[sdiy] Low Pass filters and musically useful frequency range

[mark verbos]

Any DC in the signal path eats up headroom as it pushes the signal to premature distortion on one side. Imagine the signal riding on a big and low sine wave clipping on the top then the bottom.... filter that out and you can make the whole thing louder before it clips, which is what you want.


Mark

PS. "phat" hip-hop/dancehall/808 kick sub bass is around 60Hz. The punch of the attack is up near 110Hz.




On May 6, 2014, at 4:14 PM, David Ingebretsen wrote:

> This actually sounds familiar. I think as I was reading about audio processing hardware. You take out the subsonic stuff to help the base clarity. Interesting thought. I can live with this SWAG.
> 
> Thanks Pete.
> 
> David 
> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Pete Hartman [mailto:pete.hartman at gmail.com]
>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2014 1:32 PM
>>> To: David Ingebretsen
>>> Cc: synthdiy diy
>>> Subject: Re: [sdiy] Low Pass filters and musically useful frequency range
>>> 
>>> TOTAL swag follows :)
>>> 
>>> I was watching a video on production techniques a couple weeks ago, and
>>> the guy doing it recommended for bass setting up a HPF to keep the lowest
>>> of the low end from muddying up the sound.  Not explicitly said, but I was
>>> guessing "on audio playback that couldn't reproduce it well".  He was using
>>> a moderate Q as well so there was a bit of a bump for the low end in that.
>>> 
>>> Keep in mind, I'm merely repeating what he asserted; though his video did
>>> seem to demonstrate a tighter bass sound by doing so, I have no authority
>>> with which to agree or disagree :).
>>> 
>>> Could the reason be related to this concept at all?
>>> 
>>> Thanks
>>> 
>>> Pete
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Tue, May 6, 2014 at 2:11 PM, David Ingebretsen
>>> <dingebre at 3dphysics.net> wrote:
>>>> The basic question revolves around the output stage of the Moog 914
>>>> fixed filter bank and the fact it incorporates a highpass filter with
>>>> a cutoff around 40-60 Hz depending on how you want to define the -3dB
>>> point.
>>>> 
>>>> Questions:
>>>> 1. As a general proposition and in a purely subjective context, what
>>>> is the lowest frequency that is musically useful?  At some point most
>>>> waveforms start to sound like clicks and pops. Subwoofers can pound
>>>> your proprioceptive system and add a useful effect I suppose but "how
>>>> low can you go" and still be musical?
>>>> 
>>>> 2. Why would Moog add such a high pass filter to the 914? I can see
>>>> blocking DC, but why worry about 10 Hz getting through? Does it have
>>>> to do with being musically useful? I don't think this high pass filter
>>>> was in the 907, so why add it to the 914?
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks
>>>> 
>>>> David
>>>> 
>>>> 
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