KiMiASound Design
Level 2 · The subtractive core
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Level 2 · The subtractive core · Module 5

Filters: from bright to dark

Cutoff, resonance and slope; low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and notch; two filters; filters that follow your playing.

5 lessons · about 79 minKiMiA and your keyboard

The filter is where a synth sound gets its character. In this module you will learn to hear brightness, set it precisely, combine two filters, and make the filter respond to your playing, the way a piano does.

Every figure is interactive or playable, and every picture and sound was rendered by KiMiA’s own engine. Work through the five lessons in order. Each one ends with exercises at the keyboard and a short self-check.

Before you start

1. Download the course patches below: one KiMiA bank for the whole module. 2. In KiMiA, open the ••• menu next to Sound library and choose Import a bank. 3. Select the bank file. Its eleven sounds appear in the library as the bank KiMiA Course · Module 5 · Filters, all starting with “05 ·”.

When the course updates the bank, import the new file the same way: KiMiA offers to replace the older version, and your favorites and Set pads keep working.

You need KiMiA 1.0 or later, a MIDI keyboard, and headphones or monitors. Some differences in this module are subtle on laptop speakers.

  1. 5.1Cutoff: the brightness controlExplain what a filter does using harmonics · Hear and see the cutoff move from bright to dark · Choose a cutoff by ear for a given register14 min
  2. 5.2Resonance, slope and the classic typesUse resonance for focus, a vocal “wah” or a singing peak · Hear the difference between 12 dB and 24 dB slopes · Pick the right classic type: low-pass, high-pass, band-pass or notch16 min
  3. 5.3Two filtersSwitch Filter 2 on and choose how it works with Filter 1 · Set the bottom and the top of a band with two filters in series · Make two peaks with two filters in parallel, and move the filters in opposite directions15 min
  4. 5.4Filters that follow your playingMake a pluck with the filter envelope · Turn your touch into tone with Touch → brightness · Keep the brightness even across the keyboard with Key tracking16 min
  5. 5.5Drive, the signal journey and the brightness scaleUse Drive to feed the filter more harmonics · Follow one note through the whole layer · Build a brass stab from scratch and play it expressively18 min
Course patches for this moduleA KiMiA bank: every example as a playable sound. In KiMiA, open the ••• menu next to Sound library and choose Import a bank.
Workbook (PDF)The whole module, print-ready, with exercises and an answer key. Coming with KiMiA 1.0.