Finbar

The thing is REALLY heavy, but it sounds really fat. Found it really hard to really overdrive the thing, but if you don't want that sound, you should have PLENTY of headroom. I also quite liked the 4x12. Tempted to buy another one one day actually.

this is where I'm at right now. nearly done.

Piano by Glassjaw

[quote name='Phaedrus' post='655514' date='Nov 15 2009, 10:34 PM']Am I right in thinking that with the M9, there are now three choices for effects: separate single pedals, a programmable multi-effects unit, and the M9? It seems it's not a programmable multi-FX unit in the way the Zoom B9.1ut or GT-10B or ME-50B are, but a third, different, solution - is that right?[/quote] Kind of. I don't see my M9 as a multi FX, but it is really. It's really all about the interface on it. It reacts like separate pedals. [quote]I doubt my needs are uncommon (these are in order of priority for me): 1. Quality compressor, overdrive/distortion, chorus & wah (for me, other effects are largely superfluous or novel) 2. Consistent levels between sounds 3. No lag/delay when changing sounds 4. Durability 5. Versatility 6. Noiseless, specially when bypassed[/quote] 1. The M9 has all of these... Personally I'm not a fan of wah, but from the wah patches I briefly messed with, I'm not convinced by them. The overdrives aren't amazing, but they ARE good if you run them into a good amp. Definitely something to try before deciding they aren't for you. 2. The M9 has level/mix controls for most effects. I don't really have many issues here - it is just the same as using the same knobs on separate pedals, which I have done for years without problem. 3. There's no lag on the M9 that I've noticed. 4. Can't comment on it just yet, as mine is pretty new, but it seems like a massive improvement over the DL4 I used to have construction-wise. 5. The M9 is really versatile if you take some time thinking about it. It requires a bit of lateral thinking sometimes if you use a lot of effects. If you're going to use half a dozen or so as it seems, it should be easy enough. 6. I actually found the M9 to introduce noise to my signal path. However, the noise gate in the pedal will remove this noise happily. Very impressed with that noise gate. [quote]Separate pedals would likely best cover need 1 (at a cost), but I'm guessing that higher-end multi-FX and/or the M9 could possibly give separates a run for their money. Where separates fall down in my observation is needs 2 & 3. Stating some obvious stuff, changing from a clean un-effected tone to a tone with overdrive & chorus means switching on two pedals - there's gonna be some lag there. Also one overdrive tone may need a higher or lower level than another, so there's potential for variations in level there. Again, I know this is stating the obvious.[/quote] Lag? You have two feet! [quote]I'm thinking that for my needs, a decent multi-FX unit fits best. There's something really exciting & desirable about using separate pedals, but the inconvenience and level and switching-time issues are big drawbacks in a live setting. At home or in a studio (when someone other than you is paying the bill), it'd be fun and I'm sure rewarding to create great tones tweaking all the controls on each individual pedal, but to recreate those same tones in a live situation with the same separate pedals would surely be literally impossible? At this point, I think I'll start looking at the better multi-FX units under €400. Didn't like the ME-50B switching lag, but did like the user interface. Didn't like my guitarist's and mate's GT-6 and GT-8 user-interfaces respectively, and didn't like my other guitarist's GNX4 user-interface, though I did create or hear some great tones from all those units. I'm drawn to the B9.1ut and I'm curious about the M9, so I'll get researching them . . . Mark[/quote] I don't know, I've never had these level problems you seem to have with separate pedals. I always just set them to my liking, put them in a pedalboard and just open it up at a gig, and all the levels are intact. If you only want to use compressor, overdrive, wah and chorus, I'd be tempted to go with separate pedals myself. It won't take up a lot of space still.

A scene is a group of 6 effects (one for each footswitch) rather than 3, and basically is a pedalboard. Of these 6 effects, only 3 can be engaged at once. The 'normal' operation of the unit means you stay within one scene and turn these 6 effects on/off as you wish. You can switch to a different scene for another set of 6 effects. The M9 can store up to 24 scenes. This is referred to as 'Momentary Scenes'. However, there is also the 'Latch Scenes' mode, where each footswitch changes to one of 6 different scenes, rather than turning a single effect on/off. The M9 will remember what was turned on and off, and what settings were adjusted every time you change something, even if you navigate to a different scene and back again, as long as the M9 is set to 'Autosave'. If that isn't your thing, then you can also set it to 'Manual Save', where it will revert to your saved preference for which effects were on/off, where all the parameters and tap tempos were etc if you change anything then navigate to a different scene and back again.

In a roundabout way, yes. You can set up to switch from one scene to another scene with one button press (each scene can have up to 3 active effects at once), rather than operating on several individual effects within one scene. Entirely up to you which way you want to do it, but the benefit of the M9 to me is that it is a multi FX which ISN'T patch based. It doesn't feel like a multi FX really.

Mine's developed a peculiar problem - the expression pedal 1 input has stopped working properly

I might take the trip to Bass Day actually, be good to see some other Matamps in use!

Just about! Deposit-wise I'm done now. Just need to wait for it to be built! 3-4 weeks apparently. Out of stock of the transformers. Hm, just a random musing, but did your GT200 come with Speakon jacks as standard?

Last time I went down (about 2 weeks ago?) they only had two bass cabs around - a ported 4x10 and a sealed 8x10. They don't really keep massive amounts of stock for things like that.

The only other stuff I can suggest is making sure you're using the front USB ports, having as little other USB stuff connected as possible and closing any unnecessary programs? :/ Maybe using a different MIDI interface? Mine is just a cheapy eBay job - USB connector one end, two MIDI connectors on the other. Don't know what you're using?

what midi interface are you using?

I still can't help wondering how the Double Midget compares soundwise to a Schroeder 1212L with the tweeter dialled out fully.

You couldn't get that sound from the GT200? I found it really versatile! And the distortion doesn't descend into fizzy mush either. It breaks up just right when you get your head round the controls. Maybe valve amps aren't you really?

I got that error before. I know it's schoolboy stuff, but is the power supply plugged in and turned on? The M9 will light with a blank red screen when it is plugged into the computer by MIDI cables, but it is not on and ready to accept the update. The power must also be on. Also, the MIDI cable connection can be a bit funny if you haven't used them before. Connect the MIDI cable marked IN to the OUT on the M9 and the cable marked OUT to the IN of the M9. Seems a bit backwards, doesn't it? Sorry if that's a bit patronising, just worked for me when I had the problem

[quote name='Dubs' post='647506' date='Nov 6 2009, 06:29 PM']How much German is too much German? [/quote] Best looking rig ITT

Has anyone with this hiss problem actually tried it with a noise suppressor/gate in the effects loop? Just curious.

Ben bought a preamp and rack case from me - was very helpful in arranging a courier, and had generally excellent communication throughout. Very understanding and patient buyer!