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02-12-2011, 12:04 AM
|  | OVNIFX
EXAR pedals rep for North & Central America | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR | | | Anyone directly compared the Proton vs. MXR Bass Env. Filter?
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I know they aren't necessarily shooting for the exact same tone/flavor, but that Tonefactor 15% deal has me eyeballing one of these two, and I'm wondering if anyone here has compared them in person? |
02-12-2011, 12:10 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Berkeley, CA | | Got 'em both right next to me.
MXR is a bandpass with blend (needed) and has some gritty-ness to it. Fairly unique amongst the filters I've owned and cool enough that I haven't sold it.
Proton is at its best with low pass. A really nice classic filter. It's my go-to at the moment.
I don't have any clips directly comparing them, but these two will at least show you how they sound on my bass with my typical settings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LpZ0czQOPc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QZI4k8f0Mo
I'm happy to hook them up and answer any specific questions. |
02-12-2011, 06:14 AM
|  | I hate. | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: The state of denial. | | | I also own both. The MXR, to me, has a drier, sharper, and more aggressive character to its sound (somewhat synth-laser in character), and reacts a lot like one of the old DOD filters (or the Robotalk 2, for that matter). I don't find it very "funky" in its general sound (which could be a positive or negative, depending on the player's needs, and is obviously subjective), and don't care for how quickly it likes to peak out (it can sound like rapid-fire bubble pops). I like it as a fixed-filter, though, and for anyone who uses an fx25 for dubbin' it up, I think the MXR is a more flexible option for that kind of application. Plus, with the dry blend, you can pull off higher-frequency "stuck wah" kinds of sounds without tanking your bottom end. As a general-purpose envelope follower, I don't like it too much; as a tone-shaper (and for fuzz+filter synth stuff), I think it's really cool. That's my opinion.
The Proton is much greasier, with a smooth sweep (which I prefer to the warbling sweep character of the GR or the straight-to-the-peak laser beam of the MXR), has an awesome down-sweep (MXR has no down sweep), and doesn't go into rapid-fire bubble pops like the MXR. Very classic-sounding filter. For stanky funk lines, touch wah expressiveness, and vocal down-sweeps, the Proton is a winner, and I like it much better as an envelope follower than the MXR. Mileage may vary, subject to credit approval, no reproduction without express written consent by the MLB.
Sorry for all the parenthetic side-notes.
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Last edited by Smurf-o-Deth : 02-12-2011 at 06:44 AM.
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02-12-2011, 08:40 AM
| | OVNIFX
EXAR pedals rep for North & Central America | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR | | | Awesome, thx guys! |
02-12-2011, 08:44 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Berkeley, CA | | | I find it hard to describe envelop filters, but those comments ^^^ are pretty smurfy. Only thing I'd say is that I think the MXR can be pretty funky, if you like it. Definitely agree with the more "agressive" characterization. Maybe I'm just more into the bubble sound.
If I had to choose one, I'd definitely go with the Proton, but the MXR is nice alternative. It has a pretty different sound. |
02-12-2011, 05:29 PM
| | I hate. | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: The state of denial. | | For the hell of it, here's a quick clip (that no one asked for) featuring these two filters in a specific setting: in front of a drive pedal and using a pick. It's my Valenti dry, then with the AGRO on, then the MXR into the AGRO, then the Proton up into the AGRO, then the Proton down into the AGRO. My usual lazy riffs and sloppy recording await!
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Last edited by Smurf-o-Deth : 02-12-2011 at 05:32 PM.
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02-12-2011, 06:44 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Crown Point, IN | | | I've used both and definately prefer the Proton. My 2 cents.
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02-12-2011, 08:06 PM
| | | | Man, that Agro is FAT! The vocal quality of the MXR seems to work better with the Agro, but it could have more to do with how the Proton was set.
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AFAIK, IIRC, IMO, JMO, IME, FWIW, YMMV, to each his own, it's all subjective, apples and oranges, etc., etc., etc.
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02-12-2011, 08:34 PM
| | I hate. | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: The state of denial. | | | The aggressiveness of the MXR "cuts" better, but the Proton "plays" better, in my opinion (feels more expressive, more wah-like, which is hard to get across in a sound clip, especially my crappy brand). That being said, this is one of the areas that I think the MXR excels at.
And, yes, I <3 my AGRO.
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Last edited by Smurf-o-Deth : 02-12-2011 at 08:45 PM.
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02-13-2011, 11:22 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: phoenix az | | | Have both, agree with all of the above. Different enough that I'm keeping both, but I favor the proton. |
02-13-2011, 11:32 AM
|  | yiffffffTASTIC | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: California | | | also have both. very good descriptions of their differences. |
02-13-2011, 01:18 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Belton, Misery | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by behndy also have both. very good descriptions of their differences. | Give me one! Come on!!! 
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02-13-2011, 02:50 PM
| | yiffffffTASTIC | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: California | | | lol. well, the Proton's on loan to Kwesi for him to check out. if i had ANY idea where Belton, Misery is than i'd offer to let you borrow the MXR for a week or so to give it a run-through.
my Xerograph WAY covers any filter needs. the rest are just different flavored buttery accessories. |
02-14-2011, 08:03 PM
|  | Registered User
Designer, 3Leaf Audio | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle / NYC | | I've owned them both, but you probably know which one I prefer...  |
02-14-2011, 08:17 PM
| | yiffffffTASTIC | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: California | | | lol.
CHEATER. |
02-17-2011, 11:40 PM
|  | In search of the impeccable groove... | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand | | | Compate Proton and EBS BassIQ
Hey guys - liking what I hear here of the Proton. Slightly OT, but can anyone compare the Proton to the EBS BassIQ? Thinking I might make a change...Thanks |
02-18-2011, 08:21 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Georgia | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bongomania  I know they aren't necessarily shooting for the exact same tone/flavor, but that Tonefactor 15% deal has me eyeballing one of these two, and I'm wondering if anyone here has compared them in person? | I can't seem to find any info on the Tonefactor 15% deal on their website - can you fill us in? |
02-18-2011, 08:36 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by kevmoga I can't seem to find any info on the Tonefactor 15% deal on their website - can you fill us in? | It was a special on their blog for Valentine's Day. It's over. |
02-18-2011, 08:38 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Amsterdam, NL | | Quote:
Originally Posted by kevmoga I can't seem to find any info on the Tonefactor 15% deal on their website - can you fill us in? | i was also searching for the deal .... sorry, but we are toooooo late to this party, the deal was already last weekend (Bongo told me). I contacted ToneFactor yesterday and asked friendly for extension, but no answer yet. :-( |
02-18-2011, 08:49 AM
| | | | Yeah, I missed it too. Work got really, really busy and I had no free time. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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