Line 6 M13 User Manual

®

M13 Stompbox Modeler v2.0

DELAY MOD DISTORTION FILTER VERB

Advanced Guide

An in-depth exploration of the digital technologies and musical machinations of the M13 Stompbox Modeler.

Electrophonic Limited Edition

Please Note:

Line 6®, DL4™, MM4™, FM4™, DM4™, Verbzilla®, POD® and Vetta™ are trademarks of Line 6, Inc. All other product names, trademarks and artists’ names are the property of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Line 6. Product names, images, and artists’ names are used solely to identify the products whose tones and sounds were studied during Line 6’s sound model development for this product. The use of these products, trademarks, images, and artists’ names does not imply any cooperation or endorsement.

M13 v2.0 Advanced Guide

M13 v2.0 Advanced Guide © 2009 Line 6, Inc.

Table of Contents

Features...................................................................................	1•1
Firmware Update v2.0....................................................................................	1•2
Firmware Update v1.07..................................................................................	1•3
Setup Details...........................................................................	2•1
Tuner, Setup Mode.........................................................................................	2•1
Expression Pedals............................................................................................	2•2
Global Tempo, Looper Levels & EQ..............................................................	2•2
Preferences, True Bypass, Scenes....................................................................	2•3
FX Loop, Factory Reset...................................................................................	2•4
MIDI Backup, Global Noise Gate, Displays, Dim.........................................	2•5
Model Details..........................................................................	3•1
Tap-based FX, Fine-Tune Mode......................................................................	3•1
DryThru Models, Model Defaults...................................................................	3•2
Expression Pedal Details.................................................................................	3•3
Tube Compressor Model.................................................................................	3•3
Scenes Details.........................................................................	4•1
Momentary Scene Mode, Latch Scene Mode................................................	4•1
Autosave, Manual Save..................................................................................	4•2
Scene Setup, Effect Copy...............................................................................	4•3
Intra Scene Effect Copy..................................................................................	4•4
Looper Details........................................................................	5•1
Looper & Live Guitar.....................................................................................	5•1
Expression Pedal Control...............................................................................	5•1
Looper Switches..............................................................................................	5•2
Looper Tutorial...............................................................................................	5•4

Appendix A: Reference..........................................................	A•1
MIDI Control................................................................................................	A•1
Looper & Expression Pedals..........................................................................	A•1
FX Toggle On/Off..........................................................................................	A•2
Scene Select...................................................................................................	A•2
BPM / Milliseconds........................................................................................	A•3
Appendix B:Tips.....................................................................	B•1
MIDI Dumps...................................................................................................	B•1
Saving Scenes Internally, Recalling The Current Scene...............................	B•2
Firmware Update Instructions........................................................................	B•3
Backup Tip For Mac Users..............................................................................	B•4

Features

Features

Welcome to the M13 Stompbox Modeler Advanced Guide. This guide contains in-depth

1•1

details of your M13’s features and functionality.

With over 100 Models and a Looper in one device, there’s a lot to work with. Our goal with this guide is to provide you with the information you need to make it easy to find the sounds you’re looking for.

In the chapters that follow, we’ll be referring to the six Knobs that adjust the various parameters of the M13 effects. These are located below each of the four LCD displays.

As illustrated in the graphic below, in the top row left is the Model Select knob. To the right of that are Knobs 1 and 2. Knobs 3, 4 and 5 are in the second row, left to right. So when we mention adjusting an effect’s first parameter with Knob 1, we’re referring to the first knob to the right of the Model Select knob.

•Currently selected effect is displayed in the LCD, along with its adjustable parameters

•Push Model Select encoder to select FX type - turn encoder to select individual effect

• Turn Knobs 1 thru 5 to adjust the selected effect’s parameters

When Relative Mode is active, your settings will smoothly change relative to the physical knob’s position

Firmware Updates

With the launch of the M9 Stompbox Modeler in October, 2009, Line 6 has released Firmware Update v2.0 for both the M9 and M13, adding many new FX Models and several new features to the M13 that are included with the new M9.

Earlier in 2009 we releassed the v1.07 update. Both firmware updates have greatly expanded the features and functionality of the M13, so if you’re not up-to-date, be sure to visit the Line6 website and see Appendix B for info on how to upgrade your M13. (for free!)

On the following two pages we’ll briefly describe the new, latest & greatest M13 features.

Features

Firmware Update v2.0

Here’s an overview of the new features we’ve included in the v2.0 firmware update:

1•2	New FX Models
	We’ve added over 20 new models in the v2.0 firmware. These include Pitch Glide, Smart
	Harmony, 6 different Mod FX including 2 unique Flangers, a Pattern Tremolo and a hand-
	wired MXR® Phase 90-inspired Phaser, the new Particle Verb, a Bass Octaver, 5 custom
	EQs and 8 Wah models from the POD X3 series.
	SyncTo MIDI Clock
	You can now sync your Tap-based M13 FX to external MIDI clock, a popular user request
	that we’re happy to include in v2.0.
	Re-syncable LFO
	Sync your Mod FX to the downbeat by simply hitting the TAP switch while playing.
	Relative Mode
	For those who want smooth parameter changes when they ‘wake up’ their physical knobs
	to adjust parameter values, we’ve implemented a user-selectable Relative Mode. For
	example, if your virtual setting is at 10% but your knob is at 80%, your setting will smoothly
	move in the direction you turn the knob, instead of rudely jumping to the current position.
	Intra-Scene Effect Copy
	You can now copy an individual effect with all its settings into a completely new Scene.
	Pixel Heel &Toe
	Your expression pedal heel & toe values are now displayed as pixel cutouts in the LCD.
	Dim FX LED On/Off
	For those who want to see only the active FX LEDs, you can turn Dim mode off.
	Scene Folders

You now have access to 4 Scene folders (48 Scenes) including MIDI backup/restore.

Features

Firmware Update v1.07

In April, 2009 we released Firmware Update v1.07 for the M13. This added some of the

most requested features from users since the original M13 shipped. Here’s an overview of 1•3 the features that were added with that update, which are of course included in the v2.0 update:

Tempo Parameter

A new Tempo parameter has been implemented. When setting up a Scene, enter Setup Mode by pressing and holding the Looper Controls switch, and you’ll see a Tempo setting displayed in BPM in the lower left of the FX2 LCD. To set a specific tempo for your Scene, simply adjust Knob 3. The selected tempo will be stored with your Scene.

Reverse Playback From Looper Record Mode

Several customers requested this, and we agree it’s a useful feature. When you’re in Record or Overdub mode when recording a loop, you can now step on the Reverse switch and your loop will immediately exit Record mode and play back in reverse.

FX Off Setting For FX Loop

We added an FX OFF setting to the FX Loop parameters in Setup Mode. Now you can set up a Scene with your FX Loop bypassed, so you can essentially kick in your external FX by simply switching Scenes. This feature is available on a Scene by Scene basis.

Setup Mode Parameters Saved Per Scene

In the Setup Mode menus, all of the following settings are Scene-specific: Gate, FX Loop, True/DSP Bypass, Tempo and Expression Pedals. (some of these were previously global parameters only)

Distortion/Comp Models Leveled

We re-leveled all the Distortion/Comp model default settings. This results in a more consistent volume experience when auditioning the Distortion/Comp FX.

We hope you enjoy all the new features and FX models in your M13!

Now please proceed to Chapter 2 for details on setting up your M13.

Setup Details

Setup Details

Before you begin using your M13, it’s always a good idea to get in tune.

Tuner

To enter Tuner mode, press and hold the Tap switch for a few seconds. LCD 3 will display

2•1

the Tuner. LCD 4 will display the note you’re tuning.

If you’d like to tune to a reference other than standard 440, turn Knob 3 to select from 425 to 455. To toggle between Mute Audio (your guitar will be silent) and Bypass Audio (you’ll hear your guitar dry with no FX), turn Knob 5.

50

b

440HZ REF

[ ]

50

#	D
MUTE
AUDIO
BYPASS
AUDIO

Tuning is straightforward: when the graphic diamond is to the left of center, your note is flat; when it’s to the right, you’re sharp. When the diamond is precisely in the center, two triangles will appear above and below it, indicating your string is in tune.

To exit Tuner mode, press Tap again, or any other footswitch.

Setup Mode

To enter Setup mode, press and hold the Looper Controls switch for a few seconds.

The M13’s four LCDs will display your settings, including Expression Pedals in LCD 1, Tempo, Looper Levels & EQ in LCD 2, Preferences, Scenes & FX Loop in LCD 3, and MIDI, Gate & Displays in LCD 4.

Depending on the way you like to work, most of your Global settings can be left as is after you’ve set them initially. They’ll be recalled each time you power-up. Some settings are saved with individual presets. In the following pages we’ll describe them all in detail.

Setup Details

Expression Pedals

		In LCD 1 you set up your expression pedal assignments. You’ll also see your current
		firmware version number displayed in the upper left corner. Any or all 4 FX Units in the
		M13 can be controlled by an expression pedal. You can use up to 2 pedals at once. Each
		can be assigned to an FX Unit or the Looper. You have 3 selection choices here: Pedal
	2•2	1, Pedal 2, or Off. Knobs 1 & 2 set the assignments for FX 1 & FX 2, Knob 3 sets the
		assignment for the Looper, and Knobs 4 & 5 set the assignments for FX 3 & FX 4.

Expression Pedals

V. 2.0	FX1:PDL1	FX2:PDL1
LPR:PDL2	FX3:PDL1	FX4:PDL1
LPR:PDL1	FX1:OFF	FX2:OFF
LPR:OFF	FX1:PDL2	FX2:PDL2
	FX3:OFF	FX4:0FF
	FX3:PDL2	FX4:PDL2

*Looper pedal control is a global setting. FX pedal control settings are saved per Scene. See Chapter 3 for more details on how to set up heel and toe expression pedal settings.

Tempo, Looper Levels & EQ

We’ve added a new Tempo control displayed in the lower left of LCD 2, adjustable by turning Knob 3. There are also two Looper Levels to set up in LCD 2. The first is Play, which determines the volume of your Looper’s playback as balanced with your live guitar. The second is Overdub, which determines the volume of your loop in Overdub mode. To clarify, if your Overdub Level is set to 90%, each time your loop begins a new overdub its volume will be reduced by 10%, sounding quieter and quieter with each overdub pass. The default level for both Play and Overdub is 100%. Use Knobs 1 and 4 to adjust these levels.

Tempo LprLvl LprEQ

	PLAY	HI CUT
100.0BPM	OVERDUB	LO CUT
	PLAY	HI CUT
	OVERDUB	LO CUT

With Knobs 2 and 5 you can adjust Looper Hi Cut and Lo Cut EQ levels. Hi Cut rolls off the high end for loop playback (@2kHz), and Lo Cut rolls off the low end (@500Hz). If applied, this EQ affects the sound of loop playback only, having no effect on live guitar.