Source Audio’s NEW Soundblox Bass Envelope Filter

Okay bass players… time to get excited. Will at Source Audio just sent me some info on the new Soundblox Bass Envelope Filter (BEF), and it seems pretty badass! Here is the official press release:

Boston, MA – Source Audio, the multiple award winning guitar effects pedal innovators, will be showcasing their new Soundblox Bass Envelope Filter at Bass Player Live in Hollywood, CA on October 23rd.  The BEF is the latest addition to the company’s expanding line of bass effects.

First run models of the pedal have already appeared in the touring rigs of bassists Mike Gordon of Phish, Kevin Walker of Prince/Justin Timberlake, and Jai Dillon of Jason Mraz.

“I’ve had a eureka experience with the Bass Envelope Filter.  It is the first unit with enough control to preserve the low-end without sacrificing clarity.” says Mike Gordon who added the Soundblox Bass Envelope Filter to his set-up in addition to the Soundblox Pro Multiwave Bass Distortion for Phish’s 2010 Summer Tour.  His use of both pedals can be heard on performances from the tour found on LivePhish.com.

“Source Audio has revolutionized the bass envelope filter as we know it today and resurrected the bass guitar.” adds Kevin Walker.  “What I once needed keyboard for, I can now do with my bass”.

The design of the BEF includes 21 different filter sounds including Two Pole Filters, Four Pole Filters, Single Peak Filters, Triple Peak Filters, Peak & Notch Filters, and Phasers that can all be modulated through either watery positive filter sweeps or punchy negative/reverse filter sweeps.  In addition, the interface allows the user to select the frequency range of the filter sweeps as well as the attack and decay speeds of each effect.  Like all Soundblox pedals, the BEF can be optionally controlled by a Hot Hand motion-sensing ring.  Placing the ring on the player’s hand or anywhere on the instrument allows the movement of the player to modulate the filter sweeps of the pedal.

Now widely acclaimed for bringing innovation into the world of guitar effects pedals, Source Audio was founded in January 2005 by former engineers, scientists, and executives of Analog Devices, Kurzweil Music Systems, and Thomas H. Lee Partners. Since the 2006 release of its flagship product, the Hot Hand motion-sensing ring, Source Audio’s distortion, modulation and Hot Hand products have been recognized through multiple awards from Guitar Player, Guitar World, Bass Player, and Premier Guitar Magazines.

Street Price for the Soundblox Bass Envelope Filter is expected to be $119.  It is available now.  For a limited time only, a wired Hot Hand controller will be included.  For more about the Soundblox effects pedals and to view video demos, visit www.sourceaudio.net or call Source Audio directly at 781.932.8080.

The Soundblox Bass Envelope Filter will be available for hands-on demos at the Source Audio booth at this year’s Bass Player Live at SIR Studio in Hollywood, CA on October 23rd and 24th.

Okay, that sounds all fine and dandy, but let’s see how it sounds. Will also let me know about a few videos they did. One basically demos the pedal, and the second video goes into the technical aspects of envelope filters, etc. It was quite interesting.

Here is the Tech Talk video about the Bass Envelope Filter. By the way, Bob Chidlaw is my hero.

I’m hoping Will Cady is reading this post. If so, what’s the deal with your headstock? Meaning the snake-charm-type-thing that’s tied on to the headstock? I feel there is a powerful mojo story there.

Once again, Source Audio is pumping out some great gear, please check out their site for their other effects!