Digitech - XBW Envelope Filter

[gaslight]

Subject: Digitech X-Series Bass Envelope Filter.
Price: $259.00 Australian.
Features:

* 7 different synth and envelope filter effects;

1 - Envelope Filter; Classic envelope filter sound.
2 - Sub Envelope Filter; Envelope filter effect with an octave down pitch shift blended in.
3 - Synth 1 - Monophonic synth tone generator with an opening filter envelope.
4 - Synth 2 - Monophonic synth tone generator with a closing filter envelope.
5 - Filter 1 - Digitech's "famous" Synth Talk effect (Trademark of Digitech corporation.)
6 - Filter 2 - The Synth Talk effect with inverse filter envelope.
7 - Octasub - Not an octopus submarine (...), an octave down pitch shift efffect with a variable synth effect mix using the RANGE knob.

* Adjustable filter and range controls;

Sens [Sensitivity]; Controls the trigger sensitivity of the envelope/synth/filter effects.

Control; Controls different levels of function according to the effect selected using the TYPE knob.

Range; Again controls different levels of function according to the effect selected using the TYPE knob.

Type; Selects between the 7 envelope/synth/filter types.

Effects Matrix: What the CONTROL and RANGE knobs control in each of the 7 envelope/synth/filter types.

1 - CONTROL = Wet/Dry Mix. RANGE = Range.
2 - CONTROL = Wet/Dry Mix. RANGE = Range.
3 - CONTROL = Synth Attack. RANGE = Cut-off Frequency.
4 - CONTROL = Synth Attack. RANGE = Cut-off Frequency.
5 - CONTROL = Filter Attack. RANGE = Frequency Envelope.
6 - CONTROL = Filter Attack. RANGE = Frequency Envelope.
7 - CONTROL = Sub level. RANGE = Synth Level.

* Normal (Dry) and Effect output.

Output 1 (Normal/Dry) is used when one line-out to an amp/mixer is present, and carries the full signal as modified by the pedal (when the pedal is on) or the dry bass signal (when the pedal is off).

Output 2 (Effect) is intended to be used as a second line-out in conjunction with Output 1, allowing you independant control of the Dry and Effect signals. When Output 2 is active, Output 1 carries only an unprocessed bass signal.

Output 2 (Effect) is used to connect to a Mixer.

Flexibility: This pedal is extremely flexible as a result of the insane amount of effects and variations you can get out of it. You can use this pedal for funk, synth, techno, anything at all. With the right settings you can create whole soundscapes with your bass. Experiment with all kinds of expressive techniques to get the full potential out of the sound.

In conjunction with other pedals, ie; Bass Chorus and Digital Delay, you can get amazing flexibility and variation in sound.

Especially good for: Funk, techno, ambient music.

Other: The pedal also comes built-in CIT Cabient Modeling. This simulates a 4x10 bass speaker cabinet, allowing you to run the device directly to a mixer or recording unit without the need for a dedicated amplifier in the process. Very useful feature.

That's about all I can say really. Except the pedal can be tricky to use and a bit touchy, probably not something you will use in every song, but definetly good to have and play around with.

I give this pedal;

||||

(4/5)

[Damrod]

Nice review!

Is the sub-octave envelope filter of the type like Dirk Lance uses it on 'Nice to know you' (Chorus)?

[gaslight]

I'm not sure if it is the exact pedal he uses but you can get a similar effect using this one.

[Damrod]

That's what I was looking for. Thanks for the Info gl!

[gaslight]

Hehe, I'd be hesitant to purchase this pedal simply for that use though, because I think there are pedals intended to raise/lower the octave of your notes, and this only has a synth function that adds the note an octave below to the note being played?

[madthumbs]

Can you record Gaslight?
If you can bothered could you please provide me with some recordings of the different effects on it?

[gaslight]

Sure thing but it might be in a few days, I have to buy an extra lead to run a line out of my amp to the computer, because I can't figure out how to make the Cabinet Modeling work .

I will take a recording from each setting and make it all one mp3, and post it on soundclick and post a link here. I'll bump the thread when it's done.

[madthumbs]

thanks mate

[Low_End_Communications]

I have this pedal. Really enjoyable. Great for intros and stuff. I really like the slow opening synth sound, and straight envelope filter is great for funk. I like it with some compression before hand and then slap-pop style. Uber-funky, however stylistic not really for me.

Still give it... 3.5/5

[badmotherplucker]

i have it. could any of you guys that have it post some of your favorite settings? here are a couple of mine. just use each number for its respective knob (first number, first knob) the up or down after it is the tone on the bass.
env filter
5 10 10 1 up
funk solo
5 5 5 2 up
funk synth
8 7 5 3 down
slow synth
7 10 10 4 down
synth talk
8 5 5 5 down
synth ya ya wah
7 2 5 6 down (try hitting a note and then turning the range knob up and down rapidly)
Cyber Synth
8 0 10 7 down

these are some settings i like, but please post yours. also take into consideration that my amp settings and bass are different than yours, so they may not sound the same for you as they do for me.

This pedal is okay, but I was really hoping to get that sound from the intro to "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and it didnt happen. Maybe it was the amp, but I dunno.

[Low_End_Communications]

An envelope filter is definitely not what you use for distortion. You should look into the Digitehc Bass OD/ Distortion and a wah pedal for Metallica, RATM, and other bassists with distortion.

[Dynamite]

wow seems cool, i'm gonna check it out.

[Low_End_Communications]

I just got an adaptor so I'll try to record something with the Synth Wah tomorrow morning.

[ibanez_k5]

tomorrow never came......whhyyyyy

[Lumberjacker]

Thanks for the review.

[sixxbassist90]

hey guys, im getting 1 tomorrow heres what it sounds like.
http://www.digitech.com/products/BassSW.htm#
when you get there click on listen(top right corner of the window)

[The JoZ]

I also have this pedal, and like the sounds I can get out of it...although I think I need to screw with it a bit more before I can truely get the kind of sound I want

[cods]

i love mine too.

[edgebass5]

I owned one briefly, and found that it could make some really cool sounds when I was just jamming in my bedroom, but couldn't make any of it fit in a funk project I was trying to get going. It seems to sap all of your bass' natural tone.