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

[Wisebass]

I was surprised by those 33 per cent who preferred post EQ...I expected much lower number.

Being in the touring audio world, for the past 35+ years, I am suspicious of the numbers in your poll based on what I have seen. I would expect over 50% to be in the pre-eq camp.

Hi Zbysek, hi Andy

I think it depends a lot on who you ask!

A "Younghorse" will give a different answer than an "Oldhorse"

Back in the days (35 years ago), signal paths were different!

Only real good amps had a dedicated D.I. level output (not too weak, not to hot, not too noisy for the table)

Most amps didn 't have a "ground/lift" switch either. (hummmmmmmm)

Bassplayers didn' t have pedalboards. Mostly it was just bass to amp…

And most crappy budget amps, that could be fine to rock in your basement, would sound like…

Well , they would sound like crappy budget amps, once you cranked them on a gig. !

So putting a mic in front of them was out of question!

For the soundman the best solution to avoid problems, was to hand a D.I. box to the bassplayer.


But things have changed a lot!

On the last concerts I played (or were I worked), the bassplayers could choose between:

Using only their pedalboards (D.I box after the pedals),

using their pedals and amp (pre or post EQ D.I),

working with a speakerlevel D.I. after the poweramp (for tube amps )

or using a microphone in front of their cab.


Today there is more than one solution to get a good sound!

And the younger soundguys (some of them could be my kids ) know that!

I love to work with them!


greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[dabis]

Hi Zbysek, hi Andy

I think it depends a lot on who you ask!

A "Younghorse" will give a different answer than an "Oldhorse"

Back in the days (35 years ago), signal paths were different!

Only real good amps had a dedicated D.I. level output (not too weak, not to hot, not too noisy for the table)

Most amps didn 't have a "ground/lift" switch either. (hummmmmmmm)

Bassplayers didn' t have pedalboards. Mostly it was just bass to amp…

And most crappy budget amps, that could be fine to rock in your basement, would sound like…

Well , they would sound like crappy budget amps, once you cranked them on a gig. !

So putting a mic in front of them was out of question!

For the soundman the best solution to avoid problems, was to hand a D.I. box to the bassplayer.


But things have changed a lot!

On the last concerts I played (or were I worked), the bassplayers could choose between:

Using only their pedalboards (D.I box after the pedals),

using their pedals and amp (pre or post EQ D.I),

working with a speakerlevel D.I. after the poweramp (for tube amps )

or using a microphone in front of their cab.


Today there is more than one solution to get a good sound!

And the younger soundguys (some of them could be my kids ) know that!

I love to work with them!


greetings

Wise(b)ass

Not far from now, in Barcelona when I started to play the bass (1997) till 2000 aprox. all the amateur and semi-pro stages attending rock bands had completely disgusting bass sound, including when I was playing in. too many times I asked for a mic and I get a Behringer DI as an answer. Just a few local techs knew how to deal and dial with a bass signal, whatever were the path.

 

[dabis]

Nothing wrong with that. As long as you're happy, I'm happy. But I micromanage my signal onstage for a reason. Seems to be a dying art, knowing how to mix for an oldies band

I can imagine. Only missed a picture of your complete rig (mic's included) or I didn't see.

 

[Zbysek]

Hi Zbysek, hi Andy

I think it depends a lot on who you ask!

A "Younghorse" will give a different answer than an "Oldhorse"

Several years ago, the fact that the survey has been conducted on facebook could support an assumption that most of the participants were youngsters... These day, even "Oldhorses" spent their time surfing on facebook, IME...

 

[Wisebass]

These day, even "Oldhorses" spent their time surfing on facebook, IME...

Or on TB!

I think age can influence how you vote on a poll.

More importend (IMO) is the fact that you have only a few people that all "hang" on the same facebook group.

Folks influence each others too much, to make your poll be really representative!

Ask on TB for a solution, to solve your band' s problems - "fire the drummer", will be mentioned a lot!

Ask about HPFs and bass amplification outside of TB; a lot of bassplayers haven' t even heared about it!


greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[Stumbo]

I plug my bass directly into an always on HPF before my tone altering pedals and have a combo HPF/LPF at the end. I try to set them minimally and roll 'em back when they become audible.

View attachment 3168177

@agedhorse Does having two HPFs inline do anything to the slope?

 

[PraiseBassing]

@agedhorse Does having two HPFs inline do anything to the slope?

At whatever frequency they meet at, the slopes will be added together, 12+12=24. The fdeck is an example of two seperate filters inline.

 

[agedhorse]

@agedhorse Does having two HPFs inline do anything to the slope?

Yes, slopes will add but the knee of the filter will shift higher whenever cascading HP filters, the closer the frequencies are together, the more the F3 will increase.

 

[Dragonlord]

Greetings, LPF+HPF crowd! One question for you, as I'm looking into joining you but I'm considering my options: Is there a big difference between putting one before or after a tube overdrive? I suppose there is, just want it confirmed... Thanks!

 

[Downunderwonder]

Greetings, LPF+HPF crowd! One question for you, as I'm looking into joining you but I'm considering my options: Is there a big difference between putting one before or after a tube overdrive? I suppose there is, just want it confirmed... Thanks!

Definitely maybe. The low end may generate useful distorted overtones. On the other hand the highpass signal may be more pleasingly effected. Or you might not notice much difference at all. Try both.

 

[Stumbo]

Greetings, LPF+HPF crowd! One question for you, as I'm looking into joining you but I'm considering my options: Is there a big difference between putting one before or after a tube overdrive? I suppose there is, just want it confirmed... Thanks!

There is a difference, but how big probably depends on your ears and there maybe no audible difference FOH.

Try it both ways and which ever sounds better to you, go with that.

 

[Dragonlord]

Thanks, the reason I'm asking is that my next purchases will be a handmade tube overdrive which I intend to keep always on, in the start of my signal chain (as I use some reverb which I'd prefer to be after that), and a HPF/LPF or OmniCabSim to go to the end of the pedalboard... I was thinking that maaaaaybe I could have a HPF/LPF built into the tube overdrive to save me some space (and possibly money) but it's probably a bad idea.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Your lpf needs to be after your overdrive. That could be built in but you're stuck with wherever the hof goes. Best to eat up the board space intrusion and just build the overdrive with lpf simple. Then mess with hpf placement as it makes no difference to the lpf.

 

[Mushroo]

Greetings, LPF+HPF crowd! One question for you, as I'm looking into joining you but I'm considering my options: Is there a big difference between putting one before or after a tube overdrive? I suppose there is, just want it confirmed... Thanks!

Personally, I would try the HPF before my overdrive, and the LPF after the overdrive.

 

[Stumbo]

Personally, I would try the HPF before my overdrive, and the LPF after the overdrive.

Buying separates appears to work better for your setup. Take the mud out before the OD and cleanup the highs after.

 

[Mushroo]

Buying separates appears to work better for your setup. Take the mud out before the OD and cleanup the highs after.

Yes I have an always on HPF at the start of my signal chain, and a combo HPF+LPF at the end.

 

[The Mouse]

Which of these setups would be preferable to you guys?

Tuner, Lpf+Hpf, comp, octaves, dirt, filters, modulation, pre-amp.

Or

Tuner, comp, octaves, dirt, filters, modulation, lpf+hpf, preamp.

Or

Tuner, octaves, dirt, filters, modulation, lpf+hpf, comp, preamp.

Or maybe something else?

 

[Zbysek]

Which of these setups would be preferable to you guys?

Tuner, Lpf+Hpf, comp, octaves, dirt, filters, modulation, pre-amp.

Or

Tuner, comp, octaves, dirt, filters, modulation, lpf+hpf, preamp.

Or

Tuner, octaves, dirt, filters, modulation, lpf+hpf, comp, preamp.

Or maybe something else?

My setup would probably be the following:

Tuner, Lpf+Hpf, filters, comp, octaves, dirt, modulation, pre-amp

 

[The Mouse]

Sorry, probably should have posted this in the effects forum, was searching through lpf hpf threads and didn't realize where I was..

 

[The Mouse]

My setup would probably be the following:

Tuner, Lpf+Hpf, filters, comp, octaves, dirt, modulation, pre-amp

I'll try that. Thanks, just trying to get the best use from my hpf+lpf pedal.