ped Posted December 19, 2023 Share Posted December 19, 2023 34 minutes ago, GR7G5TER said: Man that's a real sahame, i would love to try one of these out though. Yeah it was a weird one. The guy who got the second one back said he tested it with his own bass and said that it was ‘fine’ so maybe we’ll never know. I liked what I heard with the first one even though I couldn’t adjust the decay. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted December 19, 2023 Share Posted December 19, 2023 3 hours ago, GR7G5TER said: As much as i love simplicity, I'm starting more and more looking at the digital/midi route to replace the my cumbersome current set up! i know the Spectrum has multiple distortion/fuzz settings, can one use these without the envelope/filter. ie could i create one preset of my favourite envelope filter and another that was just a fuzz for instance? Follow on question, i know the spectrum can accept an expression pedal, can you se this up to essentially be a wah wah pedal in that way? I'm seriously thinking about giving this another go as even if i set up 2 presets to replace my Bassballs, MuTron IV and Morley Cliff Burton wah that's some serious board real estate i'm freeing up. footnote* I'm thinking of ultimately getting a TWO notes Opus to take car of all of my pre-amp needs. The C4 can do everything the spectrum can (and more) but I’ve set up fuzz patches with it. Both Also do octave up and down things too. what you will end up needing is something that can do midi over usb host to get at all 128 patches. I diy made something for £30 - or an adapter and a midi controller will control your two notes thing as well … 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted December 20, 2023 Share Posted December 20, 2023 20 hours ago, ped said: Yeah it was a weird one. The guy who got the second one back said he tested it with his own bass and said that it was ‘fine’ so maybe we’ll never know. I liked what I heard with the first one even though I couldn’t adjust the decay. The Meatball designer is currently working with ThorpyFX and on their 'to-do' list is a new filter. Hopefully sometime next year. Thorpy's build quality is like I've never seen! Not really a surprise from a former bomb disposal tech! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 I don’t think I mentioned that a few weeks ago I got another Meatball. It was a bargain price but there were one or two complications with postage etc however I’m happy to report that it’s in excellent condition and working properly. I haven’t had much time to sit down with it and compare to my Mutron but plan on doing so tomorrow! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 20 minutes ago, ped said: I don’t think I mentioned that a few weeks ago I got another Meatball. It was a bargain price but there were one or two complications with postage etc however I’m happy to report that it’s in excellent condition and working properly. I haven’t had much time to sit down with it and compare to my Mutron but plan on doing so tomorrow! Would love to know your thoughts! I want to try an analogue filter sometime (currently use the C4) and been looking at diy versions of mutron and meatball (and the mf101 schematic) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 Well one thing is for certain, the Meatball has a lot more flexibility than the Mutron, but that's not always a good thing. I have pretty much matched the sound using the settings pictured above to my Haz Mutron, so that'll be my starting point. Certainly there's more range above and below this point, including more 'wobble' on tap via the colour knob. I also have only played it at 9v so far but from memory using 12v increased the range of just about everything so I'll try that too. Two things I like even if everything else was the same as the Mutron: Always on filter sweep light (green LED) and an active/bypass LED too (which the Mutron doesn't have). I have also yet to try a fuzz or octave in the fx loop. It's like theres a lot of overlap between the two but each has it's own thing going on too. If it does end up replacing the Mutron on my board, it'll ONLY just fit, but looks awesome next to my Valco pedals which use the same type of enclosure. The Mutron is just as happy off the board because it has big feet and has a power switch so it can stay plugged in with batteries with no drain. So I'm weighing it all up! Yes I am looking down at my pedals and thinking why the hell do I like the massive impractical ones 😆 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 8 minutes ago, ped said: Well one thing is for certain, the Meatball has a lot more flexibility than the Mutron, but that's not always a good thing. I have pretty much matched the sound using the settings pictured above to my Haz Mutron, so that'll be my starting point. Certainly there's more range above and below this point, including more 'wobble' on tap via the colour knob. I also have only played it at 9v so far but from memory using 12v increased the range of just about everything so I'll try that too. That’s the thing, too much complexity and it fries your brain!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 2 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: That’s the thing, too much complexity and it fries your brain!! Yeah everything affects everything else so it can be quite complicated! Also the knobs move quite easily so I'm tempted to get locking ones or at least add some rubber washers to dampen them down a bit. These might be a good option https://peacepoti.com/products/peacepotistandard-lineknob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 19 minutes ago, ped said: Yeah everything affects everything else so it can be quite complicated! Also the knobs move quite easily so I'm tempted to get locking ones or at least add some rubber washers to dampen them down a bit. These might be a good option https://peacepoti.com/products/peacepotistandard-lineknob Peace poti could be an expensive hobby to get into! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 7 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: Peace poti could be an expensive hobby to get into! Yeah, I'll try the rubber gasket thing first. I used a D'addario Loknob on my compressor (under my board so wanted it to stay set). That was about a tenner for just one, so these don't seem too bad (especially as I'll need six) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 I wonder if a rubber washer would work? anyway that doesn’t help me work out my Mutron/meatbox/Mutron with proton features/mf101 build thing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 13 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: I wonder if a rubber washer would work? anyway that doesn’t help me work out my Mutron/meatbox/Mutron with proton features/mf101 build thing!! It’s worked in the past so I will give it a try and see. It can be a fine line between just right or too tight. I think the only way you’ll know is to build them all, surely? If it was me they’d all be in one massive box, maybe a horizontal filing cabinet! I think the Mf101 is quite a different sounding filter to the Mutron/Meatball, which have a lot of similarities. I believe the Meatball was a sort of modified mutron with more controls with the same core sound. In particular being able to adjust the attack and decay is probably the biggest difference, as well as a blend. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 2 hours ago, ped said: Yeah everything affects everything else so it can be quite complicated! Also the knobs move quite easily so I'm tempted to get locking ones... Check this one: http://stompshield.com/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoorayForAnonyms Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 4 hours ago, ped said: Well one thing is for certain, the Meatball has a lot more flexibility than the Mutron, but that's not always a good thing. I have pretty much matched the sound using the settings pictured above to my Haz Mutron, so that'll be my starting point. Certainly there's more range above and below this point, including more 'wobble' on tap via the colour knob. I also have only played it at 9v so far but from memory using 12v increased the range of just about everything so I'll try that too. Two things I like even if everything else was the same as the Mutron: Always on filter sweep light (green LED) and an active/bypass LED too (which the Mutron doesn't have). I have also yet to try a fuzz or octave in the fx loop. It's like theres a lot of overlap between the two but each has it's own thing going on too. If it does end up replacing the Mutron on my board, it'll ONLY just fit, but looks awesome next to my Valco pedals which use the same type of enclosure. The Mutron is just as happy off the board because it has big feet and has a power switch so it can stay plugged in with batteries with no drain. So I'm weighing it all up! Yes I am looking down at my pedals and thinking why the hell do I like the massive impractical ones 😆 I've always wanted to try the Meatball regardless of how massive and impractical the enclosure is! Haha! Thanks for the write-up Ped. Even at a bargain price, I don't think I'll ever stretch to owning one so we can live vicariously through you. Has anyone ever come across the FTELECTRONICA clone of the Meatball. I wonder how close it gets? I also don't mean to steal your new pedal day, Ped! Congrats on the find! https://www.ftelettronica.com/product/envelope-follower-triggered-filter/ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted June 9 Share Posted June 9 7 hours ago, HoorayForAnonyms said: Has anyone ever come across the FTELECTRONICA clone of the Meatball. I wonder how close it gets? There’s also this https://aionfx.com/project/spectron-dynamic-filter/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 9 Share Posted June 9 I also spotted this one https://artisanaleffects.com/products/mini-meat-meatball-clone Tbh I think the original will keep its value so in the long run it won’t cost me anything (that’ makes sense to you all, right? 😂) There are so many clones out there I guess they’re all basically the same - it’s got to be fairly easy to copy the circuit I suppose? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoorayForAnonyms Posted June 9 Share Posted June 9 18 minutes ago, ped said: I also spotted this one https://artisanaleffects.com/products/mini-meat-meatball-clone Tbh I think the original will keep its value so in the long run it won’t cost me anything (that’ makes sense to you all, right? 😂) There are so many clones out there I guess they’re all basically the same - it’s got to be fairly easy to copy the circuit I suppose? Oh absolutely, the original will definitely hold its value. It also just looks cool! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted June 9 Share Posted June 9 4 hours ago, ped said: I also spotted this one https://artisanaleffects.com/products/mini-meat-meatball-clone Tbh I think the original will keep its value so in the long run it won’t cost me anything (that’ makes sense to you all, right? 😂) There are so many clones out there I guess they’re all basically the same - it’s got to be fairly easy to copy the circuit I suppose? In the diy sphere there are some variations of schematic, features etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 9 Share Posted June 9 I’ve been playing today. I spent a good while matching the sound of my Haz Mutron pretty much exactly, which shows two things; first just how this pedal is basically a modified mutron and secondly it shows just how good the Haz is, despite everyone writing them off against the original (which I had at the same time and kept the Haz). It was great fun adjusting (decreasing) the decay so you get a more growly and bubbly sound. In down mode particularly that gives a really wet rubber band sound. If the attack and decay are close you can compensate for the subdued peak (because of the short time it stays open) by adding with the intensity knob. Then - effects loop. Awesome with octave, fuzz and phaser. One tip is that if you turn the trigger to ‘off’ then the pedal acts as a tone filter so you can, on some settings, use the effect in the loop with a clean unfiltered signal. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admiralchew Posted June 9 Share Posted June 9 (edited) On 09/06/2024 at 00:00, HoorayForAnonyms said: Has anyone ever come across the FTELECTRONICA clone of the Meatball. I wonder how close it gets? https://www.ftelettronica.com/product/envelope-follower-triggered-filter/ I've used the FTe pedal but I didn't A/B it with the real deal. It had a great range of tones in it and it was easy to get it quacking, bubbling and gurgling. Having played a few of Valerio's clones, I can say he does a pretty good job of getting it right. Having said that, @ped's new toy looks absolutely glorious! Edited June 10 by admiralchew 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quatschmacher Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 @charlietuna has the FT version. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quatschmacher Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 On 08/06/2024 at 19:27, LukeFRC said: That’s the thing, too much complexity and it fries your brain!! I cannot tell you how very true this is. It’s taken me a while to get to this realisation that I prefer limitations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 5 minutes ago, Quatschmacher said: I cannot tell you how very true this is. It’s taken me a while to get to this realisation that I prefer limitations. Quite right - my favourite Bassballs has one switch and one knob, and it forces you to get creative and adjust the way you play it. I can imagine if I started off on the Meatball I'd be a bit lost, but it makes sense to have it to compare to the other filters I've had, sort of like a main boss level Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 Updated list (I don't think I've forgotten any) with handy pros and cons (for my tastes): Had and sold: Mini Qtron FX25 (sparkle) MXR M87 3Leaf Wonderlove 3Leaf Proton V4 Meridian Funk-u-lator Mr Black Fwonkbeta Aguilar Filter Twin Chunk Syatems Octavius Squeezer Maxon AF9 Lovetone Meatball Solid Gold FX Supa Funk Mutron III Qtron Qtron+ FX25 (light green V1) Xotic Robotalk 2 Currently have: Bassballs Green Russian Bassballs Black Russian Bassballs USA Mutron III+ Crowther Prunes & Custard Lovetone Meatball I might be sad enough to write up my thoughts on each 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobiewharton Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 Enjoying this thread... Ped - have you tried the EBS? I'm currently using the new morph and have had the older version in the past. I find both very pleasing! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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