I need advice and Google is no good, can anyone give me any personal info on the best envelope filter I'm hearing to many conflicting reports so what's better than 1st hand experience, can anyone help a brother out?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Envelope filter
- Thread starter RyanTheBearded
- Start date
You can rest assured that there won't be any conflicting reports on Talkbass 
.
I'm a big fan of the MXR BEF. It's very intuitive and has lots of options and possibilities.
I've tried the Source Audio one (can't remember model number, but its the big one) and it was quite good, but I found that I prefer the immediacy of the MXR model when it comes to on-the-fly tweaking.
.I'm a big fan of the MXR BEF. It's very intuitive and has lots of options and possibilities.
I've tried the Source Audio one (can't remember model number, but its the big one) and it was quite good, but I found that I prefer the immediacy of the MXR model when it comes to on-the-fly tweaking.
I have heard very good things about the mxr and Yeah I'm pritty sure the conflicting reports will be minimalYou can rest assured that there won't be any conflicting reports on Talkbass
I'm a big fan of the MXR BEF. It's very intuitive and has lots of options and possibilities.
I've tried the Source Audio one (can't remember model number, but its the big one) and it was quite good, but I found that I prefer the immediacy of the MXR model when it comes to on-the-fly tweaking.
If I was looking for an envelope filter, I would start the quest from YouTube demos and figure out which one makes the sound I want. I believe that different envelope filters would be "better" for different people/music styles, just like distortion/fuzz pedals.
You really have to try some different ones for yourself. One man's punch is another man's poison.
Envelope filters are tough to recommend. I have tried many, 10+ in the last year and finally settled on the MXR BEF. But, you might get the MXR and hate it. It's very subjective and it depends on your bass, playing style, other gear/pedals. Good luck!
I would maybe try the MXR BEF, the Aguilar Filter Twin, EHX QTron, maybe the Mr. Black Fwonkbeta first. If those don't work for you, there's lots more options but that would be a good start. @Mosfed can recommend many more probably. I think he's a filter junkie.
I would maybe try the MXR BEF, the Aguilar Filter Twin, EHX QTron, maybe the Mr. Black Fwonkbeta first. If those don't work for you, there's lots more options but that would be a good start. @Mosfed can recommend many more probably. I think he's a filter junkie.
Quite so. Many here have been on that quest and have gone through lots of them over time. I've never gotten a sound I liked from the MXR, it's a band pass with blend, over reactive and too quacky. Right now I'm loving a British made Dr Green- Doctor's Note from Ashdown. Subtle, funky and tunable via dial position of low pass to band pass, and up to down direction as well as sensitivity.
My search ended with the SolidgoldFX Funkzilla.
I really like the sweeps and the frequencies on that one. The tap tempo is a nice bonus, but I could do without - so the Funk-lite might have been an alternative, but i got a sweet deal on the Funkzilla used. That is one pedal that's here to stay.
I really like the sweeps and the frequencies on that one. The tap tempo is a nice bonus, but I could do without - so the Funk-lite might have been an alternative, but i got a sweet deal on the Funkzilla used. That is one pedal that's here to stay.
I've tried/used a few nasties (Boss TW-1, EHX BassBalls, Digitech BSW) but the one I've settled on, after trying a bunch of others, is the Xotic Robotalk 2. It is very organic and musical, both in the sound of the filters (there are two independent channels) and the way it responds to your dynamics. As always, YMMV.
I should really know better than to open these threads…
I always wind up hearing about pedals I haven't tried yet and suffer from instant GAS.
I always wind up hearing about pedals I haven't tried yet and suffer from instant GAS.
Yeah, with the Robotalk @SteveCS mentioned I just know I'll play like Buckethead. I just need the pedal
What kind of music do you play? That might help with zero'ing in on one. Personally I use the I.E. Xerograph Deluxe and 3Leaf Wonderlove.
Filters are a tricky thing and seem to be one of those really elusive things. I currently have the Source Audio BEF PRO, MXR BEF M-82, Zoom MS-60B, and Digitech BSW. I can find sounds that I can work with, but still have not found that pedal that makes me go yeah, this is what I have been searching for all along....I have an Aguilar Filter Twin in the mail, so maybe I will like that one? Also I just updated the Zoom Ms 60-B and maybe I will like some of the newer ones that I haven't had time to try out yet? I don't know, but I will be doing some sort of showdown with some of these pedals.
I like the BEF PRO because of the presets, and I used it for several years when I needed it. Currently don't need one in a band, but that doesn't keep me from playing around, lol. However, I do like the MXR better, the SA can be a bit shallow and touchy IMO. It worked fine for a synthy thing I did with the Multiwave, but could never get that funky thing I was looking for... I'm not saying it is not capable of doing that, I just never found the right setting for me.
I like the MXR because it has a chewy sound to it, and once I figured out how to work it, I like it for the most part, but I wished the Sens knob was more useful - it only really works from about 2:00-5:00 for me.
The Zoom MS-60B has many models and are ok to decent. Most of them are usable, but not the best...so far. Again, I need to go back through it again.
The Digitech BSW is usable and will work ok for a lot of situations, but still not that great IMO.
I like the BEF PRO because of the presets, and I used it for several years when I needed it. Currently don't need one in a band, but that doesn't keep me from playing around, lol. However, I do like the MXR better, the SA can be a bit shallow and touchy IMO. It worked fine for a synthy thing I did with the Multiwave, but could never get that funky thing I was looking for... I'm not saying it is not capable of doing that, I just never found the right setting for me.
I like the MXR because it has a chewy sound to it, and once I figured out how to work it, I like it for the most part, but I wished the Sens knob was more useful - it only really works from about 2:00-5:00 for me.
The Zoom MS-60B has many models and are ok to decent. Most of them are usable, but not the best...so far. Again, I need to go back through it again.
The Digitech BSW is usable and will work ok for a lot of situations, but still not that great IMO.
Last edited:
When I was looking for an envelope filter, I started with a DOD FX25. I hated it. It didn't work for me at all. So I sold it to my guitarist and got the MXR, which was perfect for me. 2 years later, my guitarist is still loving that DOD that I hated.
Find yourself a second-hand 3Leaf GR2 (it might take a while!) and forget about every other filter on the market, the GR2 is the only filter you'll ever need...
...imho!
...imho!
I've owned the Haz Labs Mu-Tron III+ reissue, the Digitech Bass Synth Wah, and the Mooer Bass Sweeper. I also have a Digitech iStomp and I tried out their DOD FX25B preset. I loved the Mutron but it was too complicated. I hate messing with too many knobs. But it sounded fabulous! I found two sounds I liked with the Digitech. The basic envelope setting from the manual and the same setting with an octave below added in. Those were both a pretty good sounding envelope filter tone. Everything else was garbage. The FX-25B emulation on the iStomp was ok. It just felt too "digital" I guess. The Mooer Bass Sweeper does what I need. Simple, and I can get a nice envelope filter sound out of it. Plus I can add in some fuzz if I want. Add my octaver and it's instant synth. You can find the Mooer for as low as $55 new and $40 used. I believe they retail for $88. Works for me.
Search for envelope filter in this forum. You will find plenty of opinions.
Google bass envelope filter and look at the videos.
Pick one and buy it.
Read the manual and learn what it does.
try it.. like it? keep it.
No? sell it and try another.
Wrinse and repeat
Google bass envelope filter and look at the videos.
Pick one and buy it.
Read the manual and learn what it does.
try it.. like it? keep it.
No? sell it and try another.
Wrinse and repeat
Something to bear in mind is that the dynamics and attack of the bass are quite different to those of the electric guitar, which most EF are designed for. I find a mild compressor in front of the EF can help tame the unruly nature of some filters.
