FilterFreak Creative Resonant Filtering User’s Guide Version 5 : For Mac and Windows rev.
CONTENTS FilterFreak — Version 5 THE BASICS / Pg. 4 FILTERFREAK MODULATION MODES / Pg. 11 About FilterFreak........................................................................................... pg. 5 Choosing a Modulation Type / Source ..................................................... pg. 11 LFO MODE / Pg. 12 THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL / Pg. 6 Input and Output Level ............................................................................... pg. 6 Common Controls ......................
CONTENTS (continued) PhaseMistress FilterFreak — Version 5 RHYTHM MODE (continued) ADSR MODE / Pg. 26 Shape ............................................................................................................... pg. 19 (A) Attack......................................................................................................... pg. 27 Groove ............................................................................................................. pg. 19 (D) Delay .....................
THE BASICS - INTRODUCTION FilterFreak — Version 5 Figure 1: FilterFreak 2’s Control Panel and Tweak Menu - Rhythm Mode soundtoys.
THE BASICS - ABOUT FILTERFREAK FilterFreak — Version 5 FilterFreak was designed to be an infinitely customizable resonant FilterFreak’s installation also includes FilterFreak2, a twin plug-in with filter plug-in bringing together the sounds of classic filter hardware not one but TWO independent filters, which can be run in either serial with added controls and flexibility. Since its initial release in 2004, or parallel.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL FilterFreak — Version 5 Figure 2: FilterFreak 1’s Main Control Panel - LFO Mode INPUT AND OUTPUT LEVEL The Input and Output level controls are used to either boost or These controls are particularly useful with the different Analog Style attenuate the input or output of FilterFreak.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL FilterFreak — Version 5 COMMON CONTROLS FREQUENCY The controls that you will see in FilterFreak are dependent upon the Frequency is one of the most important controls in FilterFreak and modulation mode that FilterFreak is currently in. There are a few determines what area or region of the overall sound spectrum controls in FilterFreak that are basic, common controls and will appear FilterFreak will change.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL FilterFreak — Version 5 RESONANCE SHAPE The Resonance control works in conjunction with the Frequency knob The Shape control allows you to select the type of filter to be applied and greatly enhances the effect of the filter by boosting the harmonics to the signal and comes in four distinct flavors: “LPF” (Lowpass), “BPF” that are located close to the Frequency setting. As you change the (Bandpass), “HPF” (Highpass) and “BRF” (Band Reject / Notch Filter).
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL FilterFreak — Version 5 BPF - BANDPASS FILTER POLES The Band Pass filter shape is like a cone that will pass or “pick out” the The Poles control determines how strongly harmonics will be filtered harmonics in the sound both above and below the frequency setting, out and affected either above or below the set frequency. This is also passing a “band” of frequencies. As you get further away from the referred to as how “steep” the filter is.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL POLES FilterFreak — Version 5 TWEAK BUTTON The Tweak Button (located below the Input/Output controls) provides 2 poles: access to a whole new world of adjustable parameters that grant the 12 dB / octave ability to modify the fundamentals of FilterFreak’s virtual filtering circuit (harmonics one octave from the Frequency are in all modulation modes. Upon pressing the Tweak Button the slide-out lowered by 12dB) Tweak Menu will appear.
FILTERFREAK MODULATION MODES FilterFreak — Version 5 CHOOSING A MODULTATION TYPE/SOURCE FilterFreak includes a number of different modulation options selected under the small white button below the Rate knob. When it comes to modulation, the more sources you have, the better. The available modulation modes available in FIlterFreak are: • LFO • Rhythm • Envelope • Random Figure 5: The Modulation Mode Menu • Step • ADSR The currently selected modulation mode will appear as text above a beige push-button.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - LFO MODE FilterFreak — Version 5 Figure 7: FilterFreak 1’s Main Control Panel - LFO Mode LFO MODE RATE The “LFO” mode stands for Low Frequency Oscillator. An LFO creates The Rate knob controls the speed or rate of the LFO’s sweep and is a repeating waveform (usually with a selection of various wave shapes) displayed in Hertz. A sweep rate of “1 Hertz” (1Hz) means that the LFO that oscillates at a rate between 0 and 20Hz.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - LFO MODE TWEAK MENU FilterFreak — Version 5 SHAPE LFO MODE TWEAK MENU Shape is a selection menu that includes several common types of wave- For additional control options, the Tweak Button can be pressed (under- shapes (Sine, Triangle, etc.), but also allows for custom shape presets to neath the Input/Output controls) to reveal the slide-out Tweak Menu. be loaded.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - LFO MODE TWEAK MENU FIlterFreak — Version 5 FREQ MOD RES MOD Freq Mod controls to what degree the selected modulation signal will Res Mod allows for control over the filter’s resonance by controlling the modulate the filter’s frequency (depth), and is set in octaves. Setting strength of the resonant peak. By default this control is set at zero with this control to “1.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - LFO MODE TWEAK MENU FIlterFreak — Version 5 L/R OFFSET ANALOG STYLE The L/R Offset control is a static frequency offset between left and There are 7 different available Analog Style algorithms that determine right channels allowing you to create various types of stereo effects the saturation characteristics applied to the audio signal: depending on the setting of the knob. Please note that this control only affects mono-to-stereo inserts.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - LFO MODE TWEAK MENU THE SHAPE EDITOR It is extremely easy to create entirely new LFO shapes in FilterFreak using the built-in Shape Editor. You can use one of the Shape Presets (found in a menu all the way to the right of the Shape Editor) as a starting point or you can begin with the default Sine wave that will appear in the Editor window.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - LFO MODE TWEAK MENU FIlterFreak — Version 5 SMOOTHING MODE The Smoothing Mode determines the “shape” of the smoothing that will be used to connect the points. This further increases the variety of waveforms you can create within the Shape Editor. The Smoothing Mode choices are as follows: Lin - Points are connected using straight lines (linear). Sin - Produces a sinusoidal-like waveform (sine), which is very smooth.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - RHYTHM MODE FilterFreak — Version 5 Figure 9: FilterFreak 1’s Main Control Panel - Rhythm Mode RHYTHM MODE only in determining the BPM for live tracks not recorded to a click track Rhythm Mode is a much more sophisticated version of the LFO Mode and provides the means to sync the LFO (regardless of the shape) to a specific tempo. By using Rhythm Mode you can produce complex filter but also for finding the appropriate “feel” for your modulation.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - RHYTHM MODE FilterFreak — Version 5 RHYTHM (continued) As you turn the knob counter clockwise towards “Shuffle”, an increasing the Tweak Menu (which we will begin discussing on the next page). Note that when you select or create a custom rhythm, the Rhythm control will display the words “Custom” or the name of the custom Rhythm. When a custom rhythm is selected it dictates changes to the filter operation (instead of Rhythm Mode’s controls).
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - RHYTHM MODE TWEAK MENU FilterFreak — Version 5 Figure 10: Rhythm Mode Tweak Menu RHYTHM MODE TWEAK MENU THE RHYTHM EDITOR Since Rhythm Mode is essentially a more sophisticated version of LFO The Rhythm Editor section allows you to create completely unique Mode, it makes sense that they would share similar controls. Indeed this rhythm patterns for FilterFreak.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - RHYTHM MODE TWEAK MENU FilterFreak — Version 5 THE RHYTHM EDITOR (continued) Finally the Grid menu determines the spacing of added LFO shapes to set up for 1 bar, 4 beats per bar, and the grid sectioned by 1/8th. By default, the basic rhythm pattern is one bar long and is shown in the rhythm display, though multiple bars can be created and edited. For the pattern.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - ENVELOPE MODE FilterFreak — Version 5 Figure 12: Envelope Mode Control Panel ENVELOPE MODE THRESHOLD Envelope Mode employs an envelope follower that, well, follows the The Threshold knob works similar to the threshold control on a com- volume level of the input signal and dynamically controls the amount of pressor. It defines at what volume the envelope follower will start filter modulation based on volume changes in the input signal.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - ENVELOPE MODE FilterFreak — Version 5 GAIN RELEASE The Gain knob works together with the Threshold control, and is similar The Release knob controls how fast or slow the filter will react to the to the ratio control on a compressor. It determines the overall “sen- input signal as it decreases (the opposite of the Attack knob).
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - RANDOM MODE FilterFreak — Version 5 Figure 13: Random Mode Control Panel RANDOM MODE Random Mode’s Tweak Menu will also look very similar when opened as Random Mode produces a waveform that jumps from one value to another at each cycle (sometimes referred to as Sample and Hold). This type of effect is most known either from sci-fi movies (used to create the controls are the same first row of controls found in previous modes.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - STEP MODE FilterFreak — Version 5 Figure 14: Step Mode’s Control Panel STEP MODE will display red in the white notches surrounding the knob. You can set the Trigger level by turning the control’s pointer to the threshold, based Step Mode combines the sample and hold effect with an envelope follower. Instead of changing to a new value at a specific set rate, a new random value is created in response to a trigger.
THE FILTERFREAK CONTROL PANEL - ADSR MODE FilterFreak — Version 5 Figure 15: ADSR Mode Control Panel ADSR MODE On a keyboard synth, the ADSR envelope is triggered each time you press a key. In FilterFreak, the ADSR is triggered either by pressing the ADSR Mode is a recreation of the standard envelope generator found on most synthesizers. If you’re new to synthesis technology, ADSR stands for Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release, which happens to correspond to the four knobs in this mode.
FILTERFREAK MODULATION MODES - ADSR MODE FIlterFreak — Version 5 A ( ATTACK ) S ( SUSTAIN ) The Attack knob determines how fast the envelope will increase to its The Sustain knob controls at what level (between 0 –100%) the envelope maximum value once it has been triggered. The lower the setting of the will “hold” or sustain at as long as the Trigger button is held down, or, as Attack knob, the faster the attack time.
FILTERFREAK 2 FilterFreak — Version 5 Figure 16: FilterFreak 2’s Control Panel - LFO Mode FILTERFREAK 2 PARALLEL / SERIAL MODE TOGGLE SWITCH By now, you are probably wondering what this other plug-in is doing in This toggle switch determines how the incoming audio signal is to be fed your Soundtoys folder, the one titled ‘FilterFreak 2’. Well, FilterFreak 2 through FilterFreak 2’s dual filters.
FILTERFREAK 2 FIlterFreak — Version 5 PARALLEL / SERIAL MODE TOGGLE SWITCH (continued) TWEAK MENUS Serial Mode can create some truly otherworldly sounds but can also get FilterFreak 2’s Tweak Menus all feature control parameters you will be pretty overwhelming when Resonance is set to higher values. This can familiar with from working with FilterFreak 1.
FILTERFREAK 2 FIlterFreak — Version 5 Figure 17: FilterFreak 2 in LFO Mode with expanded Tweak Menu soundtoys.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FilterFreak — Version 5 SUPPORT INFORMATION Now that you’ve taken the time to learn all about FilterFreak, have fun, experiment, and make greatness! If our plug-ins helped you take your production to the next level, let us know, we’d love to hear from you and what you were able to create with our software. If along the way however you should run into any hiccups or anything unexpected, we offer free technical support for all registered users. Our FAQ contains many helpful answers.
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