Even though this review was made years ago, it's still the best demo out there. I bought both the envelope filter and the octave deluxe and I'm enjoying making some big dinosaur music. Thanks again bass whisperer!
How time flies - watched this review when it came out 14 years ago, and bought both the bass envelope filter and the carbon copy delay as a result. Already had the MXR bass octave as a result of Ed’s previous review of it. Have enjoyed this pedal trio to bits and all three are still on my pedal board! Thank you Ed for all the amazing reviews and over all inspiration over the years, you’re really one of the best.👍✨
Ed is a master. I’ve gigged this pedal. It made a massive impression. What mightn’t come across is how it’s shifts the lower frqencies. It’s a power pedal that absolutely cuts through the mix live. It’s an excellent usable pedal.
I bought the MXR octave, envelope and delay because of this review. Ed convinced me that I couldn't live without making underwater "big foot dinosaur kinda stuff". Thanks Ed, you bastard! Now I am broke guy that spends all day making big foot dinosaur funk.
Purchased this pedal after watching this vid. As a pedal noob I’ve been able to plug in the pedal and easily get some good tones. Most vids don’t give simple explanations like this. Thanks for this. Ten years in the market without change. This pedal is tried and proven.
@emosdieslow - I'm pretty familiar with theory, I've written 20 instructional books for Hal Leonard. However, I don't believe that understanding theory is all it takes to be great. While I've spent a lot of time learning it, some of my favorite players don't understand music from that angle. I don't advocate musical ignorance or illiteracy, but I do acknowledge there are different types of intelligence, musical and otherwise.
Well, after all, theory is just there to understand and internalize what us musicians do, and it helps in modelling creativity, but creativity doesn't need theory
Ed, got to say of all the product demos yours really set the bar. Being more interesting, in-depth, and i love the stuff you play, seemingly doing more for the gear your advertising too- Thanx
I had an od after the m82 and it didn't seem to work. Then I swapped them and the m82 really comes out. Maybe because I'm using an od rather than a distortion or muff?
You Sold Me ED! I was just searching for a Nano size Envelope Filter. I've always loved your playing style and have collected most of your instructional books & DVD's over the years. SLAP ON!
@RoLv92 - Well, I haven't tried everything they make, but so far everything I HAVE tried has been excellent. In particular, the Bass Envelope, and the Bass Octave pedals are outstanding.
I did not. However, I did purchase the MXR myself and I am very pleased with it. Could tone and control. I was looking for a subtle sound and I found it in this pedal. I am an MXR fan overall. I also have the latest bass compressor and the Carbon Copy pedal. Good luck.
All salesmen should take something from this guy, he really didn't leave much out of this review AND upsold two other pedals!!! If only all reviews were like this!
@maciekfingerstyle - Most likely I will not review the Reflex as it is essentially the 25th without the maple top. But I will say that it is an awesome bass!
so my MXR bass filter pretty much stopped working. it was working fine at first. now it is just a sludge sound with no bubbly filter action. I've done a bunch of different settings and it does not change! Is this common? Did I buy a lemon?
@RLHubner - It's a 74 J with a J-retro Preamp. You won't get the exact tone out of your Am Std. Not so much because of the rosewood, but due to the pickup spacing. Mine is 70s, yours is 60s, it does make a difference - but it would still sound nice. Maybe you need to get a Marcus Miller or 75 RI and put in the J-Retro.
Even though this board and comments are about The Funk; What about Geezer Butler on NIB ? Did he use a Wah-Wah or an Envelope ? See, there are other applications going on as well. Anybody know ? Thank you.
Long history of bringing the FUNK!! Can’t go wrong with MXR!!...this one works well with amps full of power & bottom!...use a comp AFTER it and see what happens!...then try an Octaver like he did and Dayum~yawl!! ☝🏾It has all the knobs you need to keep it in your control but range varies with the type of Bass used though...anyway,...it’s 😎 cool so go try one out!...👍🏾🎶
The problem with this effect, and most envelope filters, is that it's impossible to dial in a set tone. There are too many variables that will affect it. The volume, the room, the song, the length of the note, how hard you play -- EVERYTHING will change the tone. And at time it can go from WOOOOF to QuaaaaK with peaks and dips in volume. It's good for recording where you can spend time getting the right setting but I found it unreliable for live playing.
Comparing with the ehx, the main drawback of the mxr is the tiny pots : i find it hard to memorize their positions. The ehx concept makes it is easier to control, visualize and reproduce the different levels of effect. The 2 effects are also very different : mxr gives a more modern, controlled, electric sound. Not as sexy as the ehx, but very efficient with larger effect & tone spectrum than ehx. This makes the mxr more complete, and complex to use, in my opinion.
@BassGuitarMag The 3leaf Audio Groove Regulator is an envelope filter that is based on the Lovetone Meatball, although in a smaller and scaled back package. Not to push a product on you but you should look into it if you get a chance. It's impossible to get a bad sound out of the thing.
Hi Ed, Pedal newbie question - when you say you put the octave pedal "in front of" the envelope filter, do you mean the octave is closer to your bass or closer to the amp? I'm just not sure of the convention. Thanks
This is the best pedal review video I've seen, especially in the bass world. Great info, great style of play to really accentuate the tone and quality of the pedal as well as show the variety of it's capability. Not to mention the ending with the 3 pedals was incredible tone and tasteful playing. Good job, sir! One more thing, any opinion on the Pigtronix Bass Envelope phaser?
Ed, Please tell me what electronics that you are using your this bass, and the neck as well. This is the exact tone that I want on my jb, it's an '09 American Std Sunburst jb with a rosewood fretboard.
I've been playing bass for a while now and i wanted to get some fx stomp-boxes. So would you recommend this one or the cry baby 105Q? And are there any others that I should look at? Thanks!
Fucking awesome review. The 2 pedal combo is what I'm looking for with my Jazz... going to rumble the feet and funk up the walls. Word. You rock man, best reviewer on the net.
the bass fly rig version 2 from tech21nyc does all the Envelope sounds that pedal seems to do. Plus it even has an octiver in it. That said, this video was about 10 years ago, it’s amazing to see how technology changes rapidly even in non-Internet-based technologies. I can remember growing up, when I first started shortwave radio listening, you were not able to have a shortwave radio with single side band Wayback when when I started, or at least if you could I did not know about it at the time, now, there are tiny portables that have single side band capabilities. Instead of giant boat anchors that didn't have single side band, now you have these little portables that are about the size of a deck of cards that have single side band Plus other goodies. no internet required.
@BassGuitarMag Hello again Ed, How could I get a modern Jazz bass sound, like those used in smooth jazz and newer R&B stuff? I have an AM Std JB and I took a look at the J retro, very cool preamp, but would I need to use 2 batteries If I'd put some active pickups in there? Also what active pickups do you recommend for the 62 spacing on the JB? And finally, How many Jazz Basses do you have ???
Even though this review was made years ago, it's still the best demo out there. I bought both the envelope filter and the octave deluxe and I'm enjoying making some big dinosaur music.
Thanks again bass whisperer!
I think, I'm gonna buy both of them too ! Are you still happy with them?
I cannot believe how accurate the term "Bigfoot dinosaur stuff…" is to describe that sound!
How time flies - watched this review when it came out 14 years ago, and bought both the bass envelope filter and the carbon copy delay as a result. Already had the MXR bass octave as a result of Ed’s previous review of it.
Have enjoyed this pedal trio to bits and all three are still on my pedal board!
Thank you Ed for all the amazing reviews and over all inspiration over the years, you’re really one of the best.👍✨
Your tone is absolutely killer. Love the effect and your playing but that tone is honestly one of the best I have heard
this guy is a badass
I absolutely love Ed.
I can't believe this review is 12 years old. I just picked one of these up (although I have a Boss OC-5 in "OC-2 mode" in front of it) and I love it.
Ed is a master. I’ve gigged this pedal. It made a massive impression. What mightn’t come across is how it’s shifts the lower frqencies. It’s a power pedal that absolutely cuts through the mix live. It’s an excellent usable pedal.
I bought the MXR octave, envelope and delay because of this review. Ed convinced me that I couldn't live without making underwater "big foot dinosaur kinda stuff". Thanks Ed, you bastard! Now I am broke guy that spends all day making big foot dinosaur funk.
Purchased this pedal after watching this vid. As a pedal noob I’ve been able to plug in the pedal and easily get some good tones. Most vids don’t give simple explanations like this. Thanks for this. Ten years in the market without change. This pedal is tried and proven.
@emosdieslow - I'm pretty familiar with theory, I've written 20 instructional books for Hal Leonard. However, I don't believe that understanding theory is all it takes to be great. While I've spent a lot of time learning it, some of my favorite players don't understand music from that angle. I don't advocate musical ignorance or illiteracy, but I do acknowledge there are different types of intelligence, musical and otherwise.
Well, after all, theory is just there to understand and internalize what us musicians do, and it helps in modelling creativity, but creativity doesn't need theory
I don't think these idiots know who you are....
@erikboncoref.7020, really...? Tell that to Victor Wooten. I hope you're able to sleep telling yourself that bull$hit
Ed, got to say of all the product demos yours really set the bar. Being more interesting, in-depth, and i love the stuff you play, seemingly doing more for the gear your advertising too-
Thanx
That bit of improv at 3:11 - makes me smile every time!
Lol that little interlude between explaining the decay and Q knobs.
I’ve played drums for 24 years, but I’m buying a bass next week, and this is what I want. 😩 Sooo much funk!
I used my 70's MXR filter in front of distortion pedals and it ROCKS!!!! YES!
I had an od after the m82 and it didn't seem to work. Then I swapped them and the m82 really comes out. Maybe because I'm using an od rather than a distortion or muff?
Best demo I found so far . This is the video that sold the pedal to me .
Ed, your bass demos are always awesome! Just bought the MXR Bass Envelope Filter and Octave Deluxe thanks to this killer demo!!!
You Sold Me ED! I was just searching for a Nano size Envelope Filter. I've always loved your playing style and have collected most of your instructional books & DVD's over the years. SLAP ON!
i love the combo at the end. great video
this demo sold me on the pedal, excellent video!
Great sounds on this review Ed. Lots of fun to listen to.
you look like the true bass wizard
I wanted to know a bit more about this pedal and ive found your video right away. You are the best! Namaste
Thank you very much! This tutorial is really helpful! I would love to see how to use this with other effects, like octave or chorus.
Daaayyyyummmm!!! Ed is really the man! Thanks for that funky demo. Was thinking of upgrading to this. Now, I'm convinced.
NATIVITY IN BLACK🎶🔥🎶🔥
Great thorough demo
Love your playing and the way you make this pedal sound!
Excellent review...thank you!
Love this. I’m gonna get one!
Could you demo the MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe? I think you are great a "demoing" pedals and are very entertaining too! Keep it up!
I was just about to buy an ebs chorus and octave pedal this week but now you got me thinking.
@tessteekle - Yeah, it's a '74 J with a Badass II and J-Retro preamp.
Nice, BW...picked one up and I'm diggin' it! Thanks for the demo...cheers!
At 2:16, that's where the funk lives. Outstanding review, your tone is just fantastic Ed!
@jmattbassplaya90 - Not sure when that will get done. I will say the the MXR comp is very nice. It's pretty transparent, unlike most pedal comps.
The sound at minute 8 is just AMAZING!!
@RoLv92 - Well, I haven't tried everything they make, but so far everything I HAVE tried has been excellent. In particular, the Bass Envelope, and the Bass Octave pedals are outstanding.
@pmcd94iii - well, thanks for the thought, I would hardly call any of it perfect, but I appreciate the sentiment.
i just got this for my boyfriend for Christmas and im so excited to give it to them, i didn’t know what it was but now i know its really fuckin cool
Thanks for this video! I just ordered this pedal..exactly what I am looking for!
Great clear demo, thanks.
At 8:13 the look on your face is like “yeah, that was dirty...” I love it!
I did not. However, I did purchase the MXR myself and I am very pleased with it. Could tone and control. I was looking for a subtle sound and I found it in this pedal. I am an MXR fan overall. I also have the latest bass compressor and the Carbon Copy pedal. Good luck.
Good to see and read such an informative review. Really helps getting started ! Thank you
Great demo! Very concise and informative.
All salesmen should take something from this guy, he really didn't leave much out of this review AND upsold two other pedals!!! If only all reviews were like this!
Those are some filthy funk tones!
I need both pedals.
Amen to that, love the MXR M87 stomp compressor!
works on guitars and synths too, bunch of fun
1:58 - 2:03 now that sounds funky
@Phaidrus - Well, they sound noticeably better than a typical cable, you can see a demo of the cable on my old Phil Jones Flightcase video.
@maciekfingerstyle - Most likely I will not review the Reflex as it is essentially the 25th without the maple top. But I will say that it is an awesome bass!
Dude! I so dig your vids. My hats off to ya!
question If you were doing the envelop and the octave with the octave before would you run compression after them?
@jonsparrow15 - You will still hear the effect when you blend in the clean signal.
great demo! thanks!
This is the epitome of the "Bow Chicka wow wow" sound.
dude, that combo with the delay at the end was making the cam vibrate
@Martiluk1 - Well, I don't know if that will get assigned to me, but there is one at the Bass Emporium I could check out.
so my MXR bass filter pretty much stopped working. it was working fine at first. now it is just a sludge sound with no bubbly filter action. I've done a bunch of different settings and it does not change! Is this common? Did I buy a lemon?
@BassGuitarMag Thank you for the input
@RLHubner - It's a 74 J with a J-retro Preamp. You won't get the exact tone out of your Am Std. Not so much because of the rosewood, but due to the pickup spacing. Mine is 70s, yours is 60s, it does make a difference - but it would still sound nice. Maybe you need to get a Marcus Miller or 75 RI and put in the J-Retro.
Even though this board and comments are about The Funk; What about Geezer Butler on NIB ? Did he use a Wah-Wah or an Envelope ? See, there are other applications going on as well. Anybody know ? Thank you.
What kind of accompaniment effects do you have? drum machine type? Or keyboard patch of some sort or some machine you use to play/practice with?
Would this pedal with the MXR Octave be better than the EH Bass Micro Synth to recreate the bass synth sound on MJ's Pretty Young Thing? :-) thanks
Thank you!
Long history of bringing the FUNK!!
Can’t go wrong with MXR!!...this one works well with amps full of power & bottom!...use a comp AFTER it and see what happens!...then try an Octaver like he did and Dayum~yawl!!
☝🏾It has all the knobs you need to keep it in your control but range varies with the type of Bass used though...anyway,...it’s 😎 cool so go try one out!...👍🏾🎶
@Craydon - It's around $150... not cheap, but certainly not the most expensive envelope pedal out there. I think it's well worth the money.
Ok so I'm having some serious issues with mine, it doesnt make the "blowp" sound at all it just makes everything really loud and foopy, help?
Really cool! Thank you!
Hey have you a compressor in line before the envelope filter ?
amazing bass player
Best pedal I own, and I’ve got a lot.
The problem with this effect, and most envelope filters, is that it's impossible to dial in a set tone. There are too many variables that will affect it. The volume, the room, the song, the length of the note, how hard you play -- EVERYTHING will change the tone. And at time it can go from WOOOOF to QuaaaaK with peaks and dips in volume. It's good for recording where you can spend time getting the right setting but I found it unreliable for live playing.
the envelope filter is my favourite pedal
@NickoBoogie - I haven't tried it, but I suppose it would work fine with guitar.
@resistthisday - Thanks! This is a great pedal. Check out the MXR Bass Octave too... killer.
Comparing with the ehx, the main drawback of the mxr is the tiny pots : i find it hard to memorize their positions. The ehx concept makes it is easier to control, visualize and reproduce the different levels of effect. The 2 effects are also very different : mxr gives a more modern, controlled, electric sound. Not as sexy as the ehx, but very efficient with larger effect & tone spectrum than ehx. This makes the mxr more complete, and complex to use, in my opinion.
@BassGuitarMag The 3leaf Audio Groove Regulator is an envelope filter that is based on the Lovetone Meatball, although in a smaller and scaled back package. Not to push a product on you but you should look into it if you get a chance. It's impossible to get a bad sound out of the thing.
Hi Ed, Pedal newbie question - when you say you put the octave pedal "in front of" the envelope filter, do you mean the octave is closer to your bass or closer to the amp? I'm just not sure of the convention.
Thanks
goddamn, that combo with the pedals you did at the end is just plain sexy!
If I chained the octave + filter where would I put compression?
This is the best pedal review video I've seen, especially in the bass world. Great info, great style of play to really accentuate the tone and quality of the pedal as well as show the variety of it's capability. Not to mention the ending with the 3 pedals was incredible tone and tasteful playing. Good job, sir! One more thing, any opinion on the Pigtronix Bass Envelope phaser?
Ed,
Please tell me what electronics that you are using your this bass, and the neck as well. This is the exact tone that I want on my jb, it's an '09 American Std Sunburst jb with a rosewood fretboard.
damn, i searched envelope cuz a friend told me it would sound funky, he was right! that was some serious funk!
Ed is the Best !
Graham Central Station in there. Niceeee.
I've been playing bass for a while now and i wanted to get some fx stomp-boxes. So would you recommend this one or the cry baby 105Q? And are there any others that I should look at? Thanks!
Super demonstration Ed. It's great to see a professional like your self show what a pedal like this can do. How many times have we bought a pedal
@BassGuitarMag - Thanks. I was thinking of the "quiet stage" where there are no monitors on stage, but just using in ear monitors.
THIS IS REALLY AWESOME!!!!
Great demo! Great sounding J bass too!
YOU ARE A BASS GOD, PERFECT AND SICK PLAYING IN ALL VIDS
@JosephGallagher - This weekend I'll upload a Yamaha BB2025X video.
Fucking awesome review. The 2 pedal combo is what I'm looking for with my Jazz... going to rumble the feet and funk up the walls. Word.
You rock man, best reviewer on the net.
the bass fly rig version 2 from tech21nyc does all the Envelope sounds that pedal seems to do. Plus it even has an octiver in it. That said, this video was about 10 years ago, it’s amazing to see how technology changes rapidly even in non-Internet-based technologies. I can remember growing up, when I first started shortwave radio listening, you were not able to have a shortwave radio with single side band Wayback when when I started, or at least if you could I did not know about it at the time, now, there are tiny portables that have single side band capabilities. Instead of giant boat anchors that didn't have single side band, now you have these little portables that are about the size of a deck of cards that have single side band Plus other goodies. no internet required.
@BassGuitarMag Hello again Ed,
How could I get a modern Jazz bass sound, like those used in smooth jazz and newer R&B stuff? I have an AM Std JB and I took a look at the J retro, very cool preamp, but would I need to use 2 batteries If I'd put some active pickups in there?
Also what active pickups do you recommend for the 62 spacing on the JB?
And finally, How many Jazz Basses do you have ???
I have a question, what pedal is better the MXR Envelope Filter or the Agent 00Funk envelope ??
Good luck finding an Agent 00funk
Very informative. Thanks
Cool, thanks.