User Guide

Module: Silver
125
The waveform generated at the cutoff frequency
is a sine wave, which is excellent for programming
lead and electronic drum sounds. This is called
self-oscillation.
• Quality: Quality has a formative impact on the
sound-shaping action of the filter: This
parameter determines to which extent
frequencies are dampened at a specific distance
from the cutoff frequency. In other words, it
defines the cutoff steepness or slope of the
filter curve. The higher the quality, the greater
the filter’s effect on the sound. This value is
indicated in dB per octave.
Let us look at an example: Say we have a filter
with a quality of 12 dB and a cutoff frequency of
500 Hz. An octave above the cutoff frequency -
that is, at 1,000 Hz - the filter dampens by 12
dB and at 2000 Hz by as much as 24 dB.
Low-pass filter
A low-pass filter allows
only frequencies below
the cutoff frequency to
pass. Higher frequen-
cies - that is, the up-
per-range frequencies
responsible for bright-
ness - are cut from the
soundscape. The result
is a softer sound. Think of the low-pass as the David
Hamilton of filters...
Though cutting high frequencies from the spectrum
of a sound does not boost low frequencies, it does
increase the relative percentage of low frequencies.
When a low-pass filter filters a signal, we perceive
the sound to be warmer and fuller.
Neuron offers three (count ‘em!) low-pass filters: The
most commonly used low-pass filters with 12 dB and
24 dB dampening are accessed directly via the silver
button labeled filter. The special LED has multiple
assignments so that you can step through all filters
by pressing the filter button repeatedly and find the
remaining 6 dB filter (this filter can also be selected
in the menu).
Neuron.book Seite 125 Montag, 23. Dezember 2002 2:28 14