The Modtone Funk Filter Enveloper is an envelope-triggered auto-wah from ModTone: a filter pedal that opens and closes in response to how hard you pick, rather than being worked by foot like a wah pedal. The maker lists it at $149 street1. One reviewer summed up the sound this way: "This analog multi-mode filter sounds really musical and warm but can also get pretty aggressive - which I liked"1.
Controls
The pedal keeps its front panel to three things: a filter mode selector, the F-Factor knob and the Drive knob1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Filter mode selector | Selects Lowpass, Midpass and Highpass filter modes1 |
| F-Factor | Sets the filter width; turned further clockwise, the filter becomes more aggressive and vowel-like1 |
| Drive | Sets input sensitivity; set too hot, it causes the envelope's detector circuit to falter1 |
The three filter modes can be used in conjunction with the F-Factor control and the Drive setting, which Premier Guitar's demo notes gives "a wide range of tones on clean or distorted signals"2. The Drive knob is the one to watch when dialling in: because it sets how hard the envelope detector is driven, pushing it too far makes the tracking stumble rather than tighten1.
Sound and what reviewers said
Green's verdict at Delicious Audio was positive on the character of the filter itself: "This analog multi-mode filter sounds really musical and warm but can also get pretty aggressive - which I liked"1. He also flagged the price, writing "at a meager $149 street, you really can't go wrong"1. The aggressive end of that range comes from the F-Factor knob, which is where the vowel-like quality lives1.
Related pedals
ModTone's Funk Filter name was later revived by Seamoon with the Seamoon Funk Filter, a fully analog envelope filter that adds four knobs: Frequency, Depth (sensitivity), Blend and Volume3. Players comparing the two will find the Seamoon version offers more control over the filter's center frequency and the balance of filtered and dry signal3.
Videos
Modtone Effects
Questions
Is the Modtone Funk Filter Enveloper true bypass?
Yes. Gus Green's review for Delicious Audio describes it as a true-bypass circuit, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal untouched when it is switched off. It also runs on a 9V battery or a standard power adapter, with one input and one output on the enclosure.
What power does the Modtone Funk Filter Enveloper use?
The pedal operates on 9V, either from a battery or a standard power adapter, according to Delicious Audio's review. There is no mention of a higher-voltage option or a specific current draw, so a regular 9V DC supply of the sort most pedalboard power supplies provide is what it is designed around.
What does the F-Factor knob do?
F-Factor sets the filter width. The more it is turned clockwise, the more aggressive and vowel-like the filter becomes, in the words of Delicious Audio's reviewer. It works together with the Drive knob, which sets input sensitivity, and with the high, mid and low pass mode selector.
Is the Modtone Funk Filter Enveloper analog?
Yes. Delicious Audio's review calls it an analog multi-mode filter and describes its sound as musical and warm, though capable of turning aggressive. Premier Guitar's demo video likewise describes it as recreating vintage envelope or auto-wah type effects.
What filter modes does the Modtone Funk Filter Enveloper have?
It has three filter modes: Lowpass, Midpass and Highpass, selected with a mode control. Premier Guitar's demo notes these can be used in conjunction with the F-Factor control and the Drive setting for a wide range of tones on clean or distorted signals.
Sources (3)
- Pedal Review: Modtone Funk Filter Enveloper, Delicious Audio, 2012-12-12
- ModTone Effects Clean Boost & Extreme Metal Demos, Premier Guitar, 2009-08-11
- New Pedals: Seamoon Funk Filter, Delicious Audio, 2020-10-19
