Envelope filter/follower addict support group

[MamothGrave]

Carl Martin Classic Optical Envelope

You're the first I've seen reference this one, and I've noticed one floating around Reverb for a good price. This thing has "basic b" written all over it. You say it's a favorite though?

 

[FilterFunk]

You're the first I've seen reference this one, and I've noticed one floating around Reverb for a good price. This thing has "basic b" written all over it. You say it's a favorite though?

The sound reminds me of the EHX Mini Q-Tron (not the Micro or Nano), which I liked a lot. It's very nice to have Tone and Level (Volume) controls, too. It only has up sweep, but I never use down sweep on an envelope filter, anyway. If I want that "Chameleon"-like "ow" sound, a synth is always better.

The Carl Martin is not spectacular; it's just really good, and IMO, it's better than a lot of much more expensive boutique offerings.

 

[muggsy]

I can probably count the number of envelope filters I’ve owned on one hand, but I am digging the Funky Puppy. The fuzz side and the filter side are both cool on their own, but the real magic seems to be when both are engaged with the link switch. It’s very sensitive to playing dynamics and the tone changes dramatically when I dig in. Definitely a keeper, thanks to all who talked it up in this thread and convinced me to take the plunge.

 

[moon-bass]

I think I've said it already, but man this thread isn't doing my G.A.S. any favors.

I always think of that as a bonus, my friend

 

[moon-bass]

Allright allright allright ...

I got a bunch of pedals in and the doc has given me clearand to start playing a little. I'll get recordings done soon, in the meantime here's the narratives on the new arrivals:

3 Leaf Groove regulator (v1) - I expected this to be a lot like the GR2 (pretty much my favorite envelope filter of all time), but I was only half right - it's a killer filter in it's own right, and different from the GR2 - thicker, richer, darker.

Broughton Joshwah - it's a nice EF, period. Easy to get a good sound out of, but flexible enough to satisfy the tweaker in me. The added dirt is a nice touch. For those of us that like dirty filters, it's quite nice, and the dirt doesn't interfere with the filter response. I'd call this a mid-complex filter - for anyone that is looking to get beyond a Mutron clone, and also anyone that loves a dirty filter.

EHX Tube Zipper - uber cool. Took me awhile to dial in right - funny enough, the "trill" response is maybe a bit too trilly for me, but damn it sounds good when used with a volume pedal. The dirt is OUTSTANDING on this as well - I mean, EHX Tube overdrive, what's not to love?

Tbe Keeley Bubbletron is a neat little piece of kit. I gotta say, I picked up four other envelope phasers, and the Keeley holds it's own and then some. I can't say I dig on the flanger too much tho (a HUGE part of that is due to the comparison to the Asheville envelope phaser, which just kills).

Speaking of envelope phasers, I ended up with five - the Keeley, the Chase Bliss Billy Strings Wombtone, the EHX PolypHase, and the Pigtronix EP-2. Waitm, that's only four .. I thought I had another one around here somewhere.

in any event. they are all winners in my book, and I'm surprised they aren't more popular. They can be just as funky as envelope filters, perhaps even more so in some cases. I'll get some recordings up for these as well. Totally digging them!

If you're wondering, the EHX is the richest/smoothest (and my current fave), the Chase Bliss is by far the most flexible (I have a feeling that once i spend more time with it I'll dig it even more). The EP-2 is also risc and very responsive, and the Keeley is just plan fun - easy to use and get a great sound out of. All four might be keepers ....

I also have the Pigtronix Resotron filter. I've been trying that as a band pass filter with good results. Initial inclination is that it might end up on my synth board.

The Ashville SG-1 is everything I wanted a flanger to be, and then some. I totally dig it, and the envelope function is very cool. It honestly blows the envelope flanger on the Keeley out of the water (of course, it's also more than 3x expensive and only does one thing).

The Dr. Scientist Dusk - great filter, but I'm not sure about it long term - I just won't use the extra features, it might be better off with someone more akin to them. Still, it gets some killer sounds, and it's super flexible, and pretty easy to use.

I also picked up a TWA Dynamorph and am giving the Prunes and Custard another chance. The Dynamorph is way more flexible, and gets this nice grindy quality out of it. The P&C is a little different - less extreme, but also a bit more controllable. I'm gonna put these two thru their paces over the next few days and prob only keep one.

Probably.

 

[moon-bass]

I love filters, and I gotta say this is pretty cool.

Now all I need is.a Wonderlove Deluxe/MK2 and a Chromatron!

 

[Dawson_Lud]

Adding a filter to my board, tried the mf-101 which I still have but I have two issues with it. Huge. And I use a lot of pedals before it, Fuzz octave etc. Looking to get one that will fit on the board and have either a send/return or a trigger in. Super curious on the old 3 Leaf stuff but I was planning on getting the V3 Discumbobulator and having a splitter before those dynamic effects so that it could get my clean bass. The chromatron is out of the price range even if I sold my 101 which I'm not particularly interested in doing. What are peoples recs?

 

[moon-bass]

Adding a filter to my board, tried the mf-101 which I still have but I have two issues with it. Huge. And I use a lot of pedals before it, Fuzz octave etc. Looking to get one that will fit on the board and have either a send/return or a trigger in. Super curious on the old 3 Leaf stuff but I was planning on getting the V3 Discumbobulator and having a splitter before those dynamic effects so that it could get my clean bass. The chromatron is out of the price range even if I sold my 101 which I'm not particularly interested in doing. What are peoples recs?

you may be best off with a pedal with a loop/side chain and a clean blend. Offhand, there are quite a few of the older 3 Leaf filters that do this - the GR 2 and the Wonderlove for sure. Both of them are excellent, excellent filters and seem to be going for great prices. I would 100% recommend either.

Also, the Artisinal Effects Meathead fits the bill, and that is also a great filter, highly recommended and one of my favorites. Funky AF, has the clean blend and the loop..also readily available.


Side note:
For some reason the original Groove Regulator and the Wonderlove (v1) are going for (relatively) decent prices. The GR 2 is a bit pricier, but cheaper than it has been - and worth every penny.

I'd love to pick up a Wonderlove MK2 and a Chromatron if they ever come down to reality.

 

[DJ Bebop]

It’s HERE. Played with it for maybe 10 minutes (all I had) and WOW. I know what I’m doing this weekend.

View attachment 7351216

Liking the skateboard deck

 

[moon-bass]

Lucky day! I managed to score a Maxon AF-F1 fire blade auto filter. Very rare, and apparently only released in the Japanese market. I am stoked!!

Edit: I should say that I scored one for a (halfway) decent price. After looking for a long while, one popped on Reverb for a semi-decent price, and another popped up on eBay, and they are asking a lot more.

 

[s_wood]

For some reason the original Groove Regulator and the Wonderlove (v1) are going for (relatively) decent prices. The GR 2 is a bit pricier, but cheaper than it has been - and worth every penny.

I'd love to pick up a Wonderlove MK2 and a Chromatron if they ever come down to reality

I own a bunch of 3Leaf filters… the G2, the Wonderlove MK2, a Proton MK 4 and a Chromotron. Envelope filter preferences are uniquely personal because how they sound is so closely related to ones playing style in the bass being used. That said, if you made me pick a favorite, it would be the Wonderlove MK 2, followed by the GR2. The Chromotron, which is currently the most expensive one on them used market, is my least favorite. It was on my board for a couple of years, but I’ve gone back to using the Wonderlove. To my ears, the Chromotron a bit sterile sounding and too fiddly - by that I mean it’s difficult to dial in the same sound every time I use it. I have an original Mearball, too, and I rarely use it for the same reason.

I love the Proton MK 4, too. It’s the easiest to dial in, but that’s probably because it’s the least versatile of his filters.

The good news is that the least expensive 3 Leaf filters - the Wonderlove and the GR - are, too me, the best sounding. Don’t sleep on the Wonderlove!

 

[bassbrad]

Adding a filter to my board, tried the mf-101 which I still have but I have two issues with it. Huge. And I use a lot of pedals before it, Fuzz octave etc. Looking to get one that will fit on the board and have either a send/return or a trigger in. Super curious on the old 3 Leaf stuff but I was planning on getting the V3 Discumbobulator and having a splitter before those dynamic effects so that it could get my clean bass. The chromatron is out of the price range even if I sold my 101 which I'm not particularly interested in doing. What are peoples recs?

Bass Balls of course
But I might suggest at least considering a Source Audio Spectrum that has most filters covered plus the ability to create your own, store 6 or more for recall plus it has an excellent octaver, dirt section and LFO for time based effects.

 

[fivestringgecko]

@moon-bass
Good to hear you've been cleared and are playing again. Looks like you've got plenty to play with... I know filters are fun, so don't overdo it!

Some good info that has me think about a couple possible near-future filter purchases. Looking forward to hearing your long term report on some of these, and where you land with the 3Leaf filters. The GR2 is probably my favorite sounding 3Leaf, but I haven't yet had a chance to play a Wonderlove or Chromatron. +1 to @s_wood about the Proton v4 being not quite as versatile, but it still sounds pretty killer and edges out the GR2 just barely because of form factor.

The JoshWah is another one that's been on my list for a long time that I always seem to forget about.

@Dawson_Lud
If you're specifically looking at 3Leaf, the GR2 would be a good one if you can find one. The Wonderloves and Chromatron are pretty unobtanium at this point. I don't know that there was a ton of sound difference between the GR2 and Wonderlove, and the GR2 still has the FX loop. S_Wood's comment about the Chromatron sounding a bit sterile isn't the first time I've heard that, which is why I never made it a point to worry about trying one.

Like @bassbrad said, the Spectrum might be at least worth a look. It's digital, but Source Audio is really good at what they do, so it doesn't really sound digital. It's got a lot of features, and the Neuro Community presets as well, so I'd find it hard to believe if you weren't able to find the sound you're looking for. And I do believe you can set the inputs/outputs up as an external FX Loop. (You'd want to research that to be sure though, I've never explored that feature).

5sg.

 

[bassbrad]

Like @bassbrad said, the Spectrum might be at least worth a look. It's digital, but Source Audio is really good at what they do, so it doesn't really sound digital. It's got a lot of features, and the Neuro Community presets as well, so I'd find it hard to believe if you weren't able to find the sound you're looking for. And I do believe you can set the inputs/outputs up as an external FX Loop. (You'd want to research that to be sure though, I've never explored that feature).

5sg.

External Loop is one of the routing options and it can be beat synched. You can sample sounds in Neuro 3 without the pedal making it easy to get an idea of the sound possibilities, there are several bass loops to choose to play any of the sounds including any you might dial in.

 

[moon-bass]

I own a bunch of 3Leaf filters… the G2, the Wonderlove MK2, a Proton MK 4 and a Chromotron. Envelope filter preferences are uniquely personal because how they sound is so closely related to ones playing style in the bass being used. That said, if you made me pick a favorite, it would be the Wonderlove MK 2, followed by the GR2. The Chromotron, which is currently the most expensive one on them used market, is my least favorite. It was on my board for a couple of years, but I’ve gone back to using the Wonderlove. To my ears, the Chromotron a bit sterile sounding and too fiddly - by that I mean it’s difficult to dial in the same sound every time I use it. I have an original Mearball, too, and I rarely use it for the same reason.

I love the Proton MK 4, too. It’s the easiest to dial in, but that’s probably because it’s the least versatile of his filters.

The good news is that the least expensive 3 Leaf filters - the Wonderlove and the GR - are, too me, the best sounding. Don’t sleep on the Wonderlove!

Of the current 3 Leaf filters I have, I prefer the GR2, the Proton v4, the Wonderlove v1, and the original Groove Regulator, in that order. All are great tho, and I'd be happy with any of them.

I had a Wonderlove MK2 awhile ago and foolishly sold it, and I'm itching to pick one up againto give it a other shot. I'm also really wanting to try the Chromatron, but again that price is just nuts right now.

The GR 2 has been one of my top filters since I bought it.

 

[moon-bass]

The GR2 is probably my favorite sounding 3Leaf, but I haven't yet had a chance to play a Wonderlove or Chromatron. +1 to @s_wood about the Proton v4 being not quite as versatile, but it still sounds pretty killer and edges out the GR2 just barely because of form factor.

The JoshWah is another one that's been on my list for a long time that I always seem to forget about.

The Proton v4 is right up there with the GR2. I definitely prefer the GR2, but can't go wrong with the Proton. My Proton has been delegated to grab and go status, but I can't ever see the GR2 getting kicked off my main board.

I'm going to be posting a Joshwah shortly. It's a fine, fine filter with a nice gain option, also one not to sleep on!

I don't know that there was a ton of sound difference between the GR2 and Wonderlove, and the GR2 still has the FX loop.

Recordings will be posted shortly. The GR2 (IMO of course) responds better than the Wonderlove to my playing style, and the GR2 is thicker and richer, while the WL has slightly more top end response. That being said, the added resonance control on the WL is really nice! Again tho, can't go wrong with either.

S_Wood's comment about the Chromatron sounding a bit sterile isn't the first time I've heard that, which is why I never made it a point to worry about trying one.

Yeah, same here - this seems to be somewhat common feedback.

 

[moon-bass]

heads up - I'll be doing some recordings and then have a bunch of stuff from my latest acquisitions up for sale. LMK if any of you want dibs on any of these before I release to the general public:

Broughton Joshwah
EHX Tube Zipper (maybe, I'm on the fence)
Dr Scientist Dusk
Keeley Bubbletron
TWA Dynamorph
Crowther Prunes & Custard
Edison Tube Preamp

 

[s_wood]

Like @bassbrad said, the Spectrum might be at least worth a look. It's digital, but Source Audio is really good at what they do, so it doesn't really sound digital. It's got a lot of features, and the Neuro Community presets as well, so I'd find it hard to believe if you weren't able to find the sound you're looking for.

Huge fan of the Spectrum! The Wonderlove is on my big board, and the Spectrum is on my small board. The SA ecosystem is incredible. There are hundreds of usable filter presets available on the SA website which can be tweaked and downloaded to the pedal with with the Source Audio Neuro app which runs on desktops or phones. And, with their incredible Sound Check product you can audition presets on the web without a bass or the pedal (a great way to waste time at work). The filter presets sound great, and the Spectrum can also presets that give it a credible OC-2 sound (and presets that combine the filter with an octave device). Highly recommended.

 

[moon-bass]

While this thread is dedicated to envelope filters, it's also helped me discover envelope phasers. I don't know why these aren't more popular TBH. Super funky.

Of the ones that I've tried, the EHX Stereo Polyphase, Chase Bliss Billy String Wombtome, Pigtronix EP-2, and the Keeley Bubbletron all sound great. If pressed, I'd have to say that the EHX is my favorite - it's one of the least flexible, but it sounds oh so good - thick, lush, just drips with funk. The Chase Bliss would be second, while the EP-2 third and the Keeley not far behind. Really, though, they are all just different flavors of awesome.

I'd recommend any of the above, and if you want to get maximum funk, run an ef and ep in parallel. So funky you'll have to light a match!

 

[dbflats]

Don't know much, but currently I use DOD FX25B just as an always-on tone filter, i.e. sensitivity set all the way off, so filter never opens. I have the blend knob likewise all the way to the left, so least amount of effect blended in as possible, the result being a nice low end boost.

Had a Sovtek Bassballs years ago. Did not care for it. It's still available at a local shop!

Playing with a Dunlop bass wah back in the day, that could be fun! PIA switching unit on and off but could do some great things with that.

My MXR phaser does a nice job of funking up the bass, but I rarely reach for that.