The Broughton Audio Dynamo is an envelope filter pedal for guitar and bass. Broughton Audio describes it as "a fast acting envelope filter capable of funky tones for bass and guitar," built around a state variable low pass filter that uses optical elements to respond quickly and cleanly to your playing. Unlike a wah pedal rocked by foot, an envelope filter sweeps automatically: play harder and the filter moves, which is where the funk quack comes from. Broughton Audio characterizes the Dynamo's sound as clean and quacky, with the ability to sweep up or down.1
The Dynamo is an envelope filter pedal from Broughton Audio, priced at US$190.00.1
The controls
The Dynamo keeps its control set small and playing-focused. Each control shapes a different part of how the filter tracks your attack1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sense | Controls the amount of signal sent to the envelope detector; stronger signals sweep the filter range higher1 |
| Attack | Controls how fast the sweep happens and determines the overall feel of the effect1 |
| Sweep switch | Controls the up or down direction of the sweep1 |
| Range switch | Toggles between a low and high sweep range1 |
The sense knob is the one to set first, since it matches the detector to your instrument's output, whether that is a bass or a hot guitar pickup. The attack knob then sets the character: Broughton Audio notes that a slow attack can change the feel of the effect, so a player can go from a tight, immediate quack to a slower, more swelling response.1
Dynamo or JoshWah?
Broughton Audio makes two envelope filters, and the maker's own comparison draws the line clearly: "Compared to the JoshWah, the Dynamo is clean, quacky, and can sweep up or down, while the JoshWah is more synthy and gripping."1 In plain terms, the Dynamo leans toward the classic funk filter sound, while the Broughton Audio JoshWah leans toward a more synthetic, aggressive character. Both are covered on the site's filter pedal page alongside the maker's other filters, such as the Broughton Audio State Variable Filter and the Broughton Audio Low Pass Filter.
Power, bypass and warranty
The Dynamo runs on a 9 volt DC supply with a standard Boss style connector and center negative polarity, and the supply is not included. Current draw is approximately 10 mA, light enough for any standard pedalboard supply. The footswitch is true bypass, so the pedal stays out of your signal path when off. Broughton Audio covers its products for one year to the original owner.1
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Questions
Is the Broughton Audio Dynamo true bypass?
Yes. Broughton Audio states that the Dynamo has a true bypass switch, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes straight through without loading or coloring the tone. That matters on a pedalboard where the Dynamo may sit alongside other filters and drives, since the dry signal stays intact when the effect is switched out.
What power supply does the Dynamo need?
The Dynamo requires a 9 volt DC power supply with a standard Boss style connector and center negative polarity. The supply is not included with the pedal, and Broughton Audio lists the current draw as approximately 10 mA, which is light enough for almost any pedalboard power supply.
Does the Dynamo work with bass?
Yes. Broughton Audio describes the Dynamo as a fast acting envelope filter capable of funky tones for bass and guitar. The sense knob lets you set how much signal reaches the envelope detector, which helps the filter respond to either instrument's output level.
What does the range switch do?
The range switch toggles between a low and high sweep range. Together with the sweep switch, which sets whether the filter sweeps up or down as you play harder, it shapes where the effect sits in your frequency range and how it moves.
How does the Dynamo compare to the JoshWah?
Broughton Audio's own comparison says the Dynamo is clean, quacky, and can sweep up or down, while the JoshWah is more synthy and gripping. Players after a classic funk filter character tend toward the Dynamo, and those wanting a more synthetic, vocal character toward the JoshWah.
Does the Dynamo come with a warranty?
Yes. Broughton Audio states that its products are covered for one year to the original owner, which includes the Dynamo.
Sources (1)
- Dynamo | Broughton Audio, Broughton Audio
