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Envelope Filter - Something specific, but not too picky

Ezmar

Ezmar

Jul 8, 2010
837
46
#1
So, while I can use the search function, and have, it's been not necessarily the most helpful for this as everyone's got their own tastes and preferences. I'll cut to the chase.

I'm putting together a bass board, and I'm looking into envelope filters. I'm not planning on being mega picky with it, but I would like to avoid getting something I want to replace later. That said, here's the lowdown of what I'm after:

  • Main inspiration is Les Claypool. While other funk cats are cool, when I hear Les and his envelope filter use, that's what makes me go "yeah, I'd like to use that too". I know he uses an old Korg multi, which I'm not planning on getting because A) I'm not interested in just slavishly copying everything other artists do, and B), my second point:
  • I'd like it to be a small/standard footprint if at all possible. Space is king on a pedalboard, and the less I take up, the easier it is to hit everything, and the easier it is to set up settings in a gig scenario.
So that said, I have a few on my radar, with limited options as far as demoing goes. What I have on my list are:

  • MXR Bass Envelope Filter - This is the standard workhorse choice, it's MXR, it has a blend, it's functional, great. My concern is that it's band-pass, so I may find it lacking in that certain something. I'll probably have to give this one a try at some point, since I can probably find one around, but that's my main concern with just jumping on it.
  • 3Leaf Proton - I think this one's low-pass, so there's that. It's also based on the Mu-tron, which is the granddaddy, so I'll be able to find the "classic" tones if need be. Downsides, no blend (not a dealbreaker if I like the sound), more expensive, and harder to find one to demo.
So that's about the long and short of it. I won't drone on and on about how I need this and that, since I just want to cut right to it and just do what all the greats do, i.e. just use what you got and make music with it. I'm just a little wary on this one because I'm apparently pickier than I thought, since I have a Soundblox Multi-filter that I've been hard pressed to find satisfying on bass, despite the wealth of available controls. Perhaps the bass-specific one would suit me better, but I digress.

I feel like this is probably a pretty crappy post, so feel free to put me on blast, but I'd appreciate at least one shill of your favorite envelope filter if you decide to blast me. And of course, I'm happy to answer any further questions, since I doubt I put everything you need to know in here.

Cheers!
 
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#2
The SA Manta is a different beast than the Multi-Filter Stingray. Very very good filter.

Another option that gives you more than one option to explore is the Zoom MS-60b, which has a few very decent filters in a pedal-sized box...plus room for 3 other effects at the same time...plus a tuner...for less than $100.
 
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#3
I'll definitely give those two a look; I liked my Zoom G2, but funnily enough, I've been unimpressed with many of the settings on the B3 I have, on which many have failed to surpass "functional" by much. Still, Zoom does good stuff, and a multistomp should be easy enough to demo. I only wish I could try the Proton, but alas, no dealers in my state.
 
#4
jimmy m just mentioned a guyatone wah rocker in another thread, so it quickly came to mind as a possible solution for ya. small and powerful as i understand it to be. i like your attitude about finding something and just rocking it (punny but serious)
 
#5
This seems to be very popular. Link Removed

Also don't rule out the EHX Qballs. The contrlols contrlols on it open some unique doors that could get you closer to Les' tone.

You can do a lot with other effects feeding the filter - like compression, and drive.
 
#6
Alien8 said:
Also don't rule out the EHX Qballs.
Click to expand...

It's definitely something I've been looking hard at, but in the end I'd have to like it a whole lot to justify all the space it takes up. I'm really trying to keep things small, since once you open the options rabbit hole, it's a long way down. Besides, saving space is a huge bonus. I'll definitely give it a try whenever I make my demo run.
 
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#8
If you want versatility...then the Source Audio Manta is about as versatile as it gets. There's a lot of love around here for the Proton and Iron Ether offerings too. I had a MXR for the last 5 years and only just let it go. It's a very very good filter, but does that one thing. It does it well but there is little in the way of variations outside of the controls that make it pop / fire / quack.
I have various filters available on my board bundled in digital multi units, so a dedicated unit isn't necessary for me at the moment...from my Strymon Mobius and Eventide H9's through to my EXH Hog2. That said, the Mobius doesn't seem to be as bold as my MXR could get, but the H9 can easily get in the ball park of the MXR and a lot of other tones too.
If I was looking for a stand alone filter, I would seriously look at the Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe or the Source Audio Manta. For my current board, the pedal format and size is as important as the functions...so I have a leaning for the Iron Ether pedal. But your mileage and needs might vary.
 
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#9
Ezmar said:
So, while I can use the search function, and have, it's been not necessarily the most helpful for this as everyone's got their own tastes and preferences. I'll cut to the chase.

I'm putting together a bass board, and I'm looking into envelope filters. I'm not planning on being mega picky with it, but I would like to avoid getting something I want to replace later. That said, here's the lowdown of what I'm after:

  • Main inspiration is Les Claypool. While other funk cats are cool, when I hear Les and his envelope filter use, that's what makes me go "yeah, I'd like to use that too". I know he uses an old Korg multi, which I'm not planning on getting because A) I'm not interested in just slavishly copying everything other artists do, and B), my second point:
  • I'd like it to be a small/standard footprint if at all possible. Space is king on a pedalboard, and the less I take up, the easier it is to hit everything, and the easier it is to set up settings in a gig scenario.
So that said, I have a few on my radar, with limited options as far as demoing goes. What I have on my list are:

  • MXR Bass Envelope Filter - This is the standard workhorse choice, it's MXR, it has a blend, it's functional, great. My concern is that it's band-pass, so I may find it lacking in that certain something. I'll probably have to give this one a try at some point, since I can probably find one around, but that's my main concern with just jumping on it.
  • 3Leaf Proton - I think this one's low-pass, so there's that. It's also based on the Mu-tron, which is the granddaddy, so I'll be able to find the "classic" tones if need be. Downsides, no blend (not a dealbreaker if I like the sound), more expensive, and harder to find one to demo.
So that's about the long and short of it. I won't drone on and on about how I need this and that, since I just want to cut right to it and just do what all the greats do, i.e. just use what you got and make music with it. I'm just a little wary on this one because I'm apparently pickier than I thought, since I have a Soundblox Multi-filter that I've been hard pressed to find satisfying on bass, despite the wealth of available controls. Perhaps the bass-specific one would suit me better, but I digress.

I feel like this is probably a pretty crappy post, so feel free to put me on blast, but I'd appreciate at least one shill of your favorite envelope filter if you decide to blast me. And of course, I'm happy to answer any further questions, since I doubt I put everything you need to know in here.

Cheers!
Click to expand...


Another enthusiastic vote for the Manta
 
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#11
Ezmar said:
I have a Soundblox Multi-filter that I've been hard pressed to find satisfying on bass, despite the wealth of available controls. Perhaps the bass-specific one would suit me better, but I digress
Click to expand...

I have both Manta and Stingray Multi-Filter, I prefer Manta, but they are both hard to dial in. It took for me like 2 months tweaking and writing to SA support to get usable tones of my Manta (and I've also had a 1-st gen BEF as well, that one was easy dialling in). I had an MXR as well but did not like it.

If I wanted something with easy to dial minimal controls I'd get a EBS BassIQ. In fact, I still want one despite I seem pretty settled with Manta now (I also have a Hot Hand and found some uses for it).
 
#14
The MXR needs a blend because it's bandpass, not low pass. The majority of lowpass filters don't have a blend. After going through about a dozen over many years I'm now using an Ashdown Dr. Green's Doctor's Note. It takes off where the original large Ashdown filter did with dials for direction of filter and a dial for band to low pass so it isn't either-or and you can get subtle envelopes as well as quacky envelopes. I prefer the subtle envelope. For a traditional mutron style, I like the Maxon. An old classic that rules is the Ibanez SB7 synth bas (which isn't), it can just add distortion, but the envelope is very good and center freq tune-able.
 
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#16
Lots of great suggestions. I'll definitely try to take a look at the Manta. I'm fine on the multi filter I have, it's okay and all, but it feels like the frequency response and envelope follower doesn't like bass as well as guitar. The Manta is also a bit smaller, though not exactly "standard" size, but it will probably do. I'll also take a look at the other suggestions, of course.

Still wish I could try out some of those boutique offerings, but not much you can do when they don't sell near you. I'm still really liking the Proton in videos, and I'm starting to lean more away from the MXR, which doesn't seem to be what I'm looking for. It certainly brings the funk, but not "the sound".

Thanks for all the suggestions!
 
#18
Ain't that the truth. I'm mainly focused on finding something I don't go "Meh, it's okay but I just can't get it to do XYZ" The main contenders right now are the Manta and the Proton. Boy do I wish I could try out the proton to see if it's lacking any knobs I really wish I could adjust, since that's usually the kicker with most effects.
 
#19
Right now I am using the MXR and the Xero Dlx. The Xero Dlx has everything you seem to be looking for, plus I have found a setting that lets me turn the envelope off and have a killer dub tone, if you have any interest in that.

I had a Proton and used it for years but it was never great - some song/band combos let it shine, in others it was inaudible. I sold it to a guitarist in one of my bands and it sounds great on his board.

I have a Manta too. The SA filters are very different to dial in. There is no sensitivity control! But there are a ton of sounds and two presets, but I had difficulty between “works but too polite” and “extreme but can vanish in certain soundscapes”.

If you want that MuTron sounds, get Beigel’s current mini MuTron pedal. I don’t have one but probably will end up getting one.

The Aguilar FilterTwin is pretty cool, but often not “in your face” enough for me. The Robot Talk Filter Twin is pretty cool, once I opened it up and tweaked the internal controls, but probably too big a footprint for what you want.

For me, the MXR beat the Proton on the gig, was better with fuzz or octavers going into it, just edged the Proton out.
 

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