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

[GrapeBass]

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

"If" you use spacial effects. Personally, I do not, but many like to add a chorus or delay. IME, a LPF curtails the 'ambient' highs created by the 'verbs, like closing the door too early, not giving enough space (I hope that makes sense). As for the lows, I think the idea of tempering the lows with an HPF prior to these type of effects a good thing.

 

[Stumbo]

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@JohnArnson asks:

I am pondering on getting a Hotone Gate pedal, which is a noise gate pedal, but also have an adjustable HPF and LPF build in, the HPF's lowest EQ point is 40 Hz, which seems just abotu perfect for a 4 string bass, and with the sensitivity of the noise gate set to 0 I should in theory only get the effect of the filter.

However when you activate the HPF the LPF will also automatically be active, but setting it to the max, which is 15Khz it shouldn't really matter much, since that high frequency content is generally unwanted on a bass anyway.

I got a question though, as I am not absolutely sure how a HPF does work, and I wouldn't want it to cut frequencies above 40Hz, so set to 40Hz would the cut off curve start at 40Hz or would the curve already begin before that point?

And started a thread: Hotone Gate used as HPF

 

[Stumbo]

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@zippydog posted in the Broughton Audio Super Thread:

I just got a Broughton HPF/LPF and was really impressed with what it did to clean up my tone - especially on the bottom - my B string has never sounded more tight and clear. FWIW, I've placed mine after the tuner (first in the chain) and before the compressor ....and everything else.

 

[Stumbo]

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@Rooster009 posted in the Broughton Audio Super Thread

The Boss GT-10b has crossover capabilities and it can be mixed back together before the outputs, or you can leave it separated. Xover frequency and levels are adjustable. I’ve used it and it definitely cleans up the low end. What I’ve found to work better for me though, is dual/mixed channel paths. I put the overdrives on one channel and use the Para EQ and it’s adjustable HPF and LPF to bandpass the overdrives, then the signal gets mixed back in with the clean full range amp sim channel before the outputs. I deploy another para EQ with HPF/LPF just before the outputs as a sort of cab sim because I don’t like the cab sims in the GT-10b

This keeps the lows really clean and allows the top end of the clean amp sim to shine through making the whole path as dirty as you want to be, but very articulate.​

 

[Rooster009]

@zippydog posted in the Broughton Audio Super Thread:

I just got a Broughton HPF/LPF and was really impressed with what it did to clean up my tone - especially on the bottom - my B string has never sounded more tight and clear. FWIW, I've placed mine after the tuner (first in the chain) and before the compressor ....and everything else.

Buy another and put it and your overdrives in a separate loop and then mix it back with your clean signal. You can get some really great variations with your drives that way.

 

[Stumbo]

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@kesslari posted in the Big E Speakers Part 4 - Quadraphenia:

@BIGREDSIX Nice Rigs! Just want to add that I'm playing the 8's exclusively (and have had other MAS cabs).
No issues whatsoever with "too much bottom" or muddy low end.

I do use an HPF.​

 

[Stumbo]

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@Johno Dunn posted in the Broughton Audio Super Thread with regards to adjusting his HPF/LPF:

So here’s what I do (IMHO, YMMV, DWW) I roll the HP all the way up (max cut), then gradually roll the lows back in till they are robust and tight enough to taste.

Then maybe add just a tad more! I do this for each room I play in.

The LP stays pretty much the same, as I set it to tame string noise (more thump!) and get a good pop tone!

 

[Johno Dunn]

@Johno Dunn posted in the Broughton Audio Super Thread with regards to adjusting his HPF/LPF:

So here’s what I do (IMHO, YMMV, DWW) I roll the HP all the way up (max cut), then gradually roll the lows back in till they are robust and tight enough to taste.

Then maybe add just a tad more! I do this for each room I play in.

The LP stays pretty much the same, as I set it to tame string noise (more thump!) and get a good pop tone!

My HP is set between 40 and 60, usually around 50ish. Hope that helps.

 

[Btbp]

My HP is set between 40 and 60, usually around 50ish. Hope that helps.

I start with mine at 40 and usually leave it there, sometimes it doesn't seem to be enough and I move it more towards 50, I thought 60 would cut out too much meat but it's probably a good idea to try.

 

[Johno Dunn]

I start with mine at 40 and usually leave it there, sometimes it doesn't seem to be enough and I move it more towards 50, I thought 60 would cut out too much meat but it's probably a good idea to try.

Use your ears. If it sounds good, go with it!

 

[Stumbo]

Use your ears. If it sounds good, go with it!

Going wireless or using a long cord so you can hear how you sit in the mix, while sometimes under control of a sound tech, adjustments can be made to make sure you sit well in the mix, regardless of how it sounds on stage. Hopefully they both sound good.

 

[Stumbo]

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Bag asked:

Hi All,

I'm sure most of you have answered this question a lot recently however my query is (I think) a little bit different.

I play an 8-string double course bass quite a bit these days and I play it through both a bass amp and guitar amp via an ABY box. The bass amp is set for my usual 4 string Pbass while the guitar amp has the bass tone knob rolled completely off and has a little reverb and dirt added. This gives me the shimmer, distortion and reverb of the upper octave strings without muddying up the bass. It certainly is much better than trying to run the 8-string through one amp. When soloing the guitar amp it sounds very thin and low in volume but with the bass amp it really adds to a HUGE sound.

I was wondering if a High Pass Filter, set between the ABY and guitar amp, would be of benefit to me or is the simple act of turning the bass down on the guitar amp effectively acting as an HPF anyway?

While i'm over here in Effects world, what is a decent, relatively cheap compressor that I could try in order to tame some of the louder notes I sometimes accidentally hit?

And started a thread: Do I Need A High Pass Filter????​

 

[aproud1]

Been rocking a Markbass Jeff Berlin Combo. No tweeter, a 15 and an amp I like all in one box. Plus it has a spot for my HPF in the effects chain. Played a progressively louder gig last Saturday. No HPF=boomy incoherent low end, HPF on and tweaked= perfect sound for the room, plenty of volume and low end. Check it out:

 

[Clemouze]

Been rocking a Markbass Jeff Berlin Combo. No tweeter, a 15 and an amp I like all in one box. Plus it has a spot for my HPF in the effects chain. Played a progressively louder gig last Saturday. No HPF=boomy incoherent low end, HPF on and tweaked= perfect sound for the room, plenty of volume and low end. Check it out:

View attachment 3524197

HPF set pretty high right ?
What do you think is the frequency ? Higher than 80 Hz I think

 

[aproud1]

HPF set pretty high right ?
What do you think is the frequency ? Higher than 80 Hz I think

Depends on the room. I usually set around 60. Saturday night It was probably up around 80ish. I would say that is typical range. Then I actually allow my bass knob to come up (pre HPF I never did that). This gives me a tight but rich sound.

Really is a game changer, especially live. I play in many rooms that are just sonic turds.

 

[Clemouze]

Depends on the room. I usually set around 60. Saturday night It was probably up around 80ish. I would say that is typical range. Then I actually allow my bass knob to come up (pre HPF I never did that). This gives me a tight but rich sound.

Really is a game changer, especially live. I play in many rooms that are just sonic turds.

Cool thanks.

I also tend to be shy with my bass knob (60Hz ) in our rehearsal room.
Then the HPF changed my life !
Set approx at 70 Hz , I can then use the bass knob without becoming a boom machine.
Thanks Broughton Audio hehe

 

[Coolhandjjl]

...It was probably up around 80ish. I would say that is typical range. Then I actually allow my bass knob to come up...

That's the Motown secret

 

[Coolhandjjl]

It seems the secret is out...

 

[murphy]

Cool thanks.

I also tend to be shy with my bass knob (60Hz ) in our rehearsal room.
Then the HPF changed my life !
Set approx at 70 Hz , I can then use the bass knob without becoming a boom machine.
Thanks Broughton Audio hehe

I think that is what I can set the highpass on my crossover ...no boom..Alembic F1X....Have to try again

 

[Stumbo]

v

@Wasnex :
I agree with @Downunderwonder about letting the PA distribute the sound to the back seats.

The PA does not have to pump up the low end. When I am mixing, I often run the high pass on the bass channel up to 400hz or so, and just use the PA to sweeten the mids and high end. Delaying the mains to the backline is necessary for this to work well.

This can easily be achieved with most digital mixers. If the mixer is analog, you're probably stuck. Also if the audio tech is unwilling to explore options, you're probably stuck.