MXR M82 Envelope Filter: unity gain

[scottfeldstein]

I never really used effects of any kind before a couple of months ago. I put together a board consisting of (in order):

TC Electronic PolyTune tuner
MXR M82 Bass Envelope Filter
MXR M87 Bass Compressor
SansAmp Bass Driver DI

I chose to put the envelope filter before the compressor because I was afraid a compressed signal might interfere with my ability to trigger the filter. Capice? One doesn't limit one's dynamics right before going into a pedal whose filter is triggered by one's dynamics.

However... I found that the EF was making my signal so damned hot that the compressor would run into the red. It took me a little while to figure out that the MXR EF is not designed to run either the FX or the Dry knobs maxed. Nor is it designed to run them both at noon. Not if you want anything like unity gain with your bypassed signal. Now I run the FX at 11 o'clock and the Dry at about 8:30. Once I figured that out, I was able to use it and the compressor at the same time.

I had the same problem, but to a lesser extent, with the EF signal when it got to the SansAmp. What was a setting just to give me a little sizzle became a full-on distortion. Again, once I got unity gain set up on the EF, all was cool.

It seems like a simple thing. But after reading the M82 manual, I did not have any idea that these FX and Dry knob settings were needed for unity gain. Now I do. And so do you.

Peace out.

[parmezans]

What's unity gain?

[scottfeldstein]

Same volume with the pedal engaged as with it off.

[Toastfuzz]

Scott,

When you had them maxed (even without the compression on), didn't you notice that the EF turned on was way louder than unity gain? I know at least on the MXR Bass Octave, turning up the Dry signal was like a massive clean boost... unity was somewhere around 10:00 for me.

But since a compressor runs at a certain ratio to "smooth" out your dynamics, putting the comp first may result in more consistent quacks out of the EF, and if the comp is set at a low ratio it would still (in theory) retain your dynamics, just level them out a bit.

But at the same time, makes sense to run clean into the EF, and have the compressor round out its output and not spike your amp.

Yeah if I was in your shoes I'd try both combinations extensively to see which works best, since your using various finger dynamics in your playing. Hard to say which would be better, but a compressor or EF whiz would know better than me.

[mouthmw]

I take it you no longer have the M82, but SA Pro Bass Envelope Filter?
How do they compare? I take it the SA has way way more tonal options.
Any noticeable difference from one being analog and the other digital?
Oh and what made you go the pro route? Do you have use for 6 different envelope filter presets?

[Toastfuzz]

I'd just expect that whichever is last in your chain is gonna have more impact to your final tone since thats whats feeding the amp. So comp last would result in more compressed overall tone with more quacky dynamics, where comp first would result more consistent quacks but a less compressed overall tone.

[scottfeldstein]

I never ran the clean and dry knobs both maxed, that would be dumb And judging volume spikes becomes strange with a filter sweep; some frequencies cut through, others disappear... Anyway, I did get it figured out eventually.

And, yes, I got over my fear or compressing before the EF. I do it routinely now. It's the only way to fly.

Absolutely loving the SA Pro BEF. It can get pretty close to the classic sound of the M82. But it can also do a lot of other sounds. For starters, it has a reverse sweep. And yeah, I'm glad I got the pro so I can preset more than one setting.

[Toastfuzz]

Hah didnt realize this was a zombie thread