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Micro Q-Tron

Ryan Mohr

Ryan Mohr

Oct 23, 2007
3,032
26
#1
I am looking for an envelope filter to replace the one on my Boss ME-6B (a great filter). I want a simple filter, not too wet or anything, just a good funky sound. I don't need much versatility, just one good sound. I am also considering the Boomstick Bottom Feeder, EBS BassIQ, and EMMA Discumbobulator, but I would prefer to spend less than a 100 bucks. Can I get a good filter sound out of this or will I have to buy one of the pricier ones. As a reference, here is a clip of the filter on the ME-6B with a Phase 90 Link Removed
 
#2
Micro Q-Trons are good, especially if you get a nice used one. There is usually someone selling one in the For Sale: Accessories forum.
They usually go for around $45 to $50 used. If you don't like it, you won't loose any money if you sell it later.
 
#4
I like my micro q-tron, but there is a volume spike whenever you turn it on. Mine also developed a problem where sometimes on the input jack, unless the cable is set just right (normally putting pressure on the bottom right side) it won't make any sound.
 
#8
AqueousView11 said:
Thanks, do you think the Micro Q-Tron is close?
Click to expand...

No, not really. The Q-Tron is a great pedal and is a lot of fun, but it is not subtle. I think you'd have trouble setting it so the filter would open up but wouldn't swallow up your phaser. From my experience with it, the 00Funk could nail that tone, but that's pretty far from your price range. The EMMA is too, but I got mine for $140 shipped in the TB classifieds (my guitar player has it now).

AqueousView11 said:
On a side note, do you guys like the filter tone of my clip?
Click to expand...

Yeah, though personally I like more prominent filter sounds I think it sounds good.
 
#9
TheBigO said:
No, not really. The Q-Tron is a great pedal and is a lot of fun, but it is not subtle. I think you'd have trouble setting it so the filter would open up but wouldn't swallow up your phaser. From my experience with it, the 00Funk could nail that tone, but that's pretty far from your price range. The EMMA is too, but I got mine for $140 shipped in the TB classifieds (my guitar player has it now).
Click to expand...


Thanks, are you referring to the micro or the normal Q-tron? I was mainly looking at the Emma and Boomstick? Do you think the Boomstick could get close to that sound?

TheBigO said:
Yeah, though personally I like more prominent filter sounds I think it sounds good.
Click to expand...

Thanks, would you consider that sound subtle?
 
#10
AqueousView11 said:
Thanks, are you referring to the micro or the normal Q-tron? I was mainly looking at the Emma and Boomstick? Do you think the Boomstick could get close to that sound?



Thanks, would you consider that sound subtle?
Click to expand...

I don't know what would be considered the "normal" qtron. I played the old huge one and the qtron+ which has a lot more controls but the same "character" as the old one.

No, I don't think the Boomstick could do it. But then, I don't find the Boomstick very funky. It's great with fuzz (and other pedals) but I think it's better for rock or "alternative" (whatever that means) songs than funk/hip-hop/R&B etc. The Bottom Feeder (like the DOD 440 it's based on) doesn't have a round "bubble" but more of a sharp break to its envelope. Pretty different from your clip.

Yes, I think that's fairly subtle as filters go. It's wet enough sounding, but it (because it's a digital effect) lacks the volume spikes and "peaky" sound of a real filter. That's why I recommended the EMMA which is more subtle than say a DODFX25, Mutron or AF-9

To be clear, every pedal you've mentioned is a good filter in its own way, but I'm basing my comments on the idea that you want to match what's in the clip.
 
#11
My brother has a micro Q Tron that I use often, and if you're good with envelope filters, it's a great filter, I even liked the Micro Q Tron better than the Q-Tron or the Emma, for examples. I think if you set it right, you can get a sound pretty close to the sound in your previous clip, I get a sound much like that out of the Micro Q Tron all the time.
 
#12
TheBigO said:
I don't know what would be considered the "normal" qtron. I played the old huge one and the qtron+ which has a lot more controls but the same "character" as the old one.

No, I don't think the Boomstick could do it. But then, I don't find the Boomstick very funky. It's great with fuzz (and other pedals) but I think it's better for rock or "alternative" (whatever that means) songs than funk/hip-hop/R&B etc. The Bottom Feeder (like the DOD 440 it's based on) doesn't have a round "bubble" but more of a sharp break to its envelope. Pretty different from your clip.

Yes, I think that's fairly subtle as filters go. It's wet enough sounding, but it (because it's a digital effect) lacks the volume spikes and "peaky" sound of a real filter. That's why I recommended the EMMA which is more subtle than say a DODFX25, Mutron or AF-9

To be clear, every pedal you've mentioned is a good filter in its own way, but I'm basing my comments on the idea that you want to match what's in the clip.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I was strongly considering the Boomstick until now, but now I know better. So it's between the EMMA and the Micro Q-tron...

Mark Olson said:
My brother has a micro Q Tron that I use often, and if you're good with envelope filters, it's a great filter, I even liked the Micro Q Tron better than the Q-Tron or the Emma, for examples. I think if you set it right, you can get a sound pretty close to the sound in your previous clip, I get a sound much like that out of the Micro Q Tron all the time.
Click to expand...

Cool, have you tried the Emma or are you basing that on clips?
 
#13
I've owned the EMMA. I've owned a ton of envelope filters, before I started buying boatloads of overdrives, I used to buy envelope filters. The EMMA is a great pedal, but I liked it on guitar more than bass. It's good at what it's good at, but it doesn't have the same sound as your clip.

I also like the Micro Q-Tron over the AF-9, which I've also owned. Even at twice the price, I'd still recommend the Micro Q-Tron first for the sound you're after, and in general. Seriously. The first time I plugged it in I wasn't very impressed with it, which I think is going to happen to a lot of people, but like any filter it takes some consistency and the right settings to get "the sound", so once you spend a few minutes with it and dial it in, "the sound" is in there. I'll have to just buy one already (been meaning to for a long time) or borrow my brother's and do some clips sometime.
 
#14
Mark Olson said:
I've owned the EMMA. I've owned a ton of envelope filters, before I started buying boatloads of overdrives, I used to buy envelope filters. The EMMA is a great pedal, but I liked it on guitar more than bass. It's good at what it's good at, but it doesn't have the same sound as your clip.
Click to expand...

I'd agree with almost all of this. I also like the EMMA better on guitar which is why my guitar player now has my old one. The problem with trying to match his clip is that it is a wet sounding filter but with very little in the way of volume spikes. The EMMA and the Qtron will both fall short in different ways. I think the EMMA would better let the phaser sound through. But a Qtron with a compressor and then the phaser might work well too.
 
#15
Yeah, you could add a compressor, but I actually don't have a problem with volume spikes with the Q Tron in Low Pass mode. Band Pass mode is pretty peaky, but in either Low Pass or Band Pass modes I found that using the Micro Q Tron in the loop of my Xotic X Blender made that volume spike not a bother at all, even with a high mix for some reason.
 
#16
Mark Olson said:
I've owned the EMMA. I've owned a ton of envelope filters, before I started buying boatloads of overdrives, I used to buy envelope filters. The EMMA is a great pedal, but I liked it on guitar more than bass. It's good at what it's good at, but it doesn't have the same sound as your clip.

I also like the Micro Q-Tron over the AF-9, which I've also owned. Even at twice the price, I'd still recommend the Micro Q-Tron first for the sound you're after, and in general. Seriously. The first time I plugged it in I wasn't very impressed with it, which I think is going to happen to a lot of people, but like any filter it takes some consistency and the right settings to get "the sound", so once you spend a few minutes with it and dial it in, "the sound" is in there. I'll have to just buy one already (been meaning to for a long time) or borrow my brother's and do some clips sometime.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that would be ideal since it is only 80 bucks as opposed to the EMMA, which is over 200. Just to make sure, this is the one you are talking about right? http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...on-Envelope-Follower-Effects-Pedal?sku=150101
 
#17
Yes, that's the one. My brother has an early one, which had the HP and LP modes mislabeled, but I'm sure that's the only difference between the one I've played and what you might get from musiciansfriend or whatnot today. Just make sure you spend some time with the Drive and Q knobs because there's a lot of different sounds possible with that pedal, and it might take you a little tweaking to find the one you're after but it's in there. And like I said, if you have a problem with volume spikes with your playing, try using the pedal in a blend loop, really makes the spikes just fine and can still give you just enough funk on it.

By the way for what it's worth the sound that I got initially out of the Micro Q Tron that I didn't like sounded exactly like one of the sounds I've heard others get with a real vintage Mu-Tron. I'll have to see if I can recreate those sounds and do clips and compare and stuff sometime.
 

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