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 turn the filter envelope and the filter itself on or off. You can use the envelope to control the filter cutoff frequency over the duration of the reverb. 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 type pop-up menu: Set the filter type.
- LP 6dB: Bright, general-purpose lowpass filter that retains the top end of most material while still providing some filtering.
- LP 12dB: Warm, lowpass filter without drastic filter effects that is useful for smoothing bright reverbs.
- BP: 6 dB per octave bandpass design that cuts 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 cuts the level of frequencies that fall below the cutoff frequency.
Res(onance) 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 field and node: Set the initial cutoff frequency of the filter envelope. Drag the node vertically.
Attack field: Determine the time required to reach the Break Level.
Break Level field: Set the filter cutoff frequency that is reached at the end of the Attack phases. From there, the Decay phase of the envelope starts to reach the cutoff frequency set by the End Frequ point. You can create interesting filter sweeps by setting the Break Level value lower than the Init Level parameter value.
Decay field: Determine the time required after the frequency value of the Break Level point to reach the End Freq value.
Attack / Break Level / Decay node: Drag the node horizontally to set the Attack value. Drag the node vertically to set the Break Level value. The node position also affects the Decay value.
End Freq field: Set the cutoff frequency at the end of the filter envelope decay phase.
Decay / End Freq node: Drag the node horizontally to set the Decay value. Drag the node vertically to set the End Freq value.
Envelope curve: Drag the curve line to change the shape of the associated filter envelope phase.
Bezier handles: Drag the hollow nodes to change the associated filter envelope phase between linear, exponential, logarithmic, or s-curve shapes.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: PDF

MainStage Instruments: PDF

MainStage Effects: PDF

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