Source Audio Spectrum
Source Audio makes some crazy stuff. The HornFX team is addicted to their pedals. This wonderful team of effect magicians is constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries of what pedals can do. With the introduction of the Spectrum, they have continued their tradition of excellence and intrigue. The Spectrum is a super-powered filter pedal with a dizzying array of parameters, options, and capabilities. If you are ready to commit some exploration, your sonic pallet will expand greatly, and you will have an immense amount of fun with the Spectrum.
External Control: Neuro App/USB/HUB
Cost: $$
HornFX Review
Interface: 3.5/5
As is the case with all current Source Audio pedals, the real interface lives in the Neuro App. All of your preparation and behind-the-scenes work with the pedal should be on the app rather than the face of the pedal. Even with the vast capabilities of mouse, keyboard, and screen, the editor in the app is complex, and like most other Source Audio Creations, not for the faint of heart. With the app in mind, the four knobs and one switch do not provide lot of manipulation options when on stage, but they can be freely assigned to any parameter for any preset (6 of which are accessible via the pedal’s manual controls). This pedal demands preparation. But its app, while complex, is learnable and fun to mess around with.
Versatility: 5/5
This pedal does so so much. This tiny monster has two sperate parallel filters with 30 filter types, 12 envelopes, 14 wave shapes in two LFO’s, Octave capabilities with up to four voices, and 2 parallel distortion modules fit, all with many manipulable parameters. You can make sounds from the simplest envelope filters and auto-wah’s, to the most futuristic sounds with octaves and crazy oscillations, this pedal can be explored for an eternity. With an expression pedal, it can even be used as a wah. This is likely the most versatile envelope filter/auto-wah pedal available.
Clarity of Effect: 5/5
The versatile options of the Spectrum are each quite manipulable. The wide array of parameters gives you the ability to carefully dial in the exact sound you hope to find, and to explore and discover new sounds.
Complexity: Medium
Live application: 3.5/5
The score of a 3.5/5 comes with a caveat. If including the app and hub and with midi control, the Spectrum would be a 5/5, but with just the pedal alone, you only have access to 6 preset sounds, which can be stifling when a pedal gives you so many options. With that being said, this pedal is exceptional when used live. Even starting with preset creation, this pedal is incredible. When using the app you have access to the Source Audio cloud, where you will find Spectrum presets that you can start using immediately, or tweak to fit your needs. From there, even without expression pedals and MIDI controllers, this pedal is incredibly useful. It can provide traditional and essential sounds like phaser, octaving, and envelope filter, but can also provide futuristic and otherworldly tones. For those who like to explore the sonic future while having the traditional sounds at their fingertips as well, and for those who do not mind a bit of a learning curve, you cannot go wrong with the Source Audio Spectrum
Product Information
The Spectrum Intelligent Filter is the most powerful stereo filter effect pedal ever created. Building on almost 15 years of filter pedal technology and know-how, Spectrum is the culmination of Source Audio's finest envelope sounds and best thinking on how to easily incorporate those sounds into rigs of all types. The pedal not only features finely crafted envelope filter effects inspired by some of the most iconic and sought-after effects pedals on the market, it also includes buzzing, synth-like octave/distortion/filter effects. The pedal is a cleverly integrated, all-in-one funk/psych/electronic/jam machine. Whether you want to easily plug and play with its six carefully crafted factory sounds, browse the ever-growing Neuro library for additional sounds created by Source Audio and other Spectrum owners, or use the Neuro’s deep sound editing tools to create your own highly personalized presets, this filter pedal will satisfy the needs of any guitar, bass, keyboard, horn, or (insert your instrument here) player.
Plug In and Play
The Spectrum Intelligent Filter was designed with special attention given to the simple plug-and-play experience. Right out of the box the pedal offers easy access to tones inspired by some of the most iconic and difficult to find envelope filters effects pedals on the market. It also offers synth-like tones comprised of distorted octave and envelope phaser sounds. Because of the pedal's ALT button, the Spectrum's four knob control surface actually offers access to eight different parameters. Use the Spectrum's Input Gain, Sensitivity and Speed controls to dial in the perfect envelope response for your needs. Maybe you like a slow and smooth envelope movement while you really dig-in on the strings, or possibly you want a quick moving filter that responds to light picking - either way is achievable with the Spectrum. The Frequency, Resonance, Depth and Mix controls provide fine control over the color and character of your filter effects. Whatever your needs, the Spectrum is the most comprehensive filter effects pedal available.
The Neuro Editing Systems
On the surface, the Spectrum Intelligent Filter features a simple 4-knob interface and a choice of six amazing guitar/bass envelope filter effects - just plug-in and play. If you want to take things to take things a bit further, we urge that you connect the Spectrum to our Neuro Preset Editing & Browsing tools. The Neuro Mobile App is available for free at the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android). The Neuro Desktop Editor is available as a free download for Mac or Windows systems on our Downloads page. Inside Neuro you will find the tools to create your own one-of-a-kind envelope tone. Use the Spectrum’s collection of two parallel filter voices, octave up or down effects, and distortion to dial in that perfect tone. The Neuro also offers a growing collection of additional envelope filter presets created by the Source Audio team as well as the ever-expanding community of Spectrum users - just touch the screen to open a preset in your Spectrum. If you like what you hear, hit the BURN button and upload the preset to any of the pedal's six toggle switch positions.
Six Onboard Presets: Choose from six different onboard envelope filter effects. Vintage sounds include effects inspired by the iconic Mu-Tron© and Lovetone Meatball© pedals, as well as contemporary envelopes with thumping octave-down effects and buzzing synth-like tones.
Simple 4-Knob Control Panel: Adjust 8 different parameters with 4 knobs. Primary controls include Input Level, Modulation Depth, Frequency Starting Point, and Envelope Speed. Alternate controls (accessible by pressing the ALT button) include Envelope Sensitivity, Wet/Dry Mix, Resonance, and Output Volume.
Excellent Envelope Filter Response: Use the Spectrum's Input Gain, Sensitivity and Speed controls to dial in the perfect envelope response for your needs. Maybe you like slow and smooth envelope movement while you really dig-in on the strings, or possibly you want a quick moving filter that responds to light picking - either way is achievable with the Spectrum.
Growing Library of Published Presets: For quick access to a world of great tones, try sampling sounds from a vast collection of published presets created by the Source Audio team and the ever-growing Spectrum Neuro Community.
Unprecedented Sound Sculpting Options: The powerful Neuro Desktop Editor (Free download for Mac and Windows) and Neuro Mobile App (iOS and Android) offer maximum sound exploration possibilities. Use Neuro’s additional filter, octave, and distortion blocks to create highly unique effects.
Supreme Tracking: If tracking matters to you (and it should), you will be amazed by the lightning quick response from the Spectrum's octave effects.
128 MIDI Accessible Factory Presets – The addition of a third party MIDI controller with USB host provides access to any of the pedal’s 128 Factory presets.
Stereo Inputs and Outputs: Use the Neuro Editor’s panning controls to route each Voice to any location in a full stereo spread.
Compact Design – The durable, anodized aluminum housing has a small footprint and sturdy hardware. Dimensions: L: 4.5 in./11.4cm x W: 2.75 in./7cm x H: 2 in./5.1cm (including knobs).
Universal BypassTM – Select either analog buffered or relay based True Bypass.
USB Port - Class compliant USB-MIDI allows the Spectrum to work as a plug-and-play device with recording software running on Mac and Windows recording software or any third party MIDI controller with USB host. The USB port also offers connectivity to the Neuro Desktop Editor providing access to deep editing possibilities and pedal firmware updates.
External Expression and Tap Tempo Control — Use the Control Input jack with the Source Audio Dual Expression Pedal (expression control to multiple parameters) or Tap Switch (adjust LFO rates on the fly).
Product info from the Source Audio website.