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Envelope filter with expression pedal

F

Floyd Bassman

Jan 10, 2021
6
7
#1
Can anyone suggest a quality envelope filter with a sweep that can be controlled by an expression pedal?
I would like to have an IE Xerograph Deluxe or a 3 Leaf Chromatron but have had no luck acquiring either. I’ve tried the Pigtronix Resotron but could not dial it in. I am currently researching the EHX Enigma but have not found any sound samples with the expression pedal. Any advice on how to score a Xerograph or a similar alternative would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your help.
 
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#4
yakmastermax said:
Purely curious, but what do you not like about using a wah pedal in this capacity?
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for the inquiry. I was hoping to have one pedal do double duty because I have very little space on my board. I have also read that using an expression pedal connected to a filter pedal will give one more control over the frequency sweep. I am by no means an expert, but this is what I have gleaned from my reading.
 
#5
Envelope + Expression = two pedals


…no?

I cannot really recommend any particular wah or EF pedals as it’s all interwoven into which genre, what band, what pickup, what amps & cabs… but if you’re intent on sticking with that board and not finding/making a slightly larger one, I would recommend shopping wah pedals.
 
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#7
MattZilla said:
Envelope + Expression = two pedals


…no?

I cannot really recommend any particular wah or EF pedals as it’s all interwoven into which genre, what band, what pickup, what amps & cabs… but if you’re intent on sticking with that board and not finding/making a slightly larger one, I would recommend shopping wah pedals.
Click to expand...

Yes and no. I mean, I had a Guyatone Ultron, which would actually be my recommendation, although it doesn't fall under "easy to acquire." Nor does a Robot Factory Meatwad. Haven't used the Lovetone of which it is a clone. However, no matter what you can't save space, and you will lose functionality. You'd have to plug and unplug the exp pedal for the Meatball/Meatwad, and that exp pedal, unless tiny, is where you could put a foot wah. The Ultron is quite large, but there you could at least use both functions without unplugging anything, but I cannot see a way (aside from digital solutions) to do this more efficiently than two pedals. Could be wrong and there is a perfect fit.
 
#8
Yes. I realized what I said just after I typed it. The hope is that the envelope filter would stay on the paddleboard for use with my band, and I would utilize the expression pedal at home in the studio. It may work into some longer sets but would likely not be a permanent fixture. I would certainly entertain the idea of a wah pedal if you have any recommendations.
The studio set up is quite simple. I record multi layered two minute synthy instrumental forays for personal entertainment. I play in a weirdish 3 minute song rock band that vacillates between major chord pop and minor chord grit. I use minimal effects with the band although they are warming up to musical transitions to limit what I consider annoying stage banter and I would like to introduce some filtered soundscapes when we have the time.
I play a Warwick Thumb 4 fretted and a Warwick Streamer Fretless (MEC pickups) through a GK 1001 and a GK 410 Neo cabinet.
Hope that’s not too much information. I am wide open to suggestions as I am fairly new to pedals.
 
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#11
The source audio products can be controlled by an expression pedal. The C4 and spectrum are their new pedals, but the older soundblox 2 manta bass filter works too. The manta has all the controls on the pedal, where the C4/spectrum have some controls but require connecting to a device to unlock all the capabilities. The spectrum is their dedicated filter pedal, but the C4 is for synth sounds and can run all the spectrum presets as well.
They're a different beast than the analog pedals you mentioned, but have a lot of possibilities.
 
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#15
The Xerograph Deluxe is worth keeping a telescopic eye on, just with patience, emails from ebay/reverb/etc about new listings, etc. I've got one that's a couple generations old and it still spanks the pants off everyone in the room when I have it in envelope mode. And with a variable-high-range expression pedal like the Moog EP-3, I can sweep it to exactly where I like. PERFECT for bass uses, and it will howl if I want it.

And its size is desirable for pedalboard configs.

If you have space to burn, a Source Audio Spectrum is a pretty unstoppable filtering machine. Idunno if the Spectrum includes it, but the C4 is its big brother and it has an overdrive module if you want to sweep an OD/distortion/fuzz/sputter sound via expression or MIDI expression. And lots and lots of preset slots. The C4 is almost a multi-fx pedal, just a super customizable one that specializes in synthesis, pitch shift, OD, and filters.
 
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#17
I think Gary Willis uses an MXR M82 bass envelope filter with a Dunlop Volume X mini pedal that seems to work pretty good for the type of stuff he does. I haven't actually heard it live or in what situations he uses them in but it sounds curiously interesting.
 
#18
You could try the waitlist for the Barbanera by Triungulo Lab, for your Moog-like filter with exp control capabilities.

Also as mentioned previously by others, the SA C4 is a great pedal with exp control if your not bothered by software editors and/or using their app (which is fairly simple and easy to use).

The Iron Ether XD is worth the waiting around and keeping an eye out for as well, definitely sign up for the email list on the website. I have both a XD and Chromatron on my board and primarily use the XD for big synth sweeps and other synth-like tomfoolery.
 
#20
There are a few multi effects (or multi modulation) pedals that let you control various parameters via expression pedal, though some of those are the size of two pedals even before you add the expression pedal.

Source Audio C4 is fairly small though.
Snibborwocky said:
I think Gary Willis uses an MXR M82 bass envelope filter with a Dunlop Volume X mini pedal
Click to expand...
But an envelope filter plus volume pedal isn't at all the same as envelope filter with expression pedal.
 
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