Filter QueenThe Filter Queen ($299) is one of Electrix's modular signal processors. This remix tool is encased in a rugged steel housing and has small, unusual dimensions, measuring 3.5 by 10 inches. The unit's joiner plate can connect it to another Electrix Mod product in a 19-inch rack. The control surface slants so that the dials face you at an optimal angle. Two large, grooved rubber pads on the bottom of the unit minimize slippage and ensure stability.
The HookupAll connections to the Filter Queen are on its rear panel. The input section has stereo RCA connectors (with a grounding post for your turntable) and two 11/44-inch jacks for other instruments. A switch lets you select phono- or line-level inputs, with the line input optimized for a +4 dBu signal. When the switch is set to phono, the phono preamp accepts a range of cartridge output levels. You also get two 11/44-inch inputs: one for a momentary footswitch and the other for an expression pedal.
The output section has two 11/44-inch jacks and stereo RCA connectors. The output produces an unbalanced +4 dBu signal, and you can set the device for stereo or mono output.
Warp FactorThe digitally controlled analog filters are modeled after the voltage-controlled filters found in traditional analog synthesizers. Simple and easy to read, the controls offer the tactile instant gratification of an analog synthesizer - grab a knob, change the sound. Front-panel controls include a Decay parameter for the envelope follower, and you can toggle the filter between highpass, midrange bandpass, lowpass, and allpass. As with any decent analog synth, you can adjust the filter frequency cutoff; the knob indicates frequency in hertz. Similarly, you can add a touch of resonance or crank it to self-oscillation with the dedicated Resonance knob.
The Filter Type button lets you choose between lowpass, highpass, bandpass, and notch filters. For hands-off filter modulation, the LFO offers a choice of square, triangle, sawtooth-up, sawtooth-down, and random waveforms. You also get knobs for LFO depth and speed. As you adjust LFO speed, an indicator light flashes at the same frequency. The signal flow for each group of knobs is silk-screened on the front panel, a thoughtful touch for novice tweakers. Each knob has a smooth feel with no play or looseness.
Fit for a QueenThe Filter Queen can serve as anything from a quacking, funky envelope filter to a silky, classic phase shifter. You can quickly set up the unit as a stereo 2-pole filter or mono 4-pole filter. Mono sums both channels before the 4-pole filter. The 2-pole setting is a 12-dB-per-octave filter, offering a smoother response. The 4-pole setting gives you a 24-dB-per-octave slope that results in a steeper filter response - my favorite configuration. When I plugged in my bass, the funky tones went on for days. The envelope follower transformed an audio CD of bass lines into jazzy Bootsy Collins impressions. I plugged in my Chapman stick and an expression pedal to produce some frighteningly funky wah tones. Running a slick, unctuous-sounding radio talk-show host through a lowpass filter - rapidly modulated by a square wave - gave his sales pitch a menacing growl.
You can also activate an effect with a footswitch and manually operate it with the Momentary and Engage buttons. Unfortunately, switching between the two buttons generated some noise - the Filter Queen's only drawback.
The Filter Queen has myriad setup configurations to meet your various needs. It adapts to any situation, live or in the studio.