• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

EHX Q-Tron vs MXR Envelope Filter for WHEEEEE (non-Filter nerd) guy

H13

H13

May 28, 2016
271
402
#1
SO.

I would like an envelope filter.

Do I need one?

No.

Will I use it musically?

Absolutely not.

Do I have fun playing with one?

Yes.

Do I want one on my board for giggles even though I have no use for it?

Most definitely.

Is it a thing I should take seriously?

Absolutely not.

The MXR Envelope Filter looks great! It's also not hideously expensive. But it also looks like I need to start taking envlope filters seriously to get the best out of it. Meanwhile, the Q-Tron is simple. I've seen demos where I think it sounds great. But it's kinda so cheap that I am concerned it might be ass.

ERGO: For the sake of a *stomp* WHEEEEEEEEEEE pedal, will the Q-Tron be awesome? Or is it genuinely worth it to grab the MXR?
 
  • Like
Reactions: PapaBearBass
#4
Mighty Thumb said:
The 3Leaf Proton and EMMA Discombobulator v2 have been some of my favorites.
Click to expand...
Probably, but here in Australia they're about 400 bucks. I'm not keen on spending 400 bucks on a *stomp* "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" pedal

Basically, I want it to be good but I don't need it to be the world's greatest envelope filter pedal. I don't want to deep dive on it.

I care enough that I want it to be quality, but not enough that I want the greatest Envelope Filter sound in the world. Just one that when I turn it on, it works, sounds good and hopefully makes me (and somebody else) laugh.
 
#9
I didn't much care for the mxr. It's very tricky to dial in as the controls are super sensitive. It also requires super clean technique, as some of the resulting low end sweeps can destroy your speakers.

Check out the Source Audio Spectrum. It covers A LOT of ground and is simply the most "pick up and have fun" envelope filter I have played. There's an ocean of user presets available on their community platform, but really the six factory presets are already superb and more useable to me than most other pedals.

OIP.-cDktRmF4R0msPgSc2tonwHaHu
 
#10
Taustin Powers said:
I didn't much care for the mxr. It's very tricky to dial in as the controls are super sensitive. It also requires super clean technique, as some of the resulting low end sweeps can destroy your speakers.
Click to expand...
I've had issues with the MXR as well. It's so sensitive, even nudging the controls a tiny bit in the case can lead to a totally useless sound on stage. I know it has cool sounds hidden inside of it, but finding and keeping them is a huge pain.

I had a Q-tron many years ago and also had issues with volume spikes, and it wasn't true bypass so it really wanted to run through an effects loop. It had cool sounds too, and I found it easier to dial in a useful sweep but getting the volume to stay under control was the larger challenge.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Taustin Powers
#11
I've gone through a good number of different EF pedals, and lost patience due to the difficulty of dialing it in. The one I have now is a Mutron Micro Tron IV. It consistently brings a smile to my face. I did have a Qtron for a while, and it just never clicked with me. I haven't tried the MXR, but I know there are a lot of people that speak highly of it.

That all being said, if you only want it for fun, maybe you should consider something that has an outlandish paint job like the Seamoon. Happy hunting! :P
 
#13
Had an EHX Q-Tron+ for years, it had great sounds, but was very cumbersome (= big af) and required a non-standard power supply.

I've since gone the Source Audio route (C4). My main gripe with the Q-Tron was that I could never get the same sound twice between sessions. It was very finicky.
 
#14
I've been playing the MXR envelope for a few years now. As others have said, it is sensitive and takes a minute to dial in. But, that's because it is powerful and offers lots of control. You should also consider WHERE you have it in the signal chain. Mine likes being behind the compressor & octave and before distortion. It works best as a "set it and forget it pedal".
 
#15
I have ha both and prefer the MXR it's was predictable and I mean that in a good way.


I really like the charter of the Q Tron, but I know in cold weather (left in a rehersal room over night, ect), it responded differently.

Just my $.02
 
#17
I don't use an envelope filter for funk quack with rhythmic parameters. I use it for spacier, trippier stuff.

I have an old Source Audio Soundblox (a big box) and it's successor, the Manta (smaller).

Those are fun and have more features than I need. It took a little time to go through and learn what Manta settings I didn't want to use.

At one point, the value of those old Soundblox pedals had dropped to dollar store level, but I checked prices recently, and they seem to have become a bit more "collectible". I don't know if I'd pay what some folks are asking.
 
#19
"Will I use it musically?
Absolutely not."

In that case disregard everything I write, but I'm a filter collector... the gold standard was the Moog low pass filter, and everything gets compared to that. The MXR can give "fun" results right away, but it's a Band Pass filter with a blend and does that one thing well. So it's isn't even on my list (I have an MXR somewhere). The new version of the EH Q Tron is one of their best, but it does have a volume knob you have to be careful with. It's also has a Q knob where you can tune the freq of the filter (to get near that low Moog juiciness Or a higher quack). Like the old Q trons it has a choice of low pass band pass and high pass. I find that the band pass tuned low works pretty well too (but I prefer low pass for the guaranteed low end). Because it has a volume and a freq change, you Do have to be careful to not have distorted peaks, but that's like choosing to not floor the gas pedal on your car while parking...

On my recent pedalboard arrangement (c. Saturday) I choose the EBS Triple Envelope Follower...this is the closest to the Moog, useful in Lazwellian Dub, and the Way Huge Resnotron, which after some struggle with the too many options and need to include another 18v power source, gets the best Down envelope I've ever used. Actually a drive into the Resnotron into the EBS makes for a great synth voice. Unfortunately, it's musical.
 
#20
Filters on bass can be a lot of fun and the two mentioned are good choices but you may find there so many others worth considering. +1 to @Taustin Powers suggestion for the Source Audio Spectrum. I like the Spectrum because it offers a wide array of filters that I can combine and mix with dry signal as well as adding octaver, distortion and time based LFO effects that can approach synth sounds especially for bass.

Zoom multi effects offer a good selection of envelope effects that I will often use when designing a sound for a particular song or feel.

EHX Dr Q and Bass Balls were my first and still favorite envelope filters of the many I have used, owned and played over the years. The Bass Balls is my all time favorite defect pedal, I have several older versions, modified versions and similar pedals from others makers like the Mooer Sweeper that should be available down under.

Currently I have a Spectrum, C4 Synth aka "Mothership Control", BASSBALLS+ and Zoom MS60B on my gigging board for jazzy stuff.
 

Attachments

  • Jazz board + EQ.jpg
    Jazz board + EQ.jpg
    422.2 KB · Views: 25

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back