Frequency Cutoff on a synthesizer refers to the frequency at which a filter begins to reduce the amplitude of specific frequency components of a sound. It is a parameter that can be found in a synthesizer’s filter section that determines when the filter begins to affect the sound.
When a filter begins to reduce the amplitude of specific frequency components of the sound, this is known as the cutoff frequency. The filter will reduce the amplitude of the high-frequency components of the sound, producing a bassier sound when the cutoff frequency is set to a low value. The filter will reduce the amplitude of the low-frequency components of the sound, producing a brighter sound when the cutoff frequency is set to a high value.
The cutoff frequency is a powerful tool that can be used to create a wide variety of sounds, from bass-heavy to treble-heavy sounds, by shaping the tonal character of a sound. Additionally, real-time modulation of the cutoff frequency enables the creation of dynamic and expressive changes in the sound. This can produce various effects, including filter sweeps, wah-wah, and other modulation types, and it can be done by using an LFO or an envelope generator.
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