Question about understanding / using a High Pass Filter

[BurningSkies]

My opinion, if you're using one HPF, like most people, put it at the end or near the end - possibly the compressor after the HPF. What you really care about ar the lowend thumps or "mud" due to the room going through the speakers. Some effects will benefit from a HPF, some won't. If you run a huge pedalboard, maybe it's worthwhile but for me, Ill happily just run a HPF at the end and just clean up what's going out to the amp / house. On some of my HX Stomp patches, I may employ a HPF earlier in the chain for certain effects.

Also, if you're shopping for compressors, it's worth looking at ones like the Origin Effects Cali 76CB, which have a sidechain HPF...Then you don't need to run your HPF before the compressor. My compressor & limiters are run at the front of my signal chain.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Also, if you're shopping for compressors, it's worth looking at ones like the Origin Effects Cali 76CB, which have a sidechain HPF...Then you don't need to run your HPF before the compressor. My compressor & limiters are run at the front of my signal chain.

That’s what I have, useful feature.

 

[Medicine Man]

I like the hpf before my compressor. It prevents big lows hitting the comp from oversquishing the rest of my signal.

 

[Wasnex]

I've had no issues with my Markbass Compressore when using it in this order. I would like to see what the HPF guru Stumbo has to say.

I am not saying the HPF before the compressor will make it malfunction. Again it depends upon what your goals are.

If you are curious, the link for the thread I was referencing is below. The OP was concerned because he felt the compressor was keying more off low notes than high notes. Turns out the designer put a bit of low frequency preemphasis in the detector circuit to achieve a specific performance.

The proposed solution was to use EQ and and/or an HPF to compensate for the preemphasis. I believe the OP found this unsatisfactory and was going to sell the compressor. The clips he provided sounded nice to my ears, but compression is something you feel as well as hear, so I can certainly understand his dissatisfaction.

[I consider it CLOSED] FEA DE-CL problems: insist or resign? .......

 

[Wisebass]

Hi Turbo Sparky

when is it better to use an "Always on" HPF versus one with a "By-pass" (On/Off)?

Always on is the best pedal (after tuners) for folks that hate pedals!



The question should be: When is it better to use "on/off" vs "always on"!

"On/ off" is great when you switch a lot between sounds (octave, chorus….)

and when you already have an adjustable HPF in a preamp pedal. (or in your amp)

"On/ off" is what pedalling is all about!

greetings

Wise(b)ass


btw: I am the "always on" type!

 

[Bassheart365]

I didn't expect the editors to make this video as long as it is, but I recently did a video explanation about live bass tone and using a HPF.

Thanks for the link. Best explanation of how/why to use a HPF for bass.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I didn't expect the editors to make this video as long as it is, but I recently did a video explanation about live bass tone and using a HPF.

That should be a stickey here.

One mistake, and I don’t hold it against you, was when you mentioned that if you wanted to reproduce fundamentals, you’d need an expensive Meyer PA array like what the Dead used to get all that at chest rumbling levels. There was just was a thread a couple days ago about where chest thump really is, it’s more in the 80~100 range.

Have we neutered the bottom end with the HPF craze?

To me, anything under 50Hz is very unmusical and pretty much useless, even uncomfortable at live music volume levels.

Other than that, you laid it out plain and simple.

I also own the FDeck. IMO, the best breakthrough piece of gear that came along after Class D amps and Neo drivers is the adjustable HP filter in a pedal.

 

[SOUTH PAW]

I have been using the FDeck III as the last pedal in my chain for many years. Works great!

Always wanted to test it in the effect loop, but never got around to doing it. Besides, those types of tests can be tedious to get accurate results.

So for now, I'm more than happy where it is.

YMMV

Good to hear from you and all the other satisfied users that are not having to use in an effects loop to get the desired results.

If it only worked properly with an effects loop, I wouldn't be able to use it two thirds the time.

 

[2F/2F]

I put mine in my effects loop. It's a rack mounted e.q. with HPF and LPF controls in addition to the e.q. sliders.

 

[SOUTH PAW]

Love these types of discussions; very informative!

So then, with all of this information, both here and on the HPF specific thread, when is it better to use an "Always on" HPF versus one with a "By-pass" (On/Off)?
Is that/this just personal preference(s), or are there legitimate (not that personal preference isn't) reasoning for one over the other?
Either better/worse for Active BGs or Passive BGs?
Tomato tomahto? Ketchup catsup?
Always on upfront, bypassable at the end?

Very informative. I've actually gone from not sure, to no doubt about it. In fact, as you inquired, I'm planning to get one always on version for the pedal board only, and another with bypass for everything else when not using the pedal board.

 

[Turbo Sparky]

Ordered an "always on" about 2 hrs ago. Whether it is on the board, or in the loop, is another reason "Velcro" is a gift from the {insert deity of choice...or non-deity of choice...or name of law firm filing lawsuit removing either of the aforementioned}.


Thanks to others for their input/opinions/Wise bAssness…

 

[OzzyGreg]

.
I run a few effects.
I have my HPF at the beginning of my signal chain because I can't see the point of processing all that ultra-low frequency (sub 30Hz) stuff, then filtering it out at the end anyway!
I want my effects to only work with the frequencies relevant to my sound.
The way I see it, it gives the effects a better chance of doing what I want, rather than having to do all that extra work for nothing.

 

[Wasnex]

.
I run a few effects.
I have my HPF at the beginning of my signal chain because I can't see the point of processing all that ultra-low frequency (sub 30Hz) stuff, then filtering it out at the end anyway!
I want my effects to only work with the frequencies relevant to my sound.
The way I see it, it gives the effects a better chance of doing what I want, rather than having to do all that extra work for nothing.

Some effects need a full range signal to function properly, and some effects like octave pedals and envelope filters generate frequencies below the cutoff of your HPF.

 

[Stumbo]

Very informative. I've actually gone from not sure, to no doubt about it. In fact, as you inquired, I'm planning to get one always on version for the pedal board only, and another with bypass for everything else when not using the pedal board.

Based on everything I've read, I'd buy two also but I'd run the HPF/LPF second after the tuner and the other HPF at the end of the signal chain. The HPF takes care of the compressor, octave and envelope filters, the LPF takes care of the distortion pedals so they don't screech and scream. The HPF at the end takes care of whatever the pedals produce post effects, what is sent FOH if you sending an effected signal and to offset stage/venue boomyness.

Another TBr runs his like that, can't find his post right now.

​

See how that works out.

Looking forward to your next post!

 

[SOUTH PAW]

Thanks TB'rs for all the great info. I must say, most of it really applied to my current situation (mentioned earlier) but others for potential future uses (synth, octaver's, etc.) as well. Some of it confirmed things I knew, some corrected it, and even more I'm still chewing on.

Now I just have to get past the wife, why i need another piece of gear after a new bass was delivered a week ago. Might cause a little rumble I'll need to high pass

 

[JimmyM]

I've always had mine at the end of my chain right before my amp setup. That way any effects that might create content deep down still get caught by the HPF.

Same here. Last in the chain. I don't want the effects to be affected by it. I want it to come in at the end and chop off the excess lows while the effects see an unaltered signal.

 

[Stumbo]

Now I just have to get past the wife, why i need another piece of gear after a new bass was delivered a week ago. Might cause a little rumble I'll need to high pass

Prolly around 150hz.

 

[SOUTH PAW]

Prolly around 150hz.

Ha, sounds about right. A higher frequency for sure.

 

[SOUTH PAW]

I'm just glad hz doesn't stand for hysterical Zone

 

[Stumbo]

I'm just glad hz doesn't stand for hysterical Zone

I think it works either way!