High Pass Filter (HPF) and Low Pass Filter (LPF) Mega Thread

[Stumbo]

Has anybody used the Line 6 HX to create a good HPF like the Broughton?

I asked this very same question other places, and here at one point I think. Just to make a straight HPF/LPF. The answer I kept getting was "sort of". As @aledeville stated above with the "steep" part, there is Low and Hi cuts in several different places in the HX. But as it was explained to me they are more gradual slants as opposed to a steep drop offs. I think I'm remembering that correctly. So yeah, you can set the HX to do the same job, it just won't do quite as efficiently. I think.

I know that was one of my suggestions in that Line 6 site, Idea scale is it? I suggested they put a dedicated HPF and LPF in the HX. Hopefully it'll come someday.

Actually, not quite. From the comments I hear, the Broughton in particular seems to be a bit different from the more clinical HPFs like the fdeck and others.

From what I hear (from people I respect, but still could be factually wrong of course), the Broughton is very musical, the filter seems to be designed musically, not quite as steep as some, removes the LF gunk without feeling like your bottom is gone, even when set relatively high. So what I meant was "good like everybody says the Broughton is", whatever that really means.

Haha. It would actually be an interesting experiment to do that and then compare the IR to the real thing. Also you couldn't change the cutoff on the IR.

I guess I'll try to find out what the parameters on the Broughton HPF actually are. Maybe there's some magic faery dust there, or maybe not. I really want to keep the HX as my only effect if I can.

I use the HxFx with my double bass and I think the lo cut works fine, I have never used the Broughton HPF, but the Lo Cut is good in the HxFx

 

[harrumphicus]

So I just got a Markbass Little Mark III. The VLE knob is a shelf EQ that takes down 250 Hz-20 kHz as you turn it up. Could I use this as kind of a LPF? This thread has swayed me into getting a HPF sometime in the near future, but I don't know if I want to shell out for a LPF. Still not 100%, I guess. Taking down the low (40Hz) and bumping low-mid (360Hz) has already done a ton for me.

 

[Hambone70]

Anyone using a Zoom B3 for a LPF/HPF? If so, which modules and settings?

I found the HPF thread, but can't make sense of the settings.

Thanks!

 

[Stumbo]

Anyone using a Zoom B3 for a LPF/HPF? If so, which modules and settings?
I found the HPF thread, but can't make sense of the settings.
Thanks!

FWIW there a little known HPF in the Zoom MS-60b, B3 and B1on. There's a preamp model based on the Fishman Pro EQ Platinum, which has a Depth control - basically an HPF.
Might be worth exploring if you have one of these devices.

 

[Al Kraft]

Could I use this as kind of a LPF?

If you like the effect it produces for you, it is essentially a LPF with a specifically designed curve (dB/octave attenuation) for that application. My guess is that the only things you might gain with an external LPF is if you get one that offers a greater or lesser rate at which signals are attenuated and perhaps a more specific indication of the exact frequency at which the attenuation begins.

 

[PraiseBassing]

So I just got a Markbass Little Mark III. The VLE knob is a shelf EQ that takes down 250 Hz-20 kHz as you turn it up. Could I use this as kind of a LPF? This thread has swayed me into getting a HPF sometime in the near future, but I don't know if I want to shell out for a LPF. Still not 100%, I guess. Taking down the low (40Hz) and bumping low-mid (360Hz) has already done a ton for me.

Like @Al Kraft said. You’ll have more control of the corner frequency with the LPF, but if you like what the VLE is doing, you may not gain much. If your goal is a “Vintage” tone, that’s what the VLE is designed to do by Markbass’s standards. I’m not sure if the corner frequency and attenuation change as you turn the vle knob. If they don’t the lpf may offer more options if you feel the vle isn’t doing what you are looking for.

As an example, if the vle just controls how much cut there is between 250 and 20K, you may find that you don’t want to start cutting until you are above 5k. If that is the case, a lpf is a better option. Again, I do not know what frequencies the vle knob controls and how much at the various points along its rotation.

 

[Al Kraft]

M

Like @Al Kraft said. You’ll have more control of the corner frequency with the LPF, but if you like what the VLE is doing, you may not gain much. If your goal is a “Vintage” tone, that’s what the VLE is designed to do by Markbass’s standards. I’m not sure if the corner frequency and attenuation change as you turn the vle knob. If they don’t the lpf may offer more options if you feel the vle isn’t doing what you are looking for.

As an example, if the vle just controls how much cut there is between 250 and 20K, you may find that you don’t want to start cutting until you are above 5k. If that is the case, a lpf is a better option. Again, I do not know what frequencies the vle knob controls and how much at the various points along its rotation.

This is the answer I wish I had written!

 

[BrotherRay]

I just got a Tech 21 VT bass DI. As I understand it, the speaker emulation adds both a HPF and LPF. Is that correct? If so, then I don’t think I need a separate HPF and LPF. Correct? I know a dedicated one would allow me to adjust the frequency points but if the set points on my VT are fine then hopefully I don’t need an additional pedal. Thoughts on this?

I'm kinda late to the party, maybe this has already been covered, but the bite switch on the VTDI is what has a HPF on it. I believe it rolls off at about 50hz.
Tech 21 SansAmp VT Bass DI |

 

[Stumbo]

So I just got a Markbass Little Mark III. The VLE knob is a shelf EQ that takes down 250 Hz-20 kHz as you turn it up. Could I use this as kind of a LPF? This thread has swayed me into getting a HPF sometime in the near future, but I don't know if I want to shell out for a LPF. Still not 100%, I guess. Taking down the low (40Hz) and bumping low-mid (360Hz) has already done a ton for me.

Maybe @JimmyM will stop by and comment.

 

[JimmyM]

The VLE knob IS an LPF.

 

[harrumphicus]

The VLE knob IS an LPF.

That's what I thought, they just don't describe it as one anywhere. Do you know any more about the frequency cutoff curve?

edit: Nevermind, I just did a google search for "markbass VLE curve" and found one of your older posts. So the higher you turn it up the closer it cuts to 250?

 

[JimmyM]

That's what I thought, they just don't describe it as one anywhere. Do you know any more about the frequency cutoff curve?

edit: Nevermind, I just did a google search for "markbass VLE curve" and found one of your older posts. So the higher you turn it up the closer it cuts to 250?

Yes. I used to leave it between 9:00 and 10:00 depending on my mood back in the day. That gets it pretty close to the cutoff of a tweeterless Ampeg cab.

 

[SoulReflection]

Do some basses have more need for an HPF than others? For example, Humbucker PU's (being called Mudbucker) or, are all PU's the same and it boils down to the amp and/or speakers?

If it's the amp/speakers, would it be correct to assume that older ones didn't have the frequency response or power to get that low?

Sorry if these are elementary questions...just trying to get a handle on a very interesting subject.

 

[agedhorse]

Neck pickups tend to benefit more than bridge pickups.

 

[Stumbo]

(VT Bass 500)Reminds me of the Aguilar Tone Hammer 500, but still is very interesting!

View attachment 2384606

v

Finally got around to owning one of these amps. Bought it used from the classifieds here with the original box and manual.
Similar enough preamp to the di version, sounds great so far at practice volume, haven't jammed with the band or recorded with it yet. The fan doesn't seem as loud as some described.

I'm using a pararmetric EQ with a little cut around 60hz in front of the amp, cleaned up the lows nicely.

I'll probably buy a hpf pedal like that Josh fellow makes in the future.

 

[Al Kraft]

Neck pickups tend to benefit more than bridge pickups.

Also playing closer to the neck than the bridge can tend to bring out/emphasize the lower frequencies and thus a HPF will often provide a more noticeable benefit.

 

[lowplaces]

Also playing closer to the neck than the bridge can tend to bring out/emphasize the lower frequencies and thus a HPF will often provide a more noticeable benefit.

That's good to hear because I like using the tug bar and playing with my thumb on my P Bass.

 

[Stumbo]

Also playing closer to the neck than the bridge can tend to bring out/emphasize the lower frequencies and thus a HPF will often provide a more noticeable benefit.

That's good to hear because I like using the tug bar and playing with my thumb on my P Bass.

Still, it comes down to how do you sound in the mix and how much protection your cab needs.

 

[lowplaces]

Still, it comes down to how do you sound in the mix and how much protection your cab needs.

My cabs should be okay. 50 watt tube head into two 112's rated 200 watts each. Plus I'm using a Keeley Bassist as a limiter.

 

[JimmyM]

My cabs should be okay. 50 watt tube head into two 112's rated 200 watts each. Plus I'm using a Keeley Bassist as a limiter.

Ya, I have the same rig with just one 112 and I wouldn't use an HPF if I didn't have the FOH to contend with.