The Filter Page
The Filter page is used to change settings for the filter
envelope of the currently selected split. The envelope is a curve that is applied to the
filter output (filter frequency) of the split. This page is also used to apply filter
velocity settings to the currently selected split as well as filter parameter (frequency
and quality) information. Note
that this page is eventually not available for a split if you use the DirectSound
interface for that split. This may change in future versions of Virtual Sampler by taking
advantage of DirectX plugins.

The filter page consists of
- The Envelope Display in the upper section of the page
- Knobs for setting the filter frequency as well as the
filter quality
- Controls for setting velocity options for the filter
The Filter Envelope Display
A filter envelope curve has four sections (ADSR):
- The Attack section - This is the attack time for the
filter. When you play a note, the attack time is the time that is used to reach the
specified attack level for the filter. A filter level corresponds to the filter frequency
specified. The highest level (255) means that is value is applied to the filter.
- The Decay section - This is the decay time for the filter.
The decay section follows the attack section until the specified decay level for the
filter is reached.
- The Sustain section - This is the sustain time for the
filter. The sustain section follows the decay section until the speciefied sustain level
for the filter is reached. The level remains at the sustain level unless you stop the
note.
- The Release section - This is the release time for the
filter. The release section follows the sustain section when the appropriate note is
stopped. The release time is the time that is used to reach the specified release level
for the filter.
If you want to start the filter with a higher level than
0, you also can set the start level for the filter.
Each section has rates from 0-63 and levels from 0-255. A
level of 255 means that the full filter frequency as specified with the FilterFC knob is
applied to the sound whereas a level of 0 means that the filter is completely closed
(silence). The filter level is directly applied to the filter frequency (FilterFC knob).
The rate specifies the time to reach the specified level for that section. This setting
depends on the timer resolution set in the Settings page.
By default the timer resolution is 10ms, so you can achieve rates ranging from 0ms to
630ms. If you need higher rates, you can set the EG multiplier to a value above 1. The EG
multiplier settings will multiply the rates with the given value. Valid values are 0-20,
so with an EG multiplier of 20 you would achieve rates from 0ms to 12.6s. Note that
precision decreases if you set the EG multiplier to a higher value. With an EG multiplier
of 1 for example the rate 1 results in a time of 10ms whereas with an EG multiplier of 20
it would be 200ms. Note that the
envelope is only used if you activate the "EG enabled" checkbox, otherwise the
filter is static (does not change over time).
You can change rates and levels by pressing the left
mouse button over the nodes in the EG curve and drag it with the mouse to the desired
position.
General Filter Settings
Two knobs are responsible to specify general filter
settings:
- The FilterFC knob - This value specifies the filter
frequency for the selected split. Valid values are 0-255. A value of 0 means the filter is
completely closed (silcence). A value of 255 means that the filter is completely
opened (no filtering).
- The FilterQ knob - This value specifies the filter quality
for the selected split.
Filter Velocity Settings
These settings affect velocity behaviour of the filter
for the selected split. Velocity is the strength that is used to play a specific note.
MIDI velocity ranges from 0 (no velocity at all) to 127 (highest velocity). Note: Virtual Sampler will only receive
velocity data if you select the "Receive Channel Velocity" entry on the Settings page. The following options are available:
- Velocity sens - This is the sensitivity for the filter for
the velocity for the selected split. A higher value means more sensitivity. For example
the highest possible value of 127 means that the split is played with highest possible
velocity sensitivity. Velocity sensitivity affects the filter frequency for the sound.
Smaller velocity means less filter frequency. With a velocity sensitivity setting of 127,
the maximum filter frequency is only reached with a velocity of 127. If you set the
velocity sensitivity to 0, note velocity has no effect on the filter frequency, that means
filter frequency is the same regardless of the velocity. Note that the filter velocity is
also affecred by the other velocity settings explained below.
- Velocity offset - This is an additive offset that is
applied to the incoming velocity data. Valid values are from -256 to 256. That means you
can decrease or increase the incoming velocity. This is typically used together with
velocity slopes (see below). For example if the incoming velocity for a key is 64 and the
velocity offset is set to 20, the resulting velocity that is applied to the split would be
84. Note that you cannot change the velocity value outside the valid MIDI velocity range
from 0-127. Values below 0 will be converted to 0, values above 127 will be converted to
127.
- Velocity slope - This is the velocity slope for the
selected split. The incoming velocities are multiplied with this value, that means this
value us used to change the velocity. A value of 1 means the incoming velocity remains
unchanged. However, for example you could invert the incoming velocity by settings this
value to -1. This would mean that all velocities would be negative. By setting the
velocity offest to 127, you could reverse the velocity played (Velocity 127 would result
in velocity 0 and velocity 0 would result in velocity 127). Note that you cannot change
the velocity value outside the valid MIDI velocity range from 0-127. Values below 0 will
be converted to 0, values above 127 will be converted to 127.
Changing all splits for a Preset in one
step
The checkbox "Change all splits" is used to
apply all changes to this page to all splits of the selected Preset (instrument). That
means your changes will be applied to all splits and therefore override the old values.
This is especially useful for envelope settings that typically are equal for all splits of
a Preset.