Sometimes you want to just lay down the funk. What is the best way to do that? Obviously, find yourself the best envelope filter pedal you can.
The envelope filter, sometimes called an auto-wah, Q-way, T-wah, etc, is an effect that sounds similar to a wah pedal. You may have tried to play with a wah pedal before and you can't quite get the rhythm down. Or maybe you just want to focus more on your playing and let the effect take care of itself.
Either way, the envelope filter pedal is just what the doctor ordered.
The Best Envelope Filter
If you want to skip the rest of the list and just get straight to our top pick, then this is the section for you.
The Best Sounding Envelope Filter Pedal
Our top pick from this list is the Electro-Harmonix Riddle: Q-Balls. This pedal gives you control over every single aspect of your sound. You can control the frequencies at which the filter starts, stops, the rate of the sweep. You can even connect an expression pedal and control the sweep manually, ala a wah pedal.
Our Top Picks
Best Budget Pedal
1. SONICAKE Cry-Bot Auto Wah Envelope Filter
Best Mid-Range Pedal
4. EarthQuaker Devices Spatial Delivery
Best Premium Pedal
7. Electro-Harmonix Riddle: Q-Balls
Best Envelope Filter Review
As you can see, we've split this list into three categories; Best Budget Pedal, Best Mid-Range Pedal, and Best Premium Pedal.
Best Budget Pedal
1. SONICAKE Cry-Bot Auto Wah Envelope Filter
Description:
Let's start this list with an awesome pedal. It may be in the budget category but it doesn't sound like it. The Sonicake Cry-Bot offers a ton of sound control in a very small package.
To start out, this thing is true bypass so you won't have any unwanted noise when it is not in use. Next, you have 4 knobs to control your effect. The sensitivity control is big and smack dab in the center. This lets you set how the effect reacts to your picking.
Across the top of the pedal you'll find frequency, decay, and pres knobs. They each control the frequency range, how quickly the frequency returns to it's resting point, and how bright the filter effect is.
Features: 100% analog envelope filter, dynamically controlled, works with both guitar and bass, tone shaping with 4 control knobs, true bypass
Dimensions/Weight: 3.94 x 2.99 x 2.36 inches; 9.2 oz
True Bypass? yes
Input: 1 x ¼"
Output: 1 x ¼"
Pros:
- great sound for low cost
- easy to pick up and use
- small profile can sneak right onto your pedal baord unnoticed
Cons:
- less effective with bass
- sensitivity could be stronger
Best Mid-Range Pedal
2. SolidGold FX Funk Lite
Description:
If you want to add some old school, down and dirty funk to your playing, this pedal will not disappoint. It is designed to give you a smooth attack while filtering out some of the more "harsh frequencies and unusable peaks".
The controls are simple and easy to use. You get three knobs; depth, frequency, and attack. Depth and frequency give you control over the character and timber of the effect. Attack controls how sensitive the effect is to your playing.
Features: based on the Funkzilla design, 100% analog signal path, simple interface, intuitive controls, control frequency depth and attack, works with guitar bass and keyboard
Dimensions/Weight: 5.04 x 4.8 x 2.64 inches; 9.8 oz
True Bypass? yes
Input: 1 x ¼"
Output: 1 x ¼"
Pros:
- smooth attack
- intuitive control scheme
Cons:
- no option for battery power, 9v adapter only (included)
3. Pigtronix EP2
Description:
If the Electro-Harmonix Riddle was not our top choice, this would be it. Again, you get a ton of control options at a pretty reasonable price.
Unlike the Riddle, the Pigtronix EP 2 lets you process your sound through LFO, envelope, or both. The variety of sounds you can get from this pedal is amazing. The LFO gives you control over the speed, depth, and center. While the envelop sweeps up and down; chosen by a toggle switch.
You can also attach an optional expression pedal for more control of the envelope function. This pedal is super fun and incredibly versatile.
Features: uni-vibe style rotary phaser, envelope controlled phasing, can combine both effects
Dimensions/Weight: 4 x 12 x 9 inches; 2.1 lbs
True Bypass? yes
Input: 1 x ¼"
Output: 1 x ¼"
Pros:
- combines two great effects
- optional expression pedal control
- easy to use
Cons:
- some reports of muddy guitar tone
4. EarthQuaker Devices Spatial Delivery
Description:
The EarthQuaker Devices Spatial Delivery pedal is a hand crafted masterpiece. It is small in size, simple in control scheme, but packs a punch that is out of this world.
You get three modes of control; upward sweep, downward sweep, and sample and hold. The first two are pretty straight forward. Sample and hold is activated by random voltage with the speed controlled by the Range knob.
In Up and Down modes, Range controls the sensitivity to your picking dynamics. Filter allows you to fine tune between low-pass and high-pass. This is really cool. Most pedals give you a toggle to use one or the other. This pedal lets you experiment and blend the two. Finally, Resonance is a filter feeedback control.
Features: voltage controlled envelope filter, range resonance and filter control knobs, flexi-switch allows latching or momentary operation, 3 modes, hand made
Dimensions/Weight: 6 x 3 x 3 inches; 12 oz
True Bypass? yes
Input: 1 x ¼"
Output: 1 x ¼"
Pros:
- simple three knob setup
- sample and hold mode is unique
5. Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron+
Description:
Electro-Harmonix is making the first of two appearance on this list with the Q-Tron+. This pedal is perfect if you're looking for those smooth, warm, mellow tones ala Jerry Garcia and John Mayer.
You can choose between two directions of sweep; upward and downward. Mode is unique in that you can choose between low, band, and high-pass or a 4th mix option. Gain controls the sensitivity and has added power option via the boost knob.
This pedal intelligently reacts to the intensity of your playing dynamics. The peak of the filter automatically adjusts based on your picking velocity. It also has a built-in effects loop so you can connect an external pedal to work with the filter section.
Features: FX send/FX return, 4 modes, sweep direction toggle switch, Range Peak Gain and Boost controls, power adapter included
Dimensions/Weight: 8 x 3.5 x 7 inches; 1.95 lbs
True Bypass? yes
Input: 1 x ¼"
Output: 1 x ¼"
Pros:
- lots of tuning options
- control the shape of the filter
- fun and funky tone
Cons:
- large size
6. Maxon 9-Series Auto-Filter
Description:
The Maxon 9-Series is an auto-filter pedal that is known for its "shimmering, watery" filter effects. You can get some great sounds out of this pedal.
Choose between low, high, and band pass filters with a frequency range of 100 Hz to 4kHz. That means you can use this pedal with a wide variety of instruments, not just guitar and bass.
Unlike every other pedal on this list, the Maxon uses a series of sliders and switches instead of knobs. These sliders help give you a more accurate feel for each of the settings. This pedal is designed to have a more vintage tone similar to the classic Mu-Tron III. This is also the pedal used by former Megadeth guitarist, Marty Friedman.
Features: opto-coupler circuitry gives vintage filtering effects, threshold and peak sliders control degree of the effect, switches to control range and filter sweep direction, 3 filter types
Dimensions/Weight: 6 x 3.5 x 2.5 inches; 1 lb
True Bypass? yes
Input: 1 x ¼"
Output: 1 x ¼"
Pros:
- controls are sensitive enough to dial in several differrent kind of sounds
- warm sound
- same circuitry as the Mu-Tron III
Cons:
- volume not consistent between bypass and when engaged
Best Premium Pedal
7. Electro-Harmonix Riddle: Q-Balls
Description:
This pedal is everything you could want in an envelope filter. Electro-Harmonix has gone far and beyond what is expected with the Riddle: Q-Balls.
To start out, you have three modes to choose from; low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass. Each mode allows you to emphasize a specific set of frequencies while playing. The sensitivity knob controls both the reactivity of the filter within each mode and acts as a gain control when the pedal is in analog.
The start and stop rotaries control where the sweep starts and ends; respectively. The controls work in relation with one another. If you set the start low and the stop high the result will be a percussive effect. The If you set start high and stop low you will get a more psychadelic, trippy kind of sound.
Attack and decay control the speed and length of the effect. Q is a resonance control. Pan it all the way to the left for a wide band filter.
Finally, use the blend knob to control the mix of dry and filtered signals. Both signals have their own output, as well.
And did we mention you can also connect an expression pedal to manually control the sweep? Yeah. This pedal has it all.
Features: 80Hz to 5kHz frequency response, switch selectable analog distortion, Low-pass Band-Pass and High-Pass filter modes, dry out/effect out, power supply included
Dimensions/Weight: 8 x 3.5 x 7 inches; 1.95 lbs
True Bypass? yes
Input: 2 x ¼" (instrument & expression pedal)
Output: 2 x ¼" (dry out/effect out)
Pros:
- full control of your sound
- supports optional expression pedal
- includes power adapter
Cons:
- may take some time to figure out all of the options
How To Choose The Right Envelope Filter
An envelope filter, also known as an auto-wah, is a peak filtering effect similar to a wah pedal. The difference being that an envelope filter will auto adjust instead of a manual foot/expression pedal.
What Does It Do?
It takes specific frequencies and highlights them while either lowering the volume, or muting others altogether.
How Does It Work?
The effect is based on playing dynamics. So the harder you play the stronger the effect gets. Basically it measures the volume of your signal then adjusts the envelope filter to alter when the frequencies that are muted.
What's It Sound Like?
It sounds a lot like a wah pedal. It is used predominantly in styles like funk, reggae, and jam bands. Jerry Garcia was an avid fan of the envelope filter. For an example of what, listen to the intro of I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You) by John Mayer.
What Features To Look For
There a some features that you will want to consider when picking out a pedal for yourself.
True Bypass
You want to make sure that when the effect is not engaged it is not bleeding into the signal. True bypass just means when the pedal is not activated the signal is bypassing the effect.
Control Options
The more control you have over the effect and your sound the better. Unless that seems overwhelming, then just get something with a single knob.
There are many envelope filters that offer control over every aspect of the auto-wah sound. We go more into what each of those controls are a little later.
How Do You Use An Envelope Filter?
First of all, you will want to stick it close to the front of your signal chain. Then plug in your guitar and start playing. You can adjust the settings along the way.
Knobs/Controls
Most envelope filters will have some form of sensitivity control. Since the effect is dynamically controlled, you have to tell the pedal how and at what level to adjust the filtering effect.
Other controls you may find include:
Mode or Filter
This setting lets you select low-pass, band-pass, or high-pass. Low-pass let's frequencies below a certain frequency through, high-pass is anything higher, and band-pass is a mid point and allows frequencies on above and below.
Each mode will offer it's own unique style and flavor. Play around with them to see which sounds most like your style.
Range/Sweep
This controls what range of the frequency is filtered through the effect. For instance, if you want your lower registers to have more of an effect than your higher register, you would adjust the range/sweep accordingly.
Attack/Response
Similar to the rate control on flanger or phase effects, this controls the speed at which you reach the filter's peaks.
Decay
Decay works in conjunction with attack/response. Just as attack adjust how quickly the effect peaks, decay controls how quickly the effect cuts out.
Common Questions
Guitar effects almost always inspire a lot of questions. Here are some of the more common questions asked about envelope filter pedals.
Where does it fit in the signal chain?
We briefly covered this above. You will want it close to the front of your signal chain. The only thing you may want in front of it is a dynamic effect, like a compressor.
According to Strymon.net, the best order in which you should align your signal chain is:
- Dynamics (compressors), filters (wah), pitch shifters, and Volume pedals
- Gain (overdrive/distortion)
- Modulation (chorus, flangers, phasers)
- Time (delays, reverbs)
- "Volume pedals can go at the beginning or end of your signal chain to provide slightly different functionality in different locations in your chain."
What Songs Use An Envelope Filter?
The envelope filter has been used in a lot of popular songs across many different genres:
Paranoid Android by Radiohead
Mysterious Ways by U2
Fire On The Mountain (or anything they played live) by The Grateful Dead
Sir Psycho Sexy by The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Amber by 311
Funkentelechy by Parliament
Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder
As you can see, the envelope filter can find a way to fit into a number of genres and sound great.
Best Budget Envelope Filter
The top pick for the best envelop filter pedal on a budget is
Overall Top choice
Again, our top pick for best envelope filter is the Electro-Harmonix Riddle: Q-Balls. This pedal has everything you could possibly want from an envelope filter. You are in full control of every aspect of sound the filter makes.
If you are serious about integrating this effect into your personal sound you can't go wrong with this pedal.
Conclusion
By now you should have a good idea of what an envelope filter is, what it does, how it works, and, most importantly, which pedal is best for you. Grab one and get back to playing!
Leave a Reply