Sequential PRO 3, User Manual

Page: 118 / 168

106 Synthesis 101: Synth Bass Sequential
Next, you’ll use the filter to shape the raw sound of the sawtooth wave.
To adjust the filter:
1. Press and hold down a key and turn the filter’s
cutoff
knob. Notice
how it cuts the high frequencies as you rotate counter-clockwise,
making the sound of the oscillator less bright. If you turn the
cutoff
knob fully counterclockwise you’ll filter out all frequencies and hear
nothing.
2. Return the
cutoff
knob to its halfway position, play and hold a note
again then turn the
resonance
knob about halfway up. Notice how the
sound changes as a band of frequencies near the cutoff is amplified.
3. Rotate the filter’s
cutoff
knob again and you’ll hear a classic resonant
filter sweep. You’re going to use this to create your synth bass.
4. Set the filter
cutoff
to a value of 40 (refer to the main display to see its
numeric value).
5. Set the filter
resonance
to a value of 100. This is going to give the
synth bass its funky “zap.”
6. Play a note and listen to the sound. At this point you won’t hear
anything because you’ve mostly closed the filter. You’ll need to open
the filter using the filter envelope (so you don’t have to turn the
cutoff
knob by hand).
Now, you’ll use the filter envelope to control the filter sweep.
To adjust the filter envelope:
1. In the Envelopes section, turn the Filter Envelope’s
amount
knob to a
value of 50 (refer to the main display to see its numeric value).
2. Play a low note on the keyboard. Instant synth bass!
Notice how the sound has changed. The Filter Envelope is controlling
filter cutoff by the amount you set with the
amount
knob.
3. Continue experimenting with the Filter Envelope’s
amount
knob.
Notice how greater
amount
settings amplify the effect of the envelope
on the filter.
4. Repeatedly strike a note on the keyboard as you turn the Filter Enve-
lope’s
decay
knob clockwise and counterclockwise. Notice how it
changes the sound as the note decays faster or slower.