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Iron Ether Appreciation Society
- Thread starter Jared Lash
- Start date
Do you have the Direction switch set for an up or down sweep? For most brighter snappy filter tones you will want an up sweep. Set the Speed to fast.
Turn the Envelope off, then set the Frequency control to the lowest/darkest/“muddiest” position you would want. With the Direction in “up”, this will be where the filter reverts to at minimum input. Adjust the Resonance/Q control and Poles switch to hear what you like best. 2-pole and medium-high resonance will tend to be funkier, 4-pole synthier. Now turn the Envelope on and adjust the Sensitivity control until playing hard opens the filter completely (or to taste). As you turn up the Sensitivity the range of the sweep also moves up, so you may need to readjust the Frequency control again to find the right range. From here, blend in clean to taste (I personally use very little for what I want, except when using an octave voice).
If you have the Freq or Sens controls all the way up, then you may find it basically sounds like your clean bass because you are completely restricting the sweep this way.
A bass with flats is inherently not going to “pop” the same way as a Dingwall with rounds (ala most Rizer demos), but with the Resonance up you should still hear some snap with the pedal set-up right. If you can find the tones you want with the expression pedal then you should be able to find them with the envelope as well. Keep in mind that in both modes, having an expression pedal plugged in means your expression is manipulating the Freq control.
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Unfortunately, I'm unable to record anything. One of these days I need to get a basic recording setup...
Fortunately, it does seem like I've made some quick progress after reading that long post a few pages back. I've gotten past the initial mud issues I was having by being more liberal with my Sens and Res settings as well as sorting the Env button - dark blue is off, right, which disables the Freq knob and makes it not respond to my dynamics? So I want to have it turquoise when I'm not using foot sweeps on the expression pedal? One observation - regardless of the color of the LED I can hear sweeps from the exp. pedal. Is that normal? I'm attaching a picture with settings that seem to be getting a much better response from both my P and Ibanez basses. It isn't my ideal tone but I'm hoping I can use it as a good starting point for using the pedal on it's own. Haven't tried adding back any of the other effects yet.
So what factors account for such a different response from my XD and the one in Zach's video? Putting aside that he's using a different bass (and hands!) shouldn't I be able to approximate his basic example with my knobs at the same settings? Not that I'm trying to cop that sound but do they each just respond in their own way?
Fortunately, it does seem like I've made some quick progress after reading that long post a few pages back. I've gotten past the initial mud issues I was having by being more liberal with my Sens and Res settings as well as sorting the Env button - dark blue is off, right, which disables the Freq knob and makes it not respond to my dynamics? So I want to have it turquoise when I'm not using foot sweeps on the expression pedal? One observation - regardless of the color of the LED I can hear sweeps from the exp. pedal. Is that normal? I'm attaching a picture with settings that seem to be getting a much better response from both my P and Ibanez basses. It isn't my ideal tone but I'm hoping I can use it as a good starting point for using the pedal on it's own. Haven't tried adding back any of the other effects yet.
So what factors account for such a different response from my XD and the one in Zach's video? Putting aside that he's using a different bass (and hands!) shouldn't I be able to approximate his basic example with my knobs at the same settings? Not that I'm trying to cop that sound but do they each just respond in their own way?
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Envelope filters (filters in general) really like some content in the mids and highs to latch on to. They also happen to like it if there's some good ol' breakup going on in that range too.
I'd try it again with a bass that has more of that content rather than a P with flats. It's also surprising how many filters will like one bass and not another. Try it with a bass that has standard round-wound strings and without any tone roll off. You'll have the easiest best chance to get something functional.
From there it's time to play around with some of the controls a bit better. My XD has sort of the least tweaky 'sensitivity control'. But by using the the resonance fairly aggressively (get it to feedback then roll it back until it doesn't...from there once you dial in the frequency you can re-adjust to make it more pleasing) and then Frequency control you should get close to where you want to be. I'd also suggest starting with the 4-pole since it's way more pronounced. The Frequency control seems to be the important one for me when I want an 'envelope filter' vibe out of the pedal.
I've also used not only a fuzz before it , but also some kind of mild OD/distortion that has a few tone controls (a 3 band with mid and treble preferable) Then you can leave your bass unmolested and turn up the mid/treble and a little 'hair' you also get the level/gain stage of that pedal to help you hit your XD well.
That’s just down the street from where I’m at right now. Followed the link, paid for it and will pick it up when I head out. Thank you Dalo!!!
wonder what “vintage” it is.
@BurningSkies it definitely responded better to my active Ibanez - I have to do some chores around the house but will sit back down to follow everyone's advice in a few hours. If I can also figure out how to get my Source Audio pedals feeding signal through their second in -> outs... dynamite.
The Envelope switch when off sets the Sensitivity control to zero, so that no matter how hard you play you can’t engage the envelope. The Frequency control is always manipulated by the expression pedal regardless of the mode. The Frequency control sets the bottom of your expression sweep range. The Sensitivity control in Envelope mode will also interact with the Freq- turning up the Sens after a point will effectively also shift the bottom of your sweep up (so you may need to compensate by lowering the Freq again depending on your needs).
Here's how I have mine set up, if that helps at all. I find the most important part, for me, is the Frequency knob. Finding that sweet spot can be tough. I'd play with turning it up a bit. Also, running distortion or fuzz into it will help it "pop" more. Sorry for the blurry pic and animal hair.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
I jumped down into my laboratory for a moment or two and just did a quick video of dialing it in and/or getting some different sounds out of the XD. Once it uploads to YouTube, I'll share. Note that it's me mostly making noises and not playing-playing and I didn't work out any bits or grooves, just want to sort of give an idea to get you up and running.
That's super thoughtful and helpful, thanks - I bet there are a bunch of players who would benefit from that video. If you check YouTube there are very few videos of the XD made within the last eight years...
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Don't get your hopes up too high. I have no production values right now. Just an iphone with a little tripod. One of these days I'll bust out my actual interfaces & record and edit it to video for real.
I did do a couple quickies of the Arcing Prisms not too long ago so people could get the idea, one that's 'clean' and the other with XD/Fuzz...
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Hope this gets you on the right path. Now, this isn't a clean tone that I'd really ever use live... but it's a good starting point for dialing in your filter than you can make adjustments from there. This is Dingwall NG3 with the neck pickup set flat. Run into what I'm using at home these days (Kern IP777->Jule M2500->fEarful 15/6.
Once I have a basic filter up and running I go through some knob twisting to give an idea how things interact and what different tones might be useful.
DubT was scheduled to arrive tomorrow but it updated to today - can't wait to get home from work!
I just got the “out for delivery” notice as well. Got dinner and “after-dinner” with the lady, so probably won’t get to plug it in today. Bummer.
Wow! Man is that pretty!
Mine is in pre-shipment, fine with that. I’m so busy that I didn’t even fire up the used FMeron mentioned in this thread yesterday (Thx again for posting Dalo!) I got practice regiment in but otherwise extremely busy. I’m going to review the postings here about it’s setup and use before I get started anyway.
In my synth chain the only effects placed after the Xerograph are a Polytope and a Nimbus.
Mine is in pre-shipment, fine with that. I’m so busy that I didn’t even fire up the used FMeron mentioned in this thread yesterday (Thx again for posting Dalo!) I got practice regiment in but otherwise extremely busy. I’m going to review the postings here about it’s setup and use before I get started anyway.
In my synth chain the only effects placed after the Xerograph are a Polytope and a Nimbus.
Manny, we gotta hear some sounds from your IE chain. Make it funky!
.
Don’t laugh but in a box somewhere I have an “iRig duo”
Is that one any good? All I had was IOS.
I bought it 6+ years ago but only to fulfill an agreement, which was to record our instrumental and vocal parts. We all knew that basically it was so the next guy would know what to do LOL! They paid us extra and with the high turn over on that joint, pretty smart actually.
Anyway yeah I’ll dig it up, “restore purchases” and see if it still works. Might be kinda rough.
