Soundblox Pro Bass Envelope Filter

[wolffman]

I've had the SAMWBDP for months and it is very versatile with lot's of cool sounds. The size is not much larger than the non pro version- and the advantage of 6 presets is huge. You can use one preset as an eq or boost, low gain over-drive, distortion tones, and a lot’s of crazy synthy type sounds. Personally I don’t feel as though the distortion can replace a thick analog fuzz sound- it’s not aggressive enough BUT it does great distortions. You also have the option to morph from one preset to another- it’s an awesome feature. I would definitely recommend the MW Pro for it’s flexibility and unique voice but not to try and mimic other pedals sounds- not to mention it sounds SO GOOD with the BEFPro.

As to your other questions-

yes this filter will sound good with other dirt pedals before it

and you don't NEED an expression pedal for either but it will open the pedal up to new or different sounds- making the pedal more expressive. The BEFPro is an AWESOME AWESOME envelope filter- as you increase amplitude the filter sweeps higher. With an expression pedal you can make the filter open with your foot (like a wah) or keep the filter in a fixed position. You can also change lfo speeds with it, or rotate through effects. It allows you to do more. Same with the hot hand. Is it necessary? no. would I recommend them- yes!

 

[Smallequestrian]

I'm dead set on the BEF Pro (which I'm about to order online), but there's no MWD shop to try it out in for over a thousand miles, for a week at least.

The best deal I can find (ToneFactor) won't have the distortion in stock for a couple of weeks, but their shipping is cheap so I can just get it later.

Next question is Hot Hands/Exp pedal. Must have? Is either one better than the other? Could I use my Earthquake Wah as an exp pedal?

The hothand is cool, but not a must have. The expression pedal is also very useful for the BEF Pro, but you can definitely get away with not having one. My favorite use of the expression pedal with the BEF Pro is to use it to control the speed of the LFO on the fly. I've never been very accurate with tap tempos.

 

[alec]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've ordered the ProBEF and I'll wait for the ProMWBD.
It'll give me time to get into the BEF and give me something to look forward to.
I'll get an exp pedal sometime too.

 

[itswac]

your BEF Pro should come with a card containing a code to get you a free wired hot hand. That will be a solid way to judge it's usefulness...having one is usually good for that kind of thing.

 

[rsmith601]

I hear what you're saying about not being a fan of digital as I've been in that camp before....but the bottom line is good tones are good tones, whether digital or analog and these pedals sound amazing. So if you've got the ability to give one a test drive, I would highly recommend it.

When I see someone post "such and such sounds digital" it makes me go bananas. :scowl: A poor analog implemenation can sound thin, metalic and noisy too. I will give you bass players lots of credit: You have given us a chance to prove that digital effects can be amazing. It is my hope, before I die from trying, that a few more guitar players will be convinced to be as hip as all of you. Thank you.

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

It is my hope, before I die from trying, that a few more guitar players will be convinced to be as hip as all of you. Thank you.

Well, that's not gonna happen.

And about your new BEF Pro....WOW.

 

[Fiset]

Okay so here's a little clip just for fun. I had to completely re-do my board after receiving the MWBD Pro since the combined footprint of the BEF Pro with the MWBD Pro isn't exactly small. Anyway, once I got everything situated, I turned on all my pedals to make sure the single chains were solid, blah blah and this is the sound that came out of my amp when I plucked a few notes. I liked it enough to pick up my H4 and record a couple of minutes for the heck of it.

Everything on my board is on so we've got some octave, three different types of distortion, an x-blender and a pre-amp to go along with the two SA Pros. My BEF Pro was on a preset I created using an 8-Step Triangle LFO shape on setting 22 (the last Phaser setting) so thats what created the cool (at least to my ears) oscillating thing. The MWBD Pro was just turned on for the first time so it was on its default setting.

Anyway, please excuse the sloppy playing, its not like I worked out a tune, I just started playing and this is what came out. I'm going to try to refine this overall tone into something a little less muddy (dropping the octave out of the mix will certainly help) but still, I always wondered what it would sound like if I turned everything on....and this is it.

 

[FilterFunk]

It is my hope, before I die from trying, that a few more guitar players will be convinced to be as hip as all of you. Thank you.

We keyboardists are already there!

 

[Fiset]

A couple of quick and dirty tracks using the BEF Pro. This is Phaser setting 21 using the LFO rectified sine shape. These quick recordings are done direct from my board into my H4 and the levels are a little on the low side but you get the idea.




This one is Triple Peak envelope setting 17. I tried to vary the intensity of my right hand attack since the effect is so dependent on the attack but again, the direct in recording level is a bit low.

 

[jbybj]

Triple peak is my current favorite group of filters. Maybe I don't get around enough, but the triple peak seem wholly unique to me, and very cool.

 

[RichardFoggo]

when and where are these arriving in Europe (UK in particular)? Cant see one anywhere over here.

 

[Smallequestrian]

Triple peak is my current favorite group of filters. Maybe I don't get around enough, but the triple peak seem wholly unique to me, and very cool.

I've been using Triple 19 as my main filter sound ever since I first got my regular BEF last summer. It was the first preset I programmed into the Pro when I got the beta unit.

 

[OhulahanBass]

My favorite is triple peak 16. It gives my bass a voice...love it love it love it.

 

[Smallequestrian]

I've been using Triple 19 as my main filter sound ever since I first got my regular BEF last summer. It was the first preset I programmed into the Pro when I got the beta unit.

I'm dumb...I've actually been using Peak & Notch 19 as my main setting.

 

[duke2004]

Anyone had success with expression pedals? Tried my Ernie Ball VP Jr which has succeeded on my Line6 M9, but no effect on the BEFPro. Unless something needs to be tweeked "backpage".

 

[OhulahanBass]

Anyone had success with expression pedals? Tried my Ernie Ball VP Jr which has succeeded on my Line6 M9, but no effect on the BEFPro. Unless something needs to be tweeked "backpage".

I am also interested in which expression pedal Source Audio suggests for the BEF Pro.

 

[Smallequestrian]

The Moog EP2 works really well with added nicety that it's pretty cheap.

 

[gastric]

EXPRESSION: BOSS FV-500H super rugged, heavy duty, has trimpot on side, can adjust pedal tension. But pricey.

 

[duke2004]

Anyone had success with expression pedals? Tried my Ernie Ball VP Jr which has succeeded on my Line6 M9, but no effect on the BEFPro. Unless something needs to be tweeked "backpage".

Hmm, maybe i need to re-phrase my question as...is this the cable one would need (1/4 TRS male out---to Y 1/4 TS male) to make a typical volume pedal (with in and out 1/4 jacks) work with the single 1/4 input on the BEFPro ?

Amazon.com: Hosa STP203 1/4 TRS To Dual 1/4 TS Cable 9.75 Ft: Musical Instruments

 

[wolffman]

Personally I don’t feel as though the distortion can replace a thick analog fuzz sound- it’s not aggressive enough BUT it does great distortions.

When I see someone post "such and such sounds digital" it makes me go bananas. :scowl: A poor analog implemenation can sound thin, metalic and noisy too.

Roger, I'm not certain if you were were referring to my comment about the MWBD not replacing an analog fuzz; personally i have no qualms with digital effects- in fact the majority of my pedals are digital- correct me if I'm wrong but I don't feel as though SA focused on making the MWBD an aggressive fuzz. I use the single band normal settings as a fuzzy distortion but it doesn't necessarily decimate the signal. As a side note, personally I enjoy the MWBD most with the drive rolled back.