® JM4 Looper Advanced Guide An in-depth guide to the features and functionality of the JM4 Looper.
Please Note: Line 6, JM4 and Spider Jam 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.
Table of Contents Updated Features................................................................... 1•1 SD Browser...................................................................................................... 1•1 Playback Levels, Input Levels......................................................................... 1•2 Menu Items..................................................................................................... 1•3 SD Card Details..................................................
Updated Features Updated Features Welcome to the JM4 Looper Advanced Guide. This guide contains in-depth details of your JM4’s features and functionality which were not covered in the JM4 Pilot’s Handbook. With the release of v2.07 firmware, working with the JM4 just got a whole lot easier. In addition to a few new menu items and UI tweaks, we’ve expanded SD card functionality. You can now preview and work with recordings directly off of your SD card.
Updated Features Playback Levels Press the LEVEL button to access Playback Levels. On this screen you have independent level control of the Song/Drums track, the Guitar track and the Mic/Aux/Wav track. These are also the controls you’ll use for Mixdowns (see page 2•3 for Mixdown info). PLAYBACK LEVELS 100% 100% 100% SONG/DRUMS GUITAR MIC/AUX/WAV 1•2 • Navigate to any of the three Playback Levels knobs by pressing either the R Arrow or L Arrow buttons.
Updated Features Menu Items Here are some new menu items that have been added since the initial JM4 release: Save Recording To SD Card – this command enables you to save the currently loaded recording to your SD card. Press the SAVE button to access it in the menu list. Save Recording To Internal – this command enables you to save the currently loaded recording to internal memory. Press the SAVE button and turn the wheel to access it.
SD Card Details SD Card Details In this chapter we’ll focus on the SD card. With an SD card inserted into your JM4’s SD card slot, you can save and load your original recordings, perform mixdowns in WAV file format, import WAV files from your computer, and upgrade your JM4 firmware. All the SD card-specific menu items described in this chapter are accessed by pressing the SAVE button. The first thing you’ll want to do is format your SD card.
SD Card Details Transfer Recording To Card If you’ve checked out the JM4 Pilot’s Handbook, you already know how to record a guitar track and save that recording to your JM4’s internal memory. If you want to keep your recording, your next step will be to back it up to SD card. The easy way to do this is with a Transfer command. To Transfer your current recording to SD card, follow these steps: 2•2 • Press the SAVE button to display the menu items in the LCD.
SD Card Details Save Rec Mix As WAV To Card When you’ve recorded a multi-track loop, with guitar, bass and drums for example, you can easily mix it down as a WAV file and store it on your SD card, with total control of the mix levels. This is a great feature for creating tracks you may want to use on your computer for further editing, or as building blocks for songs. Here’s how to do a Mixdown: • Press the LEVEL button to display the Playback Levels screen.
SD Card Details Transfer All To Card When you’re working with an entire session or live performance set, consisting of a dozen or more songs, instead of saving them one at a time you can back them up all at once with a Transfer All command. To transfer all of your recordings to SD card, follow these steps: • Press the SAVE button to display the menu list in the LCD. 2•4 • Turn the wheel and navigate to the Transfer All To Card menu item.
SD Card Details Firmware Version From time to time you may want to check your JM4 firmware version. This may be due to a Customer Support question you may have, for example, where knowing your firmware version will be helpful to the CS rep. Here’s how to check your JM4 firmware version: • Press the SAVE button to display the menu items in the LCD. • Turn the wheel to navigate to the Firmware Version menu item.
Time Stretch & Varispeed Time Stretch & Varispeed The JM4 features two different modes for altering the tempo and pitch of your loop. The first is Time Stretch/Pitch Shift; the second is Varispeed. These two processes handle your loop’s audio differently, so you have a choice as to how you’d like your loop to sound. Time Stretch allows you to speed up or slow down your loop’s tempo without altering its pitch. Pitch Shift allows you to change the pitch of your loop without altering its tempo.
Time Stretch & Varispeed Pitch/Tempo Preview When you play back a recorded guitar track and apply Time Stretch/Pitch Shift, the guitar sound will be slightly altered. For the best playback quality while previewing, you can optimize the sound for either the Amp Out or the Line Outs. Here’s how: OUTPUT ROUTING - NORMAL PITCH/TEMPO PREVIEW FBV MODE - JAM CONTROL 3•2 • Toggle the SETTINGS button, navigate to Pitch/Tempo Preview, then press the R arrow.
Time Stretch & Varispeed Recording Restrictions When using Time Stretch/Pitch Shift, the main restriction to keep in mind is that only one mono instance of processing can be applied per active session. To work around this, all you have to do is save your recording before adding your next overdub. That way, you can start fresh with a rendered audio file and be free to apply Time Stretch/Pitch Shift again. For example, to record along with one of the JM4’s internal Songs, begin by loading the Song as usual.
Footswitch Modes Footswitch Modes Jam Control Mode All Amp Model & FX controls, the buttons, wheel and 4-way are available in this mode. 4•1 A B C D You’ll spend most of your time in Jam Control Mode, although you have the option of engaging one of the Alternate Footswitch Modes at any time, as outlined in the descriptions on the following pages. Here’s how the 4 switches operate in Jam Control Mode: A Record/Overdub – step on Record to begin recording your loop.
Footswitch Modes Loop FX Mode When you step on the D footswitch, the JM4’s LCD will display Loop FX Mode. This is the first of 4 alternate footswitch modes, and if you don’t hit the D footswitch again within 1.5 seconds, Loop FX Mode will remain active. Here are the controls for Loop FX Mode: LOOP FX MODE [A] 4•2 [B] [C] [D] 1/2 EXIT SPEED A No Function – this switch has no function in Loop FX Mode. B No Function – this switch has no function in Loop FX Mode.
Footswitch Modes Guitar Preset Mode When you step on the D footswitch again within 1.5 seconds, the JM4 will enter Guitar Preset Mode. Here you can select guitar Presets and FX Tap times. As with the other 2 previous footswitch modes, you can exit by stepping on the D footswitch again. GUITAR PRESET MODE [A] PRST [B] PRST [C] [D] TAP/ EXIT TUNER A Preset Up – increments the next Guitar Preset in the User Bank. B Preset Down – decrements to the previous Guitar Preset in the User Bank.
Workflow Workflow There are many ways to work with the JM4. You may want to use only the Amp Models and FX for your guitar sound while jamming to a Song. Or you may want to record and overdub complex loops, with or without a reference Drum track, or create your own custom loops. Once you begin recording, you’ll want to develop an efficient workflow to keep your recordings backed up and organized as you go. You should also keep in mind the JM4 has limited memory, so it’s best to avoid filling it up.
Workflow JAM Files All saved recording files in the JM4 use a proprietary file format called JAM. Each JAM file contains a Guitar track, a Mic/Aux/WAV track, and a track that contains information regarding all the appropriate settings for that recording. To view your list of saved recordings, navigate to the Recordings tab and turn the wheel. You’ll see a list like this: 00 01 02 03 5•2 00:05:3 00:07:7 00:10:5 00:06:1 REC #00 REC #01 WAV:WAV2BASS REC #03 Think of a JAM file as a folder.
Workflow Loops JM4 loops come in 2 flavors, either as part of a recording that you created in the JM4, or as a WAV file that was either mixed down from a JM4 recording or imported from your computer. Loops created in the JM4 will always work together with the Song or Drum track you started with, but there are many other creative ways to work with loops.
• Now save your recording. Press the SAVE button, navigate to Save Recording To Internal and press the R Arrow. Rename your recording Beat+Gtr and confirm. SONGS DRUMS RECORDINGS Beat+Gtr LOOP: 00:09:96 SD FREE: 32:17:84 • Press the RECORD SELECT button to select Mic/Aux. Plug a bass guitar into the JM4 Aux In jack. Press the LEVEL button twice then navigate to the Aux tab. Play your bass and set a strong input level by turning the wheel and watching the level bar in the display.
Appendix : FAQ Appendix : FAQ The following are various questions and answers about JM4 features and functionality: Available Recording Time Q: Whenever I load a track into the JM4’s memory for overdubbing, I notice my available recording time is reduced by double the duration of that track; why is that? A: In order for the JM4 to perform an Undo function, it must buffer the currently loaded track in memory.
Appendix : FAQ Time Stretch Won’t Work A Second Time Q: I made an 8-bar loop of a Drum track, then sped it up from 100 bpm to 110 bpm. After I recorded a guitar track, it felt too fast, so I tried to slow everything down to 105 bpm. The JM4 locked me out of changing the tempo again. Why is that? A: The Time Stretch feature can only work on one mono track at a time.
Appendix : FAQ Naming Restrictions Q: Whenever I import a WAV file from my computer into the JM4, why does it always cut off the last part of the name? A: The JM4 has an 8-character name limit. Although your original file name will remain unchanged on your PC, it’s a good idea to use shorter names whenever possible. Routing Goes To Mono Q: I recorded a vocal on the Mic/Aux track, and a guitar on the Guitar track. I’m routing my vocal to a P.A. and my guitar to a guitar amp.
Appendix : FAQ SD Card Backup Details Q: I’ve been recording with my JM4 and my internal memory is filling up. I’m about to buy an SD card to backup my files, but I’m a bit confused about the best way to work.