envelope experts .. need advice here ..

[johans]

so ..

after reading and rereading countless pages of Envelope clips, reviews, comparisons from various source, here are the effects I tried in the 2 weeks duration:
- mxr 188 bass auto Q
- emma discumbobulator
- ehx nano bassballs
- ehx micro q-tron

i understand that all of them has different characteristics and functions but here's what I've learnt from mere trial and error.

i am using a Fender Jaguar Bass (can be both active and passive) for the following trials i am using its passive side..

first I gotten the Micro Q-Tron ---
works fine only with the LP filter, without compressor, the gain level is WAY too high when the pedal engage, it does give me a GREAT wacky funky sound when i plucked or slap hard enough -- that being said, I have to kind crank the Q and Drive knobs to about 3pm or so to get my signal filtered. I find that I have to play dynamically harder, way harder to obtain it .. this one for me, is the funkiest of all though.

secondly is the MXR-188, I love the size, and the cosmic blending sonic sound that it can produce although that's second priority for me. the Q, envelope part works fine for me, a little noisy than my Micro but similar too, it had to play rather hard to get the envelope sounds out. I noted that my overall tone is thinning out a little though...

third, here comes the EMMA. love it or hate it, I A/B'ed both EMMA and the MXR together and I love EMMA's envelope quality more the MXR. Hard to describe but this has a regular vs. boutique kind of sound difference. Similarly, I have to yank pretty hard on my bass to get it trigger up. The UP switch is pretty much an auto wah and that responses not bad to me although yes, EMMA is a more subtle envelope than the Q-Trons. The DOWN switch is so called the reverse mwahh and hard to dial for me.

lastly, is the smallest Nano Bassballs. First I tried it with the Dist. switch down, so just the pure envelope. Believe it or not, this is by far the most responsive one, I don't have to slap or pluck to hard to get the funkiness of the effect. I don't really need the dist / fuzz UP switch, but for a small pedal like this, its responses to my notes are remarkable.. I wish this has some decay or delay switch though.. this one is slightly below the Micro Q-tron in term of funkiness, but out of the 4, this is the fastest response I had with my bass ..


concern:
so is this something wrong with my bass, that it is so hard for the pedals to track my notes?

do you use envelope mainly for funk slapping or regular rock-lines as well?

any thought would be helpful for my concern above .. thank you so much for reading it

[syciprider]

Try a Bass micro synthesizer

[markjazzbassist]

envelope filter do just that, change with your dynamics. listen to some bootsy collins, notice in the same lick there will be a Quack followed by a normal note.

it's all in the dynamics bro. if you want quacky all the time, get the Auto Wah. It should give you the same sounds for every note regardless of dynamics.

the volume jump in the EHX Q-tron is legendary, either deal with it or get something else (Maxon AF-9 is similiar, with less of a boost).

As for the Q-tron only working in LP. You don't want any of the other settings anyway, you want LP (LOW PASS), you're a bass player.

If you're not satisfied, I recommend not messing around, pick up either the Real deal a Mutron III or a Lovetone Meatball.

[bongomania]

FWIW band pass mode is killer too, very Bootsyish, but requires a LOT more fiddling with both settings and technique in order to get enough low end in the right rhythmic places.

Johans, one of the things about envelope filters that is very different from distortion or chorus or phaser etc. is that you have to learn how to play the filter. It's a dynamic tool, and requires a new set of techniques in order to trigger its dynamic action consistently or "musically".

[toolfann615]

go buy a guyatone br-2 bottom wah rocker, that thing is the ****! i just got mine in yesterday and im lovin it!

[kalipigeon]

I've got an old musitronics MuTron III that really sounds good on my P-bass and Jaguar. I think the Qtron is the modern version, right? I messed with one once, and the gain spikes seemed a bit hotter than on my vintage model. Maybe try a limiter/compressor after it to take a little of the thwack out? Might be an interesting combo given the delayed note swell they tend to produce.

[Sir Edward V]

Originally Posted by bongomania

FWIW band pass mode is killer too,

+1, its all I use for normal stuff, I actually don't like the low pass

I thought I was going to have to defend this stance on my own, haha, thanks bongo!

on a side note I use high pass and high range sometimes in conjunction with other pedals

for one of my band's songs I use the tron going into a TS5, I put it on band pass and high range and blend it with my clean signal. lots of people notice my sound on that song

[JanusZarate]

+1 to the comments about learning to "play the filter" so far.

BTW, Johans, if you're interested in toying with another funky filter pedal, there's a Mutron III (reissue, I think) sitting at the El Cerrito Guitar Center. I thought I'd give you a heads-up!

[johans]

haha

yeah i took about an hour today tweaking with the pedals .. each has the characteristics I like and dislike =) so I'll have to have a little more time with it in a bigger amp setting ..

thanks though

[dave_bass5]

Originally Posted by johans

haha

yeah i took about an hour today tweaking with the pedals .. each has the characteristics I like and dislike =) so I'll have to have a little more time with it in a bigger amp setting ..

thanks though

Have you tried a EBS IQ? I dont like my Mini Q-tron because of the volume changes and the size (mini?) so just got a EBS IQ. Its very small and sounds really smooth. I cant really compare it to the others listed here but it does the job for me. just looking for a funky sound, nothing specific.

[fishtx]

I am surprised to hear you say the MXR M-188 was noisy. I don't find mine to be noisy at all (part of the reason I still use it). Also, I don't find it thin either...on the contrary, It's a bit thick and dark...I would be curious how you had it set up...