Line 6 M9 Stompbox Modeler Owner's Manual

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M9 Stompbox Modeler v2.0

DELAY MOD DISTORTION FILTER VERB

Advanced Guide

An in-depth exploration of the digital technologies and musical machinations of the M9 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.

Line 6 M9 Stompbox Modeler Owner's Manual

M9 v2.0 Advanced Guide

Table of Contents

Features...................................................................................	1•1
Firmware Update v2.0....................................................................................	1•2
Setup Details...........................................................................	2•1
Tuner, Setup Mode.........................................................................................	2•1
Looper: Levels & EQ......................................................................................	2•2
Tempo, Expression Pedals...............................................................................	2•2
Preferences, Scenes; Routing..........................................................................	2•3
Dim, Auto Save & Manual Save; Scene Modes; Relative Pots.....................	2•4
MIDI, Gate, Display; Factory Reset...............................................................	2•5
Gate, Display, Version....................................................................................	2•6
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
Scene Mode Details................................................................	4•1
Momentary Scene Mode................................................................................	4•1
Latch Scene Mode..........................................................................................	4•2
Auto Save.......................................................................................................	4•3
Manual Save...................................................................................................	4•4
Scene Copy; Scene Folders.............................................................................	4•5
Effect Copy.....................................................................................................	4•6

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
Recalling The Current Scene.........................................................................	B•2
Firmware Update Instructions........................................................................	B•2

Features

Welcome to the M9 Stompbox Modeler v2.0 Advanced Guide. This guide contains in-

1•1

depth details of your M9’s features and functionality not included in the Pilot’s Handbook.

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 M9 effects. These are located directly under the LCD display.

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 knob to the right of the Model Select knob, labeled 1 in the illustration.

• The current effect’s switch location (1B) is displayed upper left

• Push Model Select knob to select the FX type - turn it to select the individual effect

Firmware Updates

• The name of the currently selected effect is displayed here (Growler)

• Turn Knobs 1 thru 5 to adjust the 5 parameters of the current effect

When Relative Mode is active, settings smoothly change relative to knob position

As of October, 2009, Line 6 has released Flash Memory Update v2.0 for the M9, adding numerous new FX Models and features.

If you’re not running v2.0 firmware or greater, be sure to visit www.Line6.com for the latest info, and see Appendix B for instructions on how to upgrade your M9 using the Line 6 Monkey application (for free).

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
	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, a 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 M9 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 knob’s
	80% position.
	Pixel Heel &Toe
	Your expression pedal heel & toe values are now displayed as pixel cutouts in the LCD.
	See Chapter 3 for details.
	Dim FX LED On/Off
	For those who want to see only the active FX LEDs, you can globally turn Dim mode off.
	Scene Folders

You now have access to 4 Scene folders (24 Scenes), with the ability to backup/restore an individual Scene, a Scene folder of 6 Scenes, or all 4 Scene folders at once via MIDI.

Setup Details

Before you begin using your M9, it’s always a good idea to get in tune.

Tuner

To enter Tuner mode, press the 2B+3B switches simultaneously. The LCD will immediately

2•1

display the Tuner. The current note you’re tuning will be displayed in the lower center of the LCD.

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.

440HZ REF

[ ]

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 any footswitch and you’ll return to normal operation.

Setup Mode

To enter Setup mode, press the 1B+2B switches simultaneously. The M9’s LCD will display the first Setup screen, Looper: Levels & EQ. To access the three other Setup screens, one at a time, press the Model Select encoder. You’ll toggle thru Tempo & Expression Pedals, Preferences & Scenes, MIDI, Gate & Display, then back to Looper: Levels & EQ again.

Remember how to enter Setup mode - we’ll be referring to it several times in the chapters that follow. It’s the first step in adjusting numerous settings that determine the way the M9 operates.

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

Setup Details

Looper: Levels & EQ

In the first Setup screen you’ll see two Looper Levels to adjust in the center of the LCD. 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.

2•2	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 Play and Overdub is 100%. Use Knobs 1 and 4 to adjust these levels.

Looper:

Levels

PLAY

HI CUT

LPR PRE

OVERDUB

LO CUT

LPR POST

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.

Knob 3 sets the Looper to play back Pre or Post the enabled FX in your current Scene. See Chapter 5 for more details about using the Looper.

Tempo, Expression Pedals

Press the Model Select knob and you’ll toggle to the second Setup screen, Tempo & Espression Pedals. In the lower left of the LCD you’ll see a Tempo control, adjustable by turning Knob 3. This sets the global Tempo for FX that don’t have a value assigned.

Tempo

Exp Pedals

FX1:PDL1

FX2:PDL1

120 BPM

FX3:PDL1

LPR:PDL2

FX1:OFF

FX2:OFF

FX1:PDL2

FX2:PDL2

FX3:OFF

LPR:0FF

FX3:PDL2

LPR:PDL1

Setup Details

The other four Knobs in Setup screen 2 are dedicated to expression pedal assignments. Any or all 3 FX Units in the M9 can be controlled by an expression pedal when you plug one into the Pedal 1 or Pedal 2 jack. You can use up to 2 pedals at once.

Each pedal can be assigned to control an FX Unit or the Looper. You have 3 selection
choices here: Off, Pedal 1 or Pedal 2. Knobs 1 & 2 set the assignments for FX 1 & FX 2,
Knob 4 sets the assignment for FX 3, and Knob 5 sets the assignment for the Looper.	2•3
*Note: 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 pedal settings.

Preferences, Scenes

Press the Model Select knob while viewing the Tempo, Expression Pedals LCD and you’ll toggle to Setup screen 3, Prefs & Scenes. In this LCD screen you can set Bypass Mode, Dim Mode, Routing, Relative Mode and Scene Modes. These are all global settings.


Prefs			Scenes

	DSP BYP	DIM ON		MNL SAVE
		REL		MOMEN
1>2>3		POTS		SCENE


	TRUE BYP	DIM OFF		AUTOSAVE
		ABS		LATCH
		ABS		LATCH
3>2>1		POTS		SCENE

The Model Select knob toggles between True Bypass and DSP Bypass. In True Bypass, mechanically switching relays route your signal directly from input jack to output jack, bypassing all circuitry, for absolutely no processing or conversion all FX are bypassed.

If you’re playing back a loop, however, or you want your Delay and Reverb trails to be heard when bypassing all FX, you must use DSP Bypass. If you want to use True Bypass, keep in mind that it can only be activated when all of the following conditions are met:

•True Bypass is enabled in Setup mode (via the Model Select knob).

•All 3 FX Units are in a bypass state.

•The looper is stopped.

•Looper mode is inactive (the Tap footswitch LED is not solid red).

Routing

Select your FX Routing setup with Knob 3: either 1>2>3 or 3>2>1. Please note that expression pedal assignments are retained per FX Unit # and follow the selected routing. For example, if FX1:PDL2, then PDL2 controls FX1 whether its first or last in the routing.

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