Envelope Follower Junkie Support Group

[Mudfuzz]

So Question: does the 00Funk get that over the top low spike similar to that of a DOD FX25 [I actually want this] like the sound samples seem to allure to or is it mid to lowmid-rangey like the Q-Tron and the samples I’ve heard of the Af-9?

Answer: yes.

My 00funk came today, blows my Q-tron right out of the water, I love it, I love it, I love it

 

[markjazzbassist]

envelope follower friends, just when you thought the Meatball was enough, it isn't. I have now added an EHX Bassballs to my board as well. I love that thing, it gets those vowel like tones and with that fuzz it sounds like someone talking.

long live liquidy slurpy filters

 

[fishtx]

Mark is it noisy?

 

[four2oh]

ok, so who's running more than one envelope pedal on their board?

currently i'm using both the ashdown envelope plus and the frostwave funk-a-duck..

 

[RickenBoogie]

My board is finished for the long haul. Currently, it contains a nano bassballs, and Pigtronix EP-1. The list of former EF's include 2x nano Dr Q, micro Qtron, Moog bass MuRF, BMS, and a couple more I've already forgotten. Oh, sometimes I use my Moog Little Phatty as a filter, it's totally bad ass, but a huge pain to set up. I'd probably gas for more, but I've been cured by a frighteningly low balance in my checking account, and high balances on my credit cards. It's the American dream.

 

[Rex Mundi]

ok, so who's running more than one envelope pedal on their board?

currently i'm using both the ashdown envelope plus and the frostwave funk-a-duck..

How is the funk a duck to dial in? I spoke to the dude who builds them last week and he totally put me off. He said I would be wasting my money if I wanted it for a live situ. He said it can take alot of time to dial in a good sound and one bump and its gone so it was really built for a studio environment. Not the best salesman in the world!

 

[Mudfuzz]

ok, so who's running more than one envelope pedal on their board?

currently i'm using both the ashdown envelope plus and the frostwave funk-a-duck..

The way things are looking, 00Funk and FX25

 

[bigchiefbc]

Well I have my first real envelope filter, a Mini Q-Tron. I wouldn't say I'm quite a junky yet, but I may be headed that way. I love the mini q-tron, altough I have to admit that the effects loop of the q-tron+ sounds like it is quite cool. I also have a Bass Micro Synth, which is kinda an envelope filter. If you count that then I'm running two on my board

 

[The Lurker]

How is the funk a duck to dial in? I spoke to the dude who builds them last week and he totally put me off. He said I would be wasting my money if I wanted it for a live situ. He said it can take alot of time to dial in a good sound and one bump and its gone so it was really built for a studio environment. Not the best salesman in the world!

hey, honesty's the best policy... and it saved you some hassle


Right now I have two filters on the board-- a Digi BSW and a Maxon. The Bassballs is in the shop getting modified.

 

[Unrepresented]

I'm in the market for a good envelope filter/follower -- to be honest I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between them...

Anywho, I've done the prerequisite search and was hoping to get someone like Bongo or MarkJazzBassist --or anyone who's really got a strong background -- on how to select my first dedicated envelope pedal.

I believe what I'm looking for is something fuuuuunky. From what I've read, the EMMA is probably going to be too subtle. I'm looking for big mid and low mid "BWOOOOWS." and maybe some nice honky higher neck "bwaaats." Greasy. Dirty. FULL. If you can find a way to get the tone from Edgar Winter Group's "Frankenstein" synth solo pumped from out of this pedal, that's what I'm looking for.

But -- I've read that the funkier it is, the harder it is the control in a live environment -- which is where I'd be using it primarily. What is a poor boy to do that wants to exorcize the funk?

So far, I really like the samples I heard of the Frostwave Funkaduck -- but it runs on AC, so I've got to have at a minimum a dedicated wallwart, plus converter since it runs at AUS wattage, right? I can't utilize my newly acquired Voodoo Labs Pedal Power Pro Powering Pedal Powerer 2+ on it, right?

I'm sure I'd love the original Mu-Tron III but I'd prefer to avoid the tonesuck, inflated price tag, and other concerns of a vintage pedal.

I also dig the Moog MF-101's samples but the reviews of it have been mixed, because of its lack of features and volume drop.

At the risk of sounding moronic, I'm reeeeeally trying to avoid buying the Q-tron + because EH is already overrrepresented in my pedal collection and I really don't want to look like a fanboy, but I will concede if it's the best fit.

The Meatwad that's been talked about lately sounded fairly sterile in the few samples I heard. I don't know if it was the recordings. the settings, or if it's the pedal. MarkJazz or someone familiar with the Lovetone Meatball it's cloning please fill me in on whether the original is more "organic" sounding.

And that leaves the Maxon. Are these still in production? Seems like a "compromise" pedal. It's fairly limited in terms of knobbage right? Less tweaks to tend to, but less range potentionally too? I think this is the only one I haven't heard soundclips of, but keep in mind I've never actually used any of these filters, only heard various clips from various questionable inconsistent sources...

-- I'm not writing any of the above off, I'm just trying to get a feel for the pro's and con's of everything from folks like y'all who have been elbow deep in them before.

And then again, there's what I'll actually like and what I think I'll like.

Gurus of envelopes please steer me towards your funky goodness!

 

[andvari7]

If wahs count, I have two Morleys (a Pro Series II bass, and a PWA guitar wah), but I also have:

EHX Bassballs (Russian)
EHX Q-Tron
EHX BMS (if it counts)

I wants me the EHX Tube Zipper.

Guess that makes me a junkie, huh?

 

[Altitude]

I've read that the funkier it is, the harder it is the control in a live environment

Yes, I have found that to be true.

And that leaves the Maxon. Are these still in production? Seems like a "compromise" pedal.

...you might consider the ToneFactor 442 Analogue Filter. Also two knobs, and indeed very small, like the Maxon. It doesn't do too many different things, but what little it does is what I want an envelope filter to do - so for me it's just a nice simplification. I can set you up with some sound samples if you like.

I also wonder, but do not know, if an auto-wah like the MXR Bass Auto Q might provide some more predictable results in a live setting. I really do find that envelope filters seem to whack out on me live, while they behaved just fine in rehearsal. I either get crazy unbridled boomy low end or so much envelope that I can hardly hear the fundamental.

 

[Higgie]

I'm in the market for a good envelope filter/follower -- to be honest I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between them...

Anywho, I've done the prerequisite search and was hoping to get someone like Bongo or MarkJazzBassist --or anyone who's really got a strong background -- on how to select my first dedicated envelope pedal.

I believe what I'm looking for is something fuuuuunky. From what I've read, the EMMA is probably going to be too subtle. I'm looking for big mid and low mid "BWOOOOWS." and maybe some nice honky higher neck "bwaaats." Greasy. Dirty. FULL. If you can find a way to get the tone from Edgar Winter Group's "Frankenstein" synth solo pumped from out of this pedal, that's what I'm looking for.

But -- I've read that the funkier it is, the harder it is the control in a live environment -- which is where I'd be using it primarily. What is a poor boy to do that wants to exorcize the funk?

So far, I really like the samples I heard of the Frostwave Funkaduck -- but it runs on AC, so I've got to have at a minimum a dedicated wallwart, plus converter since it runs at AUS wattage, right? I can't utilize my newly acquired Voodoo Labs Pedal Power Pro Powering Pedal Powerer 2+ on it, right?

I'm sure I'd love the original Mu-Tron III but I'd prefer to avoid the tonesuck, inflated price tag, and other concerns of a vintage pedal.

I also dig the Moog MF-101's samples but the reviews of it have been mixed, because of its lack of features and volume drop.

At the risk of sounding moronic, I'm reeeeeally trying to avoid buying the Q-tron + because EH is already overrrepresented in my pedal collection and I really don't want to look like a fanboy, but I will concede if it's the best fit.

The Meatwad that's been talked about lately sounded fairly sterile in the few samples I heard. I don't know if it was the recordings. the settings, or if it's the pedal. MarkJazz or someone familiar with the Lovetone Meatball it's cloning please fill me in on whether the original is more "organic" sounding.

And that leaves the Maxon. Are these still in production? Seems like a "compromise" pedal. It's fairly limited in terms of knobbage right? Less tweaks to tend to, but less range potentionally too? I think this is the only one I haven't heard soundclips of, but keep in mind I've never actually used any of these filters, only heard various clips from various questionable inconsistent sources...

-- I'm not writing any of the above off, I'm just trying to get a feel for the pro's and con's of everything from folks like y'all who have been elbow deep in them before.

And then again, there's what I'll actually like and what I think I'll like.

Gurus of envelopes please steer me towards your funky goodness!

I think you should give the AF-9 a try. It's a really thick, funky greasy filter, and is true bypass too. Great pedal

 

[Unrepresented]

Yes, I have found that to be true.

...you might consider the ToneFactor 442 Analogue Filter. Also two knobs, and indeed very small, like the Maxon. It doesn't do too many different things, but what little it does is what I want an envelope filter to do - so for me it's just a nice simplification. I can set you up with some sound samples if you like.

I also wonder, but do not know, if an auto-wah like the MXR Bass Auto Q might provide some more predictable results in a live setting. I really do find that envelope filters seem to whack out on me live, while they behaved just fine in rehearsal. I either get crazy unbridled boomy low end or so much envelope that I can hardly hear the fundamental.

At the risk of responding with a "Clips" reply, I'm struggling to find any samples of the 442/Boomstick.

I think you should give the AF-9 a try. It's a really thick, funky greasy filter, and is true bypass too. Great pedal

I just found some clips for the Maxon, tonewise it's definitely close to what I'm looking for, and the controls are very similar to my BMS, which would make it an easier transition and lower the learning curve. Only concerns are:

a) Why would you make it out of plastic? That thing looks like it'll have the lifespan of one of these writers' strike gameshows on primetime right now.

b) Does it go a lot funkier than the clips here:

http://www.bassplayer.com/oldconten...ayer/December_2006/attachments/Maxon down.mp3

or here:

http://www.bassplayer.com/oldconten...Player/December_2006/attachments/Maxon up.mp3

Or are those towards the extremes of its tonal possibilities? It definitely reminds me of Flea's tone from a couple tracks off of the RHCP's One Hot Minute album (which is a good thing).

Please keep the opinions/suggestions/recommendations coming!

 

[Higgie]

Right, the samples on that site of the AF-9 are crap IMO. Really doesn't show what the pedal can do.

Secondly, it's not made out of plastic! The whole thing is sturdy metal, and the switch is one of the most comfortable footswitches I have ever had the pleasure of using. Maxon make AMAZING pedals, I've yet to hear a bad thing about any of them.

I love Flea's filter sounds on that album. This unit does great impressions of the Mutron sound too.

 

[Altitude]

At the risk of responding with a "Clips" reply, I'm struggling to find any samples of the 442/Boomstick.

Listen Invalid Link Removed. I turn on the 442 at about 3:58, with an octaver before it in the chain. It's an audience tape recording, but not a bad one. Hope it helps.

 

[Unrepresented]

Right, the samples on that site of the AF-9 are crap IMO. Really doesn't show what the pedal can do.

Secondly, it's not made out of plastic! The whole thing is sturdy metal, and the switch is one of the most comfortable footswitches I have ever had the pleasure of using. Maxon make AMAZING pedals, I've yet to hear a bad thing about any of them.

I love Flea's filter sounds on that album. This unit does great impressions of the Mutron sound too.

Ah. The photos of the thing on Maxon's site are misleading.

I think that album was ahead of its time, or at least ahead of mine, because its only been recently I've started to appreciate it as a whole, instead of just the singles. In fact, that album has been a good chunk of what's gotten me wanting to expand my envelope horizons.

Listen Invalid Link Removed. I turn on the 442 at about 3:58, with an octaver before it in the chain. It's an audience tape recording, but not a bad one. Hope it helps.

Definitely not a bad one at all, great band you've got there and awesome playing. Nice phrasing during your solo, and pocket throughout.

Does the Boomstick/442 have a selector for up/down or is it all down? How far on the scale did you have it set during your solo? Lots more room for slurpiness?

 

[syciprider]

XO Q Tron + can do the deep bellowing BWOOOOOW (we should make this an official filter term) as well as the bwaaaat (ditto).

The DOD and its derivatives (including the Digitech BSW) are great for live use. So easy to dial in a good sound.

 

[Altitude]

Does the Boomstick/442 have a selector for up/down or is it all down? How far on the scale did you have it set during your solo? Lots more room for slurpiness?

Thanks for the kind words. I usually keep both knobs on the 442 at about 1:00, so there is some room to go wild with it. But it does go only one way - I always forget whether it's down or up.

 

[markjazzbassist]

Mark is it noisy?

no the bassballs is silent.


UPDATE - The meatball has flown the coup. We now have a vintage Mutron, EHX Bassballs, and EHX Polyphase (envelope controlled phasing) doing all my envelope work.

May the Funk be with You!