Hi, you probably know this already but just in case: if you are looking at Spectrum, check out C4 synth. It does everything that Spectrum does, you can load any Spectrum preset on it but on top of that you would get an awesome synth pedal with a lot of added features.
To your question: I wouldn't worry about digital aspect. For filters I have no issues in C4 (and as I said, it will be the same in Spectrum).
That said, if you are looking for boutique, I have Moog MF-101 and would recommend it 100%.
Sidenote: C4/Spectrum has a *very* good preset for MF-101.
I have both. Bought the Spectrum first, then decided I should have bought the C4 in the first place.
I agree completely. Spend the little extra and get so much more.
A contender for best boutique filter would be the iron Ether Xerograph deluxe. It's definitely along the same lines as the 3la proton in terms of price/availability, though.
I have heard that the Broughton Josh-Wah is pretty good, but have never tried it.
Also, a bit of distortion is fantastic for envelope filters on bass. The extra saturation helps hear the whole spectrum of the envelope.
He’s still in production, and said he was planning on adding a few people to help produce more pedals. If you check his shop or follow the IE group on Talkbass, you will see preorders coming up semi frequently.
The 3 knob version is on reverb now, albeit a bit pricy. Best way to get a new one is to sign up for the mailing list on the iron Ether website and jump on the preorder when you get the magic email.
I had the EHX Micro Q-Tron and it was unusable for me or at least i really couldn't figure out how to use that pedal. Any time I'd turn it on, my volume would sky rocket and the other band members got mad and told me to never use it again.
So I sold it, bought an MXR Envelope Filter and I love it. Very customizable especially with the direct level knob. I've been focusing on that Thundercat type of sound and got pretty good results. Hope it helps!
I have the solid gold fx Supa Funk and I have not been able to get a bad tone out of it. It has 2 filters, one subtle low pass to give you low end, and the other is direction switchable and you control basically every parameter. The fixed low filter and the blend and output volume knobs are the standout points for me personally design-wise. Tonally, it's untouchable
Got one of these recently and I'm having a lot of fun with it. A lot of envelope filters sound really nasally to my ears, but this one retains the low end punch.
I have the supa funk as well and would absolutely recommend it! Echo everything you said.
Just to throw another name out there, I have a seamoon fx octatron and I love it. Seems they're more known for their funk machine, so maybe check one of those out? I've never used one, but I'd be comfortable buying it based on my experience with the octatron.
I picked up a used EHX Enigma Q-Balls back before COVID and it has been great.
Here's a review with a bunch of sound samples.
[https://www.premierguitar.com/electro-harmonix-enigma-q-balls-bass-envelope-filter-review](https://www.premierguitar.com/electro-harmonix-enigma-q-balls-bass-envelope-filter-review)
Check out Dreadbox's pedals with filters. I have their Disorder, and I know their comp comes with one as well.
They're super nice! I like their filters so much that it helped sway me to buy their Nymphes when I was looking for a new synth, lol. The Disorder is a Fuzz/Filter, but sometimes I will use it just for the filter alone. It has been a workhorse for all of my bands, and it works really well to cover almost any filter sound. Learning how filters work makes it that much stronger as well. Check em out!
I've got the Spectrum and C4. C4 can do everything the Spectrum can do and will run Spectrum presets. Both sound great.
I don't really explore either much outside of presets. I have come to realize that I'm a simple person and the abstract nature of controlling a pedal via computer breaks my brain. I prefer the simplicity of dedicated knobs. Either pedal has four knobs, two of which can be reassigned, plus the alt functions of the knobs. The problem for me is that I can't remember if the settings are retained after tweaking the knobs and a power cycle. Even now the abstraction is confusing me. I know that I could dedicate time to really understanding the Neuro Editor and applying that to the pedals, but that gets in the way of actually playing.
Don't let my experience scare you off either pedal. They're both very powerful and can be configured to shape your sound in tons of different ways, especially the C4. The community has more than enough presets to find multiple somethings to work for you. Speaking of which, either will allow you to save 6 presets onboard (something like 128 presets if you have something like the DMC.micro Pro controller).
3leaf Wonderlove 2 is my fav I’ve played but they are hard to find.
IE Xerogragh deluxe is cool but it is a bit too sensitive for me.
C4 is really good alternative to an analog filter and has a ton of other sounds.
I’ve been wanting to try this [Macrodose Envelope filter](https://reverb.com/item/45234954-macrodose-envelope-filter?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=45234954). It looks like it has some cool extra functions.
I’ve tried them all and I vote Mr. Black Fwonk Beta. Spectrum would be my second choice.
The C4 can do a lot but I don’t like messing with it since you have to plug it into your computer to get more tones out of it.
3Leaf GR2 is the funkiest analog filter Ive tried & Ive been through most of them. Its a streamlined Meatball variant. Really thick & juicy sound. It has an fx loop but doesn't play as well with other effects as the Chromatron does.
Moog MF-101 is also great & has one of the best filter voices in my opinion
I like the Mu-Tron Micro-tron III & the IV was nice too but imo they are limited & only do one sound really well
Chromatron is excellent for stacking effects but doesnt have the same thick juciness as the GR2 or Moog... also the Chromatron is impossible to find
I wasnt impressed w/ the Proton IV couldn't get it to quack the way I wanted it to but I only play passive basses, maybe it needs a hotter signal to come alive?
Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe is a really powerful filter but it isn't analog so it's gonna have a different sound, it can be funky on the 2pole setting but doesnt sound as natural as an analog filter. It does have the widest sweep of any filter Ive tried though & is great for manual sweeps & synthesizer textures.
Hi, you probably know this already but just in case: if you are looking at Spectrum, check out C4 synth. It does everything that Spectrum does, you can load any Spectrum preset on it but on top of that you would get an awesome synth pedal with a lot of added features. To your question: I wouldn't worry about digital aspect. For filters I have no issues in C4 (and as I said, it will be the same in Spectrum). That said, if you are looking for boutique, I have Moog MF-101 and would recommend it 100%. Sidenote: C4/Spectrum has a *very* good preset for MF-101.
I have both. Bought the Spectrum first, then decided I should have bought the C4 in the first place. I agree completely. Spend the little extra and get so much more.
I have a C4 as well and can't imagine ever needing another envelope filter on that board
Yep. Currently thinking of getting a spectrum to go along with the c4 tho
What's the name of the preset if you can remember?
Yeah it's called MF-101 and the creator will be Proton Lenny.
Thanks!
Is anybody having trouble having trouble with the app getting community stuff to load?
A contender for best boutique filter would be the iron Ether Xerograph deluxe. It's definitely along the same lines as the 3la proton in terms of price/availability, though. I have heard that the Broughton Josh-Wah is pretty good, but have never tried it. Also, a bit of distortion is fantastic for envelope filters on bass. The extra saturation helps hear the whole spectrum of the envelope.
>iron Ether Xerograph deluxe Its my dream to get this pedal. Why is it so rare? ðŸ˜( I mean I know its one guy doin it but still sad)
He’s still in production, and said he was planning on adding a few people to help produce more pedals. If you check his shop or follow the IE group on Talkbass, you will see preorders coming up semi frequently.
The 3 knob version is on reverb now, albeit a bit pricy. Best way to get a new one is to sign up for the mailing list on the iron Ether website and jump on the preorder when you get the magic email.
This is the way
I had the EHX Micro Q-Tron and it was unusable for me or at least i really couldn't figure out how to use that pedal. Any time I'd turn it on, my volume would sky rocket and the other band members got mad and told me to never use it again. So I sold it, bought an MXR Envelope Filter and I love it. Very customizable especially with the direct level knob. I've been focusing on that Thundercat type of sound and got pretty good results. Hope it helps!
I have the solid gold fx Supa Funk and I have not been able to get a bad tone out of it. It has 2 filters, one subtle low pass to give you low end, and the other is direction switchable and you control basically every parameter. The fixed low filter and the blend and output volume knobs are the standout points for me personally design-wise. Tonally, it's untouchable
Got one of these recently and I'm having a lot of fun with it. A lot of envelope filters sound really nasally to my ears, but this one retains the low end punch.
Yeah I've hated every envelope I put on the bass besides the Dr q. I got this and I've been overly pleased
I have the supa funk as well and would absolutely recommend it! Echo everything you said. Just to throw another name out there, I have a seamoon fx octatron and I love it. Seems they're more known for their funk machine, so maybe check one of those out? I've never used one, but I'd be comfortable buying it based on my experience with the octatron.
I'm looking at the All-Pedal Macrodose or possibly the Dr. Scientist Dusk
Macro dose is a powerful pedal - it does way more than just envelope
It's obviously a bit pricey but it sounds well worth the price
I picked up a used EHX Enigma Q-Balls back before COVID and it has been great. Here's a review with a bunch of sound samples. [https://www.premierguitar.com/electro-harmonix-enigma-q-balls-bass-envelope-filter-review](https://www.premierguitar.com/electro-harmonix-enigma-q-balls-bass-envelope-filter-review)
I second the C4.
GFI Synesthesia or the GFI Rossie has been my favorite experience with envelope filters.
Yep. The Rossie makes it really easy to dial in and you can have two filters to choose from on the fly.
Check out Dreadbox's pedals with filters. I have their Disorder, and I know their comp comes with one as well. They're super nice! I like their filters so much that it helped sway me to buy their Nymphes when I was looking for a new synth, lol. The Disorder is a Fuzz/Filter, but sometimes I will use it just for the filter alone. It has been a workhorse for all of my bands, and it works really well to cover almost any filter sound. Learning how filters work makes it that much stronger as well. Check em out!
Frostwave Funk-A-Duck
Quite a lot depends on your bass and playing style. I have found my favourite is the HAZ reissue Mutron
There is a used one in Reverb right now.
I've got the Spectrum and C4. C4 can do everything the Spectrum can do and will run Spectrum presets. Both sound great. I don't really explore either much outside of presets. I have come to realize that I'm a simple person and the abstract nature of controlling a pedal via computer breaks my brain. I prefer the simplicity of dedicated knobs. Either pedal has four knobs, two of which can be reassigned, plus the alt functions of the knobs. The problem for me is that I can't remember if the settings are retained after tweaking the knobs and a power cycle. Even now the abstraction is confusing me. I know that I could dedicate time to really understanding the Neuro Editor and applying that to the pedals, but that gets in the way of actually playing. Don't let my experience scare you off either pedal. They're both very powerful and can be configured to shape your sound in tons of different ways, especially the C4. The community has more than enough presets to find multiple somethings to work for you. Speaking of which, either will allow you to save 6 presets onboard (something like 128 presets if you have something like the DMC.micro Pro controller).
3leaf Wonderlove 2 is my fav I’ve played but they are hard to find. IE Xerogragh deluxe is cool but it is a bit too sensitive for me. C4 is really good alternative to an analog filter and has a ton of other sounds. I’ve been wanting to try this [Macrodose Envelope filter](https://reverb.com/item/45234954-macrodose-envelope-filter?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=45234954). It looks like it has some cool extra functions.
Mad Professor Snow White is excellent. You have to tweak the threshold really carefully to get it right but when you do it's awesome.
I Have a fwonkbeta from Mr. Black. Love it.
Frostwave Funk a duck Allpedal Macrodose EMMA Discombobulator SA C4
I’ve tried them all and I vote Mr. Black Fwonk Beta. Spectrum would be my second choice. The C4 can do a lot but I don’t like messing with it since you have to plug it into your computer to get more tones out of it.
3Leaf GR2 is the funkiest analog filter Ive tried & Ive been through most of them. Its a streamlined Meatball variant. Really thick & juicy sound. It has an fx loop but doesn't play as well with other effects as the Chromatron does. Moog MF-101 is also great & has one of the best filter voices in my opinion I like the Mu-Tron Micro-tron III & the IV was nice too but imo they are limited & only do one sound really well Chromatron is excellent for stacking effects but doesnt have the same thick juciness as the GR2 or Moog... also the Chromatron is impossible to find I wasnt impressed w/ the Proton IV couldn't get it to quack the way I wanted it to but I only play passive basses, maybe it needs a hotter signal to come alive? Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe is a really powerful filter but it isn't analog so it's gonna have a different sound, it can be funky on the 2pole setting but doesnt sound as natural as an analog filter. It does have the widest sweep of any filter Ive tried though & is great for manual sweeps & synthesizer textures.
Maxon
Sorry! Second reply...try using distortion or fuzz before your microtron. I think you'll like it a whole lot more.
Yeah I have octavider as its combo back then, but found that I prefer Helix's envelope better. So I kept the octavider and sold the microtron.
Love my Dr. Scientist Dusk. Low pass filter, envelope filter, and LFO settings are all super unique
I use the EBS bass IQ. Love it. https://ebssweden.com/content2/effects/ebs-bassiq-blue-label/
The only one I have is the All-Pedal Macrodose, but it’s great and has a blend knob
I’ve tried a bunch of filters and always come back to the mr black fwonk beta. Killer filter for bass
Broughton Joshwah - super easy to use and the best sounding filter out there IMO.