Manx SJ-2, User Manual

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Frequency
intensity (volume)
The basics.......
You may think of a
synthesizer filter as being rather like a single ‘tone’ control that you might find on a
home audio system such as a personal CD player. However, it’s an extremely intense tone control; so much so
that when the tone control is turned down to its minimum setting, the sound disappears all together!
Synthesizer filters and EQ devices allow us to adjust the balance of
frequencies in a sound; bass refers to low
frequencies and treble refers to high frequencies. Frequency is an interesting subject and is discussed below.
Frequency
intensity (volume)
Frequency
intensity (volume)
Frequency
intensity (volume)
BASS TREBLE
BASS TREBLE
BASS TREBLE
BASS TREBLE
Graphic view of the action of a standard audio player tone control
Tone control set to fully open
Tone control set to minimum
Graphic view of the action of a synthesizer low pass filter
Cut-off set just up from midway (no resonance)
cut-off set just up from midway, with resonance applied
Cut off
Cut off
Please note that a little way beyond the cut off point, frequencies are
removed entirely.
Please note that this type of EQ cannot remove any
frequencies entirely
The last of the graphs above introduces another feature of synthesizer filters - resonance. On the SJ-2 filter,
the resonance is controlled by the slider labelled ‘REZ’. When resonance is applied, frequencies around the
cut-off point are emphasised, as shown in the graph. At very high settings, this emphasis results in an audible
high pitched squeal, which can be used to great effect.
RESONANCE
CAUTION: Turning up the resonance can lead to a profound increase in sound volume, perhaps unexpectedly.
Please consider both your speakers and your ears and use this feature cautiously.
Appendix One:
23 Appendix One - Audio filters