[SoulMate]

Has anybody ever used this auto wah-wah effect box?
How to connect your mic (XLR) to this jack device, especially dealing with condenser mics? Or can you only use it with dynamic mics?

It's designed for guitars, but Jeff Coffin apparently has used this device, so it should be decent stuff.

 

[Mark R]

Has anybody ever used this auto wah-wah effect box?
How to connect your mic (XLR) to this jack device, especially dealing with condenser mics? Or can you only use it with dynamic mics?

It's designed for guitars, but Jeff Coffin apparently has used this device, so it should be decent stuff.

You will probably an XLR to 1/4" adapter to hook your mic up to the effect box, then run (instead of traditional XLR cord from mic directly to mixer) a 1/4" line to the mixer.

 

[HeavyWeather77]

Hi, SoulMate! I've spent a lot of time and energy experimenting with guitar pedals in my saxophone setup over the last dozen years. You'll find a bunch of threads on the forum about that topic, and also over at horn-fx.com where they've done a great job collecting resources for things like this. I've had the pleasure of spending some time with Jeff Coffin and I know he's spent quite a lot of time figuring out the intricacies of using pedals with horns as well.

I own a larger version of the Micro Q-Tron and it might be the most challenging pedal I've ever tried to use with the saxophone. It quickly goes to feedback city. The gain spike that happens when the envelope triggers is hard enough to control on a guitar or keyboard using a TRS connection. The much more variable signal of a microphone will make it very tough to control.

I love envelope filters like the Q-Tron, though, and the best I've found is the MXR Bass Envelope Filter. It's very high-quality, smooth, and you can dial in your mix and gain settings very easily. That's really important for use with horns.

In the end, you'll want more than just an XLR to TRS adapter for using pedals with a microphone. The best way to go is to get a box that works as a preamp as well as an effects loop so you can control your gain stages really carefully, prevent feedback, and send enough gain to the pedals that they trigger properly, like they would with a guitar. I use the Radial VocoLoco, it's fantastic, but there are other solid alternatives out there if you search a little.

I love pedals. Have fun on your quest!

 

[Dr G]

In the end, you'll want more than just an XLR to TRS adapter for using pedals with a microphone. The best way to go is to get a box that works as a preamp as well as an effects loop so you can control your gain stages really carefully, prevent feedback, and send enough gain to the pedals that they trigger properly, like they would with a guitar. I use the Radial VocoLoco, it's fantastic, but there are other solid alternatives out there if you search a little.

I love pedals. Have fun on your quest!

The other way to achieve the same result is to see if the board that you are using has an effects loop, and use it there.

The challenge is to match signal levels and impedance. The Q-Tron is designed to run on low voltages and high impedance.

Brian - Does Jeff use any other conditioning (ex. Noise Gate) prior to the Q-Tron?

 

[ZootTheSim]

I use the Radial VocoLoco, it's fantastic, but there are other solid alternatives out there if you search a little.

Lots of great advice from HeavyWeather. I was going to buy a VocoLoco (a proudly Canadian product), but went instead with the Eventide Mixing Link, which has a smaller footprint and takes up less space on the pedalboard.

 

[HeavyWeather77]

Brian - Does Jeff use any other conditioning (ex. Noise Gate) prior to the Q-Tron?

That's a great question. When he's out with the DMB he undoubtedly has access to anything he could ever need, but from his horn-fx profile (which is very likely quite out of date... I know mine is), it seems like he just uses the Q-Tron for envelope, Whammy for octave/pitch stuff, and M9 for everything else. Apparently those new Line Six M-series pedals are really good, which surprises me.

I've never had to use a gate of any kind, though. I use an AMT wireless mic that picks up very little key noise or rumble. Jeff used to use one of those, but it looks like he's switched over to DPA these days. That makes sense, those are really, really well-liked mics.

 

[SoulMate]

Thanks HeavyWeather! Great stuff. I'll look into it.

 

[Alex Nyman]

Hi Soulmate I'm using the Q-tron a lot on my board...you'll find a few examples of it on my Soundcloud account (in my signature) (Winelight (the solo mid way) and Masquerade solos) ...if I can help you let me know..my board is in the main pic on my account.I have a few ways of getting it balanced. Maybe through pm would be best. Alex

 

[Henk]

It is best to use a pedal like this, or most guitar effect pedals, with an Intramic from Vega Tools. Then it works flawlessly.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

I had one of those for awhile until I discovered Seamoon Funk Pedal. Its the same pedal Brecker was using in the 70's. The originals are expensive but the
reissue is affordable and works much better then Qtron imho.

 

[Alex Nyman]

Just a quick link to the video I posted recently on the members recordings and reviews forum. The first 2 choruses are using the full version of the Q-tron on the BP filter setting with the gain and peak set fairly low amongst other things. There are myriad options for settings and finding the ones that best suit you is a matter of experimentation. I use the Sennheiser E908B condenser mic and run that directly into the Q-tron and thereafter into a Keeley Pro processor-MXR 10 Band Eq- and in this instance straight through bypassing a few Eventide and Strymon pedals into a Pro Radial DI box and then into a Tascam audio interface-iPad pro using Cubasis2 as my DAW I and use a few Eventide plug-ins for ambience. As I say it's just one option of 1000's for settings regarding how much horn you want in the mix-how much of the filter etc hope it's of some help. And I have a Seamoon pedal on its way over from the US it'll be interesting to see how it compares and I may end up running it into the Q-tron or the other way around. Currently working with an EHX **** fight filter pedal that adds lots of options for sounds. It works well with or without the Q-tron. I also have an older version of the Q-tron (the one that Jeff uses) and that works really well too. Hope this might be of some use to you in your search for the right set up. Good luck and maybe get back when you have something sorted. Kind regards, Alex

 

[soybean]

The Q-tron on the BP filter setting is really working for you!

 

[Alex Nyman]

Thanks Soybean. I like that setting a lot but I do use the other 3 depending on the solo sound required. Kind regards. Alex

 

[Pent up Kid]

Hi guys sorry to crash in . But have any of you tried a Mel 9 or Synth 9 by Electro Harmonix . I'm very interested to hear if you have
The only Efex I use is my Boss v-20, however I've just borrowed a Mooer bass sweeper envelope filter.... Funky Fun Fun.

 

[SoulMate]

Some feedback on my original question.

I bought the MXR Bass Envelope Filter. I had a box that is actually a headphone monitor I used as a pre-amp before routing it to the MXR Bass Envelope Filter.
It worked, but I had to crank up the input signal significantly because of the volume drop when the effect was switched on.

The unit was unusable because every time switching the effect on or off, there was a very loud cracking noise.
Maybe the input signal was not that great. Should I buy a mic pre-amp to boost the signal significantly before going to the MXR Bass Envelope Filter?

The unit worked fine used on bass guitar.
Any help is welcome.

 

[HeavyWeather77]

Yes, you'll want that for sure. Envelope filters in particular are difficult or impossible to use without careful gain control. See post #3 above, that Radial Voco-Loco box is designed especially to help with this.

 

[ZootTheSim]

The Eventide Mixing Link is another good pre-amp and effects loop mixer with XLR input. Although the Voco-Loco's made in Canada, I ultimately chose the Eventide for its smaller footprint. Either box would be an excellent choice, along with the JHS Colour Box.

 

[HeavyWeather77]

Oh yeah, and make sure you mess with the gain settings on the MXR box, too! It offers a ton of control thanks to its dry/effects level blend options. It does take some time to dial the settings in, though.

 

[swperry1]

Hi guys sorry to crash in . But have any of you tried a Mel 9 or Synth 9 by Electro Harmonix . I'm very interested to hear if you have
The only Efex I use is my Boss v-20, however I've just borrowed a Mooer bass sweeper envelope filter.... Funky Fun Fun.

I tried the Mel9, Synth9, and b9 at Guitar Center along with a bunch of other pedals...I walked in with my tenor and a piezobarrel pickup and occupied one of their sound rooms for the better part of two hours. They were gawking through the window the whole time as they rarely see horns in the shop, much less being run through pedals designed for guitar and bass. Anyway, I was looking for the b9 for some organ tones but tried the others just because and they were okay. I ended up buying the POG2 because it does everything I wanted out of the b9 and has some other cool things including some envelope-style "Q" options.

 

[SoulMate]

Thanks guys. The Voco-Loco or the Eventide seem indeed to be designed just for that.