Auto wah, envelope filter? pedal, help!

my07bass · #1 10-05-2011, 12:47 PM

I'm sorry if this was/is already covered somewhere but due to my lack of knowledge on the subject I'm not finding the info that makes sense to me. Can somebody help me?

Background - I've been using a BOSS ME-50B for various effects. A couple of the effects I've used (sparingly) is the auto-wah (up) and the wah pedal. I was better with the auto-wah. I've since gone to individual pedals.

For the "wah" effect now I'm trying a crybaby wah. I'm just not that good with it. I was happier with the auto-wah effect on the BOSS.

So I'm thinking of going with an "auto-wah" pedal but see posts here about an envelope filter doing the same. I'm not sure what to get for the "auto-wah" effect. Can somebody please enlighten me and give some suggestions?

As a side note my individual pedals so far are the Sansamp 3 channel bass driver, EHX LPB-1 boost, Korg Pitchblack tuner, Dunlop Bass Crybaby GCB-100, and a EHX Micro-POG on the way.

BTW I am selling the BOSS ME-50B to partially fund a Fishman Fission.

avvie · #2 10-05-2011, 01:46 PM

An auto wah and an envelope filter/follower are the same thing with minor variations.

Auto-wah - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Classic envelope filters such as the Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron allow you to shape the exact response and how much of it is dependent upon your playing dynamics or picking attack. you can range from subtle slow bandpass filtering (such as the bass in Foreignor's "Juke Box Hero", the subject of another thread right now) or extreme quackiness such as in RHCP's "Sir Psycho Sexy". Each tone has a lot of variables, so they can be tough to dial in, but basically what both of them do is "automate" a parametric EQ circuit... you're just controlling what the frequency range is.

NOTE: I am not endorsing the Q-Tron specifically; it's just the only one I own.

cheapbasslovin · #3 10-05-2011, 03:57 PM

It's been my experience here that people (and companies) use Auto Wah and envelope filter interchangeably with rare exception.

If you really liked the AW on the ME50, then you may want to look at the Boss AW-3. If you are looking to expand your palate, be prepared for a pretty long road of trial and error.

A good cheap, simple starter is a Micro Qtron. If you want to go more advanced there are tons of options. Commonly recommended filters include:

Source Audio Bass Envelope Filter
MXR Bass Envelope filter
3Leaf Groove Regulator
Qtron
EHX Enigma

These are all going to have a relatively steep learning curve, as envelope filters don't always react as would seem intuitive. 3leaf and the MXR seem to have the quickest learning curve. The Enigma is a PITA to learn, but astoundingly versatile for an analog pedal.

There are too many more to begin a comprehensive list. Search envelope filters and you'll probably start to put a list together for yourself.

As always, if you can find the pedals locally to try out, do it.

my07bass · #4 10-05-2011, 04:14 PM

Thanks! I'm not real happy with the BOSS ME-50B auto wah. The Bassballs looks/sounds good from what I've seen on youtube, along with the MXR M82. I'm thinking one of those two.

spufman · #5 10-06-2011, 06:47 AM

cheapbasslovin gave good advice. I'll give top recommendation to the 3Leaf, easy to get a variety of great sounds, can stay nice and deep, doesn't throw volume spikes, just a really great filter pedal. They come up in the classifieds often enough, I think you'd be happy with one.

chuck3 · #6 10-06-2011, 06:52 AM

I've had an EBS Bass IQ autowah/envelope filter for a while. It's pretty good. I replaced it on my board for a while with an actual wah pedal (also EBS), but I found that the wah pedal being much larger didn't fit the board as well, plus the autowah does the footwork for you. So I'm back with the Bass IQ.

I really like what I've seen/heard of the 3Leaf Groove Regulator, and if I were in the market starting from scratch, I think that's the one that I would get.