Awesome video Nate! You definitely do our SupaFunk justice :) Leaving our link here for the curious, solidgoldfx.com/products/supa-funk-envelope-filter
After this video i can understand why the MXR is one of the most popular envelope pedals. The source audio spectrum is the most versatile pedal and it is somehow not "fair" to compare it with the other pedals. Great playing, wonderfull riffs.
The very first pedal I ever purchased was an envelope filter, a Mu-Tron III with power supply, in 1977. This is the sound I have in my head. I'd still have it today if my guitarist hadn't split town with it. I haven't had an envelope filter since but this video has reawakened my desire for one. Based solely on this video, my consistent favorite was the EHX Q-Tron+. Given its size and that it requires 24v, it's not one to make my short list though the Nano might. I also really liked the Source Audio Spectrum though I'd prefer not needing a computer to get optimum use from it. The one that surprised me most was the Keeley Neutrino. I thought it was terrific in each style. I'm a bit taken aback by the TalkBass opinions of it and wonder if there's any merit to them. The EBS BassIQ is very impressive. I understand why people like the MXR but I prefer having a low pass setting. Hearing it with more clean mixed in might change my mind. I've narrowed my choice to 4 pedals: Keeley Neutrino / Source Audio Spectrum / EBS BassIQ / Mu-Tron Microtron IV
I liked the MXR and the Way Huge more than all the others. They seemed to have a nice throaty sweep without getting too thin and quacky like the other pedals
The Spectrum ended my hunt for the ultimate Envelope Filter. Its versatility and programmability is insane, as with most Source Audio products. But the kicker is that others more experienced in the nuances of other envelope filters have offered up their presets of various other envelope filters, and if you want a certain one, you can find pretty much all of them, download it to the pedal, and use it. And, I have found it to be the most responsive SA pedal straight out of the box. Just a pure funk machine.
Well, I’ll throw in my two cents. Recognizing that all of these pedals will have their uses (Maybe Spectrum having the widest range of sounds) and some having sounds that maybe no other pedal will have, based on the presentation here, for the first three tests, I have to go with the MXR. To me, it had the best frequency range and handled everything Nate threw at it really well, producing the filter effect clearly even through really fast runs. On the fourth test, it warbled on the chords. Others were worse. Some just seem to miss the chords.I think the Spectrum was good and the Boss worked, although I think it’s not actually a filter pedal. The DOD surprised me by handling the chords well. Naturally, this is just my opinion and others may/will hear things differently. Anyway, great filter shootout!
Man I really need to dig my old bass out of the cupboard. It's been 10 years and I stopped playing when I did the family thing. I have an old Dod envelope filter from the late 90s, ohh and an old zoom multi effect doo dah. Thanks for the vid!
It makes me really happy how the MXR did compared to all the other pedals because this is the one I happen to have completely by chance. (Bought on a whim with store credit and this was the only bass pedal the store had.)
MXR is just about all you could want/need. Sounds great. Way Huge and Dreadbox were also impressive. Honorable mentions to the SA Spectrum and EQD Spacial Delivery for just sounding cool and different.
All of them had a unique sound. The Earthquaker Spatial Delivery and the Dreadbox Kinematic would be top of my list but most had something to offer. I did not expect those two to be my top picks going in. Judging by the already posted comments this is quite subjective.
Man I really, really like the SupaFunk and the Attack Vector. The Spectrum really shined in the 'articulateness' section. What patch did you use with that? The Mu-Tron Micro-Tron IV and 3 Leaf Audio Proton would have been nice to see thrown into the mix. Honestly, not a bad pedal in the batch. Each definitely had it's own personalty and character.
For me, the articulation and tone are the most important. With that in mind, MXR is the best all around with a relatively natural sound. Way Huge and EQD were the best and most interesting of the synthier ones. Dreadbox, Keeley and EBS also sounded really good.
I have the way huge attack vector, got it from the Dunlop team at a pedal show, the envelope filter mode on it sounds great on bass, nice and simple too, which is good. Only problem is the phaser mode, it suck the low end completely out. So you are correct in saying it isn't intended for bass.
To me the q tron plus and the spectrum are the most versatile, the don't go full wet and let some of the bass sound. But I also think that you may a need a more bootsy type of sound, and to me that sounds best on the earthquale pedal. Also, some synth sounds can be achieved with some of the other pedals. Great video overall !!!
Very cool, it would be interesting to have an original mutron in the mix to here where it all started. and maybe something from 3leaf, his envelopes are generally considered some of the best today, but $$$
Thanks for this video If you can make a video about to teach each pedal effects would be great, I mean understand its function. Thus it to learn how to configure a bass pedal as the Zoom B1Xon. Thank You
Great demo. I’m looking at that headstock and wondering how come more manufacturers don’t do the tuners this way. It only makes sense to have the Estring tuner, the farthest apart.
Overall the EBS sounded the best to me. The MXR and Way Huge were great too. The Spectrum was the fastest at catching all the notes in the Articulation round. Wish you showed the extra weird sample/hold sequencey sounds the Spatial Delivery also does.
I listened to this comparison with good headphones and it came as surprise how different kinds of algorithms there were to compare. Even though being envelope filters, I still prefer gadgets that let the whole frequency spectrum come through. I mean, bass still has got to sound bass instrument, right? To me EH Qtron and Keeley had the best sound hifi wise. They "spoil" the original signal the least. Supa and Dreadbox with their extreme effect were a bit tricky to compare on the other hand. I was slightly dissapointed with the sound of MXR, Boss, Death by Audio, and also Ebs that I own myself. Naturally, different settings can make me change the verdict considerably 😄
Damn, dude! I have to unsubscribe. Every time I visit your channel, I am destroyed! LOL :) No seriously! Your content is off-the-charts good. You are among the very best. This is how all reviews should be. You are putting each pedal through the most extreme workouts. I am amazed at how you combine so many techniques to make the most fantastic bass lines. Bravo! Well done! Please keep them coming! By the way, the MXR won this race, in my personal opinion.
Normally not so nitpicky and I understand it's impossible to cover all grounds BUT it's a real shame you didn't add the Aguilar Twin Filter since that is unique AND popular enough to warrant it's place here. Anyway thanks for the awesome shootout ❤
I'll add my two cents as a envelope filter addict. I've watched every video I could on envelope filters. I've seen a few videos where the demonstrator will leave all controls at 50% which is ridiculous. The sensitivity control and Q control are paramount to adjusting the filter. Each song, each bass, each style of playing usually requires a different set up of these two controls. Unfortunately the only way find the right pedal is to try it yourself.
