Using Sculpture’s Body EQ

The Body EQ can work as a simple EQ, as a complex spectral shaper, or as a body response simulator. In effect, the Body EQ can emulate the resonant characteristics of a wooden or metallic body—such as that of a guitar, violin, or flute.

The various models are derived from impulse response recordings of actual instrument bodies. These recordings have been separated into their general formant structure and fine structure, allowing you to alter these properties separately.

The Body EQ affects the summed signal of all voices, rather than each voice independently.

Figure. Body EQ On/Off and Model parameters.

Note: When Basic EQ or another Body EQ model is chosen, the three knobs and slider parameter names and behaviors change. See Controlling the Basic EQ Model in Sculpture and Controlling Other Body EQ Models in Sculpture.

Controlling the Basic EQ Model in Sculpture

The Basic EQ parameters differ from other EQ models.

Figure. Basic EQ parameters.
  • Low knob: Adjusts the gain of a low shelving filter.
  • Mid knob: Adjusts the gain of a peak filter (sweepable—see “Mid Frequency slider” below).
  • High knob: Adjusts the gain of a high shelving filter.
  • Mid Frequency slider: Sweeps the center frequency of the mid band between 100 Hz and 10 kHz.
To adjust the Basic EQ (Lo Mid Hi model) graphically
  • Drag vertically on the left third of the graphic to control the Low parameter.

  • Drag vertically on the center third of the graphic to control the Mid parameter.

  • Drag horizontally on the center third of the graphic to control the Mid Frequency parameter.

  • Drag vertically on the right third of the graphic to control the Hi parameter.

Controlling Other Body EQ Models in Sculpture

All other Body EQ models provide the following parameters:

Figure. Body EQ parameters.
  • Formant–Intensity knob: Scales the intensity of the model’s formants. In other words, any formants (harmonics) in the model will become louder, or will be inverted, depending on how this parameter is used. A value of 0.0 results in a flat response. A value of 1.0 results in strong formants. Negative values invert the formants.
  • Formant–Shift knob: Shifts the formants logarithmically. A value of −0.3, for example, shifts all formants one octave downward, and a value of +0.3 shifts the formants up one octave. A value of +1.0 shifts up by a factor of 10—from 500 Hz to 5000 Hz, for example.
  • Formant–Stretch knob: Stretches the formant frequencies, relative to each other. In other words, this parameter alters the width of all bands being processed by the Body EQ, extending or narrowing the frequency range.
    • Low Formant Stretch values move the formants closer together (centered around 1 kHz), whereas high values move the formants farther apart from each other. The control range is expressed as a ratio of the overall bandwidth.

    Note: When combined, Formant Stretch and Formant Shift alter the formant structure of the sound and can result in some interesting timbral changes.

  • Fine Structure slider: Enhances the spectral (harmonic) structure, making the overall harmonic makeup of the sound more precise. This results in a more detailed sound that is harmonically richer and—depending on the model selected—more guitar-like or violin-like, for example. In other words, the resonant cavities of the instrument become more resonant—somewhat like the increased depth of tone provided by a larger-bodied guitar. A value of 0.0 denotes no fine structure. A value of 1.0 results in enhanced/full fine structure of the selected model.

    Note: Heavy use of Fine Structure may be quite CPU intensive. Also note that Fine Structure may not actually result in much difference in your sound. It is highly dependent on several string, Waveshaper, and Body EQ model parameter settings. As always, use your ears!

To adjust other Body EQ models graphically
  • Drag vertically on the graphic to control the Formant Intensity parameter.

  • Drag horizontally on the graphic to control the Formant Shift parameter.