Envelope Filters

[metropolis_4]

What are some good ones out there today?

I was thinking of buying a Mu-Tron Micro-Tron IV but I’ve started hearing some concerning issues with quality.

I may just pick up a DOD 440 as a starting point unless someone has a good recommendation for something else.

 

[metropolis_4]

Nobody?

I’m tempted to try a Macrodose but it seems like total overkill for my needs

 

[Devin]

For a more old school/traditional sound, I like the EMMA Discombulator (it can also do a reverse wah which is kind of neat)


For extreme shit I use the Guyatone Stevie Salas Wah Rocker; kinda rare but one of my favorite pedals ever tbh

 

[spawnofthesith]

I will vouch for the micro tron IV. I've owned quite a few EF over the years and the only superior sounding one I've had was the tru-tron 3x that I stupidly sold (no idea if they're actually selling for these prices but on reverb all the listings are $1k-5k and its been that way for a wild). That pedal was really big and required 12v power though. The micro tron IV is 95% there and is normal size and power requirements

I've never heard any quality/reliability complaints and certainly never experienced any. I've been rocking my IV heavily for 5 years now, I had a phasor III for nearly as long but I sold that one earlier this year

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

For a more old school/traditional sound, I like the EMMA Discombulator (it can also do a reverse wah which is kind of neat)


For extreme shit I use the Guyatone Stevie Salas Wah Rocker; kinda rare but one of my favorite pedals ever tbh

Big fan of anything Emma. Especially that and the Reeza

 

[metropolis_4]

I will vouch for the micro tron IV. I've owned quite a few EF over the years and the only superior sounding one I've had was the tru-tron 3x that I stupidly sold (no idea if they're actually selling for these prices but on reverb all the listings are $1k-5k and its been that way for a wild). That pedal was really big and required 12v power though. The micro tron IV is 95% there and is normal size and power requirements

I've never heard any quality/reliability complaints and certainly never experienced any. I've been rocking my IV heavily for 5 years now, I had a phasor III for nearly as long but I sold that one earlier this year

Hmm, that’s good to hear. Maybe it is worth a shot after all. I’d been thinking about the Phasor III as well.

 

[itchyfingers]

Been going through a ton of them lately. Got the 3 Leaf Proton, Analogman, MuTron IV, and currently running a Boss AW-3. Honestly not sure I can recommend any of them, lol. Getting good tones at bedroom volume isn't a problem, but getting them to sound good at stage volume for both single notes and chords has been an issue for me with each of them, for different reasons.

 

[Chocol8]

I have a few. The Micro Tron IV is my favorite.

 

[gearJunkie]

I don't have a lot of experience with envelope follower pedals, but I like the Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron+. It has an effects loop allowing you to insert another pedal in between the preamp and filter without changing the follower drive.

Downsides are its size and 24V power requirement.

 

[quadgear]

Lovepedal Rubber Chicken. It sounds great and has a large sweet spot (lots of similar pedals are tricky to dial in and then you are stuck on ome spot on the neck, pickup/guitar, or anything that affects the volume/envelope not much).

 

[spawnofthesith]

Been going through a ton of them lately. Got the 3 Leaf Proton, Analogman, MuTron IV, and currently running a Boss AW-3. Honestly not sure I can recommend any of them, lol. Getting good tones at bedroom volume isn't a problem, but getting them to sound good at stage volume for both single notes and chords has been an issue for me with each of them, for different reasons.

Have you tried running a compressor before or after? That’s been the ticket for me (I run out front)

 

[itchyfingers]

Yeah, which sent me down a compressor rabbit hole... The comp seems to remove too much of the dynamics that trigger / control the envelope. The envelope sound for me at stage volume is either too shrill, too muffled, or completely washed out.

 

[Chocol8]

Yeah, which sent me down a compressor rabbit hole... The comp seems to remove too much of the dynamics that trigger / control the envelope. The envelope sound for me at stage volume is either too shrill, too muffled, or completely washed out.

I run the compressor after to help with that, and sometimes a little EQ. The Micro Tron has also been a lot less shrill and spikey for me compared to other filters but it still has a learning curve.

The other keys are levels and playing techniques. You need the gain right where the higher notes trigger or you won’t hear them, but then I usually need an extra light touch on the thicker strings or lower on the neck. Otherwise they stay triggered too long. Guitar setup helps here but only so much. Also, I definitely find I have to adjust the speed I am playing to let the effect work.

 

[itchyfingers]

That's a great point. Its one of those FX where you have to play the effect and not the guitar lol. Just need some more hours / days with it.

 

[metropolis_4]

That's a great point. Its one of those FX where you have to play the effect and not the guitar lol. Just need some more hours / days with it.

Yeah it’s definitely one of those things where you play the pedal. Sort of like using an Octavia

 

[FuzzyAce]

I've kinda wanted one for a long time too. The closest thing I have is a Moog MF drive used with an expression pedal. A lot different but still cool.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I had a Behringturd Envelope Filter years ago that actually sounded good

 

[FuzzyAce]

I had a Behringturd Envelope Filter years ago that actually sounded good