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Envelope pedal advice


Lobster fingers
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I am looking to get a new envelope pedal, I already have a BassBalls, but it doesn't do it for me. Ideally I want something that can provide a range of sounds, but isn't too complex or expensive. I am thinking about either the basic Soundblox bass envelope filter or an MXR M82. What do other Basschatters think about these pedals or is there another pedal I should consider?

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[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1368208185' post='2074552']
My personal fav is the DOD FX25B. Dead simple, and a fantastic little pedal.
[/quote]

You ever tried the FX25? Even simpler and is really good at [i]that [/i]sound.

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[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1368208638' post='2074558']


You ever tried the FX25? Even simpler and is really good at [i]that [/i]sound.
[/quote]

I've never had the chance to. Only had the "B" version (twice :$), but would like to give it a go as I love overly simple, yet highly effective/intuitive pedals.

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[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1368208185' post='2074552']
My personal fav is the DOD FX25B. Dead simple, and a fantastic little pedal.
[/quote]

I had one and yes, they're great little pedals. They're particularly good for setting so the envelope doesn't open, giving that Bill Laswell dub sound.

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I have three envelope filters on the go at the moment - a 3 Leaf GR2, an Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe and an EBS BassIQ. All good in their own way.

Before you bin the Bassballs, have a play with the trimpots inside the case. Apparently you can beef the sound up quite considerably with them. Some folk have modded it so they are moved to knobs on the front panel.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/bassballs-big-surprise-951095/

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/nano-bassballs-trimpots-mod-590329/

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How do you use your GR2 and Xerograph out of interest?? I have a Xerograph Deluxe on the way and already have a Wonderlove and unsure if i am going to end up choosing one or keeping both!

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They're both great. The GR2 is a lovely, controllable envelope. The Xerograph Deluxe is a wild beast of a filter. To be honest, I wish it had more control over attack and release than just the fast/slow switch. But it sounds great with an expression pedal. Maybe your Wonderlove will do both jobs - I'd be interested to hear how you get on with them both.

I have OC2 into fuzz (Iron Ether Oxide) into Xero into chorus (Mooer Pitchbox) into Sansamp VT Bass. All of those are then in the effect loop of the GR2. That way, I can use them in any combination (GR2 bypassed), or put them through the envelope (GR2 on), but triggered by my clean bass sound. Great feature on the GR2 and Wonderlove, I recommend trying it.

For long synth sweeps, I use the Xero with expression pedal and fuzz and chorus. For short synth notes or straight envelope filter, I use the GR2 instead. I can even have both filters going at the same time, which can sound crazy, occasionally giving vowel sounds.

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[quote name='Lobster fingers' timestamp='1368185349' post='2074162']
I am looking to get a new envelope pedal, I already have a BassBalls, but it doesn't do it for me. Ideally I want something that can provide a range of sounds, but isn't too complex or expensive. I am thinking about either the basic Soundblox bass envelope filter or an MXR M82. What do other Basschatters think about these pedals or is there another pedal I should consider?
[/quote]

Go for the Soundblox Bass Envelope Filter!!!

In my opinion, it's the easiest to get good sounds out of, and very controllable. I owned the MXR too, but the Soundblox sounds a lot better, to me.

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After days of checking out utoob reviews I ordered a MXR m82 aswell. The source audio sounblox sounded good too but sports way more options than I'd consider usefull. Chunk's Agent 00funk seems good too.
Searching for as many soundclips as possible and listening with several headphones gave me a ballpark idea of what I was looking for in a filter.

Edited by Bolo
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[quote name='Bolo' timestamp='1368225850' post='2074797']
After days of checking out utoob reviews I ordered a MXR m82 aswell. The source audio sounblox sounded good too but sports way more options than I'd consider usefull.
[/quote]

I agree, it is a little daunting at first, and it's big, much larger than the others. For that reason I did not really look into it seriously for some time. But once I did, I was very happy.
It has a lot of different types of envelope... although most are just slight variations. I found one I really liked, and that's where it stays, I don't ever touch the central knob anymore. After that, it's simplicity itself.
I have tried many envelope filter pedals, but some could get too wild, or were a bit loud, or too sensitive, or lose bottom end... the Soundblox is the easiest I have ever tried, does not get too thin or too fat (unless you want it to), and it's cured my envelope filter GAS. I ended up buying the PRO version just so that I could save presets... so I have two that I use which are just a slow and a fast attack version.

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Having gone through most filters from a 70's MuTron through to a Chunk Systems 00 Funk with some MXR and Maxon in between I would say that the Aguilar Filter Twin is the best around. It is small, sounds great with any bass and has a real depth of one equally as good as a MuTron IMHO.

I used it in the studio recently and you can hear what it sounds like below.

https://soundcloud.com/soular-funk/get-up

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[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' timestamp='1368252340' post='2074883']
Having gone through most filters from a 70's MuTron through to a Chunk Systems 00 Funk with some MXR and Maxon in between I would say that the Aguilar Filter Twin is the best around. It is small, sounds great with any bass and has a real depth of one equally as good as a MuTron IMHO.

I used it in the studio recently and you can hear what it sounds like below.

[url="https://soundcloud.com/soular-funk/get-up"]https://soundcloud.c...lar-funk/get-up[/url]
[/quote]


That's a sweet sounding filter!

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[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' timestamp='1368252340' post='2074883']
Having gone through most filters from a 70's MuTron through to a Chunk Systems 00 Funk with some MXR and Maxon in between I would say that the Aguilar Filter Twin is the best around. It is small, sounds great with any bass and has a real depth of one equally as good as a MuTron IMHO.

I used it in the studio recently and you can hear what it sounds like below.

[url="https://soundcloud.com/soular-funk/get-up"]https://soundcloud.c...lar-funk/get-up[/url]
[/quote]

+1 to this. love my filter twin.

nice song gunsfreddy!

I bought mine after watching this video:

http://youtu.be/z8q-LPOlDjs

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  • 4 weeks later...

I have now bought an envelope filter. I changed my mind and I bought a Source Audio Envelope filter. First impressions are very positive and it even has settings that approximate to some other filters including the MXR. I also bought an SA orbital modulator, again very positive first impressions and a nice orange colour to boot.

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Nice one!
I think the Source Audio is great, especially if you are not quite sure what envelope filter pedal you want, as it can do many variations. Then you'll probably stick with just one type, but I think it sounds great and it's the easiest envelope to tame. Soem can sound great but are too prone to spikes, while the SA BEF seems *just right*, for me, of course.

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One thing I found with the MXR that isn't really obvious until you read the manual is that it is designed to always give the same sweep for a given setting regardless of how hard you play. Given the choice, I would now go for something that give a more touch sensitive sweep, though I do like the sounds you can get out of it.
My band doesn't like me using it though, there's always some comment about 70's porn film soundtracks....

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