CLAVIA DMI AB CLAVIA NORD Rack 2X [82/114] Filter types

Page 80 About Subtractive Synthesis

As you can see the curve is flat in the low register (which means it doesn’t affect this part of the spectrum

at all) and then, at a certain point, gradually starts falling. When applied to the wave above, this filter cuts

away some of the high frequency material in the wave, like this:

+ =

Filter Types

There are many types of filters, all with their different purposes. We will here discuss the three most com-

mon, the ones found in the Nord Lead.

Lowpass filter: The Lowpass filter dampens high frequencies and let’s low frequencies pass through unaf-

fected, as in the example above. It is the most common synthesizer filter, since it can be used to “round

off” the sharp sound of sawtooth waves and pulse waves.

Highpass Filter: This is the opposite of the lowpass filter. It let’s the high frequencies of the sound pass

through and cuts off the low frequencies. This removes “bass” from a sound, without affecting the high

end.

Amplitude

Frequency

Fc (Cutoff Frequency)

Amplitude

Frequency

Fc (Cutoff Frequency)