Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

I have a question I've been wondering about for a while, and after reading
the following, it seems the right time and place to ask it:

Jon (I think) wrote about the filters on a new synth:

"The ION is noticeably missing any Sequential type filters. However, the
Oberheim filter types were, IMO, the standout filter types on the ION. The
Roland filters were nice too but for my money the Oberheim filters are VERY
impressive...."

Now, I don't know much about sound synthesis at all, but I do know that what
a filter does is remove certain frequencies (in subtractive synthesis at
least, which is all I know about). This being the case, in what way can the
filters on some machines be said to sound "warmer" or "better" than others,
when all they're doing is taking away some of the original "full" sound
(which may well be "warmer" or "better" than the "original full sound" of
another synth)?

I'm sure I'm missing some part of the equation. There's resonance, for
example, which although I think I know what it does (boosts the frequency
around the cut-off point, no?) I'm not savvy enough to add in to my question
about filters.

By the way, in answer to another question, I have no problem with reading
(or choosing not to read) off-topic stuff about other synths, etc. on this
list.

Gracias,
Martin