EHX Micro Q Tron SOUNDCLIPS

Mark Olson · #1 01-18-2009, 07:15 PM

Ok so I've wanted to do clips of this one for a long time, and now seemed like a good time since there's nothing interesting going on on here. Clips are done with my Jazz Bass, it sounds a little anemic, but with a fatter sounding bass it's a fat sounding filter. Here it is fingerstyle:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...songID=7252355

and a little simple thumbstyle noodling:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...songID=7252366

So yeah, check it out let me know what you think, I think this is actually a decent filter.

Ryan Mohr · #2 01-18-2009, 07:37 PM

Clips sound great! Really wet sound and funky sounding filter. What settings were you using?
Do you agree at all with the Bass Player review?

Quote:

Electro-Harmonix has an entire love-in of filter-rific ’70s-style envelope pedals, but the company chose to send us the newest: the Micro Q-Tron. Much smaller than its stage-hogging, sheet-metal siblings, the sturdy aluminum Micro has a raw look and groovy graphics. The knobs looked plain and felt cheap, battery changes required removing four screws, and the mode switch’s three positions functioned backward: hp was a lowpass filter, and vice-versa. (E-H’s Rick Stevenson says this was a first-run printing goof, not an engineering error.) I consider E-H’s Q-Tron and Mini Q-Tron old friends, but the Micro disappointed me. In lowpass mode, the filter range was relatively high, meaning unaffected lows came through strongly but with a too-subtle effect. I was never able to dial up super-sharp peaks or deeply drippy falls. Bandpass mode had more range, but that’s more useful on guitar. For bass, you’ll be more satisfied with the Micro Q-Tron if you consider it more of a seasoning than a main course.

Mark Olson · #3 01-18-2009, 07:43 PM

The drive I set to accomodate the bass, the Q I leave somewhere around 3 o'clock, and I used the Low Pass setting. I used to be a total envelope filter junkie, I don't really use them any more, but if I was going to have one around again, I wouldn't spend any more for anything else, I like the Micro Q Tron.

cheapbasslovin · #4 01-18-2009, 08:01 PM

I like to use mine in band or high pass mode blended with dry signal. The lowpass works, but it's filter works at a lower freq than I like for most of my purposes and gets a little muddy with its wetness.

Mark Olson · #5 01-18-2009, 10:19 PM

I see I didn't fully answer the question, no I wouldn't agree with the Bassplayer review. I've owned the full on Q Tron too, and I actually like the Micro Q Tron better to be honest. To me the Micro Q Tron gets the tone that my old big Q Tron wish it had, seriously. The real Q Tron might get a little wetter (as well as a little sloppy), but it's really not even a difference that'll be noticeable to audience members and something I wouldn't even stress over for my own tone, as discerning as I can be and as an ex filter junkie too. Besides that I think the Bassplayer reviewer just didn't spend enough time tweaking the knobs. If you want super sharp peaks, this pedal EXCELS at them, as well as my full on Q Tron did if you ask me, I know I didn't do a sample to demostrate that but the tone I go for with a filter is a little less peaky, but it's in there, just takes some tweaking.

Mark Olson · #6 01-18-2009, 10:21 PM

I'm not a fan of the high pass mode, but the band pass mode is dead funky in a blend loop. Unfortunately I sold off my blender so I can't demonstrate.

Valerus · #7 01-18-2009, 11:15 PM

Great clips! I'm bidding on one right now. Last envelope filter I had was a Bassballs. Sold that months ago. I'm excited

Mark Olson · #8 01-19-2009, 04:47 PM

Well good luck! It's a fun pedal, lots of cool sounds are available by tweaking the knobs and playing in various different ways.

Valerus · #9 01-19-2009, 08:16 PM

Thanks, I really want to play with it

Dr_Funkdamental · #10 01-19-2009, 10:30 PM

Just got mine recently, and I must say I do like the sound of it. Im just trying now to decide what I can do to control the volume spikes. Maybe a GEB-7?

Valerus · #11 01-19-2009, 10:38 PM

how bad are the volume spikes?

Mark Olson · #12 01-19-2009, 10:49 PM

The volume spikes are a non issue if you can reign in your playing and keep it consistent I think, but if you do have a problem with volume spikes, I've found that putting the Micro Q Tron in a clean blend loop can make them a non-issue, even when I didn't bother to reign in my playing.

markjazzbassist · #13 01-19-2009, 11:23 PM

great clips. as a self-professed filter junkie, this thing really sounds great.

i've heard some negativity towards it, but FWIW those clips really seemed to silence that. nice wet tone, nice burp. i might have to pick one of those things up

nice work again Mark, i really do enjoy your review and clip threads

Mark Olson · #14 01-19-2009, 11:34 PM

Thanks! I used to be an envelope filter junkie too and I've owned several thousands of dollars worth of filters, anything that caught my eye really, and for the specific sound I want out of an envelope filter, I'd pick this one over anything in any price range, this one has just the right amount of quack for me, not too much. But I like small and simple pedals, I rarely use anything with more than 3-4 controls. I'm a plug in and rock kind of guy.

This one does take some dialing in though, I figure the reason a lot of people are disappointed with this pedal is because they don't spend enough time dialing in the tone. Once you get the hang of the pedal though it only takes a few seconds.

vin*tone · #15 01-19-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Funkdamental

Just got mine recently, and I must say I do like the sound of it. Im just trying now to decide what I can do to control the volume spikes. Maybe a GEB-7?

I like to sit it in just before a compressor (Black Finger)

cheapbasslovin · #16 01-20-2009, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Funkdamental
Just got mine recently, and I must say I do like the sound of it. Im just trying now to decide what I can do to control the volume spikes. Maybe a GEB-7?

One word: trimpot.

Dr_Funkdamental · #17 01-20-2009, 07:10 AM

'Preciate it yall. Like I said Im still newly messin around with it, but its def. a keeper. I like it better than the Maxon I used to have. Maybe I'll be brave enough to put up some clips sometime. Clips were quite bootzylicious by the way Mark.

burno70 · #18 01-20-2009, 12:39 PM

Pedal sounds ace and I love your playing too

Mark Olson · #19 01-21-2009, 04:50 AM

Hey thanks guys! I appreciate the positive feedback! To quote Donald Sutherland as Oddball, maybe there's just so many positive waves, we can't lose!

cheapbasslovin · #20 01-21-2009, 08:13 AM

Hey, I made some clips of the blended HP and BP modes.

For Behringer quality soundclips, click here.

Both clips are as follows:

SX Fretless Jazz 5 string. Drive set at 3 o'clock. Some finger and some slap with Q at 10 o'clock, then some finger and some slap with Q at 2 o'clock.