Muff's Modules & More

nadafarms

I was going to go with a motm system but I'm back paddling and just bought my first eurorack module so the flood gates have been broken.

I'm curious what people think are some of the highest quality eurorack filters on the market?

I haven't vibed with the cwejman and the doepfer stuff seems like a bargain but I want really high quality. Maybe the macbeth but ouch on the price and I don't think the macbeth filter is out there yet.

I'm also gonna probably pickup a doefer spring reverb but I'm still wondering if there are any other cool reverbs besides the doepfer and neural agonizer?

Thanks!

dkcg · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:55 pm Post subject:

Malekko is coming out with a euro reverb, I think same circuitry as the Spring Chicken, the Borg and Boogie filters sound pretty nice as far as filters go too.

REwire · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject:

The Doepfer Reverb can turn into something great by changing the tank to a bigger one. No other real spring offerings. If not that, go for an external like Vermona or a vintage Roland RE201-501. The Doepfer doesn't have anything to CV control so could just as easy be external.

The best filters I've had so far are the STG Arp LP, TipTop LPF, Borg, Boogie, Polivoks, Frequensteiner and Doepfer A-106-6 Xpander. The vintage no longer available Plan-B Model 12 was always my fav BP sound.

Dan

wetterberg · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject:

I've heard a lot of filters, and my fave still has to be:

MakeNoise QMMG. Close runner-up is the TipTopAudio z2040, but that's not really a fair comparison.

Also, we're getting into difficult territory with "high quality" here. A guy's busted up old moog would mean nothing to me, but he might love it to bits - In fact I've seen that scenario many times.

nadafarms · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject:

appreciate this, yeah I have a ton of outboard spring reverbs but was actually pretty blown away when I heard the feedback on the doepfer and they are so cheap so I think I'll just get one.

Will look into these other filters, and in terms of high quality I think I should have said "musical"

qu.one · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:11 pm Post subject:

Frequensteiner is great, QMMG is such a great all around module that its become a must in euro. i also really like the very inexpensive and raw Plague Bearer...

dkcg · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject:

nadafarms · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject:

well I just owned a cwejman s1 and really didn't like it, but i haven't tried the mmf-1

I'll have to see if I can track down a Plan B model 12

attacksustain · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:36 pm Post subject:

Soundwave · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:47 pm Post subject:

i love the Cwejman MMF-1, also like the QMMG, they are really different and for different purposes...

i think the macbeth is gonna be a moogish 24db

i also hear lot of god things of the polivoks, malekko borg and boogie, tip top audio prophet5 filter, planb lpg, doepfer wasp etc. and i like the frequensteiner
basicly there is just a big choice of many good and different filters in eurorackland

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject:

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:53 pm Post subject:

Flight of Harmony is one manufacturer who if he released a module called X, and didn't tell anyone what it did, and charged $300, would get my money without hesitation.

I really like the qmmg, and will probably get a second, but as a pure filter, I don't like it as much as some others.

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:04 pm Post subject:

Will comment that I'm trying out the bubblesound, and I really like its character. Nothing I have sounds remotely like it....

I'll also comment on the Cwejman sound. I really like it. I'm a fan. But my attitude has been, because the Cwejman sound is so precise and of its own character - I have a Cwejman section of the modular that is growing. I prefer not to dilute that sound - there is something about it that I really like. It excuses my selling of the s1m2 I think - I pretty much have that covered at this point, and will be going well beyond it soon.

Nelson Baboon · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject:

oh yeah - and I generally am very quick to turn to the stg post lawsuit.

kidtesla · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:10 pm Post subject:

To me,the "most" "musical" filters (currently cool

) in euro are...
STG P-L/LPF ...low pass filter (VERY musical self oscillation):
http://www.analoguehaven.com/stgsoundlabs/postlawsuitlowpassfilter/
livewire frequenSteiner ...multimode filter(the bp and hp modes scream!!):
http://www.analoguehaven.com/livewire/frequensteiner/
bubblesound sem20 v|s|f ...variable state filter (imo,one of the most underrated filters in euro) :
http://www.analoguehaven.com/bubblesound/sem20vsf/

opsysbug · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:53 pm Post subject:

Polyvox!

dkcg · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:15 pm Post subject:

I forgot about all the Analogue Systems filters. I only have the comb filter which is more of a BBD device than a filter, but whenever I've played with the ASys lowpass (no idea about the model number) I think, "I should get one of these." I have the RS-500 Synthi filter, very colorful, no idea if it's close to a real synthi, but it pairs nicely with the trapazoid generator. I wouldn't reccomend it as a go to main filter, but I've gotten some nice flute sounds with it.

One more thing about the Malekko (and I assume Wiard made) Boogie that's cool is that there are jumpers to invert some of the outputs so you can mix up your own custom filter. Again, I don't have one, but like how they sound every time I hear one. Two Borgs together can be a neat way to make your own bandpass with a MS-20 type patch.

QMMG, I love as a LPG, but the filter sound never really struck a chord with me.

Polivoks sounds great, but the self oscillation is far from useable as a tonal musical filter, it's a loose cannon at high resonance, in a good way.

I didn't realize Nadafarms was looking for a spring reverb, doh.
I got a Fender reissue reverb tank, pain in the ass to use with the modular. Have you tried the Vermona spring reverbs?

dougcl · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:17 pm Post subject:

I'm standing by the M12. The other sound shapers of interest are the VCEQ-3 and A-137-1. But I digress.

dkcg · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:26 pm Post subject:

ndkent · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:32 pm Post subject:

As for filters, it's not so much quality in terms of high quality or low quality but the quality it imparts when it alters what goes into it, it's tone color, it's resonant character, the sound when it's overdriven or not. No matter how high quality a filter you go for, no filter will do everything for everyone and people have very different goals in using a filter.

To me a spring is something that's convenient to stuff into a modular but it's an effect doesn't really integrate with voltage control (other than VC mix), if you know what I mean.

Generally I'd say the spring tank being used will have the most effect other than something obvious as getting the gain correct. Some I guess have some simple tone control built in though with a modular, unless you are strapped for filters you could probably pre and post filter with more precision. It's worth noting that some of the better results are obtained by getting the spring physically entirely out of the modular.