Envelope Filter 2019

[vivaknoxvegas]

I’ve liked the Chromatron (current filter), 3Leaf Groove Regulator, the JoshWah, and the SA Manta.

I didn’t care for the Iron Ether XD, the DOD FX25, or the Fwonk Beta at all.

I thought the 3Leaf Proton and MXR BEF was decent and solid.

 

[FilterFunk]

I just got a BassIQ and I could see it working the same way, but as for real “quack” funky filter sounds I feel it too only has one useful sound. Either of the normal settings, up or down, end up being pretty subtle in a band mix; only the HiQ setting makes a statement.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[FilterFunk]

Original big silver box Qtron is my favourite, I use the + model with a boss EQ in the FX loop so I can tame the volume boost whilst engaged.
Recently got a hold of this Mu-Tron clone and it's damn funky

Sounds quite juicy!

 

[OptimalOptimus]

From my research on Youtube the Xerograph, Mutron III and Chromatron are the most interesting one.

But difficult to find one of those in my neck of wood.

 

[Driven Crane]

For now i use a Future Impact. But i would have a Funk Lite of Solidgold fx.

 

[Jakeman]

IE Xerograph Deluxe and 3Leaf Wonderlove for me. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

 

[dannybuoy]

You’ve gotta be using it with a limiter right? I loved the sound the of the Fwonk but I couldn’t control it to save my life.

My two choices would be Broughton Joshwah and Mutron Microtron III.

I do run a Spectracomp set to mild settings, but that is a relatively recent addition, plus its running into an Orange Terror Bass so excessive peaks are subject to a bit of soft clipping. Never had a problem controlling the Fwonk, keep the juice control maxed to keep the sweep in the upper range, dial the Fwonk control down to keep the resonance at sensible levels and I’m good.

 

[willsellout]

I can’t wait for the new Source Audio filter. For now though my favorite filter is the Broughton Josh Wah. It’s the best filter I’ve owned, all things considered.

 

[LeonD]

Over the years, I've tried a number of filter pedals. And they all sounded fine at one time or another when they were in their sweet spot. Problem for me was that the sweet spot seems like a moving target. Would sound fine one day, then the next with the same settings, would sound different. Or would sound great at home, then horrible on the gig. It was probably me but just couldn't find one I was consistently happy with.

Then I got a 3leaf Chromatron. Game over. It's the first filter pedal I feel like I can actually control consistently. At home, on a gig, anywhere. My two main basses have very different output levels. No problem with the Chromatron. Easy to adjust while switching basses and I know how it'll sound before I start playing.

I'm sure others can do this with other filter pedals but I can't. But I can with the Chromatron.

And, it also sounds pretty awesome on top of that.

 

[BurningSkies]

I have the Broughton Joshwah and the Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe both on my board. The Joshwah continues to be a pleasure and I now have a song or two in the set I use it for. I have it set for a little 'bark' and a classic funky envelope. The IE-XD is my 'stunt envelope' and is fed by a fuzz and I use it with the expression pedal & a number of other effects for a variety of my synth like tones.

The teaser for our new video features the IE-XD prominently:

 

[OhulahanBass]

My favorite is still the Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer. No other filter has been both as dynamic and versatile with the attack and decay. Plus presets.

Source Audio filters are great, Mutrons are great, 3Leaf are good but all the models I tried are tame/muffled sounding. FI is amazing but for the synth stuff not so much the filter.

I think SA Spectrum and Merris Enzo are the most interesting to me right now. What I really want is to find a good analog 4-pole filter that can be as dynamic and has an envelope as versatile as the Chunk Systems with a taste of filter drive. Maybe the WMD Protostar? Maybe a follow up to the Mooger Foogers?

Hmmm, Pigtronix Resotron might be what I am looking for...

 

[Johno Dunn]

I currently have a Manta (very versatile), a Sweeper (in a loop, as part of my Synth sound) and a Rocktron VII Deadly Sins (very underrated). Always looking, but for now, I’m very pleased!

 

[adamaarts]

I e been spending a lot of time with the Moog MF-101 this week. Aside from the size and bypass it’s such a great pedal. It’s the best filter sound by far, and so wet and thick it just isn’t even close to others I’ve tried and heard.

I have to say I have had more fun with this pedal than I’ve had on a while with any other.

I mean it needs to be in a loop with a switcher or LS-2 to really bypass it, and it’s size is crazy big. But it’s a bucket list pedal for sure. I will be holding on to this forever

 

[Bo0tsy]

Strangely with envelope filters I keep going back to the big old vintage units.

The envelope filters which are top of the class for me are:

Mu-Tron III (or Tru-Tron 3x)
Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer or Agent 00Funk Mk II (they share the same filter circuit)
Frostwave Funk-a-Duck
Moog MF101 LPF

IMO they are just wilder, deeper, dirtier, squelchier, quackier and fundamentally funkier than most of the new stuff out there.

A lot of the new compact filters just don't cut the (funk) mustard for me (though the Micro-Tron III is an exception)

 

[OhulahanBass]

Holly cow, just listened to Zach’s demo of the Chromatron, it truely is a lovely warm sounding filter. If it could be modded to add nasty to it’s tone palet I would snag it up. I think the taming issue is in the slow attach and decay. At their fastest settings they are still too slow which means 3 of my favorite filter tricks are missing: That quick slappy spank with fast AD, that acidic tone with super fast D and those bubbles you get when the AD are set “too” fast and the filter seems to trip on itself.

The OS does these best, Enigma does them well if I remember correctly.

 

[cosmicevan]

I e been spending a lot of time with the Moog MF-101 this week. Aside from the size and bypass it’s such a great pedal. It’s the best filter sound by far, and so wet and thick it just isn’t even close to others I’ve tried and heard.

I have to say I have had more fun with this pedal than I’ve had on a while with any other.

I mean it needs to be in a loop with a switcher or LS-2 to really bypass it, and it’s size is crazy big. But it’s a bucket list pedal for sure. I will be holding on to this forever

Agreed on the amazingness of the MF101. A lot of people like to keep the MF101 in their chain because you can never really bypass it and the pre sounds super warm and fat. I hate the size of the pedal, but can't get it off my board. I've been toying with the idea of running things with a ES-8 but don't want the MF101 to ever come out of the chain, but want the ability to switch into it with other effects in a single stomp. Decisions...

 

[Planespotter]

I’m still stuck on the big box QTron+. I run mine with an Eqd gray channel in the loop to add grit and control volume. I never get tired of the way it feels under my fingers!

 

[Phat-E]

+1 for the octavius sqeezer. That pedal rocks!

 

[Double E]

+1 for the octavius sqeezer. That pedal rocks!

Someone's gonna have to post some audio of this pedal being used as an envelope filter. Isn't it actually a synth pedal? The only demos I am finding showcase a pretty cool set of synth features but nothing I consider a traditional envelope filter sound.

 

[Grahams Groove]

Self-identified filter junky here. I've had many over the years, but the ones that have lasted are the Wonderlove V1 and the Microtron 3. I just got a Xerograph Deluxe and am digging it quite a bit. I think it's a little more open & less consistent as an auto-wah/envelope filter compared to the Microtron and Wonderlove. But it is not a slouch in that department - it definitely shines as a synth pedal, especially with an expression controller. I have it paired with an IE Subterranea & the combo is magical.

Honorable mentions go to Joshwah if you want something in the realm of the Microtron for a bit less money. Though I like the Micrtron more for the consistent responsiveness and the perfect blend of fullness/quack. The Aguilar Filter Twin is killer for a super fat envelope that sits in a mix rather than poking through it - the combo of simultaneous up/down sweep is unique. And the Bass Sweeper gets a nod for being a killer filter at that size/price. It punches well above its weight class.