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Source Audio Spectrum Inteligent Filter!!!

Thanks for this great post fivestringgecko!!!
I think you are right. I have listened to all clips again and now i also think it is wah. Somehow I had in my mind or read somewhere that he used an envelope filter in those days or a phaser. I couldn't quit grasp exactly if it was an envelope filter or a phaser or both together. But it sounds more like a wah I agree.

I have tried to emulate those sounds on the Spectrum and came up with some nice sounds but none were exactly right. I also have a Dunlop bass wah and will hook it up again with my fretless bass and see if it comes closer.

What strikes me the most on his sound is the really nasal sound with not much sustain like at 2:03-3:14 or so of "Flight...". it is not just his fretless but there is some effect on it. If you compare it to the sound of the beginning it sounds very different. Maybe he uses his way cocked, so fixed in an in between position? Or something else? Or maybe he has an out of phase switch on his bass or something? He is using this sound fairly often in other songs as well.

No sweat. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I haven't really listened to much of Alphonso's work, and I really enjoyed diving in to analyze. I always paid much more attention to Weather Report with Jaco. Your link to Flight to Hamstead was the first time I've heard any of his solo work, and I'm already checking out the rest of that album! :cool:

I think the comparison you're talking about for Flight might be as simple as having both pickups on at the beginning, and dialing to the bridge at 2:03, which would definitely create that more nasally tone.

I've already started down the rabbit hole... A little googling comes up with a couple key photos, Him with a wah, and some interesting controls on his bass with dual P pickups.

5sg.

Weather-Man.jpg


alphonso-johnson-71f6bc8c-6a61-47db-9a63-2e8e9a4f7e0-resize-750.jpeg
 
No sweat. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but I haven't really listened to much of Alphonso's work, and I really enjoyed diving in to analyze. I always paid much more attention to Weather Report with Jaco. Your link to Flight to Hamstead was the first time I've heard any of his solo work, and I'm already checking out the rest of that album! :cool:

I think the comparison you're talking about for Flight might be as simple as having both pickups on at the beginning, and dialing to the bridge at 2:03, which would definitely create that more nasally tone.

I've already started down the rabbit hole... A little googling comes up with a couple key photos, Him with a wah, and some interesting controls on his bass with dual P pickups.

5sg.

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Thanks for the pictures. Love them. That jeans is awesome!

I now definitely think that sound at 2:03 from Flight is coming from an out a phase switch on his bass. He also has this switch on his Warwick bass and I see it too on the picture you posted. It really sounded like an out of phase sound to me already. Not like a normal switch in pick ups. So that mystery is solved for me.

To be honest I like his solo work but not all songs are up to par. His work with George Duke and Weather Report and Flora Purim is the best. I even prefer the Weather Report period with Alphonso on bass. Jaco is a technical better player but also a more in front player which can sometimes distract from the rest of the music and the more spherical Weather Report sound. Both I like both.
 
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ok, I had some fun with my fretless Wal and a wah pedal today playing along with Alphonso!
The song Lusitanos is definitely a wah pedal. Could nail that sound fairly easy.
The song Flight to H is a phase switch on his bass. That sound is hard (maybe impossible?) to get without a phase switch.
In the first video Scarlett Woman from 8:24 I am not convinced that it is wah. When playing along with a wah the sound is more exaggerated and typical wah. I think there is some modulation going on. I suspect it is a phaser. Will try this on my Spectrum this week again.
 
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My source audio power supply doesn't work anymore. That's only after a few months of light use use at home. The legs of the power supply are very fragile. You can easily bend them. I think that is the reason why it doesn't work anymore. I am a bit disappointed at that. Does that fall under warranty? How do I do this? Do I contact the shop or Source Audio? and if not where can I buy a new power supply? Can't use my Spectrum now.
 
My source audio power supply doesn't work anymore. That's only after a few months of light use use at home. The legs of the power supply are very fragile. You can easily bend them. I think that is the reason why it doesn't work anymore. I am a bit disappointed at that. Does that fall under warranty? How do I do this? Do I contact the shop or Source Audio? and if not where can I buy a new power supply? Can't use my Spectrum now.
Send a note to [email protected]. Of course we will help ASAP. Can't say I have heard of this before.
 
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ok, odd indeed. I managed to get it working again by bending the legs a bit. But still it feels a bit unpredictable for gigs. Can the power supply be ordered separately? or can I also use a 3rd party power supply? Does a 1 spot work for example?
Yes, those will work so long as they have enough power. We are happy to send you a new one.
 
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Was trying the create a Seamoon Funk Machine preset again today. I took the second example of this video and tried to nail it. It is very hard to get exactly right though. The Semoon has a certain percussive attack and at the same a very deep sub envelope that it is hard to imitate on the Spectrum (for me at least). I am not sure how to get that percussive attack more pronounced. Let's hear what you think of the preset and how (or if) it can be improved to nail it even better.
In the video it starts at 1:03. But all sounds in the video are worth trying to recreate. Preset is in the cloud.