Best envelope filter for hot/active basses?

Kwesi · #1 03-02-2009, 10:38 PM

I've seen a few threads (I searched) with similar topics but none that answered this specific question.

I have a EHX Q-tron+ XO that I think sounds awesome but it overloads VERY quickly. At low volume it's perfect - thick, rich filter effects with no noise. But, when I turn my basses (both Spector's which run VERY hot thanks to both active pups and an active preamp) up past 50% it overloads. I tried placing the pedal in the effects loop and it helped a little but if I turn my amp past 60-70% it starts to overload. Any suggestions for a filter that wroks well with a hot signal?

I've heard that the 3Leaf Groove Regulator, EHX Micro Q-tron, and MXR M-188 all work pretty well with the hot basses but which can get me the thickest tone for my money which is about $150ish. I know the Groove Regulator is $200 but if it's worth it I'll spend the extra cash.

kesslari · #2 03-02-2009, 10:51 PM

I picked up a used HAZ Mutron III+, and it kills with my active basses. My Zon is very, very high output (too high for my FX25 to handle well) and the Mutron sounds awesome with it.
I was able to score the Mutron used for $150.

swankfrank6 · #3 03-03-2009, 10:08 AM

i have the pigtronix ep-1... it's great at any volume. even though it is a little pricey ($220) it's completely worth it. since it's analog it doesn't over load.

fishtx · #4 03-03-2009, 10:27 AM

I just wish the EP-1 was a square or rectangle...sorry but that shape just bugs me...

OriginalCrash · #5 03-03-2009, 10:39 AM

Count me in for another vote in favor of the EP-1... While my bass isn't that hot, I still have plenty of room left on the sensitivity knob (I can't remember what it's at exactly right now, but it's below 12:00). And it's definitely plenty fat sounding. To fishtx, are you referring to the LFO side? I know it's a triangle wave...

Brian

fishtx · #6 03-03-2009, 11:07 AM

hey crash...actually i'm referring to the physical shape of the pedal...lol...that half moon thing just bugs me...

Funkinthetrunk · #7 03-03-2009, 11:30 AM

William of WMDevices made me a special WMD FatMan envelope filter that has a more headroom or something like that. It has no trouble with any of my actives....but this pedal has to work on 24V instead of the usual 9V. Great sounding filter, actually.

G

OriginalCrash · #8 03-03-2009, 11:33 AM

LOL that's funny. Completely misunderstood you there...

Brian

P.S. Just to add, the EP-1 is designed to be used with a wide variety of instruments and signals, from quiet to hot and even to line level. So it should have plenty of headroom.

Kwesi · #9 03-03-2009, 11:21 PM

the EP-1 is definitely on my list now, lol. My only question would be how to get out of using the 12V power supply and somehow getting it to work with my DC Brick but that's not tat big an issue.

EDIT: Actually I have a bunch more

. 1) Apparently the pedal is an envelope phaser, how is that different from a regular envelope filter if at all? 2) Swankfrank6 mentioned that it the EP-1 doesn't/can't overload because it is analog, is that true of all analog pedals? Is that part of the reason why them seem to cost more than their digital counter parts? 3) IS there a significant volume spike like with the Q-trons?

fightthepower · #10 03-04-2009, 01:19 AM

I'm not sure about the EP1 and overloading, but you can 'overload' anything- digital or analog has nothing to do with this, as your Qtron is analog and obviously has the overload light on it.

With Qtrons and other EHX pedals with the overload light on, you want the overload light to come one- That means the you are triggering the envelope on the Qtron- In the manual, it says something to the effect of: set the drive to where the overload light comes on on your hardest strokes. If the light comes on on every note, turn the drive down a little. You should also generally keep the volume on your bass at 100% when using effects, in order to maintain an consistent amount of gain going into the pedals you're setting up.

As long as the filter sounds good, I wouldn't worry too much about the overload light unless it's just staying on, and you should keep it in front of the amp, not in the effects loop. And again, as it says in the manual, the overload light should be coming on. Aside from that, there will always be volume spikes on super wet filters in my experience. Good luck in your search, but I wouldn't give up on the qtron just yet

Kwesi · #11 03-04-2009, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fightthepower

I'm not sure about the EP1 and overloading, but you can 'overload' anything- digital or analog has nothing to do with this, as your Qtron is analog and obviously has the overload light on it.

With Qtrons and other EHX pedals with the overload light on, you want the overload light to come one- That means the you are triggering the envelope on the Qtron- In the manual, it says something to the effect of: set the drive to where the overload light comes on on your hardest strokes. If the light comes on on every note, turn the drive down a little. You should also generally keep the volume on your bass at 100% when using effects, in order to maintain an consistent amount of gain going into the pedals you're setting up.

As long as the filter sounds good, I wouldn't worry too much about the overload light unless it's just staying on, and you should keep it in front of the amp, not in the effects loop. And again, as it says in the manual, the overload light should be coming on. Aside from that, there will always be volume spikes on super wet filters in my experience. Good luck in your search, but I wouldn't give up on the qtron just yet

Thanks for the info. As far as triggering the overload, I'm really just talking about high volumes. When I want to play loudly, it overloads and starts to distort. I'll try out the stuff you mentioned though, I may not have to give it up after all

.