How to Choose the Best Envelope Filter Pedal for Guitar
Learn the features to look for and how to choose the best envelope filter pedal for guitar for your budget and situation, along with our Top 5 recommendations!
An envelope filter is a type of electronic filter that alters the harmonic content of a signal passing through it.
Envelope filters are typically used to change the timbre of a musical instrument, or to create special effects in electronic music.
This is accomplished by increasing or decreasing the loudness of specific frequencies, by applying an envelope to the sound wave, which modifies how the wave behaves as it passes through the filter.
They work by splitting the signal into two parts: the "attack" and the "release". The attack is the initial transient part of the sound, while the release is the sustained part. The envelope filter will then alter only the harmonics present in the attack, leaving the release untouched. This gives you a much more natural sounding effect than if you were to simply cut or boost all harmonics equally.
Envelope filters are typically used to create more interesting sounds with instruments like synthesizers and guitars, and they can be used to mimic the sounds of things like bells, saxophones, and other brass instruments.
By altering the frequency spectrum of a sound, they can add new dimensions to your music and make your tracks stand out from the rest.
What is an envelope filter guitar pedal?
This is a type of modulation pedal that alters the tone of your guitar by altering the attack and decay characteristics of the sound.
This type of envelope filter is often used to create wah-wah sounds, and can be used to create a wide variety of other effects as well.
The best envelope filter pedals can feature such controls as different filter modes and filter types, pass filters (high pass, low band, etc.), tap tempo, and too many others to mention.
Read on below to find out the best envelope filter pedals for you and your situation.
Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron Plus XO Envelope Follower Pedal
Why it Rocks
The Effects Loop of the Q-Tron is a feature that allows you to add additional effects between the preamp and filter sections without altering the shape and character of the signal. This unique capability allows you to customize your sound in exciting new ways, allowing you to achieve everything from smooth, vowel-like tones to snappy, snaked responses that are reminiscent of the original Q-Tron.
Additionally, the Response Switch lets you quickly and easily select between slow and fast attack times, giving you even greater control over your sound.
What Else
At its core, a follower works by analyzing incoming signals and mapping them to outgoing values based on certain parameters or settings. This gives musicians great flexibility and control over their sound. Whether they need subtle controls for their playing dynamics or more drastic effects shifting, envelope followers can provide just the right amount of modulation for their needs.
And with the addition of an external effects loop and attack response switch on newer models like the Q-Tron+, followers have become even more versatile and powerful in modern music production. The controls include mode, response, range, peak, gain, and boost.
Additionally, the Q-Tron has a sweep switch to customize the filtering behavior of its envelope follower effects loop.
EarthQuaker Devices Spatial Delivery V2 Envelope Filter Pedal
Why it Rocks
Spatial Delivery is a unique guitar pedal that packs an incredible range of tonal capabilities. As a voltage controlled envelope filter, this pedal allows you to explore a wide variety of funky sounds and effects.
With its three different modes―Up Sweep, Down Sweep, and Sample and Hold―you can easily adjust your tone to suit your exact tastes.
In addition, the Range, Resonance, and Filter controls allow you to customize the strength and character of your sound for precise control over every nuance.
Whether you are looking for smooth auto-wah type effects or enhanced kick drum sounds, Spatial Delivery has got you covered.
What Else
This versatile pedal can be used in three distinct filter modes, all of which offer unique playing dynamics and sonic possibilities.
With its adjustable range and filter control, the envelope filter can be adapted to match the needs of virtually any musical style or sonic application.
Whether you are using it for rhythmic effects or to add subtle coloration, this pedal is a solid choice.
MXR M82 Bass Envelope Filter
Why it Rocks
While billed as being for bass guitar, this pedal is NOT exclusively for bass. The power supply circuitry of this bass envelope filter is built to be durable and reliable: whether you are dealing with over-voltage or polarity mishaps, this voltage controlled feature ensures that your pedal will always perform at its best.
Additionally, the true-bypass switching system preserves your bass tone in bypass mode, so you never have to worry about losing sound quality when your filter is not in use.
Finally, the sturdy aluminum housing of the pedal makes it highly portable and perfect for fitting on any pedalboard, no matter how space-constrained it may be.
What Else
The MXR M82 Bass Envelope Filter is a powerful guitar and bass pedal that is perfect for any guitar or bass player looking to add some dynamic flavor and effects to their sound.
Featuring a footswitch with an LED indicator, this pedal allows you to easily bypass the effects when needed, while the dry control lets you adjust the level of the unaffected signal.
Additionally, the FX control and decay knob allow you to tweak your sound exactly to your liking, while the Q control allows you to dial in just the right mix of frequencies.
And thanks to its sturdy construction and included patch cables, this pedal is sure to be an essential part of any guitar and bass player's setup for years to come.
Xotic Robotalk 2 Envelope Filter Effect Pedal
Why it Rocks
This pedal is the perfect tool for guitarists who want to add some playing dynamics to their tone. With two separate filter channels, this pedal offers incredible versatility and allows you to customize your tone in a variety of ways. Each channel can be preset for different playing styles, from slow and acoustic-like attacks to high-speed open-and-close movements, as well as a whole range of other effects.
And with its blendable channels, you can easily mix and match sounds to create exactly the tone you're looking for.
Plus, the pedal features an adjustable input pad that makes it suitable for both active and passive signals.
Whether you're looking to add depth and character to your playing or simply explore new sonic territory, this pedal is an awesome tool to add to any guitarist's rig.
What Else
With dual channels for precise control, a blend knob for blending in your desired levels of effect, and an input pad for accommodating both active and passive instruments, this pedal has everything you need to take your playing to the next level.
Source Audio One Series Spectrum Intelligent Filter
Why it Rocks
Whether you're looking for modern envelope filter sounds or vintage octave and synth tones, the Spectrum Intelligent Filter from Source Audio is an essential tool for any guitarist.
With its powerful stereo filtering capabilities, this pedal delivers stunning sound effects that are sure to impress. And thanks to its advanced design and innovative software, the Spectrum Intelligent Filter is incredibly easy to use, making it ideal for musicians of all levels.
So if you're looking for a premium filter and distortion FX pedal that can transform your playing, look no further than the Spectrum Intelligent Filter from Source Audio.
What Else
If you are looking for a versatile and powerful effects pedal that can help you achieve a wide range of unique sounds, look no further than the Six unique presets with multiple controls preset on this pedal.
With its digital processing capabilities and MIDI integration, this pedal enables you to easily manipulate your sound in any way you desire, from subtle octave effects to shimmering synths.
In addition to its impressive array of sound options, the Six unique presets also features multiple knobs that allow you to precisely fine-tune your settings.
Whether you want to adjust the settings or switch between different control parameters, this pedal gives you complete control over your sound. And if you need even more options and flexibility, the Neuro editor gives you access to additional sound possibilities and customization options.
To top it all off, this powerful effects pedal comes complete with stereo I/O, switchable buffered or true bypass mode, an input jack for an external expression pedal or tap tempo input, ensuring that it is fully equipped to meet all of your musical needs. Truly an awesome piece of gear and our choice for the the best overall guitar filter pedal option.
FAQs About the Best Envelope Filter Pedals
What does an envelope filter sound like?
An envelope filter is a type of filter that alters the harmonic content of a sound by dynamically changing the level of filtering depending on the amplitude of the incoming signal. In other words, it will boost or attenuate certain frequencies depending on how loud or soft the incoming signal is. This frequently creates a wah-wah effect that can be used to spice up your sound.
An envelope filter creates a unique sound by filtering out all the frequencies except those that are within the envelope of the sound wave, like high pass, for example. This gives your music a more synthesized sound, as if it were coming from an electronic instrument. They can be used to create wobbly bass lines, funky psychedelic sounds, and otherworldly effects.
Where does an envelope filter go in the signal chain?
The position among your effects pedals in a signal chain will depend on the specific type of envelope filter and the type of music you're playing.
However, as with most types of expression pedal, it's usually best to place the filter as early in the signal chain as possible, allowing it to more accurately track the playing dynamics of the music and create a more pronounced effect.
Also, a general rule of thumb is that you should place any effects pedals that control or alter the shape of the sound before distortion pedals, as distortion pedals will distort the sound regardless of whether or not they are preceded by an envelope filter. This means that if you want to use it to create a wah-wah effect, the filter should go after your guitar's distortion.
What is the difference between envelope filter, touch wah and auto wah effects?
There is some overlap between the effects, but they are not exactly the same:
Envelope Filter
This effect detects the level of input signal and opens or closes a filter circuit accordingly, and will only affect certain notes that are within a certain range (usually specified by the user). This creates the 'wah' sound that is so popular in funk and rock music, and an envelope filter pedal can be used to create more unique and varied sounds than the other two effects.
Touch wah
These pedals allow the user to manually adjust the frequency at which the wah effect occurs. This means that you can control how pronounced the wah sound is. Touch wahs are better suited for lead guitar playing, as they allow you to customize the sound of the pedal to fit your own specific needs.
Auto wah
These pedals automatically adjust the frequency of the wah pedals sound, based on how hard you are playing your instrument. This means that auto wah pedals are better suited for rhythm guitar playing, as they will create a more consistent sounding wah effect.
What type of filter is wah?
Wah is an electronic filter that alters the sound of a guitar or keyboard by boosting or cutting specific frequencies. It is named for the wah-wah sound it produces.
The effect is created by using an inductor to create a peak in the frequency response, then cancelling it out with a capacitor. This creates a peak in the frequency response at around 2500 Hz, and affects treble sounds more than bass sounds.
Wah can be used to create a wide range of sounds, from subtle changes to extreme modifications. It is often used in rock and blues music.
Honorable Mentions
While not quite making our list of the best envelope filter options above, we wanted to mention two others that might be worth putting on your radar: the Mojo Hand Wonder Filter and the Mu-Tron Micro-Tron IV.
The Mojo Hand Wonder Filter, or "Little Wonder", is a more compact version of their very popular Mojo Hand Fx Wonder envelope filter pedal.
An improvement on the classic envelope Mu-Tron III, the Micro-Tron IV still provides that Jerry Garcia tone Mu-Tron brought us in the form of the Mu-Tron III, but with Mu-Tron upgrades on the output levels and footswitch control options that weren't present on the Tron III.
Summary of the Best Envelope Filter Pedals
Envelope filters are often used in funk, soul, and blues music. They give a unique "wah-wah" sound that is often associated with those genres.
Envelope filter pedals are popular with guitarists and bass players. They add a unique sound to the instrument, and they're great for creating funky rhythms. Some famous guitarists who use them are Nile Rodgers, Billy Gibbons, and Larry Graham.
Some guitar players also use them to create special effects for their solos (such as Jimi Hendrix, whose solos are full of wah-wah sounds). Many other guitar players have since followed in his footsteps and incorporated them into their own playing styles.
Hopefully this article will help you to find yours. Just to recap, here are our picks from above:
Best Follower: Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron Plus
Best for Creativity: EarthQuaker Devices Spatial Delivery V2
Best Value: MXR M82 Bass Envelope Filter Pedal
Best for Versatility: Xotic Robotalk 2 Envelope Filter Effect
Best Overall: Source Audio One Series Spectrum
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