The Double Spy Mission is Impossible Filter is an envelope filter and auto-wah pedal from Animals Pedal, the Japanese stompbox maker. It is built around the tone of a legendary auto-wah, the 440, which Animals Pedal adjusted to be easier to use, and it is designed to work on both guitar and bass1.
An auto-wah, or envelope filter, is a cyclic filter that produces an automatic wah effect: instead of rocking a treadle with your foot, the pedal reads the strength of your picking and sweeps a filter in response. Animals Pedal positions this one as suitable as a first auto wah, or as new gear for a funk master1.
The controls
The pedal keeps the control set simple: SENSITIVITY, RANGE and FILTER knobs, plus a MODE switch1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| SENSITIVITY | Sets how strongly your picking drives the filter1 |
| RANGE | Adjusts the bandwidth of the filter5 |
| FILTER | Adjusts the filter's response, shaping the tone1 |
| MODE | Switches the direction in which the filter is applied4 |
Animals Pedal's suggested starting point is to set the RANGE knob to suit your instrument, guitar or bass, and then shape the tone with FILTER. The maker says that basically this is all you need to dial in a sound1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the pedal easy to use and "set and forget" once dialed in for your instrument and playing style5.
What the MODE switch does
The MODE switch selects the direction of the filter sweep. One position gives an up filter direction, the other a down direction. In the reverse mode, the filter "closes" instead of opening when you pick the strings, which changes the character of the effect entirely4.
Power and battery use
The pedal runs on a 9V battery or a standard center negative DC 9V adapter4. Its current draw is just 1mA1, which is low enough that it places almost no demand on a shared power supply.
When running on battery, unplug the cable from the input jack when storing the pedal to reduce battery consumption, and remove the battery if the pedal will not be used for a long time4.
History: based on the 440 auto-wah
The circuit is based on the 440, a legendary auto-wah filter pedal born in the late 1970s that was first red, then its most famous green, and later blue61. Animals Pedal took that tone and adjusted it to be easier to use, which is the Double Spy Mission is Impossible Filter1.
The pedal is listed on the Animals Pedal web store at £66.06, tax included1. Its circuit is based on what the maker calls a legendary auto wah, the 440, born in the late 1970s in red, later green, then blue1.
Videos
Mike Hermans
Pedal of the Day
John McNicholas Guitar
Questions
Does the Double Spy Mission is Impossible Filter take a 9V battery?
Yes. It runs on a 9V battery or a standard center negative DC 9V adapter. When running on battery, unplug the cable from the input jack when storing the pedal to reduce battery drain, and remove the battery entirely if the pedal will sit unused for a long time.
Is the Double Spy Mission is Impossible Filter true bypass?
Yes. Animals Pedal states the pedal uses a true bypass footswitch, so with the effect switched off the signal passes through without active buffering.
What does the Mode switch do?
The MODE switch changes the direction in which the filter sweeps. In one position the filter opens when you pick the strings; in the other it moves the opposite way, closing the filter instead of opening it, which gives a reversed feel to the effect.
What is the Mission is Impossible Filter based on?
It is based on the 440, a legendary auto-wah filter pedal born in the late 1970s that was first red, then its most famous green, and later blue. Animals Pedal adjusted that circuit's tone to be easier to use on both guitar and bass.
Sources (6)
- 【10/26(月)16:00まで10%OFF】Animals Pedal Double Spy Mission is Impossible, Animals Pedal (animalspedal.jp)
- Pedal Summary, Animals Pedal
- Animals Pedal Double Spy Mission is Impossible Filter マニュアル, Animals Pedal (www.animalspedal.jp)
- Animals Pedal Double Spy Mission Is Impossible Filter, Delicious Audio, 2022-06-23
- Animals Pedal Double Spy Mission is Impossible Filter, Pedal of the Day, 2022-06-22
- Custom Illustrated DSMIIF ちゃっぴー #01, Animals Pedal
