I’m looking to replace my Dunlop mini wah with an envelope filter with Tap Tempo. I find the wah too one dimensional and I’d really like more tone variety and options. At the same time I like what I can do rythmically with the wah so a Tap option for quick on the fly ability to have a rhythmic wah effect is key as well. Any and all suggestions welcome. Thanks!
The only envelope filter with tap tempo that I know is the SolidgoldFX Funkzilla (but there must be others out there). I haven't tried it, though, so I can't comment on it.
An envelope filter is called such because it responds to the 'envelope' or volume of the incoming signal. Just nitpicking, but if it's controlled by an LFO it's no longer an envelope filter! These are the ones I know of with tap tempo: EHX Blurst Boss AW-3 Source Audio Manta Subdecay Proteus and Prometheus If you want to be able to flick between cycling auto-wah and envelope control on the fly, then I think the Manta is probably your only option out of the above.
The Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer (which has the Agent 00funk built in) also has tap tempo but good luck finding one!
The Funkzilla has LFO control and envelope control. The LFO offers multiple waveforms and the speed can be controlled by tap tempo or by expression. Very cool pedal. Have a like-new one for sale if you're interested.
Another +1 for the Source Audio Manta or Bass Envelope Filter. The Funkzilla was cool but imo not as deep as the Source Audio pedals. The Line6 M5 filters are passable, but definitely not even close to the quality of the Source Audio or SolidgoldFX. Another option is to combine an EHX 12 Step Program with just about any filter that has an expression pedal. I use my Source Audio Reflex to program weird tempos to control my Moog filter.
The Blurst comes to mind. It’s essentially a filter with an oscillator rather than depending on your dynamics.
Envelope filter is controlled by dynamics; an autowah runs the filter on an LFO. There are units that do both, but it makes no sense to call it an "envelope filter" if the envelope follower is not being used. The SA Manta does both, but the setting between both is static. Some others "morph" from envelope follower to autowah as the volume decays. The WMD SuperFatMan did this, although I never really gelled with that filter. I found it very hard to dial in.
Wow, $350 or best offer is pretty darn good for perhaps the sexiest sounding filter out there. Setting it up is bit hard to get use to, but after you come up with a few patches it starts to seem natural. I wish Chunk would update these pedals but I think the guy who ran the company has sadly moved on.
A “bit hard” is an understatement- the UI on the Octavius was atrocious. I had one from the original batch- I initially could barely trigger the filter; they had to increase the sensitivity to accommodate players who didn’t ram the input with heavy plucking or a high output bass. The customer service from Chunk was great, but it was a complex product that really needed a good software editor at a time when that wasn’t really a thing.
I don't think so, it is rather easy after you look at the flow diagram and spend and hour with it. That said I have 100s of hours over nearly a decade with it. Problem is he wasn't hugely intuitive when he named and ordered things in the menu, but it really is simple once to know it. I have tried at least one version of most envelope and auto wah filters; the OS is my favorite.
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