6. The Instruments: The Synth section
Nord Stage EX v6.x
Page 44
The third Envelope mode, indicated by both LEDs, is similar to the first mode, except that the enve-
lope quickly goes to zero when the key is release.
F
ILTER
S
ECTION
The filter is, together with the oscillators, the most important sound-shaping tool in a synthesizer. The
filter section in Nord Stage EX comprises a lowpass filter with either a 12dB or 24 dB slope, with
selectable keyboard tracking. The filter has adjustable resonance, and is self-oscillating at high reso-
nance settings. The filter cut-off frequency can be modulated by velocity or by the Mod Envelope.
F
ILTER
F
REQUENCY
C
UTOFF
With the
F
REQ
knob you set the cutoff frequency. Simply put, if you turn the
F
REQ
knob clockwise,
the high-frequency content in the signal will increase. This parameter can be Morph controlled.
LP F
ILTER
In the Nord Stage EX you can select between 12 dB/octave and 24 dB/octave (4-pole) slopes for the
low pass filter. Press
S
HIFT
and the
4 P
OLE
button to switch type. The
4 P
OLE
LED shows which
filter mode is selected.
24
D
B (4-P
OLE
)
This is the classic “synth filter” slope used in the Minimoog and Prophet-5 among others. It cuts out
frequencies rather drastically, 24 dB per octave. A 24 dB filter is also known as a 4-pole filter.
When you “open” a low-
pass filter, the high-fre-
quency content increases
in the output signal.
The figure shows the filter
with 24 dB and 12 dB
slopes.
