The Mode Machines MM-4 is a guitar and bass pedal whose main focus is chorus, made by MODE MACHINES. What sets it apart from most chorus pedals is where the modulation comes from: instead of a free-running oscillator, the MM-4 uses an envelope circuit that produces a modulation voltage from your string attack, so the depth of the chorus follows how hard you play1.
A chorus driven by how hard you pick
The MM-4's envelope circuit generates a modulation voltage from your picking attack, and the built-in knobs let you set the sensitivity, meaning how hard you have to hit the string to produce that modulation1. Play softly and the chorus stays quiet; dig in and the modulation responds. That makes the effect feel tied to your hands rather than running constantly in the background.
Alongside sensitivity, the knobs set the depth and speed of the chorus sound1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity | Sets how hard you have to hit the string to produce a modulation voltage from the envelope circuit1 |
| Depth | Sets the depth of the chorus sound1 |
| Speed | Sets the speed of the chorus sound1 |
Power and connections
The MM-4 requires an AC adapter at 9V DC with a center minus plug, the standard polarity for pedal supplies, and draws 9mA1. Its input and output are both 1/4" mono jacks, with the input rated at 470KΩ impedance and the output at 470Ω1.
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Questions
Is the Mode Machines MM-4 true bypass?
Yes. Mode Machines lists the MM-4 as true bypass, meaning the effect is removed from the signal path entirely when the pedal is off. That matters for players who want their clean tone untouched between chorus passages, and it means the pedal does not act as a buffer on a larger board.
What power supply does the Mode Machines MM-4 use?
The MM-4 runs on an AC adapter at 9V DC with a center minus plug, the same polarity as most standard pedal supplies. Mode Machines lists its current draw at 9mA, which is light enough for almost any daisy-chained supply or isolated power output.
Does the Mode Machines MM-4 run on a battery?
Mode Machines' product page lists only an AC adapter, 9V DC with a center minus plug, as the power requirement. No battery option is mentioned, so plan on a power supply rather than expecting to run it on a 9V battery.
What does the Sensitivity knob do on the MM-4?
The Sensitivity knob sets how hard you have to hit the string before the pedal's envelope circuit produces a modulation voltage. In practice it decides how strongly your picking attack drives the chorus: pick gently and the effect stays subtle, dig in and the modulation responds.
Is the Mode Machines MM-4 still made?
No. Mode Machines lists the MM-4 on the discontinued section of its website, so the pedal is no longer in production. Any unit you find will be secondhand or leftover stock.
Sources (1)
- MM-4 | MODE MACHINES, MODE MACHINES, 2022-01-25