Envelope filter/follower addict support group

[bassbrad]

So many envelope filters, so little time ....

No truer words were ever spoken that should include every pedal type we seem to have so many and never ending variants of...
In my case it should read so little time and even less money.

 

[Taustin Powers]

This one is much better, and I love that color .. I'm actually a little jealous

For sale 3 Leaf Audio - PROTON // NEON GLOW

3 Leaf Audio - PROTON // NEON GLOW NOVEMBER 2024 // PROTON MK4 // NEON GLOW // EDITION OF 333. Like-new condition. Ships from Seattle.

• m_cc (+10 /0 /-0)
• May 11, 2025
• Updated Jun 4, 2025
• Views: 266
• Reaction score: 2
• Category: For Sale: Effects and Pedals

$365.00

$350.00

2 watching

Thanks for pointing that out to me! It just got sold!

 

[moon-bass]

Thanks for pointing that out to me! It just got sold!

Happy to help! Now, if you ever want to trade it for one with a very pretty (but non-neon) Proton from a very recent drop, you know how to find me!

 

[Taustin Powers]

Happy to help! Now, if you ever want to trade it for one with a very pretty (but non-neon) Proton from a very recent drop, you know how to find me!

I‘m really digging the neon!

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

I didn't know Protons were available in such variants of flavors. Here's mine.

 

[kleinenenten]

I enjoyed the Proton when I had one a few years ago, but found that it made everything I ran through it sound exactly the same. Wasn't a fan of that. I ended up with the MXR BEF as my #1, though admittedly, I haven't been searching around for anything terribly difficult to find. Would love to try some of these on this list! Which of these would be recommended for someone who likes a dirty filter (by putting it AFTER my dirt pedals)?

 

[moon-bass]

I enjoyed the Proton when I had one a few years ago, but found that it made everything I ran through it sound exactly the same. Wasn't a fan of that. I ended up with the MXR BEF as my #1, though admittedly, I haven't been searching around for anything terribly difficult to find. Would love to try some of these on this list! Which of these would be recommended for someone who likes a dirty filter (by putting it AFTER my dirt pedals)?

I haven't tried many after a dirt pedal, but I can tell you that the Chunk Systems OOFunk Mark II (clone) sounds fantastic with dirt in the side chain.

I'll have to give it a try this weekend.

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

I haven't tried many after a dirt pedal, but I can tell you that the Chunk Systems OOFunk Mark II (clone) sounds fantastic with dirt in the side chain.

I'll have to give it a try this weekend.

EHX Enigma has built-in dirt. I'm not too fond about it, but the envelope filter section is fantastic.

 

[moon-bass]

EHX Enigma has built-in dirt. I'm not too fond about it, but the envelope filter section is fantastic.

Yeah that's right. And I'm the same as you - I didn't care for the dirt at all, but the envelope section is better than the Q-Tron IMO.

 

[moon-bass]

I managed to fins an actual Chunk OOFunk Mark II - I'll do a direct comparison with the clone as well when I get it.

 

[moon-bass]

The 00Funk is still on it's way (shipping from Canada to New Orleans), but in the meantime I received a Pigtronix envelope Phaser (yeah, you read that right, an envelope phaser). It's pretty cool! I'm running it in the effects loop of the Q-Tron+ and trying to get them grooving together. I'll post some sound samples when I do the other envelope filters.

 

[JimboP]

The 00Funk is still on it's way (shipping from Canada to New Orleans), but in the meantime I received a Pigtronix envelope Phaser (yeah, you read that right, an envelope phaser). It's pretty cool! I'm running it in the effects loop of the Q-Tron+ and trying to get them grooving together. I'll post some sound samples when I do the other envelope filters.

I have the Pigtronix too. Haven't spent a whole lot of time with it, but I remember it needed a boost in front to get it to trigger nicely when playing a passive bass. That was my experience, anyway.

 

[moon-bass]

Allright, I got pics!

First up is the AF-9. Sure enough, three trim pots inside. Weirdly enough, they are not labeled in any way, nor are they mentioned in the manual at all. Also, I noted that the board inside is labelled AF-9. These are hi-rez pics, so you can zoom in.

Next up, the AFL. Bigger PCB board, has three internal trim pots, and the pots are labeled. I don't know much about electronics, but the components look very different to me. Also, interesting to note that the Board is labeled AF-2001 ... and there is an Ibanez/Maxon AF-201. Naturally, I'm curious about the AF-201 in comparison, but for some reason they seem to be very overpriced as compared to the AF-9 and AFL/1.

Best I can tell, the AF-201 came first (late 70's, early 80's) and is probably the most expensive out of the three because it is the most vintage, and most rare. The AFL/AF-1 came out mid-80's, and then the AF-9 came out after that. I could be wrong, but this is based on the research I've done on the webs as well as the housing/style of the pedals.

Given that the PCB for the AFL is labeled AF-2001, could be that the AFL/AF-1 is a repackaged AF-201. Maybe, maybe not.

Dammit, do I really want to spend $300 just to satisfy my curiosity?

Turns out there's no need to spend $300 - the Maxon/Ibanez AF-201 insides are identical to the Ibanez AF1, down to the board revision #. I have a Maxon AF-1 inbound, and from the pics the seller sent me, it's also the same.

So, to recap:

Ibanez/Maxon AF0-201 and AFL/AF-1 are the same on the inside, with different enclosures
Ibanez/Maxon AF-9 also both same on the inside- revised/updated from the 201; not the same "stuff" as the 201/AFL/AF-1

Interestingly enough, I caught wind of yet another Maxon AF, this one is the Maxon AF-F1 (not sure if there is a corresponding Ibanez version). This was part of the Maxon Fireblade series, which I understand was fairly short lived - but these things are rarer than hen's teeth. Do I want one? Hellz yeah! It's not going to be something that I obsess over or will pay outlandish gobs of money for, tho.

Also, FWIW, I've tried the older Boss filters - the AW-1, TW-1 and the FT-2. They were okay, but definitely geared to guitar. They had harsh peaks when overloaded with bass (ugly static, not cool stank) that made them unusable IMO. In addition, both sounded thin and weak to me.

Same thing with the DOD 440 (both the older and reissue). The vintage models are nuts, price wise, because the guitarist from Radiohead apparently uses one. I found them to be weak and uninspiring for bass.

 

[jbybj]

The 00Funk is still on it's way (shipping from Canada to New Orleans), but in the meantime I received a Pigtronix envelope Phaser (yeah, you read that right, an envelope phaser). It's pretty cool! I'm running it in the effects loop of the Q-Tron+ and trying to get them grooving together. I'll post some sound samples when I do the other envelope filters.

The Keeley Bubbletron, envelope phaser and flanger, is a long time favorite.

 

[moon-bass]

While I'm waiting for a few arrivals, I've been revisiting some filters that I have had in the past that I didn't get along with - and now I'm thinking about giving a few another shot, especially now that my tastes have changed. These three - the Broughton Joshwah, the Moog, and the Meatball.

The Joshwah - I *liked* it, but didn't love it. It was SUPER easy to dial in - one of those EF's that it's hard to get a bad sound out of, and I could appreciate the gain control. It just seemed a little too smooth, almost a little flat. I could get a great sounds out of it but it wasn't inspiring, if that makes sense. Now, I'm thinking thy it might make a good filter for snythy sounds, so I'm considering picking one up again.

For the Moog - I've never played thru a real Moog, but I had the Past FX clone. Again, I thought it a great pedal - deep and warm, but also it seemed like a one trick pony, but it did that one trick very well. It could be that I didn't mess with it enough, and I have a bad habit of deciding if I like a pedal within the first few times that I use it, so maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance.

And the Meatball - like the Moog, I've never played thru a real Meatball, but I have tried a few clones. I just didn't get along with it, I found it flat and too prone to OD. And it's kinda funny, because my all time favorite EF is still the 3 Leaf GR 2, which is based off of the Meatball. Could be that I had the wrong clone.

And yeah, terrible clones are a thing. I had a clone of a Hudson Broadcast, and it sounded like crap - I didn't know what all the fuss was about. Then, later one after hearing rave review after rave review. I tried a real one and I was blown away.

So I'd be interested on other's takes on these three, and maybe some recommendations on a good Meatball clone.

Thanks!

 

[moon-bass]

I enjoyed the Proton when I had one a few years ago, but found that it made everything I ran through it sound exactly the same. Wasn't a fan of that. I ended up with the MXR BEF as my #1, though admittedly, I haven't been searching around for anything terribly difficult to find. Would love to try some of these on this list! Which of these would be recommended for someone who likes a dirty filter (by putting it AFTER my dirt pedals)?

and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that I have another thread that discusses this very topic. Lots of good stuff there!

Thread 'Synthy analog bass pedals that are designed to work together'

May 31, 2025

Lately I've been diving into synthy bass pedals - think a combo of 2-3 pedals with fuzz, envelope filter, and octaver. There are at least a few pedal makers that design their pedals to work together.

The 3 Leaf trifecta is the first that comes to mind - the Doom 2, Proton, and Octabvre sound absolutely fantastic together!

Other ones that I can think of are the Chunk Systems Agent 00Funk Mark II and the Brown Dog Fuzz and the Iron Ether Subterrograph/Dubterrograph and the Xerograph Deluxe. The FKT Octavarium as well!

What else is out there?

TIA!

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• moon-bass
• Replies: 202
• Forum: Effects [BG]

• 

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

I owned a Moogerfooger, but nothing about it was special to me. I flipped it long ago. IE Xero was another one I flipped. For me, the most usable sound from it was something the 00Funk did best.

 

[moon-bass]

I owned a Moogerfooger, but nothing about it was special to me. I flipped it long ago. IE Xero was another one I flipped. For me, the most usable sound from it was something the 00Funk did best.

Sounds similar to my experience. I have the Xero Deluxe right now, and I need to mess with it more, but I'm finding that it's just okay.

And the 00Funk is my new favorite.

 

[Taustin Powers]

While I'm waiting for a few arrivals, I've been revisiting some filters that I have had in the past that I didn't get along with - and now I'm thinking about giving a few another shot, especially now that my tastes have changed. These three - the Broughton Joshwah, the Moog, and the Meatball.

The Joshwah - I *liked* it, but didn't love it. It was SUPER easy to dial in - one of those EF's that it's hard to get a bad sound out of, and I could appreciate the gain control. It just seemed a little too smooth, almost a little flat. I could get a great sounds out of it but it wasn't inspiring, if that makes sense. Now, I'm thinking thy it might make a good filter for snythy sounds, so I'm considering picking one up again.

For the Moog - I've never played thru a real Moog, but I had the Past FX clone. Again, I thought it a great pedal - deep and warm, but also it seemed like a one trick pony, but it did that one trick very well. It could be that I didn't mess with it enough, and I have a bad habit of deciding if I like a pedal within the first few times that I use it, so maybe I didn't give it enough of a chance.

And the Meatball - like the Moog, I've never played thru a real Meatball, but I have tried a few clones. I just didn't get along with it, I found it flat and too prone to OD. And it's kinda funny, because my all time favorite EF is still the 3 Leaf GR 2, which is based off of the Meatball. Could be that I had the wrong clone.

And yeah, terrible clones are a thing. I had a clone of a Hudson Broadcast, and it sounded like crap - I didn't know what all the fuss was about. Then, later one after hearing rave review after rave review. I tried a real one and I was blown away.

So I'd be interested on other's takes on these three, and maybe some recommendations on a good Meatball clone.

Thanks!

I‘m interested in the Pastfx pedal. I have the Source Audio Artifakt, which also has a Moog clone. It can sound pretty good, but I find it really tricky to dial in. Was thinking the Pastfx might better, but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet, since it’s a direct import from Australia.

 

[Bo0tsy]

Sounds similar to my experience. I have the Xero Deluxe right now, and I need to mess with it more, but I'm finding that it's just okay.

And the 00Funk is my new favorite.

The 00Funk is awesome. I do love the Moog too though. I use mine with an expression pedal into the cutoff which means you can additionally reverse the sweep of the filter, and also sometimes with a CP-251. It's definitely not a one trick pony then.