EHX Enigma Qballs v. Robotalk 2

[Funkinthetrunk]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Here is Oscar Cartaya demoing his robotalk 2.

Great player...not too good of a demo. It would be more helpful if he showcased the different sounds that the Robo2 is capable of. Not sure I would have bought mine had I saw this video first. Kind of gives the illusion that this pedal always sounds thin and flimsy, which it's not.

[Joe Gress]

Heh, I still have my qtron+, and I won't be getting rid of it anytime soon. IMO, it's still the best filter pedal.

[FilterFunk]

Originally Posted by Funkinthetrunk

You're on the right track with the QBalls, it an under rated filter, IMO.

Definitely. The best thing to do is find your sweet spots, and once you do, they're easy to come back to, IMO. I haven't found this pedal to be difficult to set once you get to know it. And once you get to know it, you can get bubbly, burpy, smooth, quacky, snappy, relaxed, etc. And remember - with the Start/Stop controls, you can set it so that it dosen't sweep at all, no matter where the Sensitivity is set. I've gotten Mu-Tron, M82, DiscumBOBulator, and many other tones out of the Qballs, including a boatload of tones I can't get from any other filter pedal. Find your favorite settings, and go from there.

Edit: Once you get it set to taste, it's best to stick with adjusting the Attack and Stop controls to fine-tune it. Don't start randoming tweaking all the knobs!

[Funkinthetrunk]

Originally Posted by Joe Gress

Heh, I still have my qtron+, and I won't be getting rid of it anytime soon. IMO, it's still the best filter pedal.

I owned and liked the Qtron+, but since I run my basses a little hot, I clipped the input. Same thing with the Filter Twin.

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by Funkinthetrunk

I owned and liked the Qtron+, but since I run my basses a little hot, I clipped the input. Same thing with the Filter Twin.

A little hot? I don't know how you keep that Carvin of yours from blowing up everything! lol

5sg.

[Funkinthetrunk]

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

A little hot? I don't know how you keep that Carvin of yours from blowing up everything! lol

5sg.

Well...what can I say? I like it hot, it pushes everything to their limit.

[Smurf-o-Deth]

You'd like my Valenti, then. Its output is hotter than Satan's b-hole.

[Joe Gress]

Originally Posted by Funkinthetrunk

I owned and liked the Qtron+, but since I run my basses a little hot, I clipped the input. Same thing with the Filter Twin.

Yeah all I have are passive basses, so it suits me well. The Qtron+'s sound and amp killing abilities are definitely not for everyone though. I've come close to wanting to scrap it, but the sound just keeps drawing me back in.

[OhulahanBass]

Cool, another which filter thread.

My take is that the Q-Balls is a great filter, Mutronish with more control and less quarks though it seems people complain about the volume jumps. I haven't had enough exposure to it to sense these. I've come to know my Mutron III intemately and will stick to it or perhaps an accurate clone (proton doesn't have enough stank for me) for my Mutron III tones. Though, if I didn't have a Mutron III I think the Qballs would be the best production pick of what I have tried. I'd rather have a volume jump than less balls which many other Mutron clones lack balls or stank. If you like darker I'd go AF-9 which I haven't been able to get out of my head since trying Funkinthetrunk's.

The Robotalk is more of that FX25/M82 sound but little to no quarks, easy to dial in and just nasty. I borrowed one for a while and loved it. I found two stand alone filter settings I liked that also played nice together which made for 3 foot switchable settings that don't require the turn of a knob; I have gigged this pedal doing just that. The only other "stand alone" pedal I could get similar vocal qualities from was the Source Audio BEF Pro. Of coarse the filters are in series so you can get similar vocal qualities using two separate units though you'd be left without the RoboTalk's extremely handy on board mixer and the play nice engineering of the two Robo filters.

Like Gecko, my current desire leans toward the RoboTalk over the Qballs which is a testament to the RoboTalk as we have different taste in filters... well I think, last I heard Gecko digs the 3Leaf and I personally need more nasty.

Both filters are quick, plenty of nasty on tap, versatile (though in different ways), funky enough to stink up the place and loads of fun. I'd go Robo for it's unique features and the fact that you can switch between 3 bomb tones on stage without turning a knob! If fine tuning is more your thing perhaps the Qballs is for you.

[Funkinthetrunk]

Another good filter is the WMD SuperFatman...same realm of QBalls. Just more expensive.

[morrisonhendrix]

From the demos I saw of the SuperFatman, it seemed like a darker filter than the Qballs. The Robotalk I was looking at was sold by a gentleman in this thread, although I really didn't have the money for it. I'll keep experimenting with my Qballs. But I've caught the filter affliction for sure.

[Funkinthetrunk]

Originally Posted by morrisonhendrix

From the demos I saw of the SuperFatman, it seemed like a darker filter than the Qballs. The Robotalk I was looking at was sold by a gentleman in this thread, although I really didn't have the money for it. I'll keep experimenting with my Qballs. But I've caught the filter affliction for sure.

The Fatty is not dark at all...it's like the Qballs, only easier to use. Also, it has 12 range positions...for 12 different filter freq. I could do without the LFO, never use it.

[FilterFunk]

Originally Posted by Funkinthetrunk

The Fatty is not dark at all...it's like the Qballs, only easier to use. Also, it has 12 range positions...for 12 different filter freq. I could do without the LFO, never use it.

I tried the SuperFatman hoping to like the LFO, but didn't dig it. Especially that "tocka-tocka-tocka" square wave...ugh. The envelope filter, however, sounds great, and it is, indeed, "fat." My Qballs is still my favorite, but I wish I still had my original Fatman, the one without the LFO.

[Funkinthetrunk]

Originally Posted by FilterFunk

I tried the SuperFatman hoping to like the LFO, but didn't dig it. Especially that "tocka-tocka-tocka" square wave...ugh. The envelope filter, however, sounds great, and it is, indeed, "fat." My Qballs is still my favorite, but I wish I still had my original Fatman, the one without the LFO.

I too wished I didn't sell my orig Fatty.

[Crabby]

I have been raving about my Robotalk II for a few years now and still can't believe this isnt a staple in most filter junkie's boards. I went through a bunch of filter pedals and the Robotalk was the only only one that has stayed with me. It even beat out my original issue Groove Regulator as it just sounded better and was a lot more versatile. I just love this pedal. It works with passive or active basses and the inclusion of a master blend and a volume control for each channel is pure genious!

[HolmeBass]

Originally Posted by dharmashawn

For real! I have a $300+ filter that i have never tried, is not in production anymore, and is HUGE incoming. Way too many knobs and 3 expression inputs

The Grinder... I shoulda bought one while he was still in business. I have a Barge Concepts fx loop pedal and it is solid.

[fivestringgecko]

I sold my Grinder a while back. It's a "Swiss army knife" of a filter, but it's just so freakin' big! Lol And like dharma hinted at, 7 knobs, 4 switches and 3 expression jacks... it had a steep learning curve and wasn't as user friendly as I wanted. Plus, I downsized to a PT Mini and the Grinder would've taken half the board! My 3Leaf filters can all do the sounds that I want out of a filter at half or even a third of the pedalboard real estate as the Barge.

Great filter though, hope you have fun with it dharma!

5sg.

[HolmeBass]

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

I sold my Grinder a while back. It's a "Swiss army knife" of a filter, but it's just so freakin' big! Lol And like dharma hinted at, 7 knobs, 4 switches and 3 expression jacks... it had a steep learning curve and wasn't as user friendly as I wanted. Plus, I downsized to a PT Mini and the Grinder would've taken half the board! My 3Leaf filters can all do the sounds that I want out of a filter at half or even a third of the pedalboard real estate as the Barge.

Great filter though, hope you have fun with it dharma!

5sg.

I see the Grinder as a studio tool, with those frequency band settings it probably can sound great on anything.

I'm glad to know there are other out there who suffer from filter addiction! Here are my filters (I have yet to sell one... can't seem to part with one, lol):

Haz MuTron III+
Musitronics MuTron III (needs a refurb and to have the wall wart reconditioned)
QTron+ (love the effects loop- drop a fuzz and an octaver in there... kills)
SA BEF (very versatile)
Boss AW-3 ( a little disappointed with the output level on this one)

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by HolmeBass

I'm glad to know there are other out there who suffer from filter addiction!

hehehe... No, you're definitely not the only addict. I know a Robotalk 2 will eventually find it's way into my hands, and that will be filter #22 that I've owned or tried. I'm down to only having four at the moment. I think I was up to 11 at one point and I've made an entire board of just filters. Lol

5sg.

[HolmeBass]

Originally Posted by fivestringgecko

hehehe... No, you're definitely not the only addict. I know a Robotalk 2 will eventually find it's way into my hands, and that will be filter #22 that I've owned or tried. I'm down to only having four at the moment. I think I was up to 11 at one point and I've made an entire board of just filters. Lol

5sg.

22 filters is something I completely respect. Filters are even more unique and flavorful than fuzzes.

Now I don't know about *just* filters on one board, but one octaver, one choice OD, and 5 or 6 filters on a board sounds like 10 lbs of awesome in a five pound sack.

The Robotalk2 definitely looks enticing, so does the GR2- the effects loop on the GR2 is very enticing given my great experiences with the loop on the QTron+. And now more and more the Proton sounds cool, especially the discussions of it in this thread. Of course a Xero Deluxe is also a must have. And an SA Pro; I almost immediately regretted not being able to save presets on the SA. But then that's it, no more filters. Well except for a WMD Fatman, of course, and maybe the Moog LP filter, but then that's *really* it. Of course how could I pass on a Grinder if I found a good deal on one? And the Maxon AF-9. Hmm. Then I can sell the AW-3, get some expression pedals, and maybe a wah.