FX25 not cutting the cheese

[SpankyPants]

I've had it for a while now, and I've used it for a couple of different sounds. It's a nice warm, rubbery squish. However, I've also got a Tonefactor filter and a Bassballs. The Tonefactor is more transparent, yet still pretty gooey without loosing the low end. Granted, it doesn't have that big low-end spike, but it has much more lows for the rest of the sweep. Bassballs is... well you know. Burpy, good to combine with other effects...

Anyway, I've been using it as a static low-pass for dubby sounds, but I
found that my Korg AX3B is better for that too.

So I've got squish and dub mostly covered. The only other filter that I'm really interested in is the Chunk Agent 00Funk. Any other filter I tend to like just sounds like the 00Funk... So am I wrong in thinking that any of the redeeming qualities of the FX25 would be covered by the 00Funk? Could I use the LPF for dub? I know it's more wet than warm, but I could probably dial in something sufficient if I want to cop the FX25 tone. Maybe.

Unfortunately, I haven't had much hands-on experience with the 00Funk. Any thoughts from someone who has?

[Thunderscreech]

Yes.

[Jared Lash]

No.

[Mudfuzz]

No.

I have both and they don't really cross over into each other. The 00Funk doesn't color your overall sound like the fx25 does.

[RCCollins]

no

there are VERY different sounding filters with little to no overlap

[TheMutt]

Maybe?

No really, it won't. When I owned a 00Funk Mk. 1 I found that it had a great funky characteristic to it, but that it couldn't do dub as well as the FX 25 without some serious knob twiddling. I'm not sure if that has changed since the release of Mk II, but I would suspect that it hasn't. I really wanted to like that filter, but the knobs were very easy to move around, which even the slightest movement would destroy whatever sound I had going and necessitate a complete re-adjustment when I wanted to use it. I had thought to get an Octavius Squeezer since it had the same filter inside it, but it too was a nightmare to setup correctly and I eventually got rid of it. Since then, I've been more than happy with my Barge Concepts Grinder, but wonder how the 3Leaf Groove Regulator holds up against it, since it would save me a little room. One of these days I may have to get one.

[Mudfuzz]

Originally Posted by TheMutt

Maybe?

No really, it won't. When I owned a 00Funk Mk. 1 I found that it had a great funky characteristic to it, but that it couldn't do dub as well as the FX 25 without some serious knob twiddling. I'm not sure if that has changed since the release of Mk II, but I would suspect that it hasn't.

You are right. I have never gotten a dub sound I liked out of the MKII, synth sounds to die for yes but not dub.

[Jared Lash]

Let me splain.

The actual filter sounds of the DOD and Chunk are pretty different, which is to be expected. The 00Funk is a two pole low pass filter with a hi-fi, somewhat synth like quack where the FX25 is a bandpass filter with an enormous q range and thus a ridiculously rubbery and somewhat tough to tame tone.

As for dub sounds, the truth is that you CAN get dub sounds from the 00Funk but it can be a bit frustrating. For funk stuff I keep the Pitch knob at or close to the minimum. Not only does it sound best there, but past a certain point (depends on the bass but for me around 11 o'clock) the filter is already opened up, which also happens with the sweep knob and part of why I think people inexperienced with filters struggle with the 00Funk.

In any event, if you just minimize the Sweep (similar to Sensitivity on the DOD) with the Pitch knob low, you DO get a lowpassed sound but with a major volume drop. Turning up the pitch there is a specific range where you can get dub sounds similar to the FX25, but it's tough to dial in. Too low and you still have a volume drop, too high and you get big volume spike resonance in the low frequencies. Higher than that and the filter is already open.

And the rub of all of it is that after struggling to dial it in, the 00Funk still doesn't sound as good (to my ears) as the FX25 for dub stuff. Which is why the FX25 (and a Moog LPF) is on my dub board and the Chunk is on my general purpose (including funk) board.

Hope that helps.

[SystolicDub]

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

And the rub of all of it is that after struggling to dial it in, the 00Funk still doesn't sound as good (to my ears) as the FX25 for dub stuff. Which is why the FX25 (and a Moog LPF) is on my dub board and the Chunk is on my general purpose (including funk) board.

What is the difference between in sound between the FX25 and the Moog for dub? I have the FX, but have never used a Moog. What else do you have on your dub board?

[Chrisk-K]

I've owned 7 envelope filters and my search is over thanks to Source Audio BEF.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by SystolicDub

What is the difference between in sound between the FX25 and the Moog for dub? I have the FX, but have never used a Moog. What else do you have on your dub board?

That band fell apart a little less than a year ago unfortunately. But here's one of the only pictures I have of the board I used.



The empty spot was occupied by a Turbo Rat (I thought maybe we'd do some Dub Trio like heavy parts but it never happened. I ended up getting a lot more use out of a phaser.

The biggest difference I found in using the Moog and FX25 was that the DOD was basically set and forget. Turn down the sensitivity and you had one (great) tone.

The Moog on the other hands allows a lot more sculpting. You can choose the cutoff frequency to cut the highs wherever you want and the blend knob allows more flexibility. And of course you can up the resonance knob for adding some boost at the cutoff frequency as well as use an expression pedal for low pass sweeps.

For me, I ended up using the FX25 a lot more for a basic dub tone (which generally also included the Holy Fire and Squeezebox) because it was easier and sounded awesome and used the Moog for specific purposes.

I miss that band but I probably miss that board more. I've never had a setup that was as functionally perfect as that one.

BTW, if I was rebuilding that board, I'd almost certainly replace the Moog with an Iron Ether Xerograph. It's cheaper, a fraction of the size, more versatile (especially with added options), runs off 9V, is true bypass and (IMO) looks cooler.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

I've owned 7 envelope filters and my search is over thanks to Source Audio BEF.

SA BEF users. When using one of the LP settings can you roll the sensitivity off and get that Laswell sound? If so, I'd love to hear clips if anyone is willing.

[drnknmstr]

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

I've owned 7 envelope filters and my search is over thanks to Source Audio BEF.

Also mind listing those others? I've gone through only 3 and found mine, the Aguilar FT.

[Explorer]

Jared, that must be heartbreaking about the band falling apart. I hate for you to have to keep reminders of that around, and am happy to buy that Deep Impact off of you.... *laugh*

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by Explorer

Jared, that must be heartbreaking about the band falling apart. I hate for you to have to keep reminders of that around, and am happy to buy that Deep Impact off of you.... *laugh*

And if I still had it I'd gladly sell it to you!

It was one of the first pieces I sold off when I took that board apart. The last (and hardest to part with) was the Retrospec Squeezebox but I dug every pedal on that board.

[Matt Dean]

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

BTW, if I was rebuilding that board, I'd almost certainly replace the Moog with an Iron Ether Xerograph. It's cheaper, a fraction of the size, more versatile (especially with added options), runs off 9V, is true bypass and (IMO) looks cooler.

+1