The Sine Effect MegaPara v4 is a 3-band parametric EQ pedal for electric, acoustic and bass guitar, made by Sine Effect Electronics. Where a graphic EQ slides fixed frequency bands up and down, a parametric EQ gives each band its own controls for center frequency, gain and bandwidth, so you can zero in on the exact spot in the spectrum you want to cut or boost, narrow or wide. The MegaPara v4 lists at £195.001.
The circuit has roots in studio gear rather than stompboxes. Sine Effect says the MegaPara "was originally based on professional rack technology from the 1980s, but is now much more refined (and uses" more modern components1. That lineage shows in the flexibility of the band controls rather than in any digital modeling: this is a shaping tool that sits in your chain and either corrects problem frequencies or pushes the ones you want forward.
What it does to your sound
Each of the three bands is fully parametric, meaning you set where it acts in the frequency spectrum, how much it cuts or boosts, and how wide a swath of frequencies it affects. On top of that, the high and low bands can be switched between peak and shelf modes, with +/-15dB of gain available in both modes1.
A peak mode boosts or cuts around a chosen center frequency, which is what you want for taming a specific resonance or pushing a particular presence range. A shelf mode raises or lowers everything above or below a corner frequency, working more like the tone controls on an amplifier. Having both on the outer bands, with the same 15dB of range, lets the pedal act either as a surgical tool or as a broad tone shaper depending on the switch position.
For bass players this kind of control is particularly useful: a narrow cut can remove a boomy room frequency without thinning the whole low end, and the maker lists the pedal as suitable for electric, acoustic and bass guitar alike1. Players comparing EQ approaches can read more on the Equalization Pedals page.
Power and connections
The MegaPara v4 runs on a 9 to 18V DC mains adaptor or a 9V PP3 battery, which is not included, and draws about 30mA1. The wide voltage range means it works on a standard 9V pedalboard supply and can also take higher voltage supplies. The ~30mA draw is modest, so it shares an isolated output without strain, and the battery option makes it usable off-board.
Signal connections are straightforward: 1 Megaohm input impedance and 100 ohm output impedance1. The high input impedance means passive pickups see a light load, and the low output impedance drives long cable runs to the rest of the chain. Bypass is true bypass1, so with the pedal off your signal passes through untouched.
Where it came from and how it is built
All Sine Effect Electronics pedals are designed and built in Glasgow, Scotland, and the MegaPara v4 is hand built1. The design descends from professional 1980s rack EQ technology, since refined with more modern components1. Because each unit is built to order, the maker quotes a lead time of 1 to 2 weeks1.
Two practical notes for buyers in the United States: the maker states that USA tariff is paid upfront so there are no extra brokerage fees1, and the product page notes the pedal was available for sale in the EU prior to December 13th 20241.
The MegaPara v4 and the smaller v5
Sine Effect now also offers a smaller MegaPara v5, and the v4 product page points buyers to it directly1. Both are 3-band parametric EQ pedals for electric, acoustic and bass guitar2, but they differ in a few measurable ways:
| MegaPara v4 | MegaPara v5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ~11x8x6cm1 | ~10x5x6cm2 |
| List price | £195.001 | £182.002 |
| Lead time | 1 to 2 weeks1 | 1 week2 |
The v5 is the more compact of the two, at roughly half the front-to-back depth, and it costs £13.00 less at list. The v4's larger enclosure is the original format. Sine Effect also builds other EQ pedals in the family, including the Sine Effect Electronics Sine Effect MotherPara, the Sine Effect Electronics Sine Effect microPara and the Sine Effect Electronics nanoPara21.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Sine Effect MegaPara v4 true bypass?
Yes. Sine Effect lists true bypass among the pedal's specifications on its product page, so with the pedal switched off the signal passes through without active circuitry in the path. The input impedance is 1 Megaohm and the output impedance is 100 ohm.
Does the MegaPara v4 run on a battery?
Yes. The operating voltage is 9 to 18V DC from a mains adaptor, or a 9V PP3 battery, which is not included. Current draw is about 30mA, so a standard PP3 battery will power it, though a power supply is the practical choice on a pedalboard.
Where is the Sine Effect MegaPara v4 made?
All Sine Effect Electronics pedals are designed and built in Glasgow, Scotland, and the MegaPara v4 is hand built rather than mass produced. Orders carry a lead time of 1 to 2 weeks, and the maker states that USA tariff is paid upfront with no extra brokerage fees.
Can I use the MegaPara v4 with bass guitar?
Yes. Sine Effect describes the MegaPara as a 3-band parametric EQ pedal for electric, acoustic and bass guitar. The parametric bands let you target and cut or boost specific low frequencies, which is useful for shaping a bass rig.
What is the difference between the MegaPara v4 and v5?
The v5 is the smaller version: about 10x5x6cm against the v4's roughly 11x8x6cm. The v5 is listed at £182.00 with a 1 week lead time, while the v4 is £195.00 with a 1 to 2 week lead time. Both are 3-band parametric EQ pedals from the same maker.
What is the input impedance of the MegaPara v4?
The input impedance is 1 Megaohm and the output impedance is 100 ohm, as listed by Sine Effect. A 1 Megaohm input is a high value that preserves the signal from passive pickups, and the low 100 ohm output drives long cable runs without loading.
Sources (2)
- MegaPara v4, Sine Effect Store (sineeffect.com)
- MegaPara v5, Sine Effect
