Inconsistency in envelope filters?

Billy Low · #1 08-07-2010, 05:26 PM

I own a Maxon AF-9, and have owned an EBS Bass IQ in the past. Now as I do like the tones that I get, I noticed quite a bit of inconsistancy with both pedals. I can set my pedal for the desired effect, come back the next day and it sounds totally different! It seems that as they "warm up" you can actually hear the pedals change...both the sensitivity and peak. WHATS THE DEAL?!?!?

I have spoken with another player that has experienced the same thing. Is there a remedy, other than the obvious "get another pedal" line?

Have others experienced this?

fatherjohncough · #2 08-07-2010, 05:32 PM

Do you use batteries? As the battery dies less voltage will be fed to the pedal therefore a weaker sound. If you keep a cable plugged into the input your draining the battery quicker than it should-in case you didnt know

RickenBoogie · #3 08-07-2010, 05:37 PM

Also, by their nature, they're "touch sensitive", so any small change in your attack will have an impact.

Swift713 · #4 08-07-2010, 06:21 PM

Maybe you need to warm up?

bongomania · #5 08-07-2010, 06:41 PM

That's the thing, they are so sensitive to your playing attack that if you are "in the groove" for a solid while one day, and then come back and noodle for a minute the next day, odds are you are playing a little differently the second day. It's like ear fatigue. For the same reason, it will seem to act different the longer you play, not because it is "warming up", but because your playing has changed as you got louder, or got into a little bit of a different groove.

kevteop · #6 08-07-2010, 07:20 PM

Also to play an envelope filter on bass you really need to be mixed higher than a typical bass player so you can play subtly sometimes, otherwise you'll play too hard all the time and not get any quack at all.

Funkinthetrunk · #7 08-07-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Low

I own a Maxon AF-9, and have owned an EBS Bass IQ in the past. Now as I do like the tones that I get, I noticed quite a bit of inconsistancy with both pedals. I can set my pedal for the desired effect, come back the next day and it sounds totally different! It seems that as they "warm up" you can actually hear the pedals change...both the sensitivity and peak. WHATS THE DEAL?!?!?

I have spoken with another player that has experienced the same thing. Is there a remedy, other than the obvious "get another pedal" line?

Have others experienced this?

I have not experience this with my EBS Bass IQ, nor others from this "new" generations of filters....and I own and have owned many.

But, my old vintage Mutron III had this exact problem. I purchased it new back in the late 70s and the sound was noticeably different after 30 minutes of playing. It sounded better, so I'd plug it in an hour before playtime. With the better grade of electronics these days, I wouldn't think this would be an issue anymore.

BassInUrFace · #8 08-07-2010, 08:16 PM

yeah like others have said I wouldn't be surprised if it was YOU that was changing not the FILTERS. Your mood and your groove can effect your dynamics incredibly.

Billy Low · #9 08-07-2010, 09:20 PM

I have enough experience to know the difference in my playing. I have a very light touch, and if I have to dig in more, or play more aggressively at different times with the same equipment set @ the same levels, it is extremely noticeable. The pedal changes, make no mistake! It is noticeable, not only by myself but a few others that have used these two pedals in particular (my pedals, that is; although I do know of one artists that had he same issue with an EBS). My AF-9 is not one of the newer ones on the market, however I wouldn't venture to call it 'vintage'.

There are other pedals that I have used that do not have this issue, yet I am not too fond of their overall sound. I think only pedal that I have tried that has the sound I like w/o having the issue that I am having w/the AF-9 is the MXR bass envelope.