SF-1 pedal

[hieronymous]

I have been fortunate to have more opportunities to use my various instruments (Alembic, non-Alembic & hybrid) in a band situation lately. One thing I would love is to have the flexibility of an on-board filter control for my non-Alembics. Could use the SF-2, but then I would have to go back to it to adjust the filter setting, and it would be difficult mid-song. SO - my idea is to put one channel of the SF-2 into a floor unit with the ability to adjust the filter frequency with a foot pedal. Kind of like the Pluto filter unit that came up on eBay a few years ago.
 
The pedal could either be hard-wired, or use control voltage like on the Moog stuff - so there would just be a jack on the pedal and you could plug in a CV controller.  
 
I personally think you wouldn't need the dry signal - just the bass plugging into an Alembic filter. I might even use it with my Alembic stuff - you can set the bass with the frequency wide open, then use the pedal to dial in the frequency you want. I don't think I would use it for a wah-wah sound, more for subtle variations throughout a song.  
 
I did bring this up with Mica at the last gathering in Oakland - it could probably be done with an SF-2 repackaged in some kind of foot pedal unit - could also use something like the Tone In Progress Third Hand pedal, but then you would have to put the SF-2 on the floor in front of you and that just seems too convoluted - I've definitely learned that having my effects as simple to set up as possible is the way to go. And it would be so cool if it came from Alembic! I'm thinking this could be a really groundbreaking unit - Moog has the Moogerfoogers - this would sit really comfortably with those.
 
So - any thoughts?

[jazzyvee]

I thought something similar a while back because I wanted to set a sound on my SF-2 then be able to switch that channel in and out via a foot pedal. One option suggested here was to use a loop switcher something like this.

 
That way I can set two different sounds on each sf-2 channel via this.  
Clearly you will not get the ability to manipulate the filter's parameters in a creative way during your playing but it should be fine as a pre-set tone switcher.
I haven't tried it yet but plan to when I have a bit more free time to play with my gear again rather than learning stuff for gigs.
jazzyvee
 
 
(Message edited by jazzyvee on November 01, 2013)

[hieronymous]

That's actually a great idea! Was there a thread on that?
 
It could work pretty well actually - I'm thinking of putting rounds back on my Les Paul Triumph bass. It sounds great with the flats but there's a whole range of sounds I can get as well. So I can see setting the filter lower on one channel for a darker sound closer to flats, the other with the filter open wider to take advantage of the brighter sound. It's a lot of cabling though...
 
I wonder too if you would need to use a looper or if you could just use an A/B splitter to the SF-2, then use the stereo out back to your pedalboard or amp?

[jazzyvee]

http://club.alembic.com/Images/402/159902.html?1367195438

[cozmik_cowboy]

I have occasionally dreamt of a Series II with only the p/ups & h-x onboard; all the controls on a pedal board.
 
Peter

[hieronymous]

Just wanted to say, I still dream about my SF-1P! That's the name I've given in my mind to the single super-filter pedal. Would actually be nice to have two expression pedals - one for frequency, one for variable Q.