Trouble picking an Envelope Filter to build

[xixiviii]

I am looking at a few different filter projects and am having trouble making a decision on what to build.  I have watched a few videos on youtube to get an idea about how they might sound, but I am curious what you guys have to say.

Based on my available parts in my bins, I was considering the EHX Dr Q, Nurse Quacky, MXR Envelope Filter, Mutron Micro V, or Crowther Prunes and Custard.  I'll probably eventually build them all at some point in my life, but can't decide which to do first.

Also, it will only be used for the purpose of screwing around for a bit, no plans to start a funk band or anything.

Any thoughts? 

[WyndBalduram]

I know this one isn't on your list, but I would recommend building a Snow White Auto Wah clone if you haven't already.  It is very responsive and has a great tone, with both guitar and bass.

There is a veroboard layout at sabrotone.com, and Madbean has a layout for it named "Autobahn" somewhere on his site's forums.

Anyway, good luck no matter which one you choose!  Autofilters are fun.

[Kipper4]

+1 on the Autobahn (snow white autowah)
i've built most of those recently and I have another reccomendation its a bit differant flavour but you might like Dead Astronaughts Lightwah (search function)
Midwayfairer did the layout for the autowah only version of it called Crying time. over on Madbeans

heres a demo video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1DCIten9qY

the micro v would be a good place to start if you dont fancy the light wah too.
(the light wah has a roll your own vactrol)
I hope this helps
Rich

[Mustachio]

There's going to be a new Micro V board/kit at GGG soon. Check out a bunch of demos on youtube and decide what  you want first. Some of the circuits have a bit of a synthy sound which can be cool. If your looking for that Jerry Garcia sound maybe look at something that is a little more clean like the Mutron III (Neutron) or the micro V . Those 2 are my favorites that I've played with. Not that the others don't have their place and specific sound.

I remember building the Maestro FSH and I really liked the envelope filter on it but it was touchy getting the sweep sensitivity in the sweet spot, the way I built it with all the mods. I remember wanting to go back and build it stock with out all the extra controls. I might have to revisit it and draw a layout with just the envelope filter and remove the sample hold part. The sample hold is cool but something I don't use often. But I suppose its handy for covering a few Zappa tunes

What I like about the mutron's is the clean'ish sweep that seems to be semi smooth even when doing fast chicken pick'n type runs to give that near water droplet sound (if that description makes any sense) . And you can flavor the sound with a bit of a dirt pedal or something else to get that slightly synthy sound . Both the III and the V have a little bit of a growl to them, yet still cleaner then most.

I Built the DOD 440 for some one a while back and it was sort of synthy, it didn't really fit my style of playing but I will say the synthy growl it made was wild. But it wasn't very controllable to my playing style, and for what I wanted to get out of it. I've heard a few demos on youtube of it and it seemed to fit other players styles better then my own.

I think there's some MS-20 schematics and layouts floating around or derivatives of them aimed at guitar. I need to try more filter circuits soon!

[Mark Hammer]

The Dr. Quack is probably the simplest one to make with the most readily available parts.  I don't know what sort of experience you have with envelope-controlled filters, but the DQ is pretty flexible for what it contains, and is a nice canvas for learning about mods.

The Bass Balls is also pretty cool and is essentially like a pair of staggered Dr Qs.  Lots and lots of mod possibilities that I've posted about here time and again.  The layout at Topopiccione works well.

[xixiviii]

The Dr. Quack is probably the simplest one to make with the most readily available parts.  I don't know what sort of experience you have with envelope-controlled filters, but the DQ is pretty flexible for what it contains, and is a nice canvas for learning about mods.

This will be my first filter of any type really aside from the Tim Escobedo Idiot Wah.  I ended up taking the TEIW and dropping into an empty Wah pedal enclosure for fun and have had a good time with it, but I am looking for something now that is a little less "foot on" operation.  I think for now Dr. Q is a safe bet + I have all of the parts for it.

I know this one isn't on your list, but I would recommend building a Snow White Auto Wah clone if you haven't already

I have considered this one as well, and is on the to do list, however the only layout I currently have on file calls for a LM13700 and I don't have one.  It will be done at some point though, hopefully with a few in front of it to compare it to.

Thanks again for the feedback guys...

[digi2t]

I think there's some MS-20 schematics and layouts floating around or derivatives of them aimed at guitar. I need to try more filter circuits soon!

UKToecutter and I are working on a Frostwave Resonator clone board at the moment. I'm wondering though, how would an envelope be incorporated into this? My imagination is generating some really fooonky sounds.

[SISKO]

Have you considered a Meatball clone?

[alanp]

I've built a Meatball clone (Rissole), and the Madbean Nautilus. Between the two, I find the Meatball clone most usable. (I haven't built one of the smaller autowah thingies.)

Meatballs are flexible as hell, but you do need to tweak 'em to get the best sound.

[igor12]

NEUTRON...don't waste time with anything else.  Search Mustachio's youtube demo you'll be hooked.  Follow his advice on rolling LDRs. 
-Igor

[StephenGiles]

Don't forget Craig Anderton's Bi-Filter Follower.

[Mark Hammer]

Demo video of a Bass Balls clone made from the Topopiccione layout, and heavily modded.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoAIKHFGOcQ

The first 7 minutes or so explains what was done in meticulous detail, before actually getting to sounds.

+1 on the Anderton Bi-Filter.  It is also amenable to all the mods illustrated in the above Youtube.  Because it uses LDRs as control elements, instead of transistors, the sweep is smoother, with much less ripple.

[StephenGiles]

Demo video of a Bass Balls clone made from the Topopiccione layout, and heavily modded.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoAIKHFGOcQ

The first 7 minutes or so explains what was done in meticulous detail, before actually getting to sounds.

+1 on the Anderton Bi-Filter.  It is also amenable to all the mods illustrated in the above Youtube.  Because it uses LDRs as control elements, instead of transistors, the sweep is smoother, with much less ripple.

Why do you think the sweep is smoother on the Bi-Filter Mark? Could it be anything to do with using a dual power supply?

[Mark Hammer]

No.  It's just the manner in which the somewhat sluggish LDRs in the CLM6000 smooth out the envelope ripple.  It's like an extra stage of low-pass filtering on the rectifier.  That's also one of the reasons (among many) why the Mu-Tron was so favorably received, in comparison to many of the EHX autowahs of the time that used transistors as their control element: LDRs.

Incidentally, just got the new issue of Vintage Guitar the other day, and there is a short feature on Mike Biegel, who has started up a pedal company again, under the banner Mu-FX, with the updated version of the Mu-Tron III (the Tru-Tron 3X) as the flagship pedal.