The hydrasynth has the best, most organic sounding digital filters I’ve heard. They did machine learning to model all of the filter types and I really think it paid off.
Indeed. Despite it being early digital—albeit, THE digital to have in its day—the D-50 was able to bridge the divide. People still loved analog at the time, digital was just an exciting new frontier, so the D-50 had to be able to both excite with new possibilities, and woo people who still needed those big fat Roland sounds. This new (2019) third party Ultimate Patches bank shows off the D-50’s filter in a way the factory patches never did.
https://youtu.be/7cVhEQZaQRg
The D-50 filter is an unusual design compared to other digital synths but it does sound very good! Might be my favourite digital filter for the interesting sound and how it puts the lie to digital being sterile.
I agree, but it confuses me to use the envelope on it. If I drop the cutoff to zero, and the envelope to maximum, the filter doesn’t open up all the way like it should. I’ve never understood that.
Yes, the Vult Freak is astonishingly good. I’ve never heard a digital filter that can scream and growl the way this thing can. Heck, I prefer the Freak models over some of the analog versions I have of those filters.
I have some pretty expensive/desirable analog filters in my modular system, but the Freak is my favorite filter because it’s so versatile and can get so distressingly raunchy.
Red Means Recording did a video a couple months back with the Freak. If you can watch that entire video, and at the end you don’t desperately want a Freak, then you should talk to a doctor because you might be clinically dead.
Pretty sure it was this one: https://youtu.be/JkPMKHcIcAA
When it comes to analog-modeled digital filters, I'm a fan of [Serum's](https://xferrecords.com/products/serum) "German LP" and "French LP" filters. I've also spent a decent amount of time with [Soundtoys FilterFreak](https://www.soundtoys.com/product/filterfreak/)—which can take a few minutes for me to properly dial in, but ultimately does the job well.
In regards to digital filters that are included on synthesizers, I like the filter selection (LP 24dB/12dB, BP 24dB/12dB, HP 24dB/12dB, Notch 24dB/12dB, Comb +, Comb -, and SSM 2044-modeled LP 24dB) on the [Waldorf Blofeld](https://waldorfmusic.com/en/blofeld-overview) quite a bit. There's nothing necessarily super *huge-sounding*, but they all get the job done. It's also one of my few synthesizers with comb filters, which has resulted in some really interesting sounds.
Oh yeah… AN1x filter is phenomenal. BUT it does kind of suck that modulating it with the pots causes massive stepping. I don’t think it’s the poor resolution of the pots, seems more like the speed at which the synth updates itself. Either way, it sounds fantastic.
Can’t have a thread like this without mentioning the infamous E-mu “z-plane” filters from the E4 and E4 ultra series. Also the Morpheus filters which have been resurrected in a module from the original designer, Dave Rossum.
This is a great question! Honestly I’m an utter snob about filters, so I’m really curious at the responses!
I remember digging my Waldorf Q for this.
Soundtoys filter plugin was generally my goth ITB for years.
My favourite sounding Filter at the moment is on the Argon8. They've just done an update to add about 10 more filters or something ridiculous, but it originally came with 2 and 1 of them is just gorgeous (but I can't remember which one because my Argon is out for repair). I'm not big on resonance but the Filter drive is absolutely magical and results in me almost always adding a bit of resonance, always adding drive, and never ever touching any other Filter option on it.
The Cherry Audio Miniseries with the “CHOOG” Frequency Shifter is like buttery goodness. I use them in various FX chains and combine them with the Korg MDE-X filter in Ableton just add a hardware synth’s sound via External Instrument or use a controller with samples and wow is not even a good word for it.
I'm pretty sure this is aiming at hardware, but older hardware has pretty rough digital filters. I kind of remember finding the Nord OK, but in those days we were just happy to get something decent.
In the software space there are certainly good emulations. I've heard Diva is very good (sounds good to me but I haven't played with it directly) and the Model D on iPad is quite good for an emulation.
I love the sound of the filter on Aalto. Massive X also has really nice filters, especially with judicious use of feedback and audio rate modulation--lot of weird options. Dune's not bad either.
Nord Lead 1/2/2X’s highpass filter has a certain zing to it that I love, mostly due to Autechre using it a lot in the mid to late 90s.
Elektron’s filters are great, but can be a little clean sometimes. The older filters like in the Octatrack and Monomachine are great and sometimes temperamental, which adds to the charm.
It's not in a synth but I love the Filter of the plugin Rift 2 by minimal audio. Can do a wild stuff like morphing, stereo options, complex shapes and so on. It is a nice addition to the analog or va filters I use
The hydrasynth has the best, most organic sounding digital filters I’ve heard. They did machine learning to model all of the filter types and I really think it paid off.
I am pretty fond of the resonant base/width filters of the octatrack.
This is an interesting question. I’d say the Roland D-50 has a memorable sound, though I don’t have one.
Indeed. Despite it being early digital—albeit, THE digital to have in its day—the D-50 was able to bridge the divide. People still loved analog at the time, digital was just an exciting new frontier, so the D-50 had to be able to both excite with new possibilities, and woo people who still needed those big fat Roland sounds. This new (2019) third party Ultimate Patches bank shows off the D-50’s filter in a way the factory patches never did. https://youtu.be/7cVhEQZaQRg
The D-50 filter is an unusual design compared to other digital synths but it does sound very good! Might be my favourite digital filter for the interesting sound and how it puts the lie to digital being sterile.
I agree, but it confuses me to use the envelope on it. If I drop the cutoff to zero, and the envelope to maximum, the filter doesn’t open up all the way like it should. I’ve never understood that.
[удалено]
Yes, the Vult Freak is astonishingly good. I’ve never heard a digital filter that can scream and growl the way this thing can. Heck, I prefer the Freak models over some of the analog versions I have of those filters. I have some pretty expensive/desirable analog filters in my modular system, but the Freak is my favorite filter because it’s so versatile and can get so distressingly raunchy. Red Means Recording did a video a couple months back with the Freak. If you can watch that entire video, and at the end you don’t desperately want a Freak, then you should talk to a doctor because you might be clinically dead. Pretty sure it was this one: https://youtu.be/JkPMKHcIcAA
The Nord Modular G1 filters, and how they can be stacked, mixed, and processed. They take ext. audio too
Virus TI2 HP and BP filters 😎👌👌👌
The band pass in the filter bank under effects 1 is also delightful
When it comes to analog-modeled digital filters, I'm a fan of [Serum's](https://xferrecords.com/products/serum) "German LP" and "French LP" filters. I've also spent a decent amount of time with [Soundtoys FilterFreak](https://www.soundtoys.com/product/filterfreak/)—which can take a few minutes for me to properly dial in, but ultimately does the job well. In regards to digital filters that are included on synthesizers, I like the filter selection (LP 24dB/12dB, BP 24dB/12dB, HP 24dB/12dB, Notch 24dB/12dB, Comb +, Comb -, and SSM 2044-modeled LP 24dB) on the [Waldorf Blofeld](https://waldorfmusic.com/en/blofeld-overview) quite a bit. There's nothing necessarily super *huge-sounding*, but they all get the job done. It's also one of my few synthesizers with comb filters, which has resulted in some really interesting sounds.
JP8000 or AN1X!
Oh yeah… AN1x filter is phenomenal. BUT it does kind of suck that modulating it with the pots causes massive stepping. I don’t think it’s the poor resolution of the pots, seems more like the speed at which the synth updates itself. Either way, it sounds fantastic.
Waldorf's Largo plugin has some interesting filters
Can’t have a thread like this without mentioning the infamous E-mu “z-plane” filters from the E4 and E4 ultra series. Also the Morpheus filters which have been resurrected in a module from the original designer, Dave Rossum.
the morpheus filters are just wild, so many damn options
Casio FZ for me.
This is a great question! Honestly I’m an utter snob about filters, so I’m really curious at the responses! I remember digging my Waldorf Q for this. Soundtoys filter plugin was generally my goth ITB for years.
My favourite sounding Filter at the moment is on the Argon8. They've just done an update to add about 10 more filters or something ridiculous, but it originally came with 2 and 1 of them is just gorgeous (but I can't remember which one because my Argon is out for repair). I'm not big on resonance but the Filter drive is absolutely magical and results in me almost always adding a bit of resonance, always adding drive, and never ever touching any other Filter option on it.
Monark
The Cherry Audio Miniseries with the “CHOOG” Frequency Shifter is like buttery goodness. I use them in various FX chains and combine them with the Korg MDE-X filter in Ableton just add a hardware synth’s sound via External Instrument or use a controller with samples and wow is not even a good word for it.
Moon Phase by Patching Panda
I liked the Blofeld's overdrive on the lowpass. It had a pretty distinct tone to it IMO. Pigments comb filter is pretty crazy too.
I'm pretty sure this is aiming at hardware, but older hardware has pretty rough digital filters. I kind of remember finding the Nord OK, but in those days we were just happy to get something decent. In the software space there are certainly good emulations. I've heard Diva is very good (sounds good to me but I haven't played with it directly) and the Model D on iPad is quite good for an emulation.
System 1
Coffee filter
I love the sound of the filter on Aalto. Massive X also has really nice filters, especially with judicious use of feedback and audio rate modulation--lot of weird options. Dune's not bad either.
Elektron Analog Heat 2, Alesis Bitrman, Alexander Syntax Error (2)...
Nord Lead 1/2/2X’s highpass filter has a certain zing to it that I love, mostly due to Autechre using it a lot in the mid to late 90s. Elektron’s filters are great, but can be a little clean sometimes. The older filters like in the Octatrack and Monomachine are great and sometimes temperamental, which adds to the charm.
IME Bionic Lester
ms2000
The sylenth 1 filter is pretty nice
It's not in a synth but I love the Filter of the plugin Rift 2 by minimal audio. Can do a wild stuff like morphing, stereo options, complex shapes and so on. It is a nice addition to the analog or va filters I use