple synths. Can I plug this to, say, a microkorg, or a jdxi, or, more importantly, a eurorack?!
I cant get anything to sound good, i think mine might be broken. These presets dont even come close to the sound on this video. What am i doing wrong. I just get a fart noise. I am also never able to adjust the input, the light never turns red like the manual said.
I think it really depends on you. Software come with oscillators, envelopes, filters, etc. You can make it sound the way you want to, as long as you know how.
Razorblade Ray From what I can tell by asking Source Audio support about this, it doesn’t really do true polyphony. You can totally program 4 voice intelligent harmonizations to enable “one note chords”, but for true chording on the fretboard I don’t think it handles it. It’s one of the very few things making me lean toward getting the SY1 (as well as the Send/Return on the Boss).
I'll sell my Future Impact as soon as this one will be available in my country. It's smaller, cooler, and the software seems way better to me. And guess what, half the price!
@@dookie84 No man it's not, it's a great pedal. Maybe even better cause it lets you store 99 presets. But it's very big and looks awful in my board. It's the same reason why I sold my MF 101: each time I had to play somewhere, I had to bring this huge, heavy thing with me. I'm not keeping it because they do the exact same thing and if I sell it for 350 euros (paid 400) I can invenst the difference on something else. This one is just 269 on Thomann.
@@paolomoretti9291 C4 lets you store 128 patches on the device. It's just that you can only access the first six via toggle switch. The others are accessable through midi.
@@anonymus8760 Yeah, you're right: let's say 99 vs 6 sounds are available on the fly if you're playing bass on a gig. But who really cares? 99% of the use I make of the FI is having fun at home with a looper and a drum machine. 1% is when sometimes (and not always) I take the lead for some seconds and enjoy watching people react to some weird sounds they just don't expect to come out from a bass (they usually like it more than a solo). 6 presets are more than enough for this purpose. In my opinion any band that needs some serious synth sounds needs a keyboard player with a real synth. These pedals are just wonderful, fun toys to me: the more immediate, minimalist and small, the better.
I can see absolutely no way I'd personally use this device in any meaningful way. I must have one.
Same thing. Useless gadget. I ordered it yesterday.
It can also be an octaver or envelope filter. Those are two pretty commonly used effects. It’s not just weird synthy stuff. However, if you both bought it then you already know this. 😉
I don't even play bass that well, I'm not playing in a band and I want one. BTW I'm more a keyboardist and I have a BassStation II.
I've had it for a few years, it is totally useless and I use it all the time.
Hahaha totally got me man. I’m reading the comment thinking “then don’t watch the video, dude” then read the next sentence hahaha
0:48 Beverly Hills Cop
1:04 Black or White
1:29 EDM Larger than lyfe toanz
2:13 Tracking...
3:05 Sustain.........
3:31 no attack
3:42 polyphony
5:51 Popular presets
9:13 Aliens
Thanks Jayme!
I just ordered one. About your one gripe, remember these pedals, especially the newer ones, are getting firmware updates all the time, flashed through the desktop software similar to a filter profile, so as long they receive feedback, and continue to support and improve the software, it's possible to weed out problems like this, and even add cool features down the road. Typically if the community stays strong the support will follow. I can't wait to try this (lack of) latency, I've been on a synth hiatus for about 17 years now, it took something like this to grab my attention
Edward Brown Hey bud, any feedback yet? Just curious. Kind regards.
@@jmgmarcus808 well so far, packaging is great, nice presentation, out-of-the-box use is good, but you really need to hook up to a PC (or smartphone) to get presets from the community to hear what really can be done. The PC software is much better to work with than the phone app, both good but PC is just easier, and dont use a laptop trackball if you will be adjusting all the trim pots and settings, have a actual mouse. I'm a 40 year old guy that played bass for a long time getting back into it, so its at home this will be played mostly but with forethought and a little time you could prepare your best 6 presets for a gig. At first the input and output volume were concerningly off (especially when downloading other users presets, which makes sense being from other rig setups) but once you realize, the pedal itself even, has a way of sensing the perfect input via the 1st pot, and adjusting/saving the output volume the problem is gone. The pedal has alot of possibilities, if it holds up which I think it will, it would easily be worth upwards of $300 what's the amount of possibilities within the software. I've read on forums that there isn't much more room with the DSP to add many features down the road, but I would assume things can be removed and replaced and more importantly tailored and fixed with no problem, as my previous post stated. I did notice did my pedal did not include a cable to hook up to the PC, only one for the app. Which I think is more specialized. I just happen to have a USB to mini USB laying around. Sound quality is great, I really had to push settings to get artifacts to pop, and only when the input was not set correctly did it track bad. Wants that was set up you could play pretty fast and it sounds exactly the same. Changing the parameters is easy as well, if your smart with a synth, and even if not I think it would be a great learning tool. Only setting I had a little trouble with was the path the signal went, but its explained in the manual. I did have it set up in my effects Loop on my bass combo, but realized the input was less touchy if I ran it in line with my bass just into input. If you have any specific questions please reply, btw my setup is pretty simply, USA g&l SB-2 into a Fender Rumble 200. I have noticed a high demand all over for them as well, so investment wise you should be ok for a while.
Edward Brown Whoa, thank you very much for the reply. Very much appreciated. It won't work with a Mac though? Really? I haven't checked that deep into its specs online yet, but that's a bummer if it's only for pc. Kind regards.
@@jmgmarcus808 oh no, it states it will work on PC/Mac & iOS/Android. I just call computers PCs. Its Neuro software, not to be confused with Nero
You can even use it as a Low Pass / High Pass Filter to feed another pedal(s). Like splitting the signal of a bass guitar for an Aftershock.
Yes its possible.
Awesome video, Jayme. I love that you demo'd some useful tones. Bunch of videos out there already showing off the weirdness, but I was looking for sounds I'd actually use playing with others. So thanks for that! FYI, from what I've seen, I think there is a toggle button on the top, where the connectors plug in, that switches to an additional 3 presets using the toggle, so 6 presets in all. Cheers!
Source Audio is a high quality brand.
This thing looks amazing. Will definitely be buying one. Looks liek you can get a LOAD of tones for different genres too.
Dude, I’m really starting to love your reviews. You present a very experienced and balanced viewpoint and do a good job of separating the difference between a “con” and a “use case”.
As a guy interested in this pedal, I’m tired of hearing people complain about the lack of on-stage control. Having some edm production experience, it takes time to build sounds - I have whole “sound design” sessions that work _only_ on sound for a track. At a certain level, I believe that showing up “prepared” for practice/gigs/sessions _includes_ having tone worked out (obviously subject to change depending on venue/engineer desires).
Big fan! I’m ordering one now!! Great video dude!
Gunna get one just to keep things interesting during rehearsal 🤣.. thanks for the demo
thank YOU!
Wanted to comment on what you mentioned around 6:50 - the C4 supports full midi mapping, which means you can actually assign the knobs on a MIDI controller to control any of the pedal's parameters. You'd have to set it up using the app beforehand, but you wouldn't need the app for the actual performance. Once you've assigned the params you'd like to have available, you're basically adding an endless amount of knob control to the pedal.
No idea what I'd do with it, but I'd figure out something to do. Thanks for including cons in your reviews and not simply making a surface-level demo
It's so tweakable you can have multiple pedals with just one C4. Or until something else comes out in the next 3 months. 😁
Wow I love the sound!
That 3 position toggle is capable of 6 presets, not 3. Press the button on the back of the pedal and then flip the toggle switch. Led turns red, boom, you're in a different bank. To get full midi access you need to buy additional hardware. You could of course assign your preferred patches over the top of the 6 factory presets if you don't want to go full midi by using your phone (1/4 to 1/8 cable included for this purpose). Then it's a matter of selecting the patch before you start playing. Personally I bought the extra stuff needed to hook it up to my boss ms3.
Great tip. I confirmed what you said.
I just upgraded from the Spectrum to the C4. I may even keep the Spectrum.
Keep it! 6 more presets, giving you 12 total. You won't even a MIDI controller now (unless you're greedy)
Octave tracking gets better if you put an eq before the C4 and roll off all your highs. the upper partials on the low note are part of what confuses the tracker. won't completely solve it, but it'll help
Love it bro!
Two questions. Can it do a clean octaver effect with no synth (and if so how does it stack up to the EBS Octabass), and is it capable of encompassing the gnarly Bit Commander soundscape?
Yes and yes.
Can it make a regular octave like 0C-2, OC-3, MXR M288 Bass Octave Pedal Deluxe or similar?
Incredible demo, I'm sold. I'm using the EHX Bass Micro Synth which is amazing fun but has its limits(heavily gated like it or not), but I'm absolutely going to add a C4 to my board ASAP. Thanks for the demo!!
Cool vid, thanks! Did you upload any of your patches to neuro? I like that second one @1:03. What was that called?
You deserve some commission. The usable 80s and EDM tones sold me. Folks tend to focus too much on weirdness during synth pedal demos.
It ranks up there with the Future Impact as the best bass synth pedal on the market.
That "you can talk to aliens with it" bit got you a like hahaha
Haha I do what I can ;)
is the 80's synth bass you started off with a preset already in the unit? great sound.
Your "Talking to Aliens" sounds like it could be a "new" track from Larry Fast/Synergy :) Very cool! Thanks for a great demo and for the Podcasts. They're very entertaining and informative!
Hey Jamie! The super produced edm bass tone that you play from 1:29, it's the edm swell right? What are the tweaks you did to the original preset to get that tone in the video?
Great review! Would love to see a video digging deeper into the software.
I have a Manta that I use all the time in conjunction with an OC-2. It has the same octave downside, btw. The only working solution I've found is putting a slight separation between attacks. Playing with a slightly lighter touch also seems to produce better results overall.
2:46 - 3:35 Would an effect like an EHX Freeze pedal make it sustain like a keyboard synth?
Yes. My bass player uses one of these for sustaining notes over time, because his diy fretless job (yes. Seriously) doesn't hold out for as long as it use to.
While we're at it.
czar.bandcamp.com/album/life-is-no-way-to-treat-an-animal
big fan !! super cool intro man !!
Who needs this?!!!
(ordered)
I got one of those it's hard to program with so many options and just need to just send a loop through it and start tweaking until I know what all the parameters do so I can start making my own patches instead of going through a zillion patches every one else came up with it's capable of so much
How do you like "keep track" of your 128 presets? And select which one to use at the moment? Using the app?
A lot of people are buying this over the Spectrum because you can load Spectrum presets on the C4. I bought the Spectrum because I find an envelope filter and octaver more useful (actually I just love envelope filters) and you dont have the ability to tweak those Spectrum presets with the controls on the C4 and anyone thats ever owned an envelope filter knows that control knobs are your friends.
Hello, do you have these sweet settings as custom tone prints for the PC/MAC side of the pedal, or are you using some of the preset functions with whats already built into the custum settings and tweakingit all there? I'm really digging this pedal and all your playing on other channels I've seen you on. Thanks in advance, liked & subscribed!
Boss Sy-1. Make my dreams come true
I'll see what I can do ;)
Thanks for being honest. That legato octave low to high isnt a deal breaker, but it's solid info that could potentially turn some ppl off who are super fast or in the moment. My position is that a synth pedal is like a magnet from a robot. It's NOT natural. If I wanted natural, I'd click it off.
Dude....your NES themed intro is fan-fuckingtabulous!!!!
what was the setting for pedal 1:29 seconds great tone i will purchase one thanks for great review
When you hit 21 it's time to put your hat on straight. You look like you're cosplaying as dennis the menace
i'll remember that for when i grow up
When you hit 14 it’s time to just stop wearing caps.
Someone pointed me to this pedal when I said someone needs to make a pedal that just turns a bass guitar into a midi controller so I plug it into multiple synths. Can I plug this to, say, a microkorg, or a jdxi, or, more importantly, a eurorack?!
I'm not sure, perhaps the folks at Source Audio would know?
also SUPER COOL tshirt !!!
haha thanks!
I like the sound from 1:03 i got that pedal, ¿how did you get that sound?
Just ordered one!!! :)
The sound setting you used for Michel Jackson’s black & white - can we find it on the neuro app ?
I'm not sure, but I think it's one of the presets :)
Can this work well with guitar? It going for an ultra-heavy electro-rock tone.
I cant get anything to sound good, i think mine might be broken. These presets dont even come close to the sound on this video. What am i doing wrong. I just get a fart noise. I am also never able to adjust the input, the light never turns red like the manual said.
Great Video, thanks! - Which Presets are these? Can I find them in the Library of the Software? - Greetings from Berlin, Germany!
Do I need to cancel my Boss OC-5 preorder if I get this?
Cool
It seems this makes more modern sounding synth sounds than vintage?
I think it really depends on you. Software come with oscillators, envelopes, filters, etc. You can make it sound the way you want to, as long as you know how.
T- Hawk That's up to the user, it's a synth if you have good ears you'll get those sounds.
@@jmgmarcus808 www.premierguitar.com/articles/29313-source-audio-c4-synth-review
Can you simply use input 1 as a mono input? Same with output 1?
Was that really EDM?
Everything’s pretty much considered as EDM nowadays.
Can we see a video on it more for polyphonic
Razorblade Ray From what I can tell by asking Source Audio support about this, it doesn’t really do true polyphony. You can totally program 4 voice intelligent harmonizations to enable “one note chords”, but for true chording on the fretboard I don’t think it handles it. It’s one of the very few things making me lean toward getting the SY1 (as well as the Send/Return on the Boss).
Where do I get that shirt?
I bought it at a horror convention haha
What's the lowest note it tracks?
This dude has got to be the long lost brother of Owen and Luke Wilson.
6:02 Is this let's groove?
Tweakers Paradise
what's a guitar connected to this like?
cool vid very informative
I'll sell my Future Impact as soon as this one will be available in my country. It's smaller, cooler, and the software seems way better to me. And guess what, half the price!
Is the future impact so bad? Why not keeping both?
@@dookie84 No man it's not, it's a great pedal. Maybe even better cause it lets you store 99 presets. But it's very big and looks awful in my board. It's the same reason why I sold my MF 101: each time I had to play somewhere, I had to bring this huge, heavy thing with me. I'm not keeping it because they do the exact same thing and if I sell it for 350 euros (paid 400) I can invenst the difference on something else. This one is just 269 on Thomann.
@@paolomoretti9291 Thank you very much for your answer!
@@paolomoretti9291 C4 lets you store 128 patches on the device. It's just that you can only access the first six via toggle switch. The others are accessable through midi.
@@anonymus8760 Yeah, you're right: let's say 99 vs 6 sounds are available on the fly if you're playing bass on a gig. But who really cares? 99% of the use I make of the FI is having fun at home with a looper and a drum machine. 1% is when sometimes (and not always) I take the lead for some seconds and enjoy watching people react to some weird sounds they just don't expect to come out from a bass (they usually like it more than a solo). 6 presets are more than enough for this purpose. In my opinion any band that needs some serious synth sounds needs a keyboard player with a real synth. These pedals are just wonderful, fun toys to me: the more immediate, minimalist and small, the better.
Great video - Axel F.
Thanks Anders!
Found one for preety cheap on cl thinking about scooping it up
Lucky you,I just forked out 280 bucks for it..I don't mind cos I know it's got tons of sounds to play with..
@@patrickr6505 yea but im trying to figure out how to make the sounds burn on to it it says the pedal isn't compatible or something
you should try bananana matryoshka pedal, a stereo synth bass pedal from japan!
Dude. These are RIDICULOUSLY cheap for the functionality. Holy crap.
wtf only 3 mins of this is him actually using the pedal
gotta pay extra for more
90% Talk 9.9% Hand wiggling 0.1 % actual amp sound ... wtf bro