Muff's Modules & More

darkriver

Would it be redundant to include every filter Dotcom makes in 1 Dotcom system?

Or are all of them different from each other and have different functions and sounds?

How many filters total does Dotcom make?

I'm considering starting an all-Dotcom system, heavy on filters.

Thanks everyone.

bwhittington

Dotcom only makes two filters, though they are rather different. The Q107 is the State Variable Filter (multimode) and the Q150 is the Transistor Ladder Filter (Moog design). I just bought a third Q107 and don't consider the redundancy a bad thing at all. Both have jumpers on the back that change the sound quality (some more useful that others) if you wanted multiples with more variety. But you would be missing out on some great filters to stick exclusively with the Dotcom line. There are some awesome third party filters that are Dotcom compatible and would really spice things up.

Cheers,
Brian

fac · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:35 pm Post subject:

There are only 3 dotcom filters and they are very different.

The Q107 is a multi-mode 12 db/oct filter with LP/BP/HP/notch responses. It allows resonance to be voltage controlled (not many filters do) and has a jumper that makes the filter clip (distort) at high resonances, so you can make it aggressive or tame.

The Q150 is a lowpass filter based on the classic moog architecture. It can be switched between 12 and 24 db/oct, but also has jumpers to change the 12 db response to either 6 db/oct or 18 db/oct. You can overdrive it a bit without much work, but you can also feed its output back into the second input for a more aggressive and fat sound. Sounds very different from the Q107 lowpass.

The Q127 is a fixed filter bank. This is more like a graphical equalizer that allows you to shape the overall spectrum, but does not provide voltage control and the filters are non resonant.

It makes a lot of sense to have all three in a medium-sized system. When my system was small (a 22-space portable cabinet), I had both the Q107 and Q150 and wouldn't want to be without any of them. As my system grew (now close to 80-spaces), I added more filters from other vendors. I had planned to add a Q127, but ended up filling that space with other stuff. Right now I have six filters in my system, plus two more filters in rack form, and it doesn't feel like too many.

whitewulfe · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:41 pm Post subject:

bwhittington · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:47 pm Post subject:

Ockeghem · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 6:12 pm Post subject:

I have all 3 dotcom filters.
Redundancy is a good good thing.
applause

thermionicjunky · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 6:37 pm Post subject:

VinceL · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:02 pm Post subject:

Getting one of each of the Dotcom filters (Q107, Q150, and Q127) is a good start.

I have 2 Q107's (one modded with a switch to change from nice to nasty), 2 Q150's, and a Q127. Additionally, I have filters from STG, Megaohm, and SSL. There are even more companies making filters in the Dotcom (MU) format. They are all completely compatible with Dotcom.

The Dotcom filters provide a lot of bang for the buck. But, don't limit yourself to just the Dotcom filters.

scarymcclary · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:46 pm Post subject:

I plan on getting all 3, have 2 already. Can't have enough filters it seems.

whitewulfe · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:56 pm Post subject:

Just me · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:34 pm Post subject:

I have 2 Q107 and a Q127. I sold my Q150 as I didn't use it. I have a Moog for when I want the 'Moog' sound. I also have a Mankato. My favorite filter.

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:13 am Post subject:

Technically you could say Dotcom makes four filters. Everyone has forgotten the Slew Limiter can be used as a lowpass. hihi

I've only got two Dotcom filters (three if you count the Slew), but also seven others (a LPG, Polymoog resonator, two STG filters, the Croglin, Deep Equinoxe and a Steiner) from different manufacturers.

I would definitely not limit yourself only to Dotcom, even though their filters (especially the Q107) are very good. For one thing, if you have a limited amount of cabinet room then they aren't the most space efficient. Other modules can offer a sonic character that might be missing from Dotcom ones, though in fairness the Dotcom models don't really lack much in the feature department.

fac · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:40 am Post subject:

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:52 am Post subject:

Touché.

You could also use any jack anywhere on the Dotcom system, then turn the whole thing off. That turns it into a No-pass filter. razz

fac · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:58 am Post subject:

Christopher Winkels · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:01 am Post subject:

You're one step ahead of me. we're not worthy

fac · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:03 am Post subject:

More seriously, in theory, you can do a HPF by taking the output from a LPF and subtracting it from the original input. So you can turn the Q150 into a HPF by multing the input signal to a VCA and a mixer, and taking the negative output of the VCA into another mixer channel, adjust the levels until the output of the mixer is a high-pass filtered version of the original signal (or not).

When I had a small system I used to experiment a lot with stuff like that to emulate modules I didn't have.

Backroads · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:05 am Post subject:

I have two Q107s at the moment. How do I go about changing the jumper on one of them?

fac · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:07 am Post subject:

Backroads · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:24 pm Post subject:

Cool. I read that and am now staring at the jumper. How do I turn it off? I have no knowledge of these things.