Filter Recommendations

[xenomorph313]

Wanting to know what everyone thinks as far as the best filter out there. I'm looking to spend <$200.
I'm referring to an envelope filter (external effect) to use on synths, and, if possible, a filter that would make a drum machine's bass drum spank, but in general just a great filter.
Thanks

[space6oy]

under $200 is tough. could get an electrix filter factory or an alesis philtre (see you have a smashup), or might go with an electro harmonix q-tron pedal. not the best out there, but they're all good for their price.

[Joey]

if you want a real good filter you're really going to have to shell out, as the good ones arent cheap

with that said, on the cheaper end of things:

jomox m resonator, and electrix Filter factory. the filter factory is pretty crazy and the resonance can get real piercing real easy. the m resonator can get some cool feedbacking s**t going

[space6oy]

doubt he's gonna find an m-res for under $200 though...

[shaft9000]

get a used mf-101 if you haven't got any moog yet.
no-brainer.

other than that it's very slim pickings under $200, as w/ an Envelope Filter you're asking for a good-sounding filter ...and a level-detector+VCA.... w/ an EG to move it around.

[xenomorph313]

Well, what do you think of these? Can you use this on synths, or is this mainly designed to be used w/ a guitar?


Also considered a EHX Q-Balls or Q-Tron, but thought they might also be more geared toward guitars.....

[pricklyrobot]

I have the Digitech Bass Synth Wah. It's a fun toy, nothing mind-blowing, but I like running drum machines through it. Certainly you can use guitar pedals with synth (in fact filters with envelope followers are more likely to be geared at guitars), but you get into the whole impedance/level mismatch thing, so you may need a DI and Re-Amp box to get a decent sound (depends how picky you are really.)

For the money (and assuming your heart's not set on real analog), I'd say the Alesis Philtre is more versatile, and is designed for line level sources. You should be able to find one pretty easily for under $100 (I got mine for $40 on Ebay about a year ago.)

Other options for slightly over your $200 limit, you might find a used MFB FilterBox. They were recently discontinued, but they were only $250 brand new. Also the forthcoming MFB Nanozwerge will give you a multi-mode analog filter plus quite a decent-looking monosynth for $270-something.

P.S. EHX have two new-ish filter pedals called the Riddle and the Enigma (guitar and bass version, respectively). I don't have any firsthand experience with them, but the specs look good and demos sound decent. Might be worth a look.

[xenomorph313]

Solid info, pricklyrobot, thx. I just heard a demo of a 606 being run through a Q-Tron, and was fairly impressed. I like the fact that is has all three filter types: LPF, HPF, and BPF all in one box. When using the LPF, I think you can make the 606 Bass Drum more punchy. Can effect comparisons go into the VS. thread? I'd like to do a Q-Tron VS. Philtre.

Thanks!

[tallowwaters]

Philtre over Q Tron for filtering drumbeats any day of the week, as the Philtre is made for beats with all of it's tempo synced lfos and such.

[kuroichi]

I'd say if you can, get a used MF-101 in your price range.

[druzz]

one more vote for the mooger fooger lowpass (mf-101)

got mine for 200 $ used. i use it with an analog beatbox . i like to overdrive the beat with with .

if i found one under 200$, i wouldnt mind having two of them.

[th0mas]

Philtre over Q Tron for filtering drumbeats any day of the week, as the Philtre is made for beats with all of it's tempo synced lfos and such.

I found all the alesis modfx line had issues with noise though. I bought the display case and 6 pedals from novamusik for cheap and found they were all noisy. I think it sounded like digital logic leaking out the outs but it was awhile ago...

[tallowwaters]

I found that too, but only using the parallel connectors on the side. No noise from the Philtre using the 1/4" outs when I had one.

[th0mas]

I found that too, but only using the parallel connectors on the side. No noise from the Philtre using the 1/4" outs when I had one.

I did mostly keep them chained in sets of 3 via the DIN connectors since I had the display case that forced such. It's possible that was the source of noise I experienced.

[space6oy]

huh, only ones of mine i've chained via side ports are bitrman & philtre, never noticed any noise issues.

just sold xenomorph313 one of my philtres, do think that was a good choice.