Source Audio C4 Synth - Neuro App Editor Deep Dive - Bass Demo

I've been excited about digging into this one for a while! I'm a bit behind the curve, but I finally got my hands on the C4 Synth from Source Audio, and it does not disappoint. It has so much crammed into it, that it can be a bit overwhelming at times. This video is VERY long, but I intend for it to be a good overview about diving into the editor and making your own sounds! I'll leave some time stamps below to specific sections of the video. Enjoy!
Introduction - 1:45
Dry Tone - 2:48
Pitch Detector and Global Parameters - 3:20
Initialized Patch and Mono Input - 5:50
Dry Bass With Filters - 6:55
Dry Bass With Distortions - 15:30
Tremolo Knob - 19:00
Monophonic and Polyphonic Pitch Voices - 21:00
Saw, Square and Sine Oscillators - 26:00
Envelope Discussion - 33:00
FM Synthesis!!!! - 37:55
Custom Patches with Explanations - 42:35
Blade Runner Brass with Strymon Volante - 43:30
Sequencer - 45:00
Harmonizer Block - 47:45
Please SUBSCRIBE if you enjoy, thanks! kzbin.info...
Socials Info:
Instagram: @zach.rizer
Facebook: / zacharyrizermusic
Website: zacharyrizermusic.com/
Bass Used: Dingwall ABZ 6 String
Strings: Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats
Rig: Mesa Boogie Subway D800 D.I. into Focusrite Scarlett 4i4
Other effects used: Strymon Volante

[@sourceaudioeffects]

Fantastic! Thanks for taking the deep-dive, Zach.

[@VexxJam]

THIS was the demo I wanted to see. Exceptional work 👊

[@MarcinKubica]

Source Audio should send you some unit of choice for free for this ;-)

[@colinbarbeau8678]

Source Audio, fyi: I Purchased the C4 after watching this 🙂

[@kabassa]

I notice that the natural tone of the bass loses very low frequencies when the pedal is activated, is this true?

[@animalstastegood]

I won't watch my 1 hour long engineering lecture, but I will watch an hour log video on generating synth sounds. This helps so much!

[@EricF]

I’ve been on the fence on this pedal - all of the demos I’ve watched seemed pretty much the same - and this was the video I needed. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate the sheer depth of this demo. Thank you!

[@fattyjaybird7505]

Did you end up getting it?

[@StormJH1]

This video is essentially THE instruction manual for the C4 Synth if you plan at all on creating your own sounds. I have only a very basic understanding of synthesis, but thanks to Zach walking through how the signal is routed through the C4 and all the different things you can do with it, I think I have a very good starting point to get creative. Thanks!

[@TacticalHyena]

that bladerunner brass w/ the volante is so beautiful, takes me all the way back to November 2019

[@J_Carter]

There is literally no one better to cover all this detail than you Zach!

[@petougao]

Amen

[@selfactualizer2099]

Well many reviews are better than one, I've been binging c4 synth pedal videos (because I want one and need to not spend money hhhh )

[@thomasshugar5636]

THIS is the BEST C4 Demo EVER!!!!!!

[@christopherjohnson4369]

This video was the one that got me to take the dive and buy the pedal. Every video just shows the wild (sometimes unusable) sounds. This shows the subtlety and musicality this pedal can achieve

[@craigallen6706]

Great video - I really appreciate the in depth review as I'm in the process of getting one of these pedals now. I'm so looking forward to it and learned it can do much more than I originally realized.

[@danielsinger1116]

Thank you so much for taking the time to dig into to this. You're a great teacher and a gifted musician. So excited to get my C4 in 2 days!

[@lukesawtelle]

Thank you so much for making this video!So many demos for this pedal are afraid to dig deep. So much great information here.

[@tasoskapralos7859]

That's the only video I needed to see about the c4 pedal. Great job!

[@luludelasnubes]

Awesome job, as always. Thank you SO MUCH for taking time to share your knowledge and tips. Take care.

[@bunky78]

Thanks Zach. When I launched the Neuro App Editor for the first time I was immediately overwhelmed. This video has really helped me find my way around and understand the functionality of the pedal better. Very well explained. Great video! 👍

[@dominiquebentvelsen3287]

I've spent somewhat over an hour with the first 20 minutes of this video, life changing stuff! Thanks so much for this awesome explainer (so far) :)

[@tshibuta]

I was totally lost with this pedal, and this video really gave light to me. Thank you so much.

[@malloryonbass]

Incredible review. Getting mine today and this will definitely help me dive in. Thank you!

[@aidanbowen9052]

Had my C4 for many months now and not really had a proper chance to get to grips with it. This video is sooooo helpful Zach and has inspired me to get grooving. Thank you :)

[@squishy949]

What you've made here is just about the best combined guide/manual/demonstration for the C4 I've seen. Super helpful, thank you!

[@natesteckel]

Yes! This video proves you're the C4 Master! I want all these patches.

[@ozbassplayer8596]

Zachary, I bought the C4 after watching this demo. To help manage all the patches I created and to make them easily accessible at gigs, I also bought and hooked up the Disaster Area DMC Micro controller. That, along with my phone running the Neuro app into the Input 2, covers everything I need in terms of being able to quickly access patches. I've also started playing a lot more with the synthesisers in Logic because I now have a better understanding how they work thanks to your explanations. However, I really started to realise the power and versatility of the C4 when I was looking at many of the top-notch synths and realised that they were sadly lacking some of the features I was becoming accustomed to with the C4. Thanks so much for taking the time to go through this - believe me, you have changed the way I play - for the better! Best wishes for 2021!

[@elwynsmiles]

Awesome demo Zach....takenbaway all of the mystery surrounding the app and I now feel comfortable experimenting 👍

[@josuecabalceta4005]

Amazing review, it totally helped me expand everything I had managed to understand about my c4. Thanks!! Greetings from Costa Rica

[@markanthony5897]

You are a consummate professional and an elite teacher. Thank you for your selfless contributions.

[@Mookakian]

This is extremely helpful, i actually understand what some of the synth controls are now, before i was pretty much clueless thanks!

[@SuperBillsykes]

Really Awesome demo!! Thanks so much for the detail and clear explanantions. C4 ordered 😀

[@cjlister8508]

Just bought one of these this week. Glad I found this video as that software was very intimidating to look at, but you have broken it all down perfectly

[@michaelb.42112]

I've already learned more in the first 3 minutes than other videos !!

[@ijazzmunki]

Zach - your demos are always enthralling - but just want to give you a shout out to your playing - you're sounding great with or without pedals dude... keep it up

[@Energy_from.the_Sun]

I was so lost. Thanks for leading me into the light... Super stocked off this pedal

[@solal94]

the best video I know about the C4. Thanks

[@jessetoews2446]

sooooooo friggin stoked on this video . thank you dude !! fo real.

[@Wally55223]

Dude... I had watched a majority of this video before, but I somehow forgot the envelope phaser setting you came up with. That's amazing!

[@Terrible_Peril]

That floating thumb/ “closed hand” technique is stellar. A very classical PIMA kinda hybrid picking look.

[@zoltanrenaldi4466]

Hi Zach! Nice review here, very detailed and helpful just as always...

[@Stewkeithmtb]

This is the video I needed. Thank you.

[@acalmerkarma]

Such a sick demo

[@AluinKali]

Thanks for all the details. Seing this I almost regret buying the Spectrum Intelligent Filter when this has so much more to offer. But then even the Spectrum can generate some lovely synthy sounds. But the c4 is really from another world.

[@whiteycroon]

Thanks for this deep dive. I'd like to start using this with my Ric-o-Sound and run in stereo, but it's been very confounding so far.

[@MrScannermann]

You may be a bit behind the curve, but this video is brillaint. i need to watch all this again and again! haha, feels like you need a degree in synths to start with..

[@nicolaskrzyszton8064]

Great deep dive !!! Brillant video thanks you

[@Pumpkin_Fart]

I bought this pedal today....thanks for the tutorial/demo

[@gabrielalbo6911]

Amazing video! I've already saved it and I'm sure I'll be coming back to specific bits as I dive deeper into what this pedal can do. You’re making it very hard for me not to buy this 😅

[@colinbarbeau8678]

Wow, wow and wow! Soo informative, thanks man. I have a headache now, but a good one!

[@ishancooper]

Such a great video, thank you!! I’m doing my homework before the pedal arrives! Haha Thanks for the tips on the OC2 settings as well .. love mine on my guitar. 🤘🏼

[@andrewjeffries8721]

Behind what curve? I am just now beginning to use my COVID time to look into playing my Jazz again. And, yes, the C4 sounds great! I like that you pick things to play that make the most of how the C4 patches sound, Good job!. Well done, Zachary!

[@GoldenBoyDims]

i love this pedal so much very nice you are going in depth with it one day i shall get it and look to your video for reference

[@jeffs.3533]

Super instructional vid. Thanks!

[@shadadams2528]

Wow I actually wish this video was longer.

[@petougao]

Me too!

[@micaramos4046]

Finally someone with a sense of sound design

[@DJFisherBass]

Amazing video man! 👊🏾

[@ThomasFanto]

Great !!!! You made my buy one !!!!

[@insitwo]

Very helpful thank you!

[@davidsummerville351]

Thanks for doing this. I have a Mothership 2 and love it.I am now looking for a polyphonic synth. This may be the one.

[@eatmarth]

I love those sounds that are very much the same sound as the SNES and NES can generate

[@hrgbass5701]

Super helpful thank you man.

[@andrewdeck7945]

THANKS. I was really needing this. The company hardly tries to help the user understand all of this.

[@andrewdeck7945]

Already enjoying the pedal so much more now!!!! This youtube link should come default with the pedal!

[@moyinski5637]

Thanks a lot for all those informations... I knew it was a good pedal but you give me more keys to understand

[@mikhailpenkin2112]

I would like this guy to explain me quantum physics, he obviously has talent in explaining things very clearly.

[@valmirluciobarbosa1284]

De grande contribuição, obrigado.

[@jahnkejens]

Got my C4 and this vid is my reference to learn this beast. Very good work, And, Zach, I'd suppose that the flats you are using are better for tracking than roundwounds. Albeit my technique is very clean, sometimes I get nasty audio artefacts when sliding.

[@markanthony5897]

Bravo

[@Thurgor_Supreme]

As a bassist, I don't care much about pedals to begin with (exc for compression & DI). I started considering an envelope filter though... and holy cow! I am so glad I spent the extra $50 over the Spectrum to get this beast! It can do everything I've ever daydreamed about, and then some

[@keziahj]

Yes! 😍👾👍

[@brainjellyTV]

Figured out that the iPhone interface its similar but u have to click on this lightning ⚡️ bolt at the bottom so the changes take effect…don’t give up…It’s worth it!

[@julivessi]

This is really helpful, thank you! Any chance you could add some markers to the video timeline to find different parts of the video?

[@staplek]

question zach re: 3:20, pitch detection block - if you go into the unit in stereo but only select audio input 1, will that keep audio input 2 non effected so in a stereo amp scenario one amp would be the synth and one would remain clean?

[@Christopherjazzcat]

This is excellent. Are your patches available in the community?

[@JarodGrieco]

Hey Zach. It's been months that I've wanted to tell you how great this video is. I waited to purchase the pedal until I could see your breakdown of the software. I reference this video every time I go to make a new preset. Such a great job! Question for you that I can't find the answer to anywhere: What is a "pole" when discussing EQ? I'm imagining a type of bar graph where if I have a 4-pole low pass filter, the bottom 4 poles (each one being its own freq?) are the only bars present. Am I on the right track?

[@ultrakwh]

Hi, I wonder How I control LFO speed by Env? I touched Env to Speed knob in LFO section. I thought Env to Speed knob can control LFO speed my Envelope move. but it does not. am I something miss?

[@Pogokoala]

Anyways they have the effect for Nine Inch Nails Closer for Bass? Since I am aware that it was a Keyboard that did the bass but it has this catchy effect on synth bass. was wondering if this C4 can mimic this close as effect as possible?

[@ryansalloom8954]

hey boss, I have a big favor to ask, is there any way you can help me out with instructions on how to set up the dual expression pedal through my hub to the c4 and spectrum filter, I can't figure out how it should look like in the neuro editor.

[@georpsi]

Awesome video really helpful. Did the C4 made it to your board? How would you compare it against a combination of pedals eg oc2 + fmeron + xerograph etc? Keep up the great work is truly inspiring.

[@matteosalvestrini3553]

I've a question if you don't mind: how could be effective to use this pedal with a preamp? Can I use it in the Send/Return or it has already an internal preamp so it's preferable use the pedal and the preamp when FX is no needed? Thank you very much!

[@UsTheMusicTVOfficial]

This pedal was sent from the Synth Gods themselves. We are now worthy!!!

[@benmorales9246]

Fantastic video really helped me learn the pedal but only complaint is I wish you explained the sequencer more.

[@jessetoews2446]

any recs on a different way i should run my signal chain? : - awol virus fuzz > polytune3/buffer > digitech ricochet > boss oc2 > Future Impact > C4 synth > mu octavider > microtron iii > ovnifx compression > darkglass microtubes b3k v2 > mu phasor > warped vinyl vibrato > H9 max+barn3 > strymon Volante > Gravitas tremolo / > Volume pedal > gamechanger plus sustain > Beatbuddy > pigtronix infinity looper > RJM tone saver buffer > aguilar tone hammer preamp/di .. ... if you see something that makes sense to change, i'd try it.

[@MYGAS21]

Question for Zachary: CAn you introduce pauses into the sequencer beats? If not do you miss it? Can you introduce pauses with you playing atleast? (or does the sequence start from the beggining every time you pluck ?)

[@spacepig191826]

my dude, i now REALLY want one of these for my rig. thank you. speaking off basses, what is he bass you have? it is beautiful

[@toms8135]

Thanks very helpful :) this pedal could replace anything. I've spend years dumping money on octave pedals, filters, synths, fuzzes/distortions. All sorted with this plus a MIDI switcher.

[@fattyjaybird7505]

Would you recommend it for live shows?

[@PaDamTuts]

If you add the 0:00 timestamp marker in your description, the timestamps will actually show up in the video timeline. Without it you have to go to comments every time to go to the next timestamp. Thank you, great review!

[@LaFritePerreGoat]

@zach as 6 month went by do you still use it or you prefer to use your oc2 plus a combination auf dirt+mod pedals??

[@selfactualizer2099]

The future is nice

[@n_phaneuf]

How long have you had flats on your bass? It sounds different/better than in other videos of yours. Also would you consider sharing your filter patches?

[@destobessa]

Share some light please: I have burned a preset on the pedal. After adjusting the setting to my taste directly on the pedal I would like to save this own setting directly on the pedal without the Neuro App. Is there a shortcut to save my tweaked setting on the pedal itself???

[@khalylehagood3222]

What keeps you from keeping this pedal on your gigging board?

[@robertkaye5434]

Q4U: When performing live, do you need a laptop or mobile to control/access all the various sounds in real time? If so, is there a long USB cable that'll run from the pedalboard to the PC/smartphone?

[@MrDonc78]

Have you seen the new future impact?

[@kabassa]

I bought this pedal and noticed that the natural tone of the bass that is mixed with the effect sounds a little different, without really lower frequencies, have you noticed this? I play reggae and I also need frequencies below 80hz. I wanted to mix with a synthesizer, but I can't reach these frequencies even in the natural timbre of the bass when the pedal is activated.

[@jorriffhdhtrsegg]

Does it do dry slow-gear or ehx attack decay type sounds?

[@220_hz4]

Can the C4 feasibly do the same thing that a Meatbox/Density Hulk does?

[@MrLockwise]

why the polyphonic pitch gives always a sort of tremolo fx? is there a way to just pitch the sound without this modulation?

[@big_russian_bass]

bro, can you tweak the sound like 808 bass? It seems like a sine wave

[@mattdickun6145]

Hey man, great video! I'm super new to synths and effects. Do you have any of these loaded to the source community?

[@nicholasbtorretta]

Coming late into the game, I have had a Meris Enzo for the last 4 years as my main synth pedal. Is it worth changing to the C4? any thought on how they compare?

[@majorcloud9141]

Hi can Soruce Audio or anyone in the comment section answer this question, can this pedal be ran with iPad guitar apps or will it only track with actual guitars and basses?

[@zoltanrenaldi4466]

do you have any plan to review H9 algorithm Hotsawz? will be interesting to see it from you

[@richtudor8547]

Would source audio please hire you for walk throughs of each pedal? As well as how to use the neuro and midi controllers? Thank you Amazing walk through video

[@marcf2895]

Zach, I can’t find your patches on the source audio community pages.

[@peadookie]

I’ve got a somewhat unorthodox question and I’d love your take on it if willing. I’m a long-time bassist with multi-genre experience and I’m starting a top-shelf funk band. I love the idea of being able to cover/double some of the synth lines. I already own some synths for edm production and have an HX stomp with decent synths and I’m confident I could just bring keys as well if need be, but I’d prefer not to. I’m pretty set on the C4 due to size and ability and tracking, but I’m concerned I’m not going to use it enough to justify it. Do you have any thoughts/advoce/ examples of synth bass in use you could share? TIA, great video!