Space Designer filter and envelope in MainStage

The filter provides control over the timbre of the reverb.

You can choose from several filter types and also have envelope control over filter cutoff. Changes to filter settings result in a recalculation of the impulse response rather than a direct change to the sound as it plays through Space Designer.

The main filter parameters are shown at the right side of the parameter bar when the filter envelope is selected in the main display.

Click the Filter Env On/Off button to enable the filter envelope and the filter itself. You can use the envelope to control the filter cutoff frequency over time. You can adjust all filter envelope parameters, either numerically in the parameter bar or graphically in the main display using the techniques discussed in Edit Space Designer envelopes.

Figure. Filter envelope parameters, showing control nodes.

Main filter parameters

Filter mode pop-up menu: Set the filter mode.
- 6 dB (LP): Bright, general-purpose lowpass filter mode that retains the top end of most material while still providing some filtering.
- 12 dB (LP): Warm, lowpass filter mode without drastic filter effects that is useful for smoothing bright reverbs.
- BP: 6 dB per octave bandpass design that reduces the low and high ends of the signal, leaving the frequencies around the cutoff frequency intact.
- HP: 12 dB per octave/two-pole highpass design that reduces the level of frequencies that fall below the cutoff frequency.
Resonance field: Emphasize frequencies above, around, or below the cutoff frequency. The impact of the resonance value on the sound is highly dependent on the chosen filter mode, with steeper filter slopes resulting in more pronounced tonal changes.

Filter envelope parameters

Init Freq parameter: Set the initial cutoff frequency of the filter envelope. Drag the node vertically.
Attack parameter: Determine the time required to reach the Break Level. Drag the node horizontally. Vertical drag sets the Break Level value.
Break Level parameter: Set the maximum filter cutoff frequency. This value also determines the attack and decay phases of the overall filter envelope. Drag the node vertically. Horizontal drag sets the Attack time. In other words, when the set level is reached after the attack phase, the decay phase begins. You can create interesting filter sweeps by setting the Break Level value lower than the Init Level parameter value.
Decay parameter: Determine the time required after the Break Level point to reach the End Freq value. Drag the node horizontally. Vertical drag sets the End Frequency.
End Freq parameter: Set the cutoff frequency at the end of the filter envelope decay phase. Drag the node vertically. Horizontal drag sets the Decay time.
Bezier curve and nodes: Drag the curve line and hollow nodes to create new, or to change existing: convex, concave, or s-curve shapes for the associated filter envelope phase.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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