3.5

Table Of Contents
356MainStage Instruments
MainStage Retro Synth filter controls
Retro Synth features a flexible filter that can operate as a lowpass, highpass, bandpass,
band reject, or peak filter. The filter can subtly, or dramatically, affect the basic tone sent
from the oscillators.
Filter use is straightforward. Choose one of the available filter types and adjust the filter
cutoff and resonance controls to sculpt the sound. You can also control the filter cutoff
and resonance controls while playing—either manually or by using keyboard position, an
envelope, or the LFO to modulate these filter controls automatically. Real-time changes
to filter cutoff and resonance can make your performance much more dynamic and
interesting. You can do this with MIDI keyboard controllers and with modulation section
controls. See modulation and global and controller settings.
Filter parameters
On/off button: Turn the filter section on or off. The filter is enabled by default (indicated
by the lit button at the top left of the filter section). Disable the filter when adjusting
other sound controls because this makes it easier to hear changes.
Filter Type pop-up menu: Choose a filter type from the menu. There are eight lowpass
filters with different slopes, four highpass, four bandpass, a band reject, and a peak
filter available. Use the descriptive names—Creamy, Edgy, Gritty, Lush, Lush (Fat), and
Sharp—to make a choice that’s right for your sound. See MainStage Retro Synth filter
types.
LP (lowpass): Allows frequencies that fall below the cutoff frequency to pass.
You can choose one of four slopes from the eight models that change the tonal
characteristics of the filter, making it sound brighter, mellow, thinner, or fuller—
particularly in the bass end of the sound.
HP (highpass): Allows frequencies above the cutoff frequency to pass. There are
three slopes to choose from: 6, 12, and 24dB/octave.
BP (bandpass): The frequency band directly surrounding the cutoff frequency is
allowed to pass. All other frequencies are cut. The Resonance control sets the width
of the frequency band. Bandpass is a two-pole filter with a slope of either 6or 12 dB/
octave on each side of the center frequency.