High Pass/Low Pass filter questions

It's exactly that. The Broughton uses a 12db/octave filter slope.

Edited: I checked my memory and it was not to be trusted

 

The high pass cuts unwanted low frequencies ~ 40 hz is where I set mine. Protects speakers from flopping around needlessly. Set it higher, and reduce unwanted room boominess. The low pass cuts unwanted hiss. Broughton is the standard. If I had to do it again- and I might- I would buy them separately and put them @ the termination points on my board rather than having the single box at the front of my chain. Once you use one, you’ll likely never be without it.

 

You pretty much nailed it. There are some fairly in-depth discussions in the Effects forum. My only suggestion would be to purchase separate HPF and LPF components so you can divide placement in your signal chain. Case-in-point: I like my HPF first in the chain so I'm not "slamming" the compressor. OTOH, the LPF may be better suited for taming the high end response after certain pedals.

Riis

 

I have tried several setups of Broughton HPF/LPF. Started with Broughton HPF/LPF. I used it at the end due to my compressor at the time (Cali 76 CB) not liking it in front. Moved on to the split version with always on HPF under the board (after the Cali Comp) and LPF at the end. Liked it better. Eventually moved to Broughton BBA at the start and Broughton RFE at the end. This is my favorite of the three setups I have tried. BBA helps with noise and provides boost if needed. RFE is a more flexible HPF/LPF.

For OP, you cannot go wrong with Broughton for HPF/LPF. You just have to decide which version is for you. I also think it is a must have for anyone that does not have HPF built into their amplifiers (some do). While I have not tried it the other HPF worth mentioning is the new Empress Deluxe Parametric EQ. That box does a lot in one pedal (including HPF/LPF), which seems nice if it works well. Given that it is Empress, I expect it works well.

 

I run the Empress EQ mentioned- I use it primarily to cut the bottom of the signal and kill the boom of the room~ 120 hz in my living room. It does that very very well. I like to use the high pass to cut the inaudible frequencies that lie below 40 hz. The Empress will give you a variable “Q” so that you can cut or boost a very narrow bandwidth that you choose, or a considerably wider bandwidth, whatever you choose. To my liking, I’d rather have a dedicated box JUST for the high pass and low pass, and use the EQ to address other shortcomings.

 

If I were able to build these two functions into a bass, I would (the "passive tone control installed in many basses is one form of variable low-pass filter).

 

Does the Empress only run HPF/LPF when it is clicked on? I had not thought about it before your post, but I assume it does. If it does then I agree with separate boxes. I tend to run HPF/LPF all the time and parametric EQ as needed.

 

The Empress is a true bypass, so it only affects the signal when it is on. I turn it off and on with different basses. I cut @120 with my 5er, and boost coincidentally there when I play my short scale 30”er, and cut it off completely with another instrument.

 

Cali 76 compact bass HPF is just an HPF for the signal triggering the compressor. It still passes the low signal through. That setup might still benefit from an HPF. Noting that in studio you can also just do your signal processing in your DAW, so may not be necessary.

If you get an HPF to use on the board with the Cali76, you may want to run it after the Cali. My HPF in front of Cali added a ton of noise to the chain. Other compressors I tried with HPF into comp did not have this issue.

 

I'm certain the question has been answered at this point, but succinctly:
High pass filter will have effects where A) the FOH and B) the amp are concerned. In both cases, you'll get more clean headroom, as the amp will be spending fewer watts trying to amplify the fundamental (which likely doesn't sound great anyway), and the same goes for FOH. For the FOH, even if it is perfectly reproducing your fundamental, it's likely not ideal in terms of the overall sound.

Low pass filtering will reduce the amount of high content that can be reproduced primarily through a DI to the FOH. You could use a low pass filter to darken your overall sound, but the real handy part of it is being able to reduce the amount of sharp treble content that you might be getting out of fresh strings or fuzz pedals.

Both HPF and LPF in concert will approximate a cabinet emulation, and in fact the analog cab sims on the marked tend to be, at their core, a low pass filter and high pass filter with adjustable parameters (and potentially some additional filtering to color the mids).

 

The Broughton HPF/LPF is really an amazing tool to help you quickly adapt to different live situations. I can “tune” to a stage intuitively just by listening and sweeping the knob, brilliant piece of equipment.

 

I get something similar with aggressive hammer-ons on fretless, and other than backing off, I find that dialing back the gain and increasing the volume on the head helps.

 

I'm not sure I've gotten that before, but an LPF might help. It could also be that your bass could use a setup to eliminate the problem at the source.

 

I have the messenger with HPF and LPF at the end of my chain and it's a pretty good solution to a bunch of issues.

 

I was ushered into the World of Filters when I had my Alembic basses. Mine were the non-Series electronics with the tone controls being built-in LoPass filters with their Q-Switch.

If you've never been around them, the next closest thing would be something like a 'cut-only' equalizer, like the old Clark-Techniks you still see in some recording studios. You think backwards from active EQ and boost: You're cutting off frequencies that get in the way of the tone you're after. Not intuitive at first, but over time you learn how to make them suit what you want.

Of course, for the truly OCD about filters, Alembic offers the rackmount SuperFilter, two channels of (your choice)
LoPass, BandPass, or HighPass with various gains and mixing facility. A true handful to master.

Alembic - SF-2

 

Here are a couple of posts by Jim Bergantino's and his philosophy on HPF/LPF:

Club Bergantino! Let's See Those Rigs!
Club Bergantino! Let's See Those Rigs!