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

[agedhorse]

It may also be the room acoustics contributing to the problem. Arenas tend to be problematic in this regard.

 

[Leo was right]

It may also be the room acoustics contributing to the problem. Arenas tend to be problematic in this regard.

You are totaly right, it is one more reason to be carefull in the mix in this spectrum. I think less is more in the low freq spectrum.

 

[Stumbo]

v

Most important effect for chordal playing in my experience (especially if you use a dirty or overdriven sound) is a high pass filter (HPF).

From: Effects ideas for chordal playing

 

[Stumbo]

Lots of talk about compression and HPFs: Do I need compression for fingerstyle bass?

 

[Stumbo]

v

Regarding one of the OP's concerns (namely, reproducing low B), IMO an appropriately set HPF would go a long way towards eliminating any "softening out" or "loss of authority" that one might attribute to a smaller setup. If not a perfect solution, it would at least make virtually any downsized cab situation more workable.

From: To those who have downsized their rig

 

[ahc]

Oh, congrats! You'll love what it does. And report back after you try it out.

Well, it arrived with a hiccup so I sent it back for retraining. It should come back to me later this week. Film at 11.

 

[Leo was right]

This is exactly what happened to me this past Friday night. Had my Fdeck on my DB, but I wasn't anywhere near the bass amp. Singer kept turning me down/up trying to dial in the bass... so I stopped playing to show her it was her guitar that the sound-temp had boosted her bass WAY up. Add another instrument with a broad frequency spectrum run through a delay that was too loud...

The entire night, a GenuWhine washed out $%^& mess-O-mush®™.


It got worse as the night wore on, as the sound-temp abandoned the board to serve customers drinks. Will be glad to have the regular sound-tech back next time we play that venue. Ear fatigue, mental fatigue, even physical fatigue by the end of the gig.



I think I'm going to move to Jebberz idea: I'll run the Fdeck HPF right after my bass as I am now, but add a Vong Filterung LPF/HPF to the end of the FX chain.

Something that happen to me often: The guitar player put his combo directly on the floor and it mess my sound completly, I suggested him to put it on a stool so it resolve the problem and he can even hear him better this way, so everybody happy.

 

[Stumbo]

Something that happen to me often: The guitar player put his combo directly on the floor and it mess my sound completly, I suggested him to put it on a stool so it resolve the problem and he can even hear him better this way, so everybody happy.

Seems to that most stage sound would be cleaned up if all the amps were put on tilt-back stands and had HPFs(dialed in for the instrument) in their signal chain.

 

[Btbp]

Seems to that most stage sound could be cleaned up if all the amps were put on stands and had HPFs(dialed in for the instrument) in their signal chain.

I remember participating in a thread a couple years ago (maybe I started it) about stands for bass cabinets. Then there are those pads that fit between the cabinet and the floor, but I haven't tried one. Instead I got a $12 plastic folding stand at Walmart or somewhere, but my 1x12 barely fits on it safely so I rarely use it.

 

[Feral Feline]

Stand and deliver, your bass or your life...

The cab at the venue in my earlier post IS on a stand, but the stage is so shallow that me and my DB don't fit in front of it. So I'm relegated to one side of the stage or (as per the post) OFF stage on the opposite side. At this particular venue, if the singer takes centre stage, he/she is right in front of the bass amp. So for me, the amp fires into the back of the singer's head and into the audience, but being a 410 on a shallow stage it doesn't have enough side-to-side dispersion for me to hear it properly.

Anyway, that night even hearing myself wasn't going to save the situation. All freqs filled, no other freqs need apply to the spectrum for inclusion...

 

[Stumbo]

Stand and deliver, your bass or your life...

The cab at the venue in my earlier post IS on a stand, but the stage is so shallow that me and my DB don't fit in front of it. So I'm relegated to one side of the stage or (as per the post) OFF stage on the opposite side. At this particular venue, if the singer takes centre stage, he/she is right in front of the bass amp. So for me, the amp fires into the back of the singer's head and into the audience, but being a 410 on a shallow stage it doesn't have enough side-to-side dispersion for me to hear it properly.

Anyway, that night even hearing myself wasn't going to save the situation. All freqs filled, no other freqs need apply to the spectrum for inclusion...

Face it backwards and use the HPF to control room boom.

 

[Stumbo]

created a thread:

GK MBF800 + HPF - What a surprise!

My MBF800 has become a backup as the low end was murky when using a P bass and a GB 2x12 NeoX cabinet.

I did not have this problem with other amps (Fender 800 Pro, Ashdown ABM500, and SVT-CL).
It sounded as though the center freq. was higher than the 40 Hz. that is advertised and that there was this boomy, muddy, tonality at most volume settings.

I hadn't actually turned the amp on for over a year and decided it was time to make sure my backup was still working OK as I have a number of gigs coming up.
This time it sounded so much better!

I immediately thought that this was all in my head, but the memory of an inarticulate low end was so strong.
Turns out the P was still connected to a f'Deck HPF3 (the last amp used was a SWR SM400). I rolled the setting from approx. 60 Hz. (2:00) to 35 Hz. and the unpleasant mud returned. Back to 2:00 and the low end tightened up nicely. Still plenty of bottom but so much cleaner / clearer.

And to think, we've only had MI specific HPF's for a few years.
Too bad the P is a 1972 as I just assume have it built in.

Worth a try if your low end is messy.

 

[Stumbo]

Posted the following:

"After getting introduced/ used to an HPF on my Mesa D800+, it has become a "must" for me.....I bought a Broughton HPF pedal and use it in front of my Walkabout, with great results.

Another use I happily discovered while putting together a nano rig for travel..........I bought a JBL Xtreme bluetooth speaker but it wasn't useable for bass.......until I put an HPF in front of it (bass>>HPF>>pedal preamp>>JBL) .....wow....now I can get enough volume out of it tp play along with an acoustic guitar.....in this context my 5 strings are no longer deep and throaty, but it allows me to travel with a nano rig that fits in a small carry on ....that's also great for playing tunes from my phone.....handy tool, that HPF."

Search terms: small amps for busking with a battery powered inverter.

 

[Feral Feline]

Face it backwards and use the HPF to control room boom.

Thanks Stumbo, I'll try that if it's feasible. It's such a tight stage that merely the process of turning the amp/cab around might take out a few mic-stands, the guitar combo and a cymbal or two... which wouldn't necessarily be bad thing!

 

[Stumbo]

@Givati created a thread: DB and HPF, Preamp Needed?

 

[eriky4003]

To the HPF naysayers:
I had a pedal repaired which was recently returned (thanks, EHX!) and was having issues with connectors between pedals. I must have hit my hpf knob while replacing 'pancake' pedal connectors so it was probably only HPFing anything below 20Hz. Noticed on the first note that something was not right as the clarity I was used to was no longer there. After looking at my amps knobs and looking around for the offender, I checked the HPF and noticed its' (mis)setting. Adjusted the HPF back to about 40Hz and all was right in my world.

 

[MarkA]

To the HPF naysayers:
I had a pedal repaired which was recently returned (thanks, EHX!) and was having issues with connectors between pedals. I must have hit my hpf knob while replacing 'pancake' pedal connectors so it was probably only HPFing anything below 20Hz. Noticed on the first note that something was not right as the clarity I was used to was no longer there. After looking at my amps knobs and looking around for the offender, I checked the HPF and noticed its' (mis)setting. Adjusted the HPF back to about 40Hz and all was right in my world.

What are you using for an HPF? (I'm curious since you mention it being able to dial down to ~20 Hz.) Thanks!

 

[eriky4003]

What are you using for an HPF? (I'm curious since you mention it being able to dial down to ~20 Hz.) Thanks!

MarkA, I have the Broughton Always-ON HPF. My understanding is you use the regular Broughton HPF pedal dial as your gauge for the Always-On.

 

[Stumbo]

Lots of HPF love here: What are your essential pedals?

 

[richwag]

I added the Broughton LPF too (already have the HPF). Yes, I should have a bought one pedal to start - the story of my life.

I like the combination though. Obviously the HPF really tightens up the low end especially at higher volumes. Both my G&L SB-2 and L2000 have this ability to make speakers go floppy at lower notes.

I bought the LPF to help with one particular bass I have that seems to generate fret clanking noise when playing notes on the A string towards to bottom of the fret board. I've yet to figure why. This bass does have the flattest fretboard I've ever had and nothing short of adjusting the E string way off the fretboard seems to fix it.