Sequential Take 5 Compact Synthesizer - Manual (Page 69)

60 Synthesis 101: Synth Bass Sequential
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 12 o’clock position.
3. Repeatedly strike a note and turn the
resonance
knob about halfway up.
Notice how the sound changes as a band of frequencies near the cutoff
is amplified.
4. 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.
5. Set the filter
cutoff
to zero.
6. In the
envelopes
section, set Envelope 1’s
amount
fully clockwise. This
will cause the Envelope 1 (the Filter Envelope) to modulate (open) the
filter as much as possible according to the shape of the envelope (its
attack, decay, sustain, and release settings).
7. Set filter
resonance
to a 9 o’clock position. This gives the synth bass its
funky “zap.”
8. Play some low notes and listen to the sound. Classic synth bass.
To tweak the sound:
1. Experiment with the Filter Envelope’s
amount
knob. Notice how
greater
amount
settings amplify the effect of the envelope on the filter.
2. 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.
3. Experiment with the Filter Envelope’s
cutoff
knob.
4. The Filter Envelope’s
release
parameter acts in conjunction with the
Amplifier Envelope. In other words, you can’t hear a long release on
the filter envelope if the amplifier envelope is short! So to hear the filter
envelope’s
release
parameter in action, set the both the Filter Envelope
and Amp Envelope’s
release
values to an 11 o’clock position.