Plug-in Reference

46
The included VST Instruments
Filter section
The circle in the middle contains the filter parameters. The
central dial sets the filter cut off parameter and the outer
ring the filter type:
About the filter types
You select which filter type to use using the buttons
around the filter cut off knob. The following filter types are
available (listed clockwise from 9 o’clock):
Master Volume and Pan
The master Volume controls the master volume (ampli-
tude) of the instrument. By default this parameter is con-
trolled by Envelope 1, to generate an amplitude envelope
for the oscillators.
The Pan dial controls the position in the stereo spectrum
for the instrument. You can use Pan as a modulation
destination.
Parameter Description
Filter type Sets the filter type to either lowpass, highpass, bandpass
or notch. The filter types are described on “About the fil-
ter types” on page 46.
Cut off This dial controls the filter frequency or “cut off”. If a low-
pass filter is used, it could be said to control the opening
and closing of the filter, producing the classic “sweep-
ing” synthesizer sound. How this parameter operates is
governed by the filter type mode (see “About the filter
types” on page 46).
Emphasis This is the resonance control for the filter. For lowpass
and highpass filters, raising the Emphasis value will em-
phasize the frequencies around the set cutoff frequency.
This produces a generally thinner sound, but with a
sharper, more pronounced cutoff sweep. The higher the
filter Emphasis value, the more resonant the sound be-
comes until it starts to ring (self-oscillate), generating a
distinct pitch. For Bandpass or Notch filters, the Empha-
sis setting adjusts the width of the band. When you raise
the value, the band where frequencies are let through
(Bandpass), or cut (Notch) will become narrower.
Drive This can be used to adjust the filter input level. Levels
above 0 dB will gradually introduce a soft distortion of the
input signal, and a decrease of the filter resonance.
Shift Internally, each filter consists of two or more “subfilters”
connected in series. This parameter shifts the cutoff fre-
quency of the subfilters. The result depends on the se-
lected filter type: For Lowpass and Highpass filter types it
changes the filter slope. For Bandpass and Notch filter
types it changes the bandwidth. The Shift parameter has
no effect if either the 12dB LP or 12dB HP filter type is
selected.
Tracking If this parameter is set to values over the 12 o’clock posi-
tion, the filter cutoff frequency will increase the further up
on the keyboard you play. Negative values invert this rela-
tionship.
If the Track parameter is set fully clockwise, the cutoff fre-
quency will track the keyboard by a semitone per key.
Type Description
12db LP This lowpass filter has a gentler slope (12 dB/Octave
above the cutoff frequency), leaving more of the harmon-
ics in the filtered sound.
18dB LP This lowpass filter also has a cascade design, attenuating
frequencies below the cutoff frequency with a 18dB/Oc-
tave slope, as used in the classic TB 303 synth.
24dB LP Lowpass filters lets low frequencies pass and cuts out
the high frequencies. This filter type attenuates frequen-
cies above the cutoff frequency with a 24dB/Octave
slope, which produces a warm and fat sound.
24dB LP II This lowpass filter has a cascade design which attenu-
ates frequencies below the cutoff frequency with a
24dB/Octave slope, which produces a warm and dark
sound.
12dB Band A bandpass filter cuts both high and low frequencies
above and below the cutoff frequency with a 12dB/Oc-
tave slope, producing a nasal and thin sound.
12dB Notch A notch filter cuts off frequencies near the cutoff fre-
quency by 12dB/Octave, letting the frequencies below
and above through. This produces a phaser-like sound.
12dB HP This highpass filter has a 12dB/Octave slope, giving a
bright and thin sound.
24dB HP A highpass filter is the opposite of a lowpass filter, cut-
ting out the lower frequencies and letting the high fre-
quencies pass. This filter has a 24dB/Octave slope,
giving a bright and sharp sound.