Mission 011
Filter Envelope
Move the cutoff over time. The whole sound transforms.
Move the cutoff on a schedule. The whole sound transforms.
+60 XP
// WHAT IT DOES
An doesn't have to control volume. Aim that same shape at the filter's cutoff and you get an automatic filter sweep on every keypress.
Two extra controls usually appear: 'envelope amount' (how far the cutoff moves) and 'base cutoff' (the cutoff value when the envelope is at zero).
This is where almost all synth character lives. A fast filter envelope with high amount = the classic plucky lead. A slow filter envelope = the 'pad swell'.
Think of it like → If the amp envelope is the volume of a singer, the filter envelope is the brightness of their voice — opening on the , closing on the tail.
▸ WHY YOU CARE
- • It turns a static patch into an expressive one — every note moves.
- • It's the secret behind plucks, bows, brass attacks, and almost all 'wow' sweeps.
- • Two envelopes (amp + filter) cover almost every 'expressive instrument' template.
// SEE & HEAR IT
▸ The envelope opens the filter on attack, settles at sustain, closes on release. Big ENV + short DEC = the classic synth pluck.
▸ HOW IT WORKS
▸ Signal flow — watch the dot
▸ SIGNAL FLOW
Glowing dot = your signal travelling through Live.
▸ LISTEN FOR
- • Cutoff jumping up on the attack of each new note.
- • Decay closing the cutoff as the note holds.
- • adding a moving whistle that sweeps with the envelope.
▸ WALKTHROUGH (4 steps)
- 1. DO: Saw oscillator. Filter LP. Set base cutoff to 200 Hz. Amp envelope sustaining.▸ LISTEN: Dark, lifeless.
- 2. DO: Add filter envelope: A=1 ms, D=200 ms, S=0, amount=high.▸ LISTEN: Each note 'plucks' bright then closes.
- 3. DO: Raise resonance to 5.▸ LISTEN: Pluck gains a whistle — classic synth pluck/bass.
- 4. DO: Increase D to 1 s, S to 0.6.▸ LISTEN: Slower filter movement, brass-like.
▸ COMMON MISTAKES
- ✗ Setting amount very high without dropping base cutoff — the envelope just hits the ceiling and does nothing audible.
- ✗ Forgetting envelope amount = 0 means the filter envelope does literally nothing.
// QUIZ (QUICK)
Question 1 / 30 correct
A filter envelope changes