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looking for a envelope filter...
- Thread starter short_steve277
- Start date
I sold my Bassballs and Mini Q Tron but kept my MXR Bass Auto Q as its such a great sounding filter. Now technically this pedal is an auto wah but is has all the squelchy, burpy tone of the Qtron but is much more flexible and well laid out. It ssounds great with passive or active basses.
I've been getting a gut feeling about the AutoQ and I'm gonna have to check one out.... Thanks!
A REVIEW FROM BASSPLAYER.COM ON THE MXR AUTO Q...
Six knobs may seem like a lot, but the MXR Bass Auto Q can do something other filter pedals can’t: provide a shimmering oscillator effect you can blend with the envelope filter. The ultra-sturdy rubber-capped pots smartly outline your boot sole for protection, and just north of the footswitch, an LED both indicates bypass status and gently pulses to reflect the oscillator rate. The first two knobs, which set the filter sweep range and resonance peak, or “q,” control the sound of both the initial filter and trailing oscillator. My favorite setting had range at noon and “q” around 2 o’clock, but even the lowest range setting had abundant bass fundamental. Blend mixes the filter and oscillator; when blend is fully to the left, the oscillator is off and decay controls the filter length. With blend in the middle, decay controls how quickly the oscillator’s wahwahwah follows the filter’s bwap. The Bass Auto Q’s sounds aren’t the wildest, but with plenty of bottom always present, they might be the most consistently useful.
... IMHO This could be the main reason it would fit within me EFFECTS cuz I like keeping the fundamental tone of the bass!!!
Six knobs may seem like a lot, but the MXR Bass Auto Q can do something other filter pedals can’t: provide a shimmering oscillator effect you can blend with the envelope filter. The ultra-sturdy rubber-capped pots smartly outline your boot sole for protection, and just north of the footswitch, an LED both indicates bypass status and gently pulses to reflect the oscillator rate. The first two knobs, which set the filter sweep range and resonance peak, or “q,” control the sound of both the initial filter and trailing oscillator. My favorite setting had range at noon and “q” around 2 o’clock, but even the lowest range setting had abundant bass fundamental. Blend mixes the filter and oscillator; when blend is fully to the left, the oscillator is off and decay controls the filter length. With blend in the middle, decay controls how quickly the oscillator’s wahwahwah follows the filter’s bwap. The Bass Auto Q’s sounds aren’t the wildest, but with plenty of bottom always present, they might be the most consistently useful.
... IMHO This could be the main reason it would fit within me EFFECTS cuz I like keeping the fundamental tone of the bass!!!
I recommend the Emma, which I was happy with after sending back both the MXR Auto Q and the Maxon AF-9.
I'm a filter fan, I have 4 currently, about 6 others past. Pigtronix EP-1 is a phaser, but with an EF mode, very nice, also Menatone MailBomb, super synthy and wacked out. My other 2 are both Ehx, Bassballs, and QTron. The QTron is cool, with lots of tweakability, and the Bassballs does one thing, but well. If I were forced to trim down to one pedal, it would be the first two I listed.
I like the envelope on my Digitech Bass Synth. There is a bit of adjustment and it can get really wet and funky.
It also has a usable octave and envelpe with octave.
I also use a MXR Auto Q. It is an Auto wah not an envelope but it really keeps the bottom and has some very usable live sounds IME.
It also has a usable octave and envelpe with octave.
I also use a MXR Auto Q. It is an Auto wah not an envelope but it really keeps the bottom and has some very usable live sounds IME.
I've had an MXR Bass Auto Q for a few months and - despite perseverance - haven't found a use for it.
It's kinda predictable and clean and neat n' tidy - very MXR - like a Corgi. I like a filter to sound a bit more lively and nutsy and wild, like a spaniel or a border collie. The Q-Tron is pretty good in that regard.
It's kinda predictable and clean and neat n' tidy - very MXR - like a Corgi. I like a filter to sound a bit more lively and nutsy and wild, like a spaniel or a border collie. The Q-Tron is pretty good in that regard.
I got frustrated with the volume spike on my Mini Q tron. It was not usable live without a compressor after it.
The Bassballs is really very unique. I thought it was great but never could find much actual use for it. very much a one trick pony.
I would love to try the Emma but have heard many reviews where people complain that its too subtle. I like lots of syurpy filter goodness!
I owned the Ashdown filter and it was simply badly designed. it had a good basic tone but the input stage would clip and distort when the signal was brought up enough for the filter to open. This was the case with passive or active basses. And I had the second generation unit with the input issue supposedly repaired.
I kept going back to the MXR bass Auto Q as its built like a tank, loves any type of bass, sounds drippy and funky and has a volume control so that the output can me perfectly set where you need it. Its not perfect, but it actually works live without a bunch of problematic issues!
The Bassballs is really very unique. I thought it was great but never could find much actual use for it. very much a one trick pony.
I would love to try the Emma but have heard many reviews where people complain that its too subtle. I like lots of syurpy filter goodness!
I owned the Ashdown filter and it was simply badly designed. it had a good basic tone but the input stage would clip and distort when the signal was brought up enough for the filter to open. This was the case with passive or active basses. And I had the second generation unit with the input issue supposedly repaired.
I kept going back to the MXR bass Auto Q as its built like a tank, loves any type of bass, sounds drippy and funky and has a volume control so that the output can me perfectly set where you need it. Its not perfect, but it actually works live without a bunch of problematic issues!
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
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- May 3, 2002
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There always seems to be some sort of sacrifice with envelope filters. Finding one that can handle active basses well, has an output volume, can do both down and up, doesn't have huge volume spikes, isn't overly complicated to find good sounds, and can put out really wet and squelchy sounds has been impossible- you basically have to pick a couple of the things you like and deal with the rest 
I'd really love to try the Barge Concepts Grinder when it comes out- it's been delayed a bit at this point though.
I'd really love to try the Barge Concepts Grinder when it comes out- it's been delayed a bit at this point though.I dunno if you can find one as their not made anymore but I'd recommend the MuTron III its one of those pedals bootsy used, I'm really not sure how to describe the sound, but it sounds really killer on those intense sexy funk ballads
I have the MXR and think it is in the top 5 best filters I've tried.
Mu-tron III
Meatball
Meat Wad
MXR
FX25
That would be the order I'd put them in for now but I have a Q-tron on the way so things might change.
For a great filter on the cheap I think the Dynamic Filter by Tweaktronix is a must have.
There's some even more rare filters out there that have Mu-tron III status but I haven't tried any of them and they all come with a hefty price.
Monacor Effectmatic
Seamoon Funk machine
Systech Envelope Follower
Are all vintage style effects that I want to try out.
The Xotic Robotalk Envelope Filter + Random Arrpegiator bass version is something I'd like to try of the new filters. Well, I have a whole list of filters I'd like to try.
Unrepresented
Something Borderline Offensive
Before purchasing my AF-9 I compared head to head with the Mini Q-Tron, Moog MF-101, and the Emma. Actually posted my thoughts on them somewhere here in this forum. I thought that the Emma was too transparent for my intentions but I could see where it would be useful if you're hoping to make it a part of an effected signal chain instead of the overpowering focus.
Ultimately it's about matching the effect to the playing style, equipment, tone, and sonic goals of the individual musician.
I did, look to post 17.
I agree with you though, I've had mine for awhile and it is still cool.
I had a 00Funk Mk I. It's a great filter (I've heard the Mk. II is even better) But I had problems with it's size. If they could make it a little smaller, it would still be on my board.
I had a 00Funk Mk I. It's a great filter (I've heard the Mk. II is even better) But I had problems with it's size. If they could make it a little smaller, it would still be on my board.
I haven't tried the MK I but the MK II is a more reasonable size although I would like to try the MK I to see if there is any advantage to be had with the greater tweakability................
As far as I can tell (I never played the original) the Robotalk began life as a Maestro FSH-1 clone. I believe the Subdecay Prometheus is similar in that regard, though it appears it is getting more tweaking.
If you want to try a Robotalk Bass you'll probably have to find it used. I only found one place (Pedalgeek.com) that even had one new one left. There is a new version coming out, but it will not have the Sample & Hold Filter (what Xotic calls "Random Arpeggiator) included anymore.
