Choice of multi fx.

[retseh]

Hello friends,

I spent the entire afternoon reading up on the m9 and m13, as well as hd series and the nova system. Dug out old threads regarding discussions about the few, and watched some videos on youtube but even though informative I still have some questions which I thought users here can help clarify.

Basically I'd wanted a looper, and looked at the m9/13, but decided that between the 2 it will be m9 cos I wont really need so many footswitches, and thus add on to mobility. Nevertheless, can i ask, lets say I'm using the looper on the m9, will I be able to switch between different effects, since they share the same switches? Or is it possible to switch back to the stompbox mode while the loop is still playing so that I can switch effects and go back to record more loop lines?

I believe the HD series has a loop function too, and have the same concerns for it as written above. In addition, what attracts me to the M series is the ease of use like that of analogs, as compared to usual mfx where many patches have to be stored. I remember seeing a vid about the pedal function on the hd series (eg one of the modes on the hd300), does that work the same as the M series with regards to being able to (de)activate just one effect per footswitch?

& the nova system, known for its pristine effects, which I saw on the tc website that it works more or less like a m9 just that you cant allocate where you want a particular effect to be placed, and cant stack 2 effects of the same nature (ie 2 delays) since they are fixed by default.

Wow quite a long post, dont know if I got my facts right or stated them clearly, but I'm more inclined to getting a nova system and an external looper if the m9/hd doesnt offer the option of switching effects while the looping is ongoing. Well, that option costs much more though.

Any input into this? Much appreciated!

 

[carboxymoron]

M9 and M13 basically have 3 modes utilising the same set of footswitches: effects select (default), scene select (similar to patches on traditional multieffects), and the looper.

On the M9, the 6 main footswitches are used for whatever mode you're in. So when you are in the looper you can't change effects and when you are in effects select mode you can't control the looper. And you have to hold one footswitch to get in and out of the looper.

However on the M13, there is a dedicated footswitch that you can just tap instead of hold, and even while in the looper, the top 4 footswitches allow you to control 1 row (out of 4 rows) of effects, while the rest of the footswitches control the looper.

When I say the looper, I only mean what the footswitches control. M9/M13/HD all are capable of running the looper "in the background". So it will continue to record or play even if you change back to effects or scene select mode.

The HD series has the addition of Line 6's excellent amp sims and would be a much better "all in one" multieffects unit. However, if you intend to mix and match with other stompboxes, I'd go with the M9. And yes, the M and HD series have the advantage over almost all other floor multieffects in that you can have any effect anywhere, even duplicates.

Even though you can't switch effects on and off with the M9 while in looper mode, there's a trick that I use with expression pedals. M9 allows you to control ANY parameter (or multiple parameters on multiple effects!) with an expression pedal, so if you need to switch between a clean and distorted sound without leaving the looper, you can set the exp pedal to lower/raise the gain/volume on a distortion. Let's say toe up = low gain, slightly higher volume to compensate, toe down = high gain. So you use the exp pedal to control your effects without leaving the looper. You can do this for all 3 effects at once. Toe up = low gain, chorus, delay with 50% mix and feedback. Toe down = high gain, chorus reduced, delay with 20% mix and 0% feedback.

edit: another thing. If you do get the M9, you might want to check this out http://disasterareaamps.com/wordpress The DMC by Disaster Area Amps is a brand new product that I'm very excited about. It's the most affordable MIDI controller I've seen with programmable firmware and specific support for various M9 functions. I have exchanged emails with the owner and intend to get a 4-button DMC for my M9 as soon as they are available (currently he's just started making 2 and 6 button ones) so I can control the looper and effects at the same time.

 

[retseh]

Thanks carbo for the response!

So in other words for the M/Hd its possible to have a loop going, switch from the loop function to the usual default effects mode, switch between effects/scenes, and get back on the ongoing loop? (though that sounds like it takes some time to execute but it doesnt matter if you're not a live looper yeah?)

Im not well versed in such wares, but it seems like the DMC is able to exclusively control the loop function of the m9 while having all 6 footswitches available to be used yeah, thus eliminating having to quit the looper mode and switch effects and back on to looper. that sounds exactly like having a nova system and another looper.

Well well, thats more reason to get the m9!

 

[carboxymoron]

Yup, it takes a bit of time because you have to hold a footswitch. I wish they'd make it a software option to make it either tap or hold. For practice it's a very minor annoyance, for live looping it's something you have to consider when structuring your loops. So far it's not been a problem if I plan ahead properly. And of course you can use the exp pedal trick to effectively blend in and out effects while looping.

that sounds exactly like having a nova system and another looper.

Not quite... it's much more portable, affordable, and flexible!

 

[retseh]

Both the m9 and nova sounds good, wish I could just get both hahaha.

Anyway for the estimated price of the DMC, have you considered just switching to a m13? Since you can probably get roughly the same control over the effects with the top row on the m13 still available when looping, plus the exp pedal trick that you use, for considerably lesser money.

 

[carboxymoron]

Actually I had the M9 for many months, switched to the M13, had a lot of fun, but found it impossible to bring out along with all my other pedals. I know a few people who use the M13 alone (it really is good enough), or if you're very picky with just one or two analog distortion/drive pedals, which is easy enough to carry in a medium-sized pedalcase, but I have a lot of weird little stompboxes I like to use. In the end I switched back to the M9 and although it restricts what I can do when live looping, you really can't beat an M9 for the size and functions. To think that I used to carry individual delays or modulations that are bigger than the M9 (and people still do!).

The DMC is just a lucky break from the universe answering my unspoken prayers. Haha. I'm fine with the price and it's so much smaller than an M13. It's practically a steal considering the existing MIDI products on the market which are so limited in what they do... usually the 2 or 4 button ones can only send a fixed set of MIDI CC messages for changing patches on rack mfx, good luck hacking the firmware to work with the M9 looper.

 

[retseh]

Yeah I'll have to agree about the mobility part. Seems like it can fit into my mono bag's front compartment on days I dont feel like bring anything else out, and it will sit nicely in the line6 pedalbag with 1 or 2 other pedals and an expression pedal too.

This kinda 'which-pedal-should-i-get' dilemma always happens, especially when there's a budget to consider. ;/

& yeah man, the DMC appears to be just perfect for you!