Pedals that make your attack a "wah"

BUSTER_B

BUSTER_B

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Aug 21, 2015
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#1
I am wondering about if there is a particular name for the effect that makes the attack of each note played into a quick "wah" sound.

I am also wondering about any suggestions out there for a pedal that does that, and that has reliable tracking, minimal tone suck, and perhaps even polyphonic capabilities. Any help is appreciated.
 
#2
BUSTER_B said:
I am wondering about if there is a particular name for the effect that makes the attack of each note played into a quick "wah" sound.

I am also wondering about any suggestions out there for a pedal that does that, and that has reliable tracking, minimal tone suck, and perhaps even polyphonic capabilities. Any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...

sounds like you're describing an envelope filter pedal. there are lots of nice ones available. they're sometimes also called an auto wah.
 
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#3
BUSTER_B said:
I am wondering about if there is a particular name for the effect that makes the attack of each note played into a quick "wah" sound.

I am also wondering about any suggestions out there for a pedal that does that, and that has reliable tracking, minimal tone suck, and perhaps even polyphonic capabilities. Any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...

Like an envelope filter? A cocked wah? Some sort of filter-y swell?
 
#4
BUSTER_B said:
I am wondering about if there is a particular name for the effect that makes the attack of each note played into a quick "wah" sound.

I am also wondering about any suggestions out there for a pedal that does that, and that has reliable tracking, minimal tone suck, and perhaps even polyphonic capabilities. Any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...

So yeah, envelope filter, touch wah, or autowah, is what you mean. "Autowah" can also mean a pedal that has a steady cycle of wah wah wah happening, instead of responding to your note.

The even better news is that 'tracking' and 'polyphony' mean nothing with this sort of pedal, because it's not creating anything like a synth would - it's just filtering the signal it receives. You can put a whole orchestra through one and it'll hit everything it hears. No problem.

Lots of different flavors out there, so watch some youtube videos. Start with Bassballs (twin filters, very peaky sounding and unique), DOD 440 (one classic sound), Mu-Tron (probably the most classic sound) - it seems most envelope filters out there have a similar sound to one of these.
 
#5
The Q-Tron is pretty nice too.

If you're not sure what sort you want, I'd advise picking up a Zoom multieffects pedal, which will give you several different kinds of envelopes and auto-wahs for far less than you'd pay for any individual pedal. Once you've spotted one you like, you can either stick with it, or find yourself a dedicated pedal that makes that sort of sound.

--^@
 
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#7
Chicory Blue said:
The Q-Tron is pretty nice too.

If you're not sure what sort you want, I'd advise picking up a Zoom multieffects pedal, which will give you several different kinds of envelopes and auto-wahs for far less than you'd pay for any individual pedal. Once you've spotted one you like, you can either stick with it, or find yourself a dedicated pedal that makes that sort of sound.

--^@
Click to expand...
I miss my old big box Q tron+ with the fx loop. AWESOME down sweep! AND great 'quack' !
Can pick them up used at a snip too.
Would DEFINITELY be my suggestion for a first envelope filter.
It may even be your last!
 
#8
BUSTER_B said:
I am wondering about if there is a particular name for the effect that makes the attack of each note played into a quick "wah" sound.

I am also wondering about any suggestions out there for a pedal that does that, and that has reliable tracking, minimal tone suck, and perhaps even polyphonic capabilities. Any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Yes it sounds very much like an envelope filter that you are describing. If you can provide more information about your budget, form factor, is the size of the pedal important, amount of options/flexibility required (for example is downsweep (more of an "ow" sound also needed?), etc, then I'm sure you'll get lots of great recommendations from the knowledgeable folks on this forum.
 
#9
Here are my 2 recommendations:

Boss AW-3:

151334000000000-00-500x500.jpg


Fairly cheap used, has a few modes but simple controls. Can do a few kinds of auto wah sounds.

riddle.png

This one cost a lot more but has way more versatility being a 3 mode envelope filter with solid controls. This is the one I use for guitar and bass, they also make a bass version called the Enigma but with the blend I can get plenty of low end on all 3 modes but especially LP and BP. Works great on guitar/ bass/ keys or anything really.
 
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#14
jammadave said:
So yeah, envelope filter, touch wah, or autowah, is what you mean. "Autowah" can also mean a pedal that has a steady cycle of wah wah wah happening, instead of responding to your note.

The even better news is that 'tracking' and 'polyphony' mean nothing with this sort of pedal, because it's not creating anything like a synth would - it's just filtering the signal it receives. You can put a whole orchestra through one and it'll hit everything it hears. No problem.

Lots of different flavors out there, so watch some youtube videos. Start with Bassballs (twin filters, very peaky sounding and unique), DOD 440 (one classic sound), Mu-Tron (probably the most classic sound) - it seems most envelope filters out there have a similar sound to one of these.
Click to expand...

Nice! Yeah, I'd heard the terms autowah and envelope filter before, and thought those might be applicable, but I also kinda thought that those might just refer to stuff that makes steady cycles of wah. Thanks for clarifying!

I will indeed check out your suggestions.
 
#15
Bo0tsy said:
Yes it sounds very much like an envelope filter that you are describing. If you can provide more information about your budget, form factor, is the size of the pedal important, amount of options/flexibility required (for example is downsweep (more of an "ow" sound also needed?), etc, then I'm sure you'll get lots of great recommendations from the knowledgeable folks on this forum.
Click to expand...

Yes, more information: I'd go up to about $300 if it's good quality, maybe a bit more even. I hadn't thought of a downsweep before, that sounds like it'd be cool. I typically prefer pedals that can do just one thing really well, which means I probably don't need anything too gargantuan. I wouldn't shy away from a moderately-sized stomp box if it was high quality.
 
#18
"Attack Wah" - that would actually be a pretty good name for an envelope filter!

My first choice is the EHX Riddle/Enigma, but if you're looking for a smaller, easier-to-dial-in pedal, the EMMA DiscumBOBulator, 3Leaf Audio Groove Regulator or GR2, Maxon/Ibanez AF9, and Jacques Trinity Wah are all solid choices.

A much rarer, but so worth it, choice is the Multivox Big Jam Spit Wah.
 
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#20
I use the mxr bass envelope.filter because of its blend knob. The Keeley neutrino is also great as is the EBS bass IQ. If you want something with a little extra or different sounds than the ubiquitous wah try the keeley bubbletron. Its like an envelope filter and a phaser got drunk and had a lovechild.
 
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