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Envelope filter/follower addict support group

This is maybe a little off topic, but this seems like maybe the best place to post it in this thread, because I just took delivery of a new device that's kinda like an EnvelopeFilter+++. It's called a Pro VS Mini hybrid vector synthesizer, and it's modeled after an old school synth called the Prophet VS.

I'm not quite sure what I'll use it for, but I can set it octaves down so it's in a bass register, and it can make a really really wide variety of sounds. It has a really tiny piano keyboard, but it can sound huge. I've barely scratched the surface of what it can do, and it's already been a blast to play with. It will filter your envelope, among other things.

I'm posting on the chance that maybe this is what someone else out there has been looking for without realizing it, or maybe someone else's thoughts on this will inspire me on a new way to use it, too. It's small enough that one could even mount it on a pedalboard and run it off a USB plug, though it doesn't have an input for guitar, just midi.




It's a shame that there's no external input, but that Vector joystick looks to be very foot-operable. 😺
 
I also have a deal for a Dr Scientist Dusk in the works - I've been looking at this. While I won't use some of the features, it looks pretty cool and it's one of the few filters that ppl have recommended that I haven't gotten my hands on yet, so I'm looking fwd to playing with it!

I need to update my "Want to Try" list... Totally forgot about the Dusk. Another one I've wanted to try for a long time, but haven't gotten around to!

This thread is NOT helping my G.A.S., @moon-bass. :laugh:

I was looking at that one, but the price! Is it worth it?

As far as envelope phasers go, I don't know that anything could really top the BS Wombtone. You can just plug it in and twist some knobs for some cool sounds of course, but it's a Chase Bliss pedal, so it's really deep. (The manual is 35 pages.) It's a really unique pedal, as most Chase Bliss pedals are, but strikes me as leaning into "power user" territory. I guess the BSWomb's appeal would depend on how far down the envelope phaser rabbit hole a person would really want to go.

Follow your doctor's orders so you can keep playing! The pedals will still be here. ;);)

5sg.
 
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Sooo... about the filter pedals. My trusty old Enigma (EHX) is showing some age and there are some issues with the 3-position switch, so i had to take it off the smaller board.. a friend of mine should be able to take a look at it, but i'm using filters a lot(probably 3rd favorite effect type behind delays and ring mods), so i had to look up a substitute. My absolute favorite filter is Subdecay Prometheus on my main board, but it works really well with some other pedals on that board, so i had to think of something else. I had Touch Wah and OG Doctor q on a loan and they were great, but not exactly ideal for my purposes.

Then i remembered i still have and use Dreadbox Epsilon, even tho it was mostly hooked up to some drum machines while i had it. I tried it with bass initially, but i didn't like the results as much as with Enigma.. while it wasn't ideal in every way, it had a great sound with a dangerous amount of low end.

Dreadbox Epsilon is kinda like if you'd rip off a segment of a vintage synth.. it even has an amp section with plenty of lovely dirt on tap, but it is pretty noisy by itself, i'm usually keeping it a bit down. The envelope (AR) is simple and works really well.. the attack is pretty sharp and snappy by definition, even on higher settings, but i don't really mind that, it gives the pedal this synth-like edge. LFO is super simple and not really all the useful. You also can't change the direction, but i'm not really a fan of these MMMWah sounds.. The filter itself is awesome, i'm mostly using the low pass, but even the high pass has some uses. The maximum amount of resonance makes the filter squeal in self-oscillation.. not the most pleasing sound, especially with the distortion on top, but it can be tamed a bit with the filter. And a bit of delay can really recontextualize it.. ;)
Rxrwplc.jpeg

Here's my favorite setting so far:
ZbtVW0y.jpeg

In conclusion.. it isn't some miraculous Bootsy-in-a-box thing, but the filter itself is solid, especially so if you like synth sounds a lot. The one i have is a limited edition of about 150 pieces and i don't think there were that many originals. So the prices for these are already pretty ridiculous. Just FYI. ;)
 
I'm the maker of this pedal, this actually contains a fully featured fuzz with a parametric boost in front of it. this goes into a second circuit, which is a synth style Low pass filter, that you can set by hand, expression or by envelope control (either up or down with an atenuverter style control). so indeed it's a true 2 in one :)
Nice! I'm gonna definitely have to check this out! Thanks for the info!
 
That looks pretty killer @muggsy, nice choice.

I haven't had a chance to message about one yet, looks like shipping to the States is back on...?

5sg.
Thanks! Yes, he resumed US shipping a couple of weeks ago. If you go to his site you can find pricing info that includes tariffs and shipping costs. Now I just have to see how long it takes to get here, but I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
 
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Interested in the Funky Puppy. It’s a filter and fuzz in one box?
It is! It's a clone of two pedals - the Chunk Systems Agent 00Funk envelope filter - one of the funkiest around - and the Chunk Systems Brown Dog fuzz. They are made with a side chain so you can run them in series or parallel.
 
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It is! It's a clone of two pedals - the Chunk Systems Agent 00Funk envelope filter - one of the funkiest around - and the Chunk Systems Brown Dog fuzz. They are made with a side chain so you can run them in series or parallel.
I became deeply lost for about 2 hours, felt like 20 minutes, in the Funky Puppy. So many cool, inventive ways to play this thing. Has a feel/playability that reminds me of the Prometheus, though with a very different tone.

Regarding the link between the two effects, a cable on the originals, and a foot switch on the Funky Puppy, the manual (Chunk Systems) is not very clear. I’m fairly certain that the link does not determine series or parallel, but rather is a sidechain for the filter response, bringing more dynamics to the filter, than the output of the fuzz signal. It feels like, to me, that when you deselect the link, the filter is much harder to dial in, because it’s triggering from the significantly compressed fuzz output. With the link selected, I get much more control and range in the filter response. But I’m confident the signal flow of audio is consistent, always in series, Fuzz>Filter.
 
I’m fairly certain that the link does not determine series or parallel, but rather is a sidechain for the filter response,
yeah, that's what I was trying to say - I was thinking "sidechain" and "parallel" are effectively the same thing (I mean not really, but trying to look at an easy way to explain things in layman's terms :-) )

the way you describe it is much more accurate.
 
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I can't play much right now, but have some thoughts ..

So .. envelope chorus? Meh.

Envelope filter and phaser? Cool AF!

Envelope flanger - now there's some potential there - especially when stacking (before or after) fuzz.

The Bubbletron is super cool, BTW. The filter is kinda meh, but the phaser is great, and the flanger very cool. gonna mess around with this more once I can play.

Also, the EHX Stereo polyphase is really, really nice. It's not as flexible as the EP-2, but IMO it sounds better.
 
I was on a business trip last week an had a hold mail on my packages .. and USPS has decided to extend it. I ended up ordering a Billy Strings Wombtone and a Pigtronix Resotron (filter wise, I have a few more non-filter things coming as well), along with a Broughton Joshwah and a Dr. Scientist Dusk, and I need to put the Tube Zipper thru it's paces - and it's a lot more fun than I remember!

The Prunes & Custard and TWA Dynamorph are kinda related, and I'm looking forward to doing a comparison of the two.

All of that with the Bubbletron and a few other goodies (Mesa Bottlerocket is one of them!!) I should have plenty to do when I can play again ... in about a week.

Until then it's kinda hard just keeping the playing to a few minutes just to "check things out ..."
 
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