lou24d53 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 (edited) I recently bought an MXR Bass Envelope Filter, more because I thought it was a bargain at the price and I simply fancied trying one out, rather than because I had an actual use for it. I really love the sound it gives when I’m messing around at home, but the thing is, I never really know where or how to use it in an actual band setting. When I bought it, I was playing in a covers band, playing a wide range of stuff – and I know this isn’t really the way to look at it – but I thought I would be able to fit it in ‘somewhere’. Now though, I’ve since changed bands and found myself in an original 3-piece, classic / 70’s rock influenced band and I’m guessing it’s again going to continually find itself redundant. Basically, I just wondering how others on here use their envelope filters to ‘compliment’ rather than ‘offend’ the composition. **Samples are – of course – most welcome!** Edited February 27, 2014 by lou24d53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I use mine when I have some space in the bassline, definitely not for a "driving" line. I use it with some dirt and it just adds variety E.G there's a verse where the bassline has space and is a bit funky, I use the envelope filter, then the next section is just a heavy riff, I kick off the envelope, keep the dirt on, and it provides contrast to make the riff seem extra heavy when it kicks in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Irrespective of it being needed for a tune - if there are groovy chicks in the crowd you want to see dance - turn it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnDeereJack Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 The first track that springs to mind is Sir Psycho Sexy by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Listen to what Flea does with the filter he uses - the verse starts off clean then after the first section, 30 secs or so, he kicks the filter on to add a bit of dynamic then plays clean again for the chorus & bridge sections. Try experimenting and see what you come up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lou24d53 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 [quote name='johnDeereJack' timestamp='1393509098' post='2381172'] The first track that springs to mind is Sir Psycho Sexy by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Listen to what Flea does with the filter he uses - the verse starts off clean then after the first section, 30 secs or so, he kicks the filter on to add a bit of dynamic then plays clean again for the chorus & bridge sections. Try experimenting and see what you come up with. [/quote] Actually, that was the very reason for my only other experience with filters when I bought a Micro Q-Tron about 15 years ago to try it out that very track. However once the novelty quickly wore off, it was delegated to 'dust catching' duties...pretty much the same duties I fear the MXR is destined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 The only real use I ever found for mine was when I needed to sound "different" for some reason, usually only for a short time. The best example was when a functions band I was in wanted to do Mercy by Duffy. The first four bars are played by an instrument with a lot of "sproing" about it. Might be keys/synth, might be a heavily-effected guitar or bass. I played that riff on bass through an envelope filter. It sounded nothing at all like the original but no one noticed or cared ... what mattered was that it sounded different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razze06 Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1393517733' post='2381368'] The only real use I ever found for mine was when I needed to sound "different" for some reason, usually only for a short time. The best example was when a functions band I was in wanted to do Mercy by Duffy. The first four bars are played by an instrument with a lot of "sproing" about it. Might be keys/synth, might be a heavily-effected guitar or bass. I played that riff on bass through an envelope filter. It sounded nothing at all like the original but no one noticed or cared ... what mattered was that it sounded different. [/quote] That's a good idea. We play that song, and I was wondering what to use to make the bassline in the verse it stand out a bit more. Time to blow some dust off my trusty ashdown envelope filter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 I use mine a bit, one full song and then bits and pieces here and there. It's actually my favourite pedal.. The way you can set the sensitivity means you can be very subtle with it as well, you can then dig in and only highlight the bits you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damonjames Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Check out some classic funk, Bootise would be a great place to start (and possible finish) and see how he uses it. It's not really an effect you would use all night, but a splash here or there can really make a so g! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 I'm listening to an old school funk playlist and so far not one song hasn't had an envelope filter on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 May well be the wrong pedal fo rthe music you are playing. I have two filters on my board, an MXR bass auto Q and a Maxon AF9, they both sound, and feel very different and I use them for different things, but then, I play the funky stuff almost predominantly, and it can fit nicely in all sorts of bridge sections, middle 8s, or as a help to just lift a lick into the realms of a hook. What you dont normally want to do is turn it in and use it for an entire track. Also use them with either my distortion, or my octaver, (which also distorts the 'clean' channel) for big analog synthiness - or at least as close as I need to get to that kind of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lou24d53 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Yeah, I'm coming to the conclusion that this definitely is the wrong pedal for me at this time 51mon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 One use for it you may find is as a filter that doesnt open, but knocks of top (or bottom if you can do that with it) end, by setting the sensitivity so it never opens. Not really getting the most from it like that though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 (edited) [quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1393593846' post='2382338'] One use for it you may find is as a filter that doesnt open, but knocks of top (or bottom if you can do that with it) end, by setting the sensitivity so it never opens. Not really getting the most from it like that though! [/quote] But if that's the sound that you want, then it's the right pedal. A prime example there is my Bass Murf. I rarely use the sequencer section on it, but I do use it to split the frequencies to sub 110hz on one channel & everything above to the other, which then goes through more dirt & a filter (& a chorus too). It also adds a little drive to the overall sound, which is nice. My filter is mainly used to cut the top end & bring it in with an expression pedal, but I use the envelope follower on a couple of tracks. Edited February 28, 2014 by xgsjx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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