Working with Space Designer’s Filter

Space Designer’s filter provides control over the timbre of the reverb.

You can select from several filter types and also have envelope control over the filter cutoff, which is independent from the volume envelope. Changes to filter settings result in a recalculation of the impulse response, rather than a straight change to the sound as it plays through the reverb.

Using Space Designer’s Main Filter Parameters

The main filter parameters are found at the lower-left corner of the interface.

Figure. Filter section.
  • Filter On/Off button: Switches the filter section on and off.
  • Filter Mode knob: Determines the filter mode.
    • 6 dB (LP): Bright, good general-purpose filter mode. It can be used to retain the top end of most material, while still providing some filtering.
    • 12 dB (LP): Useful where you want a warmer sound, without drastic filter effects. It is handy for smoothing out bright reverbs.
    • BP: 6 dB per octave design. Reduces the lower and high end of the signal, leaving the frequencies around the cutoff frequency intact.
    • HP: 12 dB per octave/two-pole design. Reduces the level of frequencies that fall below the cutoff frequency.
  • Reso(nance) knob: Emphasizes frequencies above, around, or below the cutoff frequency. The impact of the resonance knob on the sound is highly dependent on the chosen filter mode, with steeper filter modes resulting in more pronounced tonal changes.

Using Space Designer’s Filter Envelope

The filter envelope is shown in the main display when the Filter Env button is active. It provides control of the filter cutoff frequency over time. All filter envelope parameters can be adjusted either numerically in the parameter bar or graphically in the main display using the techniques discussed in Setting Space Designer’s Envelope Parameters.

Note: Activation of the filter envelope automatically enables the main filter.

Figure. Filter envelope parameters, showing control nodes.
  • Init Level field: Sets the initial cutoff frequency of the filter envelope.
  • Attack Time field: Determines the time required to reach the Break Level (see below).
  • Break Level field: Sets the maximum filter cutoff frequency that the envelope reaches. It also acts as the separation point between the attack and decay phases of the overall filter envelope. In other words, when this level has been reached after the attack phase, the decay phase will begin. You can create interesting filter sweeps by setting the Break Level to a value lower than the Init Level.
  • Decay Time field: Determines the time required (after the Break Level point) to reach the End Level value.
  • End Level field: Sets the cutoff frequency at the end of the filter envelope decay phase.