PROCESSING AND EFFECTS

ENVELOPE FILTER

An envelope filter is similar to a Gate in that it also changes how a sound begins and ends.  But while a Gate will turn the sound ON or OFF (either suddenly or gradually), an Envelope Filter will CHANGE THE TONE of the sound as it begins and ends.  When the sound is far below the threshold then only low frequencies are allowed through.  When the sound gets louder and closer to the threshold more of the midrange and then high frequencies are allowed through until the whole sound is heard.  As the sound gets quieter, the envelope filter will start to close off the high, then midrange frequencies.

While a wah wah guitar pedal produces a similar effect when the pedal is moved, an envelope filter is more extreme in the transition from muted to “crying wah”.   Envelope Filters produce a “bwap” sound that is more extreme than guitar “wah” pedals.