Just ordered a HPF...where will it go on my board?

[scottfeldstein]

I just ordered a Broughton High Pass Filter (always on model), hoping it might help my speakers if I dumped everything below, say, 40hz. I figured I would put it last on my pedal board, but I just had a knowledgeable person suggest that it should go first! Thoughts??

My setup: BASS - tuner > compressor (always on) > Manta bass filter (used once a set maybe) > Darkglass B3K (used twice a set maybe) - AMP

So I usually run clean, but reserve the right to get synthy/funky with the Manta or burn the house down with the B3K.

 

[Beheroth]

imo last if you have a clean tone, first if you use od/dist for a tighter low end (if the od/dist doesn't already cut it)

 

[scottfeldstein]

imo last if you have a clean tone, first if you use od/dist for a tighter low end (if the od/dist doesn't already cut it)

I added my board setup to the OP for clarity.

 

[Beheroth]

maybe last then
but anyway try both and see what's sounds best

 

[Bassbeater]

At the end probably... But also at the beginning. Because for real though, you should record both and look at the wave form. Whichever position has the cleanest wave form is the correct position.

 

[JimboP]

I have my compressor last and HPF second last, so it saves the comp from having to jump on the big lows

 

[40Hz]

I prefer it to be dead last in the signal chain the way I use it. So I've got mine in the effects loop. But I don't use a much in the way of effects when playing live so my situation is a little different.

You're now seeing some effects that come with a HPF and/or LPF built in. The Broughton Audio Apex Compressor and some of the pedals by VFE, such as their Pinball Tilt EQ, are good examples.

 

[Kevin Wolfe]

I prefer it to be dead last in the signal chain the way I use it. So I've got mine in the effects loop. But I don't use a much in the way of effects when playing live so my situation is a little different.

You're now seeing some effects that come with a HPF and/or LPF built in. The Broughton Audio Apex Compressor and some of the pedals by VFE, such as their Pinball Tilt EQ, are good examples.

View attachment 3126876 View attachment 3126878

I had an email conversation with Josh B. About the HPF in the Apex and he explained that it was a side chain addition that allows the freqs below the roll off to go through uncompressed. So you'd still need another HPF to tighten up those lows.
I'm thinking that the Hpf in an EQ pedal like the Pinball would work just like a stand alone unit with the added ability to further tweak the tone.

 

[40Hz]

I had an email conversation with Josh B. About the HPF in the Apex and he explained that it was a side chain addition that allows the freqs below the roll off to go through uncompressed. So you'd still need another HPF to tighten up those lows.
I'm thinking that the Hpf in an EQ pedal like the Pinball would work just like a stand alone unit with the added ability to further tweak the tone.

Apologies for an earlier lack of clarification on my part. The point I was trying to make with the Apex was how an HPF is useful enough that it's starting to be incorporated into devices that can benefit from having one present.

One use I've found for an HPF is putting it in front of pedals that do pitch tracking such as a BOSS OC-2. And while it may seem counterintuitive to filter lows with an octave pedal, it improves tracking. And the effect will add back all the lows you'd want anyway so.you don't lose anything.

I also really like the VFE Pinball. It finds a lot of use in my house. If you set the tone to center it doubles very nicely as a HPF/LPF stand-alone.

For a straight HPF I use Josh's HPF.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Before the compressor definitely. If you wanna be really tricky, use it as side-chain.

Riis

 

[eriky4003]

Thanks for posting, Scott. I'm actually seriously considering ordering the same (Broughton Always On) and then wondered where I should place the HPF. Subscribed!

 

[mmbongo]

I prefer it to be dead last in the signal chain the way I use it. So I've got mine in the effects loop. But I don't use a much in the way of effects when playing live so my situation is a little different.

You're now seeing some effects that come with a HPF and/or LPF built in. The Broughton Audio Apex Compressor and some of the pedals by VFE, such as their Pinball Tilt EQ, are good examples.

View attachment 3126876 View attachment 3126878

Yeah just to clarify, I think it was already mentioned that the HPF in the Apex is in the side chain, it does not work like a separate HPF.

I've also tried those VFE pedals hoping to find another good HP/LP pedal but they do not work well for bass. And really, the minimum is 47 hz which is way too high. I wish VFE would make one that works with bass because he makes great stuff.

 

[scottfeldstein]

I talked to a friend of mine last night, guy who does guitar and also recording/production of our band. His first impulse was to put it in front, too.

 

[40Hz]

I've also tried those VFE pedals hoping to find another good HP/LP pedal but they do not work well for bass.

The Pinball works fine for me in bass applications. But I often cut starting around 60Hz regardless so it all depends on how you’re using it. If you need lower than that just get the Broughton like I did for when I need it.

 

[leonard]

My DIY fdeck pedal is the first in line. It doubles as a nice buffer.

 

[Happy Jack]

I have my compressor last and HPF second last, so it saves the comp from having to jump on the big lows

The trouble with having the compressor last in the chain is that it will kill off any dynamic changes introduced by the other effects. That may well be something you want, but kills any purpose in having a clean boost or a volume rocker-pedal or even boosting the signal when it passes through a distortion unit.

My need for compression is to even up and smooth out my rather agricultural finger style, which only gets worse when I'm having fun on stage, so I always have the compressor first in the sequence. That way the rest of my board receives a consistent and fairly clean signal to play with.

The HPF is - essentially - there to protect your bass speakers. IMHO it makes most sense to put that as the very last thing in your chain. In a perfect world, you'd have the HPF between the amp and the cab!

 

[scottfeldstein]

I have my compressor first (or right after my tuner). I'm not compressing so hard that it would interfere with my ability to manipulate, say, an envelope filter. And theoretically, I might use an effect that would introduce sub-40hz information even after my signal had been HPF'd earlier in the chain. But I don't think that's too big a risk in my case.

Still, HPFs that are built into amps are all post-pedalboard. It makes sense to put them last on the board, too.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

I have an fdeck Series 3. I put it dead last in the chain.

 

[scottfeldstein]

Here's a thought experiment. Supposing I put it last in my chain, after my comp. My signal hits my compressor, gets compressed at least in part because of some wild low frequencies, and then goes through my HPF where those frequencies are removed. My signal just got squashed for no reason. Or something. No?

 

[SongySan]

I have the Micro Thumpinator, and I put it after my Whammy & octave pedal (COG T65), and before my dirt & filters. Works for me.