Best attack/decay swell effect bang for the buck?

[jrmy]

Anybody got an opinion on a good, inexpensive attack/decay/envelope pedal? Not looking for an expression/wah-type dealio. Right now I'm considering the Malekko A.D., but wasn't sure if there was anything else worth checking out... oh, and small footprint is ideal.

[PetZounds]

There's a Behringer pedal that does that effect.
I own it but haven't compared it to others.

[Tristan]

B.Y.O.C. Lazy Sprocket
Guyatone SV2
Mooer Slow Engine
VFE Bumblebee

I think almost every swell pedal is likely based on the Boss SG-1 Slow Gear.

[Chankgeez]

Ooh, swell topic. Interested.

[goroth]

Guyatone SV-2 is and always will be on my board. 2 knobs, no problems cutting off notes. Awesome. Bypass is not as transparent as boss bypass. The newer version is tb and is on sale at music toyz. Better enclosure too.

I also have the vfe. It is rad at fast pizzicato violin stuff. Like crazy good. It's challenging to dial in right, and the compressor in it is fucking mental (edit: in a good way). Even with the mix knob fully to swell the compressor still affects the swell circuit. I couldn't dial in good compression then bam good swells. But I'm not sure that's the point. I'd be happy to send it over to you to try out or sell it to you.

I recall reading the malekko has some problems cutting off notes. Never played one though.

Boss slow gear is nice but is a more finicky circuit than the SV-2.

[friendship]

Ooh, swell topic.

[Tristan]

Guyatone SV-2 is and always will be on my board. 2 knobs, no problems cutting off notes. Awesome. Bypass is not as transparent as boss bypass. The newer version is tb and is on sale at music toyz. Better enclosure too.

I also have the vfe. It is rad at fast pizzicato violin stuff. Like crazy good. It's challenging to dial in right, and the compressor in it is fucking mental (edit: in a good way). Even with the mix knob fully to swell the compressor still affects the swell circuit. I couldn't dial in good compression then bam good swells. But I'm not sure that's the point. I'd be happy to send it over to you to try out or sell it to you.

I recall reading the malekko has some problems cutting off notes. Never played one though.

Boss slow gear is nice but is a more finicky circuit than the SV-2.

Interesting, do you prefer the SV2 to the Bumblebee and if so why?
Could you describe the differences between the two a bit more?

[bigchiefbc]

Just cave and buy a Mobius, jrmz

[goroth]

Just cave and buy a Mobius, jrmz

Don't listen to him!!! Stay analogue bro!

[
Interesting, do you prefer the SV2 to the Bumblebee and if so why?
Could you describe the differences between the two a bit more?

Yeah, I do, but it's more a case of the SV-2 sounding good and functioning quite well regardless of where you put the knobs, which makes it really well suited to a live situation. The VFE, the knobs are very interactive and the trigger is quite sensitive. If anything got moved and you didn't notice it it would be hard to problem solve. The rise time on the SV2 goes slower than the Bumblebee as well... I think. But if I was playing notes rather than long swells I would use the Bumblebee regardless of the risk for bumping something and losing a setting because it is so good at faster swells. I can send it over if Jrmy doesn't want it.

[futuresailors]

Fuck yo footprint.

[onyxrhino]

I've had a few of them.The one that's worked best for me was the one on the Zoom 606 multi-effect unit. You could tweak it with the foot pedal as you played, so it made it easier to keep it consistent. Of course, it's been ages since I used it (but those things used to go for like $30 a piece used, and are great for a cheap whammy and other effects). I've got the Zoom MS-50 and the slow gear sim on it is pretty good too. I haven't played with it too much, but it seems to work as well as any of the others I've owned (I think I had the behringer once. I know I had the guyatone). The MS-50 is a pretty small footprint and gives you a lot of other effects too, which I would think would be a bonus, since I'm guessing you won't be using that effect a lot, right?

[Ghost Hip]

Funny, my local GC had a used Behringer Slow motion. To me, it didn't swell slow enough at its slowest setting. It just sorta killed the attack of the note. Cool, but not cool enough to have sitting around for that one effect.

Sorry I can't be any help in recommending one, but yeah the behringer was underwhelming.

[rustywire]

Volume pedal.

Pigtronix Attack Sustain is a close second.

[goroth]

Volume pedal.

Pigtronix Attack Sustain is a close second.

The VFE can rise and fall faster than I can with a volume pedal. Swell pedals also leave your feet free for macho poses, or operating a filter or another foot controlled effect at the same time (which is super rad), or for finishing off each swell with momentary oscillations on a delay like the ILFDD (which is super rad).

[Tristan]

Just cave and buy a Mobius, jrmz

Don't listen to him!!! Stay analogue bro!

[
Interesting, do you prefer the SV2 to the Bumblebee and if so why?
Could you describe the differences between the two a bit more?

Yeah, I do, but it's more a case of the SV-2 sounding good and functioning quite well regardless of where you put the knobs, which makes it really well suited to a live situation. The VFE, the knobs are very interactive and the trigger is quite sensitive. If anything got moved and you didn't notice it it would be hard to problem solve. The rise time on the SV2 goes slower than the Bumblebee as well... I think. But if I was playing notes rather than long swells I would use the Bumblebee regardless of the risk for bumping something and losing a setting because it is so good at faster swells. I can send it over if Jrmy doesn't want it.

Ah, understood, I have a Philosopher King here for doing really fast swells but it's quite a huge pedal of course.
From what I understood the swell on the Bumblebee only triggers when there's a silence / mute in between, is that your experience with it as well?
I actually forgot to mention the Electro Harmonix Micro Synth which is probably my favourite for swells because it doesn't need this silence / mute in between.