hardware filters

i think it would be brilliant if one day i owned one as they can be awesome in creating new sounds. ami right in thinking that they are mostly analogue?

i got a couple names from the trash_audio blogs.

first there is the Electro Harmonix Micro Synth:

which is a simpler model but supposedly good, created for guitars by the sound of it but can be used on anything

then there is the sherman filterbank:

^these sound crazy. i think that is all i'd ever need if i bought one, that and any old synth. the thing is they pretty much cost as much as a synth at around 800 dollars.

They are both analogue, they both sound great. iep has a Sherman filterbank and it sounds fucking phenominal.

If you're into DIY at all, you can build some very nice analogue filters for cheap. For instance, here's the PCB for Ken Stone's Synthacon (as in the same used in the Steiner Synthacon Synth, aka Synthacon 9 by AFX) filter. You can order the PCB's plus instructions, then buy the parts (cheap stuff mostly) at a local radio shack/electronics store: http://www.cgs.synth.net/modules/cgs35_syntha_vcf.html

There's loads more, just search around if you're interested.

  ten fingers ten toes said:

They are both analogue, they both sound great. iep has a Sherman filterbank and it sounds fucking phenominal.

 

If you're into DIY at all, you can build some very nice analogue filters for cheap. For instance, here's the PCB for Ken Stone's Synthacon (as in the same used in the Steiner Synthacon Synth, aka Synthacon 9 by AFX) filter. You can order the PCB's plus instructions, then buy the parts (cheap stuff mostly) at a local radio shack/electronics store: http://www.cgs.synth.net/modules/cgs35_syntha_vcf.html

 

There's loads more, just search around if you're interested.

not into diy, which is a shame because i'm sure that is a great gem.

more for getting wierd sounds and shit without all that work.

the synthacon VCF is quality

this one is too:

http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/vcf.html

i can build you some filters for a reasonable fee

Electro Harmonix pedals seriously activate my wang. I love them

i like this one

I own the EH Bass Microsynth and I have to say that there are a few issues I have with it:

First off, the pedal is listed at being true bypass, which is a load of bullshit. I rarely have this pedal set up in my signal path anymore because it definitely detracts from the brilliance of the sound passing through it when it is not engaged. The filter works well enough, with a very responsive tracking time, i.e. all notes trigger the filter as they should, unlike some other bass-oriented filter pedals (Boss, I'm looking at you). The mixer section allows you to combine a square wave with your bass signal, but there is no PWM. Also, I would think that since they allow you the option to dial in square wave, why not throw in a saw wave as well? Unfortunately, there is no saw wave function, which I found to be a letdown, because I normally associate synth bass sounds with saw wave awesomeness. Of course, you will likely just be using this as a filter bank/auto-filter, so that shouldn't bother you too much. Though, that does lead me to my final point, being that the filter just does not sound that good. Something about it is very muddy and simply lacks definition. I wish I could recommend this to you, because EH normally makes great pedals. But the facts point elsewhere.

Of course, this all applies to the bass model, which is not quite what you were looking it. Perhaps it's still worth checking out in your pursuit of a nice filter bank.

I like making crazy modulated multi filter effects patches on my modular g2. you can make some rediculous sounds with just modulated filters

For the most part, the majority of "hardware" filters aside from synthesizers themselves, are analog, but there's still plenty digital around. You could buy a used nord micromodular on ebay for dirt cheap or the g2 rack and use it only as a filter box and have so many options.

For hardware filters, there are a lot of different options. Analog, digital, stand alone filter, filter bank, analog recreations/imitations, digital analog recreations/imitations, analog modular modules, digitally controlled analog, voltage controller analog, etc. The filter is one of they key ingredients that makes a synthesizer have a different "sound" than others, since everything gets routed through it on most it's typically a st in stone kind of thing unless there is a true filter bypass.

There are lots of both analog and digital filter units. The Radikal technologies spektralis is a synth/groovebox, but it has an audio input and multi mode analog filters, plus a digital filter bank, and sounds exquisite. The sherman filterbank is an amazing piece of gear and I would love to own one. If you haven't gone to their website and listened to the demos i advise doing so. Great concept and engineering job.

I'm sure you know this, but in any analog or digital synth with an audio input could be considered a hardware filter as long as you can route into the filter. The problem that comes up with a lot of synths is lack of midi/gate syncable/triggerable envelope generators and envelope followers (the latter being key to input level modulation), and multi function envelopes (single, retrigger, normal, loop, etc). Also for example on my Microwave xt it has an audio input (sadly it's a mono and not stereo input) and I can route thru the filter, BUT there is no control to keep the gate open so i have to keep retriggering the amp envelope to keep the sound going which is annoying and not practically useful for constant filtering. In contrast I had a dave smith evolver and not only would it keep the envelope open automatically when told to do so, but it had an envelope generator (which was an envelope follower) that you could set to activate in relation to the volume level of your input, which was fantastic. Of course you can do all of these things in the nord modular, reaktor, or any modular synthesis method providing modules are available.

Another sad thing is with some really good hardware untis, for example the "Filtered Coffee" the envelope controls are sparse and you have to rely on something else to trigger the gate which I think was a big mistake for them not to implement full controls for the price they were asking.

Waldorf was the first company to create a analog filterbank with usb audio in and out, configurable by computer, The AFB 16. It was an amazing piece, 16 discreet analog filters based on their xpole/pulse filter but it was insanely expensive to manufacture and their asking price ($3000+ just for a filterbank!) killed it and it was actually one of the big reasons for waldorf going under when they did. I'm glad waldorf is back though, their filters, digital and analog are some of the best.

The AFB16 board is part of the Q+ and is a deadly combination. 16 voices (up to 100 when not using the analog filters) of digital goodness into those creamy filters is awesome!

Also here's a link that leads to the "MUTRONICS MIDI Mutator". A fantastic find if you can track one down. Very unique sound.

Some of my favs:

Digital:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Jun02/arti...ine6trackfx.asp

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov00/articles/electrix.htm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct99/articles/electrix.htm

http://www.spectralis.de/

Analog:

http://www.sherman.be/

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Aug02/arti...teredcoffee.asp

http://www.frostwave.com/theresonator/xindex.html

http://www.moogmusic.com/detail.php?main_product_id=5

http://www.vintagesynth.com/waldorf/xpole.shtml

http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/mutator.shtml

http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/warp9.shtml

http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/vermonaaf1.shtml

http://www.vintagesynth.com/akai/mfc42.shtml

great post brandi, that will help me out a lot

also, hathathat is going to help me out with a filter as well, good stuff.

No prob, as I was looking for links to put in my post I was amazed at the difficulty to find digital boxes. However, as its so cheap to make digital things compared to analog, I would assume most companies would go ahead and just make a synth with a filter and audio input instead of just a digital filter box. But I know there's more out there, if I can find some more resources i'll post em.

The Micro Synth has a good sound but hardly any control, only a weird ramp generator thing (start freq, end freq and rate)

This is the MAM Warp 9

Sound on Sound Review

MAM went out of biz about 4 years ago, but you should be able to get them second hand for fuck all (100 pounds?).

Features:

* Analogue circuit cloned from the EDP Wasp

* 12 db filter (not so "extreem" but it means it sounds good on other material eg drums. 303 is 18db, regular synths are 24db)

* Hi Pass, Lo Pass, Bandpass and Notch

* Analogue trigger

* LFO with lots of waveforms

* Sample/Hold

* 5 stage VCA - can use w/o filter as a slow gear, gapper, gate effect

* Full MIDI send and receive, can record a knob tweak performance

* can synch LFO to MIDI clock, reset on midi beat, etc

* Can trigger w/MIDI clock or MIDI note ons or velocity tracking

* Distortion

* Patch storage!

It's hard to learn, but random fiddling can create some electronic music as fuck sounds. It's a very dynamic and musical box.

Edit: I have both of these boxes so sing out if you want demos

  Brandi_B said:

Amen!

This is a homemade 4-pole 24db filter with an "MS-20 mod" added, that is the resonance amount varies as the signal gain changes.

It doesn't really sound that much like an MS-20, but it's interesting anyhow. Really, everyone should have a Nord Modular or 5.

  ten fingers ten toes said:

They are both analogue, they both sound great. iep has a Sherman filterbank and it sounds fucking phenominal.

 

If you're into DIY at all, you can build some very nice analogue filters for cheap. For instance, here's the PCB for Ken Stone's Synthacon (as in the same used in the Steiner Synthacon Synth, aka Synthacon 9 by AFX) filter. You can order the PCB's plus instructions, then buy the parts (cheap stuff mostly) at a local radio shack/electronics store: http://www.cgs.synth.net/modules/cgs35_syntha_vcf.html

 

There's loads more, just search around if you're interested.

fuck me i'm gonna have a go at that!

some yamaha cs and roland sh synths have external inputs for filtering :-D

a duder on circuitbending . com or some shit can also hack your sh 101 to add a filter but i never bothered cos i dont want to hack mine maybe if i get another 202 i will hack that cos it's more portanble it could be funny

re digital filters they basically sound like digital filters imo, er i mean they sound like flying pants a lot of the time. the resonance can sound like cock cheese, and not in a good way. on the korg ms2000 you can use the external filter but ive not really been attracted to it, it's go this sound like american electronic music people have that. go on myspace and search for electronic music and you will probably hear this filtering. on adobe audition the filtering is ok because the settings are really detailed. ive not got much time for digital synth filters cos it sounds like tigerbeat 6 or AutechreClone57 records output...

yeah it's a good idea to try the different filters out because if you dont like it youre going to waste your money!!

imo id rather have filters made of inductors/resistors/capacitors rather than a dsp chip!!

ive got a faulty 106 that starts goign crazy because one of the filter ic is faulty, sometimes it's alright, other times it pisses me off bad, your playing a song and recording it and the filter goes absotlutely berserk and the resonance is cranking up, but sometimes than kind of random effect sounds great on playing back the choon even if u thought it was shit at the time!!!

those diy kits looks like a good laugh

well everyone's got a different taste

it's better to try different things.... find some filter owners close to you and call over for an inspection !!

some people like sampler's filters, they are digital and you can hear it on dnb tuneage so you might recognise sth like that and like it

The frostwave resonater. Great product which is made by a great guy - support him.

http://www.frostwave.com/theresonator/

i think i want to buy a spectralis now

  TheTuskenRaider said:

The frostwave resonater. Great product which is made by a great guy - support him.

http://www.frostwave.com/theresonator/

LOL I thought u had a real MS20?

When did I say I didnt?

  TheTuskenRaider said:

When did I say I didnt?

When u said u had a clone of the filter just now? :undecided:

I guess you are allowed to have both.

I'm just recommending it because it's a good filter.

$348 for a filter seems a bit steep, does anyone have a PCB for an MS-20 filter clone? I bet it's like $30 in parts.

I don't think anyone mentioned these. They were supposed to start making them again again, but it didn't happen. Still a good value on the used market.

  scones to die for said:

I don't think anyone mentioned these. They were supposed to start making them again again, but it didn't happen. Still a good value on the used market.

 

 

even if you are going for the super generic resonance sweep sound, i dont think these are great at doing that. i have used one a lot before and i was always kind of disappointed by its sounds, it does not sound nearly as good as some of my standard modular filters like the Doepfer a-120 or even the a-102 and nowhere near as good as the Blacet filthy filtre

  Ghostbusters III said:

  scones to die for said:

I don't think anyone mentioned these. They were supposed to start making them again again, but it didn't happen. Still a good value on the used market.

 

 

 

even if you are going for the super generic resonance sweep sound, i dont think these are great at doing that. i have used one a lot before and i was always kind of disappointed by its sounds, it does not sound nearly as good as some of my standard modular filters like the Doepfer a-120 or even the a-102 and nowhere near as good as the Blacet filthy filtre

I've heard the Electrix filters are pretty bland, too. I've never used one myself, but if I were you, I would spring for the Resonator. Those are fantastic filters, plus they have CV inputs for both the high and low pass filters AND the two filters together can do some wicked beat rez effects.