Are you sure, I though they were both analog? By the way, of all the filters I've tried (which is a lot), the one that has the fattest greasiest tone is the Fwonkbeta, which happens to be digital too - so I wouldn't necessarily let it be a turn off!
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Recommendations for a fat sounding envelope filter with up and down modes?
- Thread starter HalfManHalfBass
- Start date
Are you sure, I though they were both analog? By the way, of all the filters I've tried (which is a lot), the one that has the fattest greasiest tone is the Fwonkbeta, which happens to be digital too - so I wouldn't necessarily let it be a turn off!
Hi, no it's not that I have anything against digital, but I'm cheap and wanted to use it on a daisy chained One Spot. Digital pedals don't usually take too well to this -at least not high current draw ones and the Enigma is 150ma -which I assume must be digital to be that high.
Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe is a great pedal, small, does up and down. It is expensive and it's fast and slow filter settings can be a bit more synth like.
However, a compressor ahead of it, or a really light drive slows down the fast setting and gives you a really fat filter sound.
Otherwise, the other two you picked will do you well, on any power supply.
EHX claims it's a fully analog circuit here: Electro-Harmonix
So, no worries about digital noise, as long as you're not running out of power on that daisy chain you should be ok (if you like the sound of the pedal that is, I wasn't a fan!).
The Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe does look very good and from some of the videos I've seen I have no doubt that if I wasn't careful with the settings, I would soon be examining the contents of my speakers 10 meters on the floor -in front of their cabinets!
In the end though the price would be a problem as to me here in Europe I'd need to pay around another 30% of the final price (pedal plus postage). Thanks though for the recommendation.
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Thanks! I hadn't seen that: 'fully-analog circuit' in the small print!
The sound of this pedal may not be the best ever, but I do like the multitude of things you can edit. I figure that it'll give me more chance of finding something I like (or less chance of landing on anything that I like too!)
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I'm still waffling on my need for an envelope filter right now, so if you want an Enigma drop me a line; I've still got two other filters to decide upon anyways.
When i've accidentally got my Tru Tron X3 i was thinking it is just OK. After years of trying so many pedals including a lot of envelope filter - i must say this one is better in such of ways: it is fat, loud and clean, it works just perfect with my main gated fuzz (Z.Vex Mastotron) - it can be juicy or non-bright. It has the real cool pre-amp and LP/BP/HP/Mix modes. The only bad thing: it works with 12 v adaptor only.
The Q-Balls is definitely analog.
It turned out to be the perfect filter for me, and I'd say it's certainly worth a try. A lot of FwonkBetas appeared in the classifieds not long after they were the current "hot" filter pedal. That's not to impugn the Fwonk or those who love it; it just means that one man's perfect filter is another man's "tried it once, boxed it up and sold (or returned) it" filter.
Opinions and advice are a good starting point, but you just don't know until you try the pedals yourself.
^ Totally this. For me, the Enigma was an instant box-it-back-up-and-return-it pedal (as was the Proton and Wonderlove). Just goes to show we're all different!
Yeah, I agree: it's all personal preference (I've even owned the EBS on two different occasions!)
My problem is I won't have the chance to try before I buy and these pedals are too damned expensive to have 3 or 4 sitting around not used or liked....
My problem is I won't have the chance to try before I buy and these pedals are too damned expensive to have 3 or 4 sitting around not used or liked....
Solution - buy from a store with a god return policy. I bought my Enigma from Thomann, decided it wasn't for me so was able to return it for a full refund - I didn't even have to pay return shipping to Germany from the UK! Not sure where you are but I'm sure some of the bigger stores in the US have similar policies.
I guess as long as you don't abuse it and eventually buy something from them that you keep, it's all good.
I guess as long as you don't abuse it and eventually buy something from them that you keep, it's all good.
I'm actually also from London too Dannybuoy!, but now live in Italy.
I was also going to use Thomann because of their return policy and 3 year guarantee (I don't remember where -either here or over at The GearPage), but I once read that some of the components EHX use aren't very durable; the shafts striping out of their pots when trying to remove knobs etc. Thomann are very reassuring for that kinda thing.
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Yeah, I agree: it's all personal preference (I've even owned the EBS on two different occasions!)
My problem is I won't have the chance to try before I buy and these pedals are too damned expensive to have 3 or 4 sitting around not used or liked....
The Enigma has a pretty rich feature set. EHX pedals are well designed and pretty tweakable. Of course they have other offerings for different needs, like the compact nano pedals, but their larger box type pedals usually cover a lot of ground.
I'd wager most people who dislike the Engima either don't like how many switches and knobs it has (simplification there, but mostly accurate) or don't like it's form factor. It's like an envelope filter workstation rather than a stomp box.
The Engima also has some pretty extreme settings available. Sometimes I've found it requires very subtle tweaks to get the right sound because the knobs move the tone to such extremes on either end.
That's probably the best description of the Enigma I've yet come across. It does reward spending a lot of time up front with the Enigma to make the most of it. Bit of a steeper initial learning curve than most other filters.
If the OP is looking for "fat," the Fwonk beta does this in spades. I have the Fwonk Beta, the MXR, and the Funk Lite. The Fwonk's sweet spot is fat. The Funk Lite is on the opposite end of the spectrum (great for some, but I'll be moving mine along). Up/down switch is nice, but I just prefer where the Fwonk voicing sits. For the MXR, I like the ability to mix in the dry signal and keep the filter effect subtle over your dry signal...at least that's how I set it.
Would not mind a third new flavor (keeping Fwonk and MXR), just not sure what that third flavor would be. Enigma or Wonderlove, perhaps...
Would not mind a third new flavor (keeping Fwonk and MXR), just not sure what that third flavor would be. Enigma or Wonderlove, perhaps...
I have had EHX Enigma, not bad. But it is very easy to spoil your live gig - there are no presets (POG2 as an example) and a small turn of knob - you loose your tone. In studio? It seems to be almost perfect.