Trance Tutorial Propellerheads Reason Page 3

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Trance Lead In Reason

Page 3

Filters And Envelopes

Now you have the oscillators set up the best place to head for is the Filter Section, the filters allow you to remove certain sections of the frequency spectrum in order to fine-tune the sound.

The Filter Type Button changes the type of filter in use.

The default filter is an LP12 filter. LP stands for low-pass; this kind of filter will cut high frequencies but leave the lows untouched.

The Subtractor also offers the use of another kind of low-pass filter; an LP24 filter. This filter functions the same way as the LP12 but has a cutoff curve with a slightly different gradient.

Right now, you will use the LP24 filter, because it gives a warmer, more analogue type sound that will suit this preset.

24. Change Filter Type for Both Subtractors1 and 2 to LP24.

The Frequency Slider sets the filters cutoff point. Its function will change slightly depending on the type of filter used. When using a low-pass filter, the filter will cut all sounds above the cutoff point.

Having the Frequency Slider half way is a good setting for this kind of synth sound, you do not want to mess about with it too much. However, a very small reduction on Subtractor1’s Frequency slider will get rid of some unwanted frequencies that are floating around.

25. Change Subtractor1 Filter1 Frequency to 60.

The Resonance Slider will introduce more ringing, whistling or intensity to the filter sound. I want to introduce some of that into the Subtrator2 signal.

26. Change Subtractor2 Filter Resonance to 46.

The Filter Envelope is a time-based modulating parameter affecting filter frequency.

Filter envelope settings generate a lot of interest in a synth patch. They can be used to create various effects with the filter such as smooth transition or rhythmic pumping. You could for example, have the filter fade in and out every time you press a note on the keyboard, instead of just having the filter on all the time. This makes for a more professional sounding patch.

At this point, it becomes important to understand a little about how the Subtractor’s envelopes work. The Subtractor comes equipped with three time-based envelopes, each assigned to modulate different parameters. The envelopes have four sliders in common; A, D, S and R. These letters are abbreviations for Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release.

When the Subtractor receives a note on message (pressing a key on your keyboard), its envelopes will enter an attack period. The attack period is the time it takes an envelope to rise from a value of zero to its maximum value. The length of the attack period is set with the Attack Slider (A).

When the attack period is over, the Subtractor’s envelopes will enter a decay period. The decay period is the time it takes an envelope to travel from its maximum value to the sustain level (the level it will rest at). The length of the decay period is set with the Decay Slider.

The sustain level is set with the Sustain Slider.

When the synth receives a note off message, its envelopes enter a release period. The release period is the time it takes an envelope to drop from the sustain level to a value of zero. The length of the release period is set with the Release Slider.

For the Filter Envelope, Attack and Decay are fine. However, Sustain and Release need modification.

As previously stated, the Sustain Slider sets the value at which the Filter Envelope will rest at after the decay period is complete. You need it to rest at about half its maximum value.

27. Increase Subtractor2 Filter Envelope Sustain to 62.

The Release Slider sets how long it takes the Filter Envelope to return to zero after a note is released. You want a slightly longer release time than the default.

28. Increase Subtractor2 Filter Envelope Release to 62.

The Filter Envelope Amount Knob sets the amount of envelope constantly applied to the Filter. You want just a tiny bit, because you are going to control Filter Envelope Amount with Velocity, which you will come to later.

29. Increase Subtractor2 Filter Envelope Amount to 4.

The Amp Envelope is like the Filter Envelope, but instead of controlling filter cutoff over time it controls the synths volume. This makes it the most important envelope. It will control a very big and very noticeable proportion of your synths character. In simple terms, it controls things like how quickly a note will sound after you play a key on your keyboard or how quickly a note will stop sounding.

The Attack Slider controls note fade in, a setting of zero means when you play a key on your keyboard you will hear the note at its full volume instantly, set the slider to 64 though and you will wait a little as the sound fades in.

30. Increase Subtractor1 Amp Envelope Attack to 14.

After the Attack Stage, the Amp Envelope will enter a Decay Stage, during which it will drop from its maximum value to the sustain level, the Decay Slider sets how long the decay period will last.

31. Increase Subtractor1 Amp Envelope Decay to 127.

The Sustain Slider controls sustain level (I know I keep repeating myself but envelopes are important so I want this to sink in).

32. Increase Subtractor1 Amp Envelope Sustain to 127.

The Release Slider sets how long it takes the Amp Envelope to return to zero after a note is released.

33. Increase Subtractor1 Amp Envelope Release to 53.

Now set up Subtractor 2’s Amp Envelope.

34. Increase Subtractor2 Amp Envelope Decay to 127.

35. Increase Subtractor2 Amp Envelope Sustain to 127.

36. Increase Subtractor2 Amp Envelope Release to 53.

The Velocity Knobs set how much incoming velocity messages will affect certain parameters. You want incoming velocity to affect the amount of filter envelope applied to the sound.

37. Set Subtractor 1 Filter Envelope Velocity Amount to 30.

38. Set Subtractor 2 Filter Envelope Velocity Amount to 13.

The Polyphony Selector allows you to set how many notes the Subtractor can play at any one time. The selector has various uses, but right now I can hear a few overlaps and things that I don’t really like coming from Subtractor2. Setting the device’s polyphony to 1 will only allow the synth to play one note at a time and thus clean the bottom end up a little by chopping off overlapping notes.

39. Set Subtractor2 Polyphony to 1.

That should do for the basic synth patch. Now just for fun you will add the filter sweep with the Matrix.

40. Use the Mode Switch to select Curve Edit.

41. Draw this curve into the Matrix (hold shift and drag if you want a perfect line).

42. Set Pattern Length to 32 Steps.

43. Set Resolution to 1/8.

On the next page, you will learn how to add effects to the sound to improve its clarity and quality.

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