Alesis DM5Pro Kit Specifications download pdf (Page 84)

Programming Drums

8 4 DM PRO REFERENCE MANUAL

THE FILTER FUNCTION

The Filter Function determines the brightness of an individual Sound by controlling

the low pass filter attached to each of the 64 DM Pro Voices.

The low pass filter affects a Sound’s harmonic content by progressively attenuating

high frequencies above the specified “Cutoff Frequency”. The higher frequencies are

filtered, while the lower frequencies are allowed to “pass through”, hence the term

“low pass filter”. When the Cutoff Frequency is set to a high Value, the sound

remains bright; when set to a low Value, the sound becomes darker since fewer

harmonics are present.

The DM Pro Filter cuts, or “rolls off” high frequencies in the amount of 6dB per

octave. For example, if the Cutoff Frequency is set to begin the high frequency rolloff

at 5kHz, 10kHz would be 6dB softer than 5kHz, and 20kHz would be 12dB softer

than 5kHz. The lower the Filter settings, the darker the Sound. Note that the Filter is

subtractive only – it cannot boost high frequencies.

Frequency Response Curve

Cutoff

Frequency

Filter

Amplitude

Frequency

00 99

The cutoff parameter changes the frequency at which the high-

frequency response starts to roll off. Lower values give a lower

cutoff frequency. A value of 00 will cut all sound off.

Static (non-changing) Filter settings can be useful, but varying the filter cutoff

dynamically over time with an Envelope can produce more interesting and even

more natural sounding effects. Modulating the Filter with Velocity can allow sounds

to be brighter when playing hard and darker when playing soft, which can result in a

very accurate acoustic instrument emulation.

It is important to remember that all of the Filter Parameters are both interactive and

cumulative, meaning that if you set the Cutoff Frequency to 40 and the Filter

Envelope Amount to 40, the resulting Filter Cutoff Frequency will be 80 (assuming a

wide open envelope). Also, be aware that contrary Filter Values can easily nullify

each other, so be sure to set each Filter Parameter toward a common effect. Arbitrary

Filter settings can be your undoing!

Used carefully and creatively, the Filter can be a highly effective dynamic tone

control for a DM Pro Sound.

The Filter Function has four interrelated Parameters: Cutoff Frequency, Velocity to

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Alesis DM5Pro Kit Specifications Page 84