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246 Chapter 22 ES2
To check out how the overdrive circuit between the filters works, program a sound as
follows:
• Simple static waveform (a sawtooth)
• Filter set to Serial mode
• Filter Blend set to 0 (center position)
• Set Filter 1 to peak Filter Mode
• Set a high Resonance value for Filter 1
• Modulate Cutoff Frequency 1 manually or in the Router
• Set Drive to your taste
• Filter away (cut) the high frequencies with Filter 2 to taste
The sonic result resembles the effect of synchronized oscillators. With high resonance
values, the sound tends to scream. Modulate the Resonance of Filter 1, if you wish.
Filter Parameters
Cutoff and Resonance
With every lowpass filter (in the ES2: Lo mode for Filter 1 and all of Filter 2’s modes), all
frequency portions above the Cutoff Frequency (Cut) are suppressed, or cut off, hence
the name. The Cutoff Frequency controls the brilliance of the signal. The higher the
Cutoff Frequency is set, the higher the frequencies of signals that are allowed to pass
through the lowpass filter.
Resonance (Res) emphasizes the portions of the signal which surround the frequency
defined by the Cutoff Frequency value. This emphasis can be set so intensively in Filter 2,
that the filter begins to oscillate by itself. When driven to self-oscillation, the filter
outputs a sine oscillation (sine wave). This self-oscillation can be supported by the Filter
Reset parameter. See “Flt Reset” on page 229 for details.
Note: If you are new to synthesizers, experiment with a simple saw wave, using
Oscillator 1, and Filter 2 (lowpass filter, Filter Blend = +1) on its own. Experiment with
the Cutoff Frequency and Resonance parameters. You’ll quickly learn how to emulate a
number of recognizable sounds, and will pick up the basic principles of subtractive
synthesis intuitively.