HPF & LPF Combined? OR separate? When one Vs. the other?

monkeyonbass

monkeyonbass

Oct 21, 2011
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#1
I've been trying to educate myself on the benefits (looking to use one...) Hoping someone can help me understand which way to go -

I tried messaging Azure Skies (Broughton Audio) directly, but his inbox is full...

I've been looking into the benefits of a LPF, HPF and I noticed there are different iterations - the "red" pedal that combines the 2; then there are separate HPF and LPF, and then there's the "always on" HPF.

Could you please let me know the benefits, and pros / cons of having one versus the other? And in what situations would one want one versus the other?

Thanks in advance,
AC
(still no better than a monkey on bass...)
 
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#2
You might try the Broughton Super Thread

I think the reason for the separate and combined pedals is simply that some people only one or the other (HPF or LPF), some may want both in one pedal.

There may also be some reasons to placing the HPF and LPF at different parts of the chain depending of the details of your setup, e.g., HPF before a pedal that tracks to improve tracking, and LPF at the end of the chain to reduce fizz.
 
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#3
Adamixoye said:
You might try the Broughton Super Thread

I think the reason for the separate and combined pedals is simply that some people only one or the other (HPF or LPF), some may want both in one pedal.

There may also be some reasons to placing the HPF and LPF at different parts of the chain depending of the details of your setup, e.g., HPF before a pedal that tracks to improve tracking, and LPF at the end of the chain to reduce fizz.
Click to expand...
Thanks - I did check out the thread but I must confess I got lost... What you wrote makes sense I’m just not sure I would know how to judge that. Thanks
 
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#4
For a simple setup, I’d go with the Low + High Pass combo. Having both is super useful in a wide variety of applications. Single pedal, single power supply required, and... it’s red.

For a more complicated pedal board, or those that really only want one or the other, that’s where the individual pedals get more useful.

Always on is fine for most uses IMHO. I’d be all over a smaller Always On L+HPF combo, and skip the foot switch, if one existed.
 
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#5
I have owned all three versions of the Broughton. Always on (HPF), single function pedal (LPF), and the HPF/LPF combo pedal.

Always on gives you a smaller package that you can mount in more places. I had mine under my pedalboard.

Single function allows you to turn on and off for just one. I used the always on HPF with a single function LPF pedal. I would turn the LPF on to roll off a good amount of highs. Mostly used to remove string noise on an acoustic electric with bronze strings.

The combo version adds a boost function. If you intend on using both LPF and HPF, this is the way to go. It loses the flexibility of switching a single function on or off via pedal (can be done by turning knobs). I didn’t find much use for the single function after I stopped using Phosphor Bronze strings.

My take is... if you need to save board space, get the always on. If you have a special case where you need separate functionality, get the single functions. For all other cases (which is most of them), get the combined pedal.
 
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#6
The low pass filter (I have one as my "cabinet emulation") is best at the end of your effects chain, as it not only emulates the rolloff of a speaker, but also cuts some hiss. The high pass in your chain needs to be before you get to the power amp, and it also helps if it's before other things that might be confused or overloaded by low frequency energy, including (but not limited to) octavers and some dirt pedals.
 
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#8
My board “can” be reduced; I may not need everything on it all the time; here’s what I have at the moment - in y’all’s opinion would a HPF+LPF combo OR separates make more sense?
  1. Tuner - Sonic Research ST200
  2. Equalizer - 10-band MXR
  3. Preamp - Xotic BB
  4. Compressor - MXR M87
  5. Octave - MXR Bass Octave Deluxe
  6. Envelope Filter - Source Audio Envelope Filter
  7. Chorus - EHX Bass Clone
  8. Echo - Boess Tera Echo TE-2
  9. Delay - Walrus Audio Arp 87 (also have a MXR Carbon Copy Bright)
  10. Reverb - Iron Ether Nimbus
  11. Noise Suppressor - Boss NS2
  12. Power Supply - MXR Iso-brick
 
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#11
ahadl2500 said:
While I initially recommended combo (I always forget that most people use effects instead of just comp and EQ on their board like I do), I would probably separate on that board. Always on HPF at start. LPF somewhere near the end. Maybe even at the end.
Click to expand...
If I may - at what point (meaning what effects would I need to remove) assuming a scenario where I would want to use the combo, would a combo HPF+LPF make more sense versus the separates?
 
#13
monkeyonbass said:
If I may - at what point (meaning what effects would I need to remove) assuming a scenario where I would want to use the combo, would a combo HPF+LPF make more sense versus the separates?
Click to expand...

I expect that the HPF would cleanup the output of the octave pedal at the very least. LPF is nice at the end to help remove pedal induced excess high frequency if there is any. Boss NS2 should do noise cleaning, so may not be necessary to have the LPF at the end. I will note this is based on memory of the Boss NS2 from a guitarist in a band I was in several years ago (so the LPF might help more or less than I expect when used with NS2). I don’t think you need to remove anything to add it.

If you prefer going combo, I would try it at the beginning and end to see what you prefer. Beginning has benefit of cleaning up signal going into your pedals. End has benefit of cleaning up before going into amps (to correct for anything your pedals introduce outside the low/high cutoffs).

Noting that I am by no means an expert on most of the effects you are using. I have heard them. I have friends who own some of them. However, I am not personally a fan of most effects on bass. I prefer basic tone shaping (my current board is Sennheiser Tuner/XSWD Wireless, LR Baggs Align EQ, Cali 76 Compact Bass, Southampton Ictineo, Broughton LPF/HPF).
 
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#14
micguy said:
The low pass filter (I have one as my "cabinet emulation") is best at the end of your effects chain, as it not only emulates the rolloff of a speaker, but also cuts some hiss. The high pass in your chain needs to be before you get to the power amp, and it also helps if it's before other things that might be confused or overloaded by low frequency energy, including (but not limited to) octavers and some dirt pedals.
Click to expand...

My board space is pretty tight. I'd love an "always on" LPF that I could mount underneath.

Does anyone make one? I guess I could always modify the Broughton LPF (remove the knob and footswitch and cut down the potentiometer shaft), but I'd prefer a dedicated box....
 
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#15
I’m following this thread....

I recently bought a hpf/lpf pedal somehow thinking it was the same thing as an envelope filter... :)

I was pleasantly surprised by the difference.

I am mostly using it on the lp setting at the end of the chain, and my envelope is at the front.
 
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#16
ahadl2500 said:
I expect that the HPF would cleanup the output of the octave pedal at the very least. LPF is nice at the end to help remove pedal induced excess high frequency if there is any. Boss NS2 should do noise cleaning, so may not be necessary to have the LPF at the end. I will note this is based on memory of the Boss NS2 from a guitarist in a band I was in several years ago (so the LPF might help more or less than I expect when used with NS2). I don’t think you need to remove anything to add it.

If you prefer going combo, I would try it at the beginning and end to see what you prefer. Beginning has benefit of cleaning up signal going into your pedals. End has benefit of cleaning up before going into amps (to correct for anything your pedals introduce outside the low/high cutoffs).

Noting that I am by no means an expert on most of the effects you are using. I have heard them. I have friends who own some of them. However, I am not personally a fan of most effects on bass. I prefer basic tone shaping (my current board is Sennheiser Tuner/XSWD Wireless, LR Baggs Align EQ, Cali 76 Compact Bass, Southampton Ictineo, Broughton LPF/HPF).
Click to expand...
I learned a lot, thank you
 
#17
WillyWonka said:
I’m following this thread....

I recently bought a hpf/lpf pedal somehow thinking it was the same thing as an envelope filter... :)

I was pleasantly surprised by the difference.

I am mostly using it on the lp setting at the end of the chain, and my envelope is at the front.
Click to expand...
What other pedals are you using besides the envelope filter and the HPF/LPF?
 
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#18
monkeyonbass said:
What other pedals are you using besides the envelope filter and the HPF/LPF?
Click to expand...

all of them...

4AD80EE9-544C-4A02-9426-025C8E1AAE6A.jpeg
 
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