Broughton HPF gig review

#21
Oh and another thought on the M5, which I just looked up how to use the HPF... I could do that, but then only if I used that EQ preset, when I switch to chorus or fuzz or anything else it goes away, so that wouldn't do me much good. Great to know that it is there though, I will try and implement it somehow!
 
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#27
dougjwray said:
I've been curious about these. What do they do that an EQ device (pedal or rackmount) can't?
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You could get ‘similar’ result with an EQ with the lower range at its maximum cut but that might impact a wider range and have unintended consequences. Not exact but similar. However with an EQ unless it is programmable you may not have the flexibility of the threshold. An HPF will gate the signal below a frequency, and pass everything above that point like the crossover on your speaker cab or in your PA. If you block the subsonic frequencies in your signal chain you are effectively reducing the mechanical load on the speakers. I have never used a LPF on my bass so can’t comment on that. But I use HPF always. You block what you can’t hear anyway. And your speaker/amp work very hard to reproduce the lowest end of their range that you can’t hear. HPF is like adding headroom by making your speakers more efficient.
 
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#28
cusar5 said:
As simple as it is, the HPF is one of Josh's best designs. It's so small you can even mount it between the rails of some boards, as I've done with my PT-Jr:

View attachment 4219932
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Thanks for posting this tip @cusar5! I was trying to figure out how to route to under my Metro 20, but now I see the middle rail has that same vertical bend so I can mount it just like you have and still have access to the knob. Great suggestion!
 
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#29
dougjwray said:
I've been curious about these. What do they do that an EQ device (pedal or rackmount) can't?
Click to expand...

A EQ(graphic, semi parametric, etc), is NOT going to operate the same way as an HPF. Rather than cutting one frequency, and those around it or below it in a shelf, depending on the style of EQ, the HPF rolls off all of the freuencies below the point you set it at in a slope. This is especially useful for removing sub sonic information, and tightening up the bottom end. They are extremely useful for taming boominess in some rooms.

I've got a Broughton HPF as well, and its a fantastic device. Josh does keep these in stock, and they aren't all that expensive considering how useful they are.
 
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#33
dougjwray said:
I've been curious about these. What do they do that an EQ device (pedal or rackmount) can't?
Click to expand...

A HPF has a different rolloff slope and sharper corner than a regular shelving EQ boost/cut does. It basically does a hard cut (usually 12dB/octave) at the selected frequency.

One way to think about it is: setting a cut on an EQ is like walking down a hill, whereas on a HPF it’s more like falling off a cliff.
 
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#35
40Hz said:
A HPF has a different rolloff slope and sharper corner than a regular shelving EQ boost/cut does. It basically does a hard cut (usually 12dB/octave) at the selected frequency.

One way to think about it is: setting a cut on an EQ is like walking down a hill, whereas on a HPF it’s more like falling off a cliff.
Click to expand...
or you could get the best of both worlds and use a Source Audio EQ2, which can give you both a 12db/octave HPF and a shelving EQ in series plus a full graphic or parametric EQ. Also, you can use it to make a pseudo LPF. I loved the Broughton HPF/LPF combo, but the Source Audio was much more versatile once I figured out how to program it.
 
#37
ghill166 said:
or you could get the best of both worlds and use a Source Audio EQ2, which can give you both a 12db/octave HPF and a shelving EQ in series plus a full graphic or parametric EQ. Also, you can use it to make a pseudo LPF. I loved the Broughton HPF/LPF combo, but the Source Audio was much more versatile once I figured out how to program it.
Click to expand...

A lot of bass amps and preamp pedals like the Q-Strip also have a HPF already built into them. So depending on what you need to do, an outboard HPF may not even be needed.
 
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#40
Gustopher said:
I used my always on HPF last night for the first time at a gig. I just wanted to share my experiences with it and sing some praises.
Stage was a raised hollow platform kind of thing, pretty bad to be boomy and noisy. I was using my 1x15 and Carvin BX500. I ran my chain like this;
Bass > HPF > Line 6 M5 > Amp
I setup to sound check and had the Broughton turned all the way down and it already sounded a little tighter than normal... so I turned it up until I lost low end and back it down a little. It sounded so punchy and powerful. I bumped my eq around 100hz and it really hit hard. I was running my master volume lower than ever and it was still louder than I needed, the headroom and perceived volume increase was insane. I actually got compliments on my bass sound from a couple guys and that never happens, typically the only thing I ever hear about is how good our guitar players are lol. I’ll never play without this little magic box again. Best investment I’ve made for my sound ever.
View attachment 4219246
As a bonus, the place had Easter decorations up and my bass matched, lol
View attachment 4219249
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Yes the bass looks sweet but I am actually digging the amp stand!! I need to make something like that for my amp.
 
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