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For info on these demo clips please goto the youtube page.
Thanks, Doug
Thanks, Doug
Any Auto-Wah love out there? Short Demo here.
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I got my first auto-wah - a Fernandes Funky Filter - in 1977 or so, later graduating to a first-issue MXR Envelope Filter. One of the things I liked to do was make judicious use of a compressor ahead of the filter so that the filter would just ride the threshold for sweeping, something you seemed to make great use of in the clip. People seemto thing these things have to be used for explicit sweeps, but as your clip demonstrates, they canbe used just to add a little "animation" to tone.
Nice.
Nice.
G
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·I bought the Snow White Auto Wah. I find it very weak and sucky.
Here's a piece I wrote some time back on these pedals, well before digital versions of same: The Technology of Auto-Wahs / Envelope-Controlled Filters
Provides some explanation of how to get the best out of them. They're not quite as tricky as noise gates, in terms of optimal setup, but often not far behind.
Provides some explanation of how to get the best out of them. They're not quite as tricky as noise gates, in terms of optimal setup, but often not far behind.
G
Guest
·The Snow White Auto Wah makes a quick undesirable Porky Pig "PUHH" or "BWUHH" vocal type sound at the start of each pick strike. It is very difficult to dial it out, and it makes the pedal pretty much unusable.
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I have a Mutron Clone (built by Dave's pedals), I also have a Danelectro French Fries. Both are tone sucks but I think that's a common thing with envelope filters like this. I used a KTR on my pedal chain at one time just as a buffer for the Mutron.
One of the reasons why I always loved the MXR Envelope Filter. It's one of the only units - or at least was at the time - that allowed the player to adjust the attack time so that it complemented the rhythm and feel of the song. If you have a chance, try out the EHX Riddle. The Snow White has a decay-time control, which is handy, but the Riddle has far more control over the feel by also including an attack-time control, and start/stop controls to set how wide the sweep is and in what direction. That should eliminate the element you find unpleasant.
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Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer or reseller for Zoom...just a picky old fart with his toys.
I used to be pedal crazy, like most players..... but over the years I have scaled back to one.
I have been running a stereo set up for stage use along time now with only a stereo chorus pedal to give me that wide- fat -space.
I bought the Zoom MS 100BT a few years ago.... I was looking for one pedal that would give me stereo in/out with chorus and reverb without spending huge .
I was hesitant about buying a Zoom....I remember their older pedals were pretty noisy and the efx. were of low audio quality.
I poked around online and checked out their demos, I ordered it expecting to return the pedal the same day.
To my suprise, it was dead quiet.... the rev. patches even when maxed out on decay time were smooth, no glitchy A/D- D/A converter stuff noticed.
In an A/B test, if found no 'noticable' degradation of signal between the pedal and a direct line from guitar to amp, good enough and then some for a live application.
About a year ago I bought the G3 which gives more options for efx foot switching for stage use.
The editing features are very user friendy and the tweaks for each effect are very generous.
I believe the auto -wah for example, gives you control over sensitivity, attack, decay ,envelope, frequency , output level, etc.
For those who may be curious...There are some amp modelling and distn./ overdrive patches that are crazy gain and over the top but can all be dialed back and controlled.
Lots and lots of chorus-flange and modulation efx as well.
RE: The MS 100BT... I'm still amazed at what can be packed into one pedal with the footprint of a Boss pedal and ...bluetooth on board.
Paired with an i0S device and an app. that takes U to the 'Zoom store'...where U can demo the stuff they have directly on your pedal .
Some of the efx. there are good, some pretty cheezy but are free or super cheap to buy and download to your pedal.....crazy!
I don't use overdrive pedals with my amp , most of the tracks I record are guitar direct to amp.
I stumbled upon the auto-wah patch in the Zoom when I was looking for a different flavour.
I'm fussy about having a low noise floor for recording and when I wanted something different for the demo, the Zoom's auto -wah fit the track 4 my needs.
Your comment about the guitar voicing being 'animated' is spot on mhammer.
The compression you picked up on is inherent in the overdive settings in my pre-amp design....good ear!
The thing about "big" companies is that when they make mistakes, they can often take the opportunity to learn from them and improve. Or else they become very small companies very quickly. From your description, Zoom appears to have been among those that learned, and taken steps to get past their reputation as a purveyor of noisy FX.
Beyond that, I think digital FX have had a steeper learning curve in the design process for many effects that are dynamic, like distortion and autowahs, as opposed to carry-on-in-spite-of effects, like chorus, delay, phasing, EQ, tremolo, etc. Even though there is much that can be implemented in swept filters to provide greater expression, nuance, and control, designers have been largely content to replicate much simpler analog auto-wahs in the digital doman, without going much beyond them.
FWIW, Richard, it is a simple matter to mod a Snow White to provide slower attack times.
Beyond that, I think digital FX have had a steeper learning curve in the design process for many effects that are dynamic, like distortion and autowahs, as opposed to carry-on-in-spite-of effects, like chorus, delay, phasing, EQ, tremolo, etc. Even though there is much that can be implemented in swept filters to provide greater expression, nuance, and control, designers have been largely content to replicate much simpler analog auto-wahs in the digital doman, without going much beyond them.
FWIW, Richard, it is a simple matter to mod a Snow White to provide slower attack times.
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Just got a BT myself. They are discontinued now, all of the Zoom effects on the app are FREE. Get one while you can and grab another few dozen free effects too.
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Yeah, I think they have been discontinued for a couple of years now.
I still have mine ,bought it through L&M in T.O. for $160.00 in 2013 and use it along with the G3 on occasion.
I believe the price jumped before they discontinued it.
I haven't been into the Zoom stomp share site since last fall but I have the the latest/ last ? update...
I'll have to check it out. Cheers..
FWIW.. just had a quick look online...amazon.ca seems to be offering the remaining 100BT's, now at well over $300.00!
I still have mine ,bought it through L&M in T.O. for $160.00 in 2013 and use it along with the G3 on occasion.
I believe the price jumped before they discontinued it.
I haven't been into the Zoom stomp share site since last fall but I have the the latest/ last ? update...
I'll have to check it out. Cheers..
FWIW.. just had a quick look online...amazon.ca seems to be offering the remaining 100BT's, now at well over $300.00!
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