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

[Stumbo]

v

@chadface asked:

I started doing some research on building a DIY HPF and I must be missing something. It seems like this is way too simple....

I'm considering putting it in the effects loop of a Fender Bassman 100 combo. The manual says the effects send is 1kΩ. Using the RC High Pass Filter Calculator, I can use a 4.7uF capacitor to cut around 33hz.

So I can simply solder a $0.59 capacitor in the middle of a patch cable and join the HPF club? It sounds too easy.

And started a thread: I have to be missing something (DIY HPF)

 

[Blue Swede]

It’s a crazy thing to overthink for a simple mind like me... I just use my ears and my HPF/LPF knobs get tweaked from gig to gig depending on what sounds best to me. All I know is: 1) I’m glad I got the ability to get what I’m searching for quick and 2) my speakers thank me for not abusing them as bad as I used to. I definitely could have benefited from having a HPF/LPF pedal in front of my amp ages ago and I’m thankful to have one now. I’ve never tried running one into my effects loop but I may someday; for now, I’m more than satisfied having one on my pedalboard and have noticed improved results. I run it at the end before the amp. Used to have a Micro Thumpinator and always ran it first after the tuner. It was a cool device but I prefer the Broughton for its ability to adjust the cutoff points and its extra gain control.

I still have my micro thumpinator at the start of my chain to not over excite the compressor with the B and E strings. My HPF/LPF is at the end after a slight EQ boost with the Noble. There are so many combinations to try though, thats why I now use dual lock tape on my pedalboard so I dont mess around with it too much.

 

[sonofshel]

@Stumbo looking forward to hearing what you have to say after playing through your Barefaced cabs. Great avatar, too!
I did the same as you a few years ago and bought the filter pedal and Terraformer for my first Broughton order. 3 in the morning here and everyone is asleep so I’m about to put on headphones and mess with the Terraformer for a few.

 

[sonofshel]

I still have my micro thumpinator at the start of my chain to not over excite the compressor with the B and E strings. My HPF/LPF is at the end after a slight EQ boost with the Noble. There are so many combinations to try though, thats why I now use dual lock tape on my pedalboard so I dont mess around with it too much.

I think I’d be doing the same thing if I still had the Thumpinator. I’m a 4 stringer exclusively and Max made mine to be at 38Hz, which was perfect for me. To have that at the beginning of the chain and The HPF/LPF at the end seems to be the perfect ticket to eliminating unwanted freqs. And a Noble to boot? You have a great setup, man!

 

[agedhorse]

@chadface asked:

I started doing some research on building a DIY HPF and I must be missing something. It seems like this is way too simple....

I'm considering putting it in the effects loop of a Fender Bassman 100 combo. The manual says the effects send is 1kΩ. Using the RC High Pass Filter Calculator, I can use a 4.7uF capacitor to cut around 33hz.

So I can simply solder a $0.59 capacitor in the middle of a patch cable and join the HPF club? It sounds too easy.

And started a thread:

No, it depends on the load impedance almost exclusively, not the source impedance.

 

[Btbp]

Though I generally don't care for goofy stuff in forum threads, saw this on my FB feed today from the Production Nightmares group.

 

[Stumbo]

Some TBrs buy two HPFs/LPFs.
An HPF/LPF at the beginning and an HPF at the end of the signal chain.

or... (reverbs, delays or other spacial effects should go last, after any HPF or LPF)
View attachment 3478747

Correct me if I'm wrong:

Tuner
HPF
Distortion
pre-amp
HPF/LPF
reverb, delays, other spatial effects

 

[GrapeBass]

Correct me if I'm wrong:

Tuner
HPF/LPF
Distortion

HPF
After HPF/LPF: reverb, delays, other spatial effects

Always on HPF at the start of the chain before od/distortion and the LPF/HPF after (last in chain, after preamps etc. - except for spacial effects as I mentioned previously).

 

[Ryan L.]

Ok.....so I guess I’m now a believer in the benefits of a HPF for my amp. It *really* cleaned up the low end of my Super Bassman 300/2xNeo 115 rig on stage. I openly admit, I was skeptical about it, but after last night’s gig, I’m sold.

My chain is: Bass>Shure GLXD16>Fender Downtown Express>Broughton Always On HPF. I sent 2 signals to the board-one from my amp’s DI, and one from the Downtown Express. My reasoning for putting the HPF after the preamp pedal was, I want my sound tech to have a full signal to work with, as he’s been using HPFs and LPFs as needed on my channels on the board, so I didn’t want to mess with his end of it. He ended up having about a 60/40 blend of the two, in favor of the Downtown Express. Quite possibly the best stage, and FOH, sound I’ve had in, well, forever. Deep, tight, controlled low end on stage (in a particularly boomy room for stage sound).


Pic of my baby board after I put it all together:

 

[Stumbo]

got the Hotone Gate this week, and just tried it with the band. Mission accomplished, finally cut through better with my clean signal Great pedal but really tiny

View attachment 3135269

Cool!

What are the specs of the gate?

How does it clean up your tone?

lo-cut from 40 - 120 hz
hi-cut from 5k - 15k
and noise gate

the cut of everything below 40hz makes the low end much thighter and better audible.
hi-cut doesn´t have much effect, i think. (or are there frequencies left in that range on a bass?)
noise gate has a fancy lighted knob (but also nice to remove some finger noise and humming)

Invalid Link Removed

Gate/HPF/LPF manual

 

[Tad]

I have them coming and going. I like it like that.

The Messenger has built in, adjustable HPF and LPF that you can kick in with the “EQ Active” switch.

 

[JimboP]

Correct me if I'm wrong:

Tuner
HPF
Distortion
pre-amp
HPF/LPF
reverb, delays, other spatial effects

On my synth board full of octaves/filters I've been running HPF --> comp last to tighten everything at the end of the chain. Can I just clarify your reasoning for running reverb/delay after HPF? Is it because those fx don't add any extra low end to the signal chain and also sound better if fed a cleaner HPF'd signal?

 

[Stumbo]

On my synth board full of octaves/filters I've been running HPF --> comp last to tighten everything at the end of the chain. Can I just clarify your reasoning for running reverb/delay after HPF? Is it because those fx don't add any extra low end to the signal chain and also sound better if fed a cleaner HPF'd signal?

>"Always-on HPF at the start of the chain before od/distortion and the LPF/HPF after (last in chain, after preamps etc. - except for spatial effects* as I mentioned previously)
*e.g., reverb, delay, phasers, chorus, echo, envelope...

Maybe @GrapeBass will stop by and enlighten us.

 

[Stumbo]

I have them coming and going. I like it like that.

View attachment 3495998

The Messenger has built in, adjustable HPF and LPF that you can kick in with the “EQ Active” switch.

What's the exact order?

 

[Tad]

What's the exact order?

It’s simpler than it looks.

Bass > L+HPF > Downtown Express > Messenger w/ built in HPF & LPF (activated by EQ ACTIVE switch) > Amplifier.

The Downtown Express has a parallel Tuner Output that bypasses so that your Tuner is not in your chain. You can leave it on all the time and it does not affect your signal or you can turn it off when you are not using it. Player’s choice.

The DE also has a switch where you can select OD > COMP or COMP > OD which would change the order of effects.

Both the DE and the Messenger are DI boxes. On the DE there is a DI signal path switch where you can select FX, FX & EQ, or PRE FX. Both the DE and the Messenger have Ground Lifts.

The black and gray pedal bottom left is the Overdrive Footswitch for my Rumble Amp. It’s not in the chain at all but is there for convenience in case I wanted to use my Rumble’s built in Overdrive.

The ABY is stuck on the board for convenience. It is there for when I play Rocksmith with my daughter. That way I can split my output to the amp and the XBOX. Or I can change the cable around and have two basses hooked up if I wanted to. I haven’t really done that though other than to test it out.

If I’m not using the ABY, I go straight out of the Messenger to the Amp.

 

[GrapeBass]

Maybe @GrapeBass will stop by and enlighten us.
"Always on HPF at the start of the chain before od/distortion and the LPF/HPF after (last in chain, after preamps etc. - except for spacial effects as I mentioned previously)."

I had read some suggestions to try the HPF prior to effects like distortion, I believe it was @agedhorse (hopefully he'll chime in). I believe the reasoning was that too much LF content might cause some effects to add some unwanted artifacts. I had always put my LPF/HPF at the end of the train but bought a Broughton always on HPF just 'cause.

 

[Stumbo]

I had read some suggestions to try the HPF prior to effects like distortion, I believe it was @agedhorse (hopefully he'll chime in). I believe the reasoning was that too much LF content might cause some effects to add some unwanted artifacts. I had always put my LPF/HPF at the end of the train but bought a Broughton always on HPF just 'cause.

I think the question was about spatial effects after the HPF and why after?

 

[GrapeBass]

I think the question was about spatial effects after the HPF and why after?

I don't like to cramp the 'spacial' effects style.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Ok.....so I guess I’m now a believer in the benefits of a HPF for my amp. It *really* cleaned up the low end of my Super Bassman 300/2xNeo 115 rig on stage. I openly admit, I was skeptical about it, but after last night’s gig, I’m sold.

My chain is: Bass>Shure GLXD16>Fender Downtown Express>Broughton Always On HPF. I sent 2 signals to the board-one from my amp’s DI, and one from the Downtown Express. My reasoning for putting the HPF after the preamp pedal was, I want my sound tech to have a full signal to work with, as he’s been using HPFs and LPFs as needed on my channels on the board, so I didn’t want to mess with his end of it. He ended up having about a 60/40 blend of the two, in favor of the Downtown Express. Quite possibly the best stage, and FOH, sound I’ve had in, well, forever. Deep, tight, controlled low end on stage (in a particularly boomy room for stage sound).


Pic of my baby board after I put it all together:
View attachment 3495797

Late to the party! Don't misplace your multi box like I did the other week. No power for HPF makes one revisit the bad old days.

 

[Downunderwonder]

I don't like to cramp the 'spacial' effects style.

Spatial effects put on lows will tend to muddify them. Our lows tend to have natural room reverberations enough without piling on.