Recommends on a eurorack filter

TobySD · 2020-12-25T18:25:14.178Z

MUM8 is def on the filter list, there is/was a well priced mint one on the second hand market a few days ago but opted for the MI Blades as a first filter (stereo/dual).

Also, I find ALM one of the most likeable little eurorack brands.

Sprudelwasser · 2020-12-25T18:27:46.051Z

If I hadn’t already the Morgasmatron, then I would get Blades
Good times for Filter-Lovers

Airyck · 2020-12-26T17:39:31.852Z

TobySD:

could be the second winner!

My only real life modular friend was in town and we decided to have a masked up jam session together (I was recently tested, and he’s super safe).

He brought his Make Noise shared system (so we could dock together) and we spent a ton of time playing with the SSF Stereo Dipole. He’s totally sold on it. He wasn’t even looking for a filter (it’s way more than a filter).

We had some reeeeeally interesting sounds coming out of it.

Everything from drums, the juiciest diarrhea, to ambient organic woodland creatures playing in a foggy forest at dawn. My recently built Befaco Rampage assisted with audio rate modulation and strange patterns to get it talking.

It’s a very versatile great sounding filter to sum it up.

One caveat; it’s easy to overdrive the input. So an attenuator/verter at the audio inputs is helpful.

It was my first real deep dive into the Stereo Dipole and I LOVE it even more! Pairs amazing with Befaco Rampage and Frap Tools Brenso
I’m sure it pairs with anything well though.

half.cto · 2020-12-26T18:05:32.598Z

QPAS is a stereo filter and I enjoy it’s playability and all the outputs (4x stereo) available all the time. And that is huge plus for well stereo processing While you can do 4 pole stereo with Dipole you don’t have same possibilities with available outputs. Anyway after getting my first two filters MI Ripples (2020) and QPAS I can see that I’ll get at least couple more along the way. Filters are amazing and sorry OTs filter is nowhere near any of these.
And yes I would like to get Dipole, but I think my next one is going to be Belgrad.

Sprudelwasser · 2020-12-26T19:12:24.274Z

half.cto:

and all the outputs (4x stereo) available all the time.

Oh yes - i use these feature in almost every patch.
Have you try to modulate FREQ1 input with the HP output?
QPAS pairs excellent with Shapeshifters Chordmode, even more with little modulations on the radiate inputs.
I could literally bath in that sounds for hours

Airyck · 2020-12-26T19:14:26.637Z

half.cto:

While you can do 4 pole stereo with Dipole you don’t have same possibilities with available outputs

It’s not the “same” but you get outputs for each pole as well as a sum of all 4 on a separate output. Each filter can be set individually between LP, BP, HP and series or parallel for each pair of filters.

image4032×3024 2.75 MB

half.cto · 2020-12-26T19:28:30.879Z

yes, I’m familiar with topology of Dipole (I was about to get it, but local dealer had QPAS). As you mentioned “it’s not the same”, I would say it’s nowhere near the same While you can have separate output of each pole you can’t have 4 pole LP/HP/BP/SP at the same time (and that is just one difference in these designs). I’m not saying its better, those filters are very, very different to the point where you can’t really compare them, but you can have your own individual preference.

Hawk · 2020-12-26T19:30:55.728Z

Does anyone have the Ikarie yet?

half.cto · 2020-12-26T19:31:28.180Z

Agree, I was amazed where you can go with one sound source and parallel processing of different outputs.

Menez · 2020-12-26T19:49:32.727Z

I’m loving the spread controls on it, so many modulation possibilities with the individual freq knobs and the stereo knob. I’ve barely scratched the surface but it’s so nice.

I’ve only got a small “drone” system with one voice in progress so my filter needed to be good.

Airyck · 2020-12-26T19:56:37.119Z

I agree and I’m definitely not saying one is better than the other They are each their own thing. It’s also a very personal thing as to what works for each individual.

I just wanted to make sure you (which you obviously are) or others reading were aware that you can have all of the shapes at once (one shape per filter x 4 filters) with the stereo dipole mixed at the AB dipole output. As well as individually (one different shape per filter) at each of the 4 pole outputs at the same time.

I like to make sure people are informed is all

Airyck · 2020-12-26T20:01:07.510Z

Menez:

I’m loving the spread controls on it

Yes, me too! I got awesome sounds yesterday using Rampage to go from audio rate modulation to low frequency modulation on the spread controls.

If it’s not obvious, I’m loving the Stereo Dipole right now as well

RobertSyrett · 2020-12-26T20:19:18.927Z

There is a bias towards what’s new and shiney. I hope some of you out there consider Mutable Instruments’ new stereo multimode filter, Blades.

My personal favorite filters in eurorack ended up being the Pittsburgh LPG mk2 and the Intellijel Polaris.

The LPG mk2 is just the best filter to add into a feedback delay loop to make something sound like old school dub. Also the LPG in resonant filter mode gets really hot when it self resonates and running that through the Gristleizer VCA makes a glorious distorted sound. The LPG mk 2 is cheap on the used market, and only 8 HP. It’s unglamourous because there is no twist on the format. There is one big knob for frequency, a mode switch, and a trim pot for CV. But somehow nothing else quite fills its shoes (and I have auditioned a couple replacements). I think it must be the vactrols.

The Polaris is really underrated filter. It tracks v/oct and has audio-rate linear FM, a ton of different sub modes for the popular filter types, and has a built-in drive circuit that is more subtle than the Gristleizer but still adds character to sound. The Polaris is also very tidy at 10 HP while not feeling cramped.

finalform · 2020-12-26T21:42:33.498Z

I do, but haven’t racked it yet. Still getting familiar with the Bifold, with the MUM M8 and uVCF on filter duties. I will sub the Ikarie in for the MUM M8 at some point and report back.

insect · 2020-12-27T00:13:29.480Z

qpas vs dipole = question of life

I went with the qpas. But if I had seen this video before, I maybe would have bought the dipole instead. I wish the resonance on the qpas would really kick in a bit later instead just turning the res know from 7 to 9 o`clock.

part1:

part2:

part3:

half.cto · 2020-12-27T10:30:05.019Z

Airyck:

I just wanted to make sure you (which you obviously are) or others reading were aware that you can have all of the shapes at once (one shape per filter x 4 filters) with the stereo dipole mixed at the AB dipole output

I think this is misleading. With Dipole you can have one “shape” per filter core at the same time. If you set your filter 2x LP on one side and 2xLP on other side that is all you get - you don’t have acces to HP or BP unless you change topology of filter and lose 2xLP + 2xLP.
While with QPAS you have less control over peak distribution (both sides spread from central Freq) but have acces to 4 shapes from 4 cores simultaneously.
And this is huge difference once you start patching and I wasn’t aware of it before I actually laid my hands on QPAS.
So again these filters cater different workflows and necessities. That’s like trying to compare minivan with SUV - they both have 4 wheels and can transport people, but their use cases are dissimilar.

Airyck · 2020-12-27T13:49:39.770Z

half.cto:

I think this is misleading.

I specifically said you can have one shape per filter times 4 filters, how is it misleading?

Yes you have to decide which ones you want to use for each filter, but you can have one for each type set at each filter if you want.

I’m not saying it’s the same and I don’t think what I said is misleading.

half.cto · 2020-12-27T16:06:23.004Z

Misleading is this part

Airyck:

that you can have all of the shapes at once (one shape per filter x 4 filters)

Or better way to put it, this sentence cancels itself. But I think we have already spent too much time on this debate instead of making music with our filters.

insect · 2020-12-27T16:28:44.574Z

Btw for a roland acidish filter I can recomment the Jove. Sounds not exactly like a 303, but if you feed it with a square wave, you definitly feel some 303 vibes going on

finalform · 2020-12-27T16:52:22.841Z

They’re very hard to find though, even second hand. I’ve been looking for one for the best part of a year (if you’re selling?).

System80 have stopped making them and have promised a V2 design but there’s been no news since the summer.