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“Waht” is your favourite envelope filter?

EHX Bass Balls has been my all time favorite defect pedal both for it's simplicity of controls and complexity of sounds, with that nasty fuzz and sweeping filters. I have a collection of originals, NYC reissues, a modified NYC, 2 Mooer Sweepers, rocktron heart attack and a rocktron reaction dynamic filter. It seems every time I put together a new board it is incomplete unless it has a BB or clone.
I've always liked that sound on my Xtomp too. You've just inspired me to pull the trigger on the real thing. :thumbsup:
P.S. Oh wait... 'defect pedal'? :roflmao:
 
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3 Leaf Proton (I have the MKI, and recently got the MKII). I think the newer version is a bit different than the early ones?

I really like the AF-9 too. Sold it, but wish I had kept it.

I've owned the MXR, Q-tron, BassBalls, the Keeley Nutrino, and DOD FX25 in addition to the ones above. None of them stuck around very long.
I tried the Aguilar, but it wasn't doing it for me. I really liked the Malekko E-filter when I tried it, but didn't buy it.


One up / one down...
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Xerograph Deluxe v2 and MXR BEF on my board right now. While the BEF is a one-trick pony, it’s a very good trick.

The SA Spectrum is really good too, and while easier to tweak live than the Manta or earlier BEF, the dual function knobs and store process make it not as easy to tweak as a non-digitally controller pedal.

The Aguilar is good for mild but complex filter sounds. The Robot Talk is also cool. The filter in the Meridian Funk-U-Later is really good too.

Some popular ones did not float my boat, like the FX-25 and the JoshWah. Although the JoshWah is definitely usable, I prefer the MXR to it. I used a Proton for quite a while but sold it to a guitarist eventually and have not missed it. The EBS filter is ok too, but again the MXR is better in my opinion.

Those big EHX filters all have cool sounds, like the Enigma and the Q-Tron+, but for all the knobs they seem to each only have ones useful up sound and one useful down sound. All IMHO of course.

The MuTron III and Tru-Tron are very good but big and have difficult power requirements, but there are some really different sounds in them including great down-sweeps. But I prefer the Xerograph Dlx honestly.
 
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for my tastes (with active bass) the Aguilar Filter Twin has beat them all. I currently have the Source Audio C4, which does all the Spectrum Filter stuff as well but I still use the Filter Twin for envelope sounds. The blending of the up and down sweeps is a key feature and it just hits the sweet spot to my ears. I'm also currently in possession of the TWA MiniMorph which sounds wild and great but the C4 can cop that one pretty well and it might be going soon.

Others I've owned:

Dr. Scientist Dusk (liked the other modes better than the Envelope mode)
SolidgoldFX Funk Lite (uninspiring)
EMMA Discumbobulator V2 (quite good and has a separate boost switch)
Keeley Neutrino V2 (worst filter of them all)
Keeley Bubbletron (didn't get it for the filter, the Sample and Hold is great)
Mr. Black FwonkBeta (gets lots of love but didn't mesh with me)
Source Audio Soundblox 2 Manta (lots of options, sounded good)
Lovepedal Rubber Chicken (4 knob version; liked this one too just wasn't quite there)
MXR M82 Bass Envelope Filter (uninspiring)

Just my opinions, good luck on the search!

Similar to @jgtwentysix , I've used the MXR, Mr Black Fwonkbeta, Emma V2, and the Aguilar Filter Twin.

- The MXR didn't work for me because it's bandpass, and regardless of all its knobs, it can only give you variations on one sound. Off it went.
- Really dug the Emma V2 but a few things didn't work for me: it wasn't rude enough and its downsweep was really noisy. Was okay in a mix as long as you played, but any rest or pause would being out that hiss. The secondary boost option was great, but not enough to keep it. Off it went.
- I currently have both the Mr Black and the Aguilar.

The Fwonk is nasty as all hell. Requires a compressor immediately afterwards or it'll blow your speakers/ears/amp. It's important to keep the highs dialed in with the juice knob almost entirely CW. Sounds amazing stacked with other pedals. A great filter imo.

I was surprised by the Filter Twin. It didn't seem rude enough on the first go around, but it did something others struggled with in my experience. It sat perfectly in the mix. Not below and indistinguishable except for small bursts, not on top where it would interfere with higher harmonic content. It sat there just perfectly. The up and down sweep mix is surprisingly useful, so you can go fully up or fully down or mix them both. And the threshold was simple to trigger across the sweep. Still have it, still dig it.

Filters are the most personal of effects. The triple As surely come into play here: your axe, attack, and articulation. A fantastic filter for me may sound awful with your set up and/or style. I haven't found the perfect filter, even though I had a Microtron IV and had to return it because it didn't trigger, so that may still be out there for me. For now, the Fwonkbeta and the Filter Twin are the winners. Hope this helps.
 
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WMD protostar.
I’m also a dabbler in Eurorack stuff and have a deep love for the specifics of filter sounds. This one flat out sounds amazing.

Expression can control a variety of things.

It is especially awesome if you have any CV capabilities. Paired with the Zoia, I can have presets that control this with expression for a wah, or via tap tempo, step sequence, etc.
Protostar_60x.png
 
Salut Inconnu, been awhile.
For me, it's still the old Digitech Bass Synth Wah.
The more recent Tech21 BFR v2 filter section can also be set-up to give a similar sound.
Salut Mike!

Funny you mention the old Digitech. I just bought it’s competition, the old Boss SYB-3. The t-wah is not bad.

Right now, I’m debating on my old Mini Q-Tron’s place on the board. It takes a lot of place and it’s not versatile (though it sounds great). Never heard of the Tech21. I’ll take a look !
 
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Salut Mike!

Funny you mention the old Digitech. I just bought it’s competition, the old Boss SYB-3. The t-wah is not bad.

Right now, I’m debating on my old Mini Q-Tron’s place on the board. It takes a lot of place and it’s not versatile (though it sounds great). Never heard of the Tech21. I’ll take a look !

I had the AW-3, but never the SYB, so can't compare, unfortunately. Hopefully you can tweak to your liking ?
The Tech21 just got out this summer, it does a lot of things and allowed me to reduce the pedalboard.
 
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On my small board I have the MXR BEF. It is very easy to dial in, and it sounds great.

I have the Chromatron that'll soon to be on my big board and it's just awesome.

I also moified a DOD FX25B, that has its own thing in a good way.
 
I had the AW-3, but never the SYB, so can't compare, unfortunately. Hopefully you can tweak to your liking ?
The Tech21 just got out this summer, it does a lot of things and allowed me to reduce the pedalboard.
Well, I haven’t bought the SYB for the t-wah, but it’s all right. I wanted to try synth sounds and got it real cheap so.

Cool for the new Tech21
 
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I just got a Fwonkbeta which is a beast I'm figuring out how to tame and I'm picking up an M82 after work. I had one years ago and liked it. I think I sold it because I didn't use it much.

I want to check out the Dunlop Q Zone too for a cocked wah.