Analog Filters

spsnoise · 9th June 2006

I've been looking into an analog filter box to spruce up my virtual synths, but can't decide on one. Anyone have experience with using an outboard filter in this respect?

What do you reccomend?

I've been loong at the Eowave Filter Bug and the Frostwave Resonator as my first picks. I really like the way the filters on the MS20 sound so the Resonator takes the cake at this moment, but perhaps there is something out there better. My music is a blend of industrial and indie rock if that helps.

Pricing under $500 for any reccomendations.

Thanks

Tibbon · 10th June 2006

The Moog MF-101 does the trick for me. Check out that or the Sherman Filter Bank.

Ryan MOore · 10th June 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by spsnoise

I've been looking into an analog filter box to spruce up my virtual synths, but can't decide on one. Anyone have experience with using an outboard filter in this respect?

What do you reccomend?

I've been loong at the Eowave Filter Bug and the Frostwave Resonator as my first picks. I really like the way the filters on the MS20 sound so the Resonator takes the cake at this moment, but perhaps there is something out there better. My music is a blend of industrial and indie rock if that helps.

Pricing under $500 for any reccomendations.

Thanks

orig korg ms20 sounds more nasty and funky than the frostwave imo.
the Moogerfooger filter is great sounding but its low pass filter only.
sherman filterbank is kind of a classic filter - i haven't used one much tho'
mutronics mutator is wacky but expensive for what you get - an expanded low pass filter basically,
hope that helps,

Mr. Victory · 10th June 2006

Check out the Akai mfc42. Its 1 mono in 1 stereo in/stereo out. Switchable filters and slopes for each. Midi syncable and all knobs send controller values! And it sounds great and fits your bill.

I've been lovin' mine.

SV

Drumsound · 10th June 2006

Electrix Filter Queen. I think I paid Jay Kahrs $100 for mine.

amino · 10th June 2006

I have two stand-alone analogue filters at the moment.

The Mutator costs over $500 but sounds incredible. It has an impressive low end even if you crank up the resonance. It is very smooth and almost everything sounds better through it even if you leave the filter completely open. You can use it for panning, tremolo etc as well.

The Sherman Filterbank is a completely different beast. It is dirty as a mud wrestler, but of course in a good way. It adds a lot of character to everything so I wouldn't choose it as my only filter.

I used to have the Moogerfooger filter as well, but even if I'm a big fan of Robert Moog's stuff, I let it go. It sounds great as well, but I didn't like the format and it doesn't have much headroom on the input. It's not for balanced line levels. And of course I have some Moogfilters elsewhere.

Sqye · 10th June 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Victory

Check out the Akai mfc42. Its 1 mono in 1 stereo in/stereo out. Switchable filters and slopes for each. Midi syncable and all knobs send controller values! And it sounds great and fits your bill.

I've been lovin' mine.

SV

good call.

got two - luv 'em.

also like the elektrix filter factory - got 2 uh those, as well,
and the warp factory.

i have to say i'm loving the antares filter plug, though.

Tibbon · 10th June 2006

The nastyst filter I have is on my Sidstation. That puppy is just sick sounding.

u b k · 11th June 2006

the mutator may be pricey but it sounds like god... even makes a kurzweil sound analog.

sherman filterbank is another do-no-wrong piece. nice distortion when abused, too.

gregoire
del ubik

sasha222 · 11th June 2006

I have a Mutator. It is amazingly smooth. It has LFOs for each channel with attack release and sensitivity as well as external trigger (very useful). It also has MIDI for cutoff and resonance. The Mutator is the reason I haven;t bought real analog synths yet, just run a digi through it and enjoy the silky smoothnesss. turn the resonance up to self oscilattion and control the cutoff with midi and you've got a very nice standalone analog monosynth ...i am addicted to the sound

robd · 12th June 2006

I don't have most of these right now, but have played with them.
frostwave: like someone said, not as gritty as an ms20
mooggerfooger: sounds really really beautiful, like a classic moog.
either of these will require you to get a midi to cv converter if you want them to track the keyboards of your digital synths.

Sherman: a little over $500 butt well worth it. midi is built in, so you'll have no trouble getting it to keytrack. It also has a huge host of other thing built in. it is truly a monster.

next on my list to buy: a sherman of my very own.

**matt thomas** · 12th June 2006

I have a sherman, whilst it is incrdible sometimes I prefer the simplicity of the electrix filters

narco

Samplecraze · 12th June 2006

Mutator, Waldorf and Sherman........................but I also like an oldie that rarely gets a mention, Peavey Filter Bank. Very subtle, as opposed to Sherman madness, but has a nice colour.

Bhang · 9th July 2006

For general nice warm filtering I would suggest The Filterfactory. Nothing fancy, just a good clean analog filter with a good set of options & midi. I found the distortion to suck, though. For nasty gritty tear sounds apart filtering I would go for the Sherman.

OrchidSound · 10th July 2006

I use the Moogerfooger MF101 and have been pleased with the results.

Is anyone using the Waldorf Miniworks 4-Pole filter with good results?

baikonour · 10th July 2006

Yes I use the mini works 4 pole (hardware), it's a cool filter, it does its own thing, I particulary like to sync the LFO to the pan....the LFO can be so fast it goes sonic... it sounds like a ring modulator. You can drive the input with good result too. But its only a low pass, no high or band...It sounds really different from a Mutator which is really smooth (too much for my taste) or a Sherman (does its crazy own thing) I was really impressed by the MAM Wasp, it sounds really good, quite unique and pretty cheap...

Meriphew · 10th July 2006

Another vote for the Electrix Filter Factory.

Steamy Williams · 10th July 2006

Another one that no one has mentioned is the DACS FwS FREQue II. I've never tried it, so I can't comment on it.

Justynfromnz · 10th July 2006

one more for the sherman
I got an MS20 too and the sherman doesnt really soud like it much
But I like it more than the filter factory
the FF i had sounded kinda 1 dimensional
was happier with the sherman

okailla · 10th July 2006

SND FB-14

9th June 2006	#1
spsnoise Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: noho, ca Posts: 184 Thread Starter	Analog Filters I've been looking into an analog filter box to spruce up my virtual synths, but can't decide on one. Anyone have experience with using an outboard filter in this respect? What do you reccomend? I've been loong at the Eowave Filter Bug and the Frostwave Resonator as my first picks. I really like the way the filters on the MS20 sound so the Resonator takes the cake at this moment, but perhaps there is something out there better. My music is a blend of industrial and indie rock if that helps. Pricing under $500 for any reccomendations. Thanks

12th June 2006	#12
matt thomas Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Zealand/Switzerland/guitar case Posts: 7,949	I have a sherman, whilst it is incrdible sometimes I prefer the simplicity of the electrix filters narco __________________ Steve Gadd, New York Brass, David Kahne, Abbey Road Mastering, all featuring on Lesley Meguid (my wife)'s album "The Truth About Love Songs", out now! Check out some previews on www.itunes.com/lesleymeguid or Lesley Meguid on Facebook - neve, fairchild, m49 for vox etc..

12th June 2006	#13
Samplecraze Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 213	Mutator, Waldorf and Sherman........................but I also like an oldie that rarely gets a mention, Peavey Filter Bank. Very subtle, as opposed to Sherman madness, but has a nice colour. __________________ Samplecraze Stretch That Note

9th July 2006	#14
Bhang Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 459	Sherman For general nice warm filtering I would suggest The Filterfactory. Nothing fancy, just a good clean analog filter with a good set of options & midi. I found the distortion to suck, though. For nasty gritty tear sounds apart filtering I would go for the Sherman. __________________ Gear FreQ

10th July 2006	#19
Justynfromnz Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bushwick , NYC Posts: 320	one more for the sherman I got an MS20 too and the sherman doesnt really soud like it much But I like it more than the filter factory the FF i had sounded kinda 1 dimensional was happier with the sherman __________________ Sorry About the Mess

10th June 2006	#2
Tibbon Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Boston/MA Posts: 4,774 2 Reviews written	The Moog MF-101 does the trick for me. Check out that or the Sherman Filter Bank.

10th June 2006	#4
Mr. Victory Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: LIC, NY Posts: 141	Check out the Akai mfc42. Its 1 mono in 1 stereo in/stereo out. Switchable filters and slopes for each. Midi syncable and all knobs send controller values! And it sounds great and fits your bill. I've been lovin' mine. SV

10th June 2006	#5
Drumsound Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bloomington Il Posts: 5,032	Electrix Filter Queen. I think I paid Jay Kahrs $100 for mine.

10th June 2006	#6
amino Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 640	I have two stand-alone analogue filters at the moment. The Mutator costs over $500 but sounds incredible. It has an impressive low end even if you crank up the resonance. It is very smooth and almost everything sounds better through it even if you leave the filter completely open. You can use it for panning, tremolo etc as well. The Sherman Filterbank is a completely different beast. It is dirty as a mud wrestler, but of course in a good way. It adds a lot of character to everything so I wouldn't choose it as my only filter. I used to have the Moogerfooger filter as well, but even if I'm a big fan of Robert Moog's stuff, I let it go. It sounds great as well, but I didn't like the format and it doesn't have much headroom on the input. It's not for balanced line levels. And of course I have some Moogfilters elsewhere.

11th June 2006	#9
u b k Gear Guru Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The Land of Sunshine Posts: 11,035	the mutator may be pricey but it sounds like god... even makes a kurzweil sound analog. sherman filterbank is another do-no-wrong piece. nice distortion when abused, too. gregoire del ubik

11th June 2006	#10
sasha222 Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 695	I have a Mutator. It is amazingly smooth. It has LFOs for each channel with attack release and sensitivity as well as external trigger (very useful). It also has MIDI for cutoff and resonance. The Mutator is the reason I haven;t bought real analog synths yet, just run a digi through it and enjoy the silky smoothnesss. turn the resonance up to self oscilattion and control the cutoff with midi and you've got a very nice standalone analog monosynth ...i am addicted to the sound

12th June 2006	#11
robd Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 799	I don't have most of these right now, but have played with them. frostwave: like someone said, not as gritty as an ms20 mooggerfooger: sounds really really beautiful, like a classic moog. either of these will require you to get a midi to cv converter if you want them to track the keyboards of your digital synths. Sherman: a little over $500 butt well worth it. midi is built in, so you'll have no trouble getting it to keytrack. It also has a huge host of other thing built in. it is truly a monster. next on my list to buy: a sherman of my very own.

10th July 2006	#15
OrchidSound Gear interested Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: PHX Posts: 3	I use the Moogerfooger MF101 and have been pleased with the results. Is anyone using the Waldorf Miniworks 4-Pole filter with good results?

10th July 2006	#16
baikonour Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: brighton UK Posts: 1,597	Yes I use the mini works 4 pole (hardware), it's a cool filter, it does its own thing, I particulary like to sync the LFO to the pan....the LFO can be so fast it goes sonic... it sounds like a ring modulator. You can drive the input with good result too. But its only a low pass, no high or band...It sounds really different from a Mutator which is really smooth (too much for my taste) or a Sherman (does its crazy own thing) I was really impressed by the MAM Wasp, it sounds really good, quite unique and pretty cheap...

10th July 2006	#17
Meriphew Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle USA Posts: 2,874	Another vote for the Electrix Filter Factory.

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10th July 2006	#18
Steamy Williams Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 1,109	Another one that no one has mentioned is the DACS FwS FREQue II. I've never tried it, so I can't comment on it.

10th July 2006	#20
okailla Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Waterkant Posts: 315	SND FB-14