Naive envelope filter question

[ethrbunny]

Im wanting to get an effect similar to (well.. exactly like) a volume swell as done with a volume pedal.  Are envelope filters all 'auto-wahs'?

[puretube]

slow gear...

[bwanasonic]

As a longtime EH Micro-Synth user, and somebody who spent a lot of time trying to perfect a "backwards" sound, it turns out a plain old volume pedal (or the volume knob on your guitar) beats other gadgets hands down. Combined with an envelope filter, you can get downright *synthy*. Fire up the ebow and your gone...

Kerry M

[ethrbunny]

how about for fast decays? something more linear than a palm mute.

[Mark Hammer]

Apparently the Gator kit, from PAiA, does a pretty decent swell.  It is essentially a noise gate, with the capacity to have long turn-on times.  PAiA kits are generally quite adaptable/moddable.

Volume pedals probably ARE the ideal swell effect, since they are essentially level-independent.  All others rely on some electronic detection of a note/event onset, which is fixed, and can sometimes be wrong for what you want to do.  In contrast, the volume pedal moves when you think it's time to bring in a note/chord, regardless of what the absolute amplitude of that note/chord is.

[bwanasonic]

how about for fast decays? something more linear than a palm mute.

Not sure about that. I had the triggered attack swell in mind. But an envelope controlled decay sounds interesting. Soft attack = rapid decay/ Strong attack = long decay. Is there a particular sound you had in mind?

Kerry M

[ethrbunny]

Is there a particular sound you had in mind?

Just the volume swell with a symmetrical decay on the back. Maybe vary both with a pedal. Or maybe a nice volume swell with a steep decay / cutoff. I can imagine some fun things with such a beastie.