The Electrix Filter Factory is a full-rack stereo analog filter, a rack unit rather than a pedal. Electrix describes it as combining a stereo analog filter with resonance, envelope following and a tempo-aware LFO, with low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and notch filter types. Its large controls, momentary switches and MIDI implementation are designed for playing filter moves live as well as automating them in a studio1. It is now listed among Electrix's legacy products.
What it does for a player
A filter unit sits in the signal chain and shapes which frequencies pass through. With four filter responses available, the Filter Factory can sweep a low-pass for the familiar wah-like opening and closing, isolate a band with the band-pass, or cut a narrow notch out of a sound. The envelope follower makes the filter track the level of the incoming signal, and the tempo-aware LFO sweeps it in time, so the movement can be played by hand, driven by the signal or locked to a groove. Electrix positions the front panel for performance: large controls and momentary switches for playing filter moves live, with MIDI carrying the same moves into a studio arrangement1.
Players coming from pedals will recognize the territory: a filter with an envelope follower and resonance is the rack-format cousin of what filter pedals and wah pedals do on a board, with the advantage of line-level connections and MIDI control.
Connections, MIDI and levels
The Filter Factory is built around line-level, stereo connections:
- Inputs: Balanced 1/4-inch TRS, plus RCA phono and line1
- Outputs: Balanced 1/4-inch TRS and RCA1
- Maximum level: +12.5 dBu on the line inputs and outputs1
- Frequency response: 10 Hz to 20 kHz1
- Dynamic range: greater than 90 dB on the 1/4-inch path1
- MIDI: in, out and thru, with front-panel control transmission1
The balanced TRS jacks and RCA phono pairs point at a studio or rack setup: mixers, interfaces and DJ-style gear. The +12.5 dBu maximum level is a line-level figure, so a guitar plugged straight in sits well below what the inputs expect; the usual approach is to place the unit after a preamp or interface output1.
Filter Factory and Filter Queen
Electrix also made the Filter Queen, which the company describes as bringing the Filter Factory concept to its compact Mod format. The two share the same core idea, a stereo analog filter with four responses, in different sizes and with different levels21:
| Filter Factory | Filter Queen | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Full-rack1 | Half-rack2 |
| Filter types | Low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, notch1 | Low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, notch1 |
| Extra filtering | Not given | Selectable 2-pole stereo or 4-pole mono2 |
| Inputs | Balanced 1/4-inch TRS; RCA phono and line1 | 1/4-inch line; RCA phono and line2 |
| Outputs | Balanced 1/4-inch TRS and RCA1 | 1/4-inch line and stereo RCA2 |
| Maximum level | +12.5 dBu in and out1 | +18 dBu in and out2 |
Both are analog, and both are listed as legacy products that Electrix describes as standalone hardware with no drivers, software downloads or product-specific FAQ entries to hunt down12. The Filter Queen's user manual, an English document of 18 pages, was recovered from a public mirror, verified against the product and copied to Electrix-hosted storage, since the original Electrix site did not retain it2.
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Questions
Is the Electrix Filter Factory analog or digital?
It is analog. Electrix describes it as a full-rack stereo analog filter, pairing the analog filter core with resonance, envelope following and a tempo-aware LFO. Being standalone hardware, it needs no drivers or software downloads to work.
What filter types does the Filter Factory have?
It offers four filter types: low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and notch. Combined with the resonance control, the envelope follower and the tempo-aware LFO, those responses cover everything from sweeping a single band to pulling a notch out of a mix.
Does the Electrix Filter Factory have MIDI?
Yes. It has MIDI in, out and thru, and it can transmit front-panel control movements over MIDI. That makes it possible to automate filter moves in a studio setup as well as play them by hand.
Does the Filter Factory need drivers or software?
No. Electrix describes it as standalone hardware with no drivers, software downloads or product-specific FAQ entries to hunt down. It is now listed among the company's legacy products.
Is the Electrix Filter Factory a rack unit or a pedal?
It is a rack unit. Electrix lists it as a full-rack stereo analog filter. The related Filter Queen takes the same concept into Electrix's compact half-rack Mod format.
Can I run a guitar straight into the Filter Factory?
The Filter Factory's inputs are balanced 1/4-inch TRS and RCA phono line inputs, with a maximum level of +12.5 dBu on the line inputs and outputs. It is designed around line-level sources, so players using it with a guitar typically place it after a preamp or recording interface rather than plugging a guitar in directly.
Sources (2)
- Filter Factory, electrixpro.com
- Filter Queen, Electrix
