Hey there, I have received a lot of help from this board regarding Envelope Filters (EF) over the years. So here I will give back a little and sum up all my learnings.
I have posts in history here at rukind talking across all 3 main EFs I have used and worked with for extended periods of playing on my board;
1. Q-Tron Micro
2. 3Leaf Audio Proton EF
3. Mutron Microtron IV.
I used all three of these extensively across the past decade of more serious playing for my EF Jerry tone, I am as happy as I think I can be sonically speaking with the Mutron IV. It is very sensitive (they all are) but even with my go-to Strat modded with my bridge Lollar Imperial Humbucker I can get as close as I ever have to a rich, stable and consistent Shakedown-Estimated-Stranger sound that I am satisfied with and that varies little between chords and single-note attack.
I more or less had to enjoy my initial time building pedalboards and as they say searching for the sounds, but the EF is one of the toughest to nail down at least for me with any consistency. First I tussled with the Q-Tron Micro from EH then moving on to the Proton. Both get you very close with the Proton being even closer than the Q but neither left me overall fully satisfied with a solid stable attack, sustain and quack especially on the high B and e strings on a Strat even with the higher output of a Humbucker.
The Mutron Micro has brought me stability and fluidity across all registers, easy enough to tame to remove any harsh overly distorted quacking when playing chords versus single notes. I found that balance a lot harder to deal with in particular with the Q-Tron micro. That said though and taking into consideration its price point it is a phenomenal pedal for price-quality, but just like the difference between good and excellent wine, you tend to get what you pay for and there tends to be variance with the EH EF in the realm of smooth consistency in my POV versus the Mutron Microtron IV.
The Mutron Microtron IV is built like a tank though I would caution it is also sensitive, so when your clumsy musician friends or audience member kicks your pedalboard as they stumble about "getting their space together" beware. It has happened to me plenty that a slight knock of a level knob here or there can lead to sonic frustration, and WTFs so pay attention for those who simply do not or cannot.
Additionally, I recently added the excellent Source Audio Spectrum EF to my mix and now run with 2 EFs on my board. I did manage to dial in Jerry using the Dumpling setting quite ok, but not quite as creamy and seamless as the Mutron IV again but close. I love the Spectrum more for Bootsy Collins tones and synth Bass effects for funk and dig it but it is not my go-to for Jerry necessarily.
At some point, I plan to look into downloading some of the user-generated modded settings you can access on their site, I have seen one claiming to cover for the "Down" function of the EF that Jerry uses sublimely for that flute-like Dancin' 77 sound he blazes with. I have never found an adequate "Down" setting on my Mutron IV satisfactorily (I think I have a thread on that in the Dancin' forums from the Tab here...actually will go back and check it as I have not looked in ages if anyone has been able to dial one in).
Finally, those searching for what they want and need for Envelope Filters should check out the excellent recent YouTube series/study on the matter by PJ and the Beard called appropriately enough the Shakedown Sound. These guys are great and have taken the time to create a series of vids that go way deep into a host of leading Envelope Filters across the price gamut. Excellent content from these 2 characters for those shopping around for an Envelope Filter well worth checking it out on YouTube here to start and then off down the rabbit hole as there are a host of vids on the various EF pedals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15hVyUx ... gPJOqxL5nT
Also, look at Dan and Mick on That Pedal Show where they have done great work across all pedals and amp settings etc. and have episodes dedicated to EFs as well. They go long and deep like this post and are entertaining UKers who serve the community well. I first heard about the Source Audio Spectrum last year from them and bought one instantly after they did a random mix bag pedal video about the Neo micro Vent Leslie pedal and the Spectrum. Both now reside on my board.
Again thanks to everyone here who has helped me along the way across the years in the quest for a good EF tone, greatly appreciated.
Hope this helps.
- HS
I have posts in history here at rukind talking across all 3 main EFs I have used and worked with for extended periods of playing on my board;
1. Q-Tron Micro
2. 3Leaf Audio Proton EF
3. Mutron Microtron IV.
I used all three of these extensively across the past decade of more serious playing for my EF Jerry tone, I am as happy as I think I can be sonically speaking with the Mutron IV. It is very sensitive (they all are) but even with my go-to Strat modded with my bridge Lollar Imperial Humbucker I can get as close as I ever have to a rich, stable and consistent Shakedown-Estimated-Stranger sound that I am satisfied with and that varies little between chords and single-note attack.
I more or less had to enjoy my initial time building pedalboards and as they say searching for the sounds, but the EF is one of the toughest to nail down at least for me with any consistency. First I tussled with the Q-Tron Micro from EH then moving on to the Proton. Both get you very close with the Proton being even closer than the Q but neither left me overall fully satisfied with a solid stable attack, sustain and quack especially on the high B and e strings on a Strat even with the higher output of a Humbucker.
The Mutron Micro has brought me stability and fluidity across all registers, easy enough to tame to remove any harsh overly distorted quacking when playing chords versus single notes. I found that balance a lot harder to deal with in particular with the Q-Tron micro. That said though and taking into consideration its price point it is a phenomenal pedal for price-quality, but just like the difference between good and excellent wine, you tend to get what you pay for and there tends to be variance with the EH EF in the realm of smooth consistency in my POV versus the Mutron Microtron IV.
The Mutron Microtron IV is built like a tank though I would caution it is also sensitive, so when your clumsy musician friends or audience member kicks your pedalboard as they stumble about "getting their space together" beware. It has happened to me plenty that a slight knock of a level knob here or there can lead to sonic frustration, and WTFs so pay attention for those who simply do not or cannot.
Additionally, I recently added the excellent Source Audio Spectrum EF to my mix and now run with 2 EFs on my board. I did manage to dial in Jerry using the Dumpling setting quite ok, but not quite as creamy and seamless as the Mutron IV again but close. I love the Spectrum more for Bootsy Collins tones and synth Bass effects for funk and dig it but it is not my go-to for Jerry necessarily.
At some point, I plan to look into downloading some of the user-generated modded settings you can access on their site, I have seen one claiming to cover for the "Down" function of the EF that Jerry uses sublimely for that flute-like Dancin' 77 sound he blazes with. I have never found an adequate "Down" setting on my Mutron IV satisfactorily (I think I have a thread on that in the Dancin' forums from the Tab here...actually will go back and check it as I have not looked in ages if anyone has been able to dial one in).
Finally, those searching for what they want and need for Envelope Filters should check out the excellent recent YouTube series/study on the matter by PJ and the Beard called appropriately enough the Shakedown Sound. These guys are great and have taken the time to create a series of vids that go way deep into a host of leading Envelope Filters across the price gamut. Excellent content from these 2 characters for those shopping around for an Envelope Filter well worth checking it out on YouTube here to start and then off down the rabbit hole as there are a host of vids on the various EF pedals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15hVyUx ... gPJOqxL5nT
Also, look at Dan and Mick on That Pedal Show where they have done great work across all pedals and amp settings etc. and have episodes dedicated to EFs as well. They go long and deep like this post and are entertaining UKers who serve the community well. I first heard about the Source Audio Spectrum last year from them and bought one instantly after they did a random mix bag pedal video about the Neo micro Vent Leslie pedal and the Spectrum. Both now reside on my board.
Again thanks to everyone here who has helped me along the way across the years in the quest for a good EF tone, greatly appreciated.
Hope this helps.
- HS
Last edited by healthy_scratch on Tue Jan 25, 2022 2:57 am, edited 1 time in total.