Author Topic: SF-2 Superfilter (Read 266 times)

angelboy · « **on:** February 01, 2004, 02:37:49 AM »

That's a bit of a normal thread title for me..........(feels his head)............yes I think I have a bit of a cold.
Anyway, put your hand up if you've got a SF-2 Superfilter..........c'mon you at the back get that hand up.
Right, can anyone tell me what they're like in practice?.........(not just in practice if you choose to take my words literally!)

Paul TAO...............I've finally remembered to finish my post with my 'Real name!'.....You might have to remind me a few times if I forget in future

palembic · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2004, 04:58:23 AM »

Brother Paul TAO

one of the most intriging and spooky threads ever started were about ...the SF-2.
For instance:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/7249.html?1072348975
and
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6022.html?1064092876
and
http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/2902.html?1042059248
and
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/5558.html
and ...

well ....a lot more.
What they are in practice.
At the moment I use it as a 3 band filter: 1 neutral signal and 2 bands I can color. Those bands I use to emphasize on a frequency I need in a environmental sitiation (whooooooo ...sounds impressive). A SF-2 is a tool that is complex and simple in the same time. It's simple to create sounds and tone, it's hard to create THE sound you want give a certain situation.
I still have troubles choosing what I need: the setting in the Irish pub in Leuven with a lot of wood and benches and wooden posts is completely different as the setting in the complete concrete basement-dancing we played 6 months ago. In the first case I have to look for the-setting-that-makes-Bonnie-sounds-good-around-the-corner.
The second one is the-setting-that-points-out-that-there-is-only-one-bass-bass-bass-bass-bass-bass (you have to read this in a fading-out way LOL).
So the SF-2 problem is a problem of mastering the knobs. Believe me: the knobs on a SF-2 are VERY-VERY sensitive!
But ...I'm not the kind a guy thay sits on the knobs and goes on waling for hours trying with Bonnie. It gtives me a headache in a minute. I try to understand the manual and the function of each knob. I rehearse 3 times a week and that is the moment that I try things out. If the guitarplayers of the bands have a problem with that I always gave a look at their feet surrounded with fuzzers, tweeters, screamers, tubers, fazers, empty bottles (ooops not that one) or what kind of keyboards for feet.
If you may tweak that stuff ...Ill tweak this. (See Tweak Peaks).

Anyway ...I LOVE my SF-2/F1-X combination but ...well ...like all Alembic stuff ...it will play you some time before you play it.
(I wonder how the coming Alembic strap will handle LOL).

Paul the bad one TBO

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2004, 08:04:33 AM »

Like Paul, I also have mine set up in mono mode as a three channel mixer. I have the first filter set as low pass; this gives me the opportunity to make substantial adjustments to the volume and width of the low end. I have the second filter set as high pass; I have this set very wide (i.e. the frequency cut-off is relatively low) and rarely adjust this setting, but I do make substantial adjustments to high pass volume. Then I also adjust the volume of the neutral channel substantially as well. I make adjustments based on room and also on song. My main bass at the moment is a Spoiler.

thebass · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2004, 03:10:29 PM »

Very interesting. I still don't own a SF-2 but I am trying to convince myself that I need one. I run my MK through a F1-X with a TC1140 (a 4-Band full parametric EQ) in the effects loop. You all know that there is almost zero chance to try an SF-2 in a music store (at least here in Germany) but may be there is a chance that someone knows them both and can tell his/her experiences ?

palembic · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2004, 03:30:45 PM »

Brother Werner!!!!!
How are the sunglasses??
(yes ...we know the Alembics are going well so ....)

Main difference: with a parametric equalizer you threat the whole signal and put into your amp (well ...I think so). With an SF-2 you keep always 1 channel clean (=F1-X in my case) and with the 2 others you start tweaking and adding to that clean sound.
The difference in tweaking ...well ...oh ...uuh ...I know there IS one but I'm too stupid to understand the mombojumbo of sound engineers. LOL.

Paul the bad one

PS oh yeah ...keep trying that convincing ...keep trying ...keep trying ...you will succeed!!!!

bkbass · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2004, 04:04:46 PM »

I have two in two separate rigs.One is in mono and one in stereo.Simply put they are a swiss army knife of tone!They helped me with tone,phase alignment of my 2x10's with my 18's.A great studio tool as well.Just buy one,plug in and start twiddlin the knobs.I'll bet that within 5 minutes you'll be smiling ear to ear.

jimbobv · « **Reply #6 on:** February 02, 2004, 10:06:16 AM »

I've got both a 31 band EQ and an SF-2 in my rack (along with the F1-X). SF-2 is run like Paul has indicated - in mono 3-channel config: dry, low pass and high pass. I usually tweak the frequency and level of the low-pass to room / bass combination needs. No other adjustments are usually necessary. 90% of the time, the EQ unit is in bypass mode, 10% of the time I may bump a single freq up between 100hz and 400hz; the EQ is also easier for others to figure out when I share rigs.

(When the itch gets strong, or I'm feeling squirrely on the gig, I'll just tweak slightly and play away).

jazzyvee · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2004, 12:56:10 AM »

I'm still waiting since November for my SF-2 to arrive and can't wait to hear the sonic benefits to my sound...... eventually.

palembic · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2004, 01:13:16 AM »

Hi Jazzy,

let's start with the sonic surprises BEFORE the sonic benefits shall we??? It's quite something to master you know!!

Paul the bad one

jazzyvee · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2004, 02:12:09 AM »

ok I await to be surprised by the benefits ........sonically

angelboy · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2004, 01:35:01 PM »

Well I managed to pick a second hand SF-2 up a few days ago from robthejock.
It's nice there are still a few real people out there who stick to their word. Cheers Rob buddy and when you're playing in my neck of the woods drop me line and I try and get to see you.

Anyway, the Sf-2.......................I think I'd be right in agreeing with rob. I plugged it in had a bit of a play around. Twiddled the knobs for hours................and sort of said '.........and?' Then I tried again the next day..........still so/so........but I decided to unplug it and jack straight into my amp and what a difference. My bass, which sounds amazing anyway, seemed to be a little duller for some reason. I plugged the SF-2 back in and it sounded different. All I can liken it to is looking at one of those magic eye pictures for hours on end and never seeing anything and just as you're about to look away you get it!!!
Anyone who's thinking of getting one of these units, do, they're great. If you like tone then you'll love it. I had my first rehearsal today since getting the SF-2 and hooked it up to my big rig.......blew me away even more. I really started to hear massive differences. My guitarist plugged into it for the last 10 minutes and he was gob-smacked. It's not often you get a Tele and Strat out of Les Paul!

Paul TAO

ps - Thanks again Rob.........I really don't know how you parted with it.

robthejock · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2004, 01:31:01 PM »

Glad you're a happy bunny Paul, there's years of knob fiddling ahead for you! I am having a few symptoms but the tweaking twitch will stop eventually I hope!
Cheers, Rob