The Fourth Time Is The Charm For This Popular Bass Synthesizer
I began my obsession with keyboard bass by buying a Rheem Key Bass, moving to a Novation Bass Station, and finally settling on a Studio Electronics SE-1x. As a novice keyboardist, though, I’ve never given up trying to get synth bass from my pedals, usually by dialing in a combo of octave, envelope filter, chorus, harmonizer, overdrive, and wah flavors. Eventually, my quest for the perfect all-in-one synth-bass pedal led me to buy two Akai Deep Impact units in the early 2000s, and although they were far better than anything else available, I sold them because the tracking wasn’t great, and the presets weren’t consistent; I’d program an awesome sound in rehearsal and be disappointed at the gig.
Fortunately, Andras Szalay, the original designer of the Deep Impact, has continued to refine his creation. Szalay began making the Future Impact in 2015, and his fourth iteration aims to be the go-to synth pedal for bassists who want authentic analog-style sounds without playing keyboard.
How It Sounds
The v4’s stock sounds run the spectrum from gig-ready to far-out. Among the unit’s 99 patches, I heard many classic synth sounds that made me squeal with joy, speechless with surprise, and thoughtful with possibilities. Once I plugged in, it was hard to stop playing.
The list of default sounds divides the patches between bass (1–67), effects (68–76), guitar (77–85), MIDI (86–94), and EWI (95–99). Patches 21–29, a numbered series called “DI emulation,” do a good job of easing virgin ears into the Future Impact’s offerings. As I began to explore, I found that some patches were straightforward, like 85 (“GTR_Bassist_Substitute”), which I used like an octaver. Others, like the 808-ish 36 (“O, si, tu!_Accent”), put me on the dancefloor; yet others (like 64, “Woody Drops”) transported me to a space-age bachelor pad, and a handful — including 32 (“Str_Chords_Min_Maj_Acc_R”), 50 (“Electronic Cuckoos”), and 59 (“HeavensArp”) — sounded like they’d be perfect for film scoring. I loved the meditation lounge that popped into my head when I played 45 (“Singing Chords”), and I enjoyed the more complex, layered sounds like 46 (“EnvSlide”) and 55 (“Octave Twinkles”). My personal faves? Patches 48 (“LowSpike”), 53 (“Polka_Madness”), 61 (“Sustain Brass,” a total song-starter), 74 (“Powerchord”), 78 (“HighSolo”), 86 (“BRI derivation_AT”), and 89 (“Get A Desk!”).
When I called up patches that seemed over the top — like 30 (“Don’t Sync To Their Level”), 34 (“TwentyFirst CT”), 62 (“Twinkle Delay”), 82 (“SynthFuzz”), and 88 (“Men At Work”) — I simply adjusted the BALANCE knob so that I was mainly hearing my bass with just a touch of freaky effect. I wasn’t even sure what to do with 17 (“MoneyDrumAndBass”) and the scary-ish 52 (“Spooky”), but I’m sure I’d find a use for them.
Some sounds, like 37 (“Delayed Intervals”), surprised me when I let a note sit for a second. Patch 76 (“TinyVerb”) was a highlight of the effect patches, which also include delay, flange, filter, phaser, and a faux fretless. On a couple patches, like 87 (“I_ll Go My Own Way_AT”), muting one note before starting another made a huge difference. Other sounds, like 47 (“Megasynth”), cried out for a wah pedal. When I played these effects while slowly stepping on a Dunlop Cry Baby Mini Bass Wah, it brought out juicy nuances that made me wonder what other pedals might pair well with the v4.
What’s Hot
The Future Impact v4 is tough, lightweight (600 grams), and small (not much bigger than two Boss pedals). The layout is compact but functional, with well-placed knobs and a bright LED display for navigating presets and parameters. Tapping the PROGRAM footswitch once moves to the next preset, and tapping twice moves backward. The v4 works with any 9-volt Roland/Boss-style adapter.
The software editor provides access to every parameter, including envelope settings, LFOs, and filter types. Synth nerds will appreciate the visual interface, which makes programming much easier than menu-diving on the pedal itself.
If you’re a serious MIDI user, you’ll like being able to change patches remotely via MIDI program changes, control parameters in real time using MIDI CC messages, and sync LFOs and arpeggiators to external MIDI clock sources. The Future Impact v4 also boasts a CV/gate output, which allows it to control external analog synthesizers or modular gear. It was thrilling to play the Future Impact with a MIDI controller and then use it to trigger sounds while playing bass on my SE-1x.
What’s Not
Certain patches can sound a bit harsh or digital, particularly when using higher-pitched tones, and some patches might need EQ to cut through in a band context. Use your EQ/preamp accordingly.
Tracking on some patches could be inconsistent when I played fast lines. Thankfully, changing the ATTACK and BALANCE settings, using a pick for definition, and making sure I was aggressively muting stray strings helped a ton. The v4 was great when I used bends and slides to mimic the expressiveness of pitch and mod wheels on a keyboard; it’s monophonic, but a few patches occasionally processed chords and double-stops.
Some folks find that the software editor can be a bit overwhelming, so if you’d rather deep-tweak things away from your computer, you’re out of luck. Also, there have been reports of occasional compatibility quirks with certain operating systems.
How It Compares
The Future Impact is more expensive than any of its nearest competitors, but it shines in ways that others don’t. The Source Audio C4 Synth lacks the Future Impact’s screen, and it requires an app for full control. The EHX Bass Mono Synth is far less tweakable, and it has fewer sounds. And the Boss SY-200 is arguably less synth-like and not as analog-ish as the four-oscillator Future Impact.
The v4 is a huge improvement on the original Deep Impact, but even compared to the first three Future Impact pedals, the v4 offers sturdier knobs plus superior tracking, MIDI, and CV/gate possibilities, as well as an upgraded software editor. (After our review went to press, Panda Audio released the Future Impact V4 VIP Edition, which puts the same features in a smaller, more pedalboard-friendly case for $50 more.)
Buy This If…
• You need serious synth bass sounds without switching to a keyboard
• You don’t want to use key-bass plugins
• You’re a synth-bass nerd and you want the latest and greatest
The Future Impact v4 is one of the most powerful synth-bass pedals on the market. There’s plenty to love right out of the box, and the software editor will help you craft a customized behemoth that fits your needs. If sound quality, versatility, and deep control are your priorities, the Future Impact v4 should absolutely be on your shortlist.
pandaMIDI FUTURE IMPACT v4
$399
By: E. E. Bradman
