Then, choose the first filter’s type by clicking the header (where “None” is written) and select-
ing the entry from the list in the popup menu. Let’s choose the Daft filter type for this exam-
ple.
Now play a MIDI note: you should hear no sound at first, because by default the Filter Cutoff
control is turned all the way down (to the left). Hold the note on your MIDI controller and turn
the Cutoff knob up to the maximum (to the right) by clicking and dragging with the mouse. As
you increase the cutoff, the filter gradually opens and you will hear the sound revealed bit by
bit.
For this example, also turn up the Resonance control to about 60%; tweak the Cutoff again a
bit to listen to the difference it makes in the sound.
Now slide the Output Fader (at the right-hand edge of the Filter Section) all the way to the
bottom. This fader sets the output mix of the complete Filter Section, between Filter 1 and Fil-
ter 2. When it is set to the bottom of its range, we will hear only the output of Filter 2 and no
direct output from Filter 1.
Now play a note again: you should hear no difference yet. Although the sound is passing
through Filter 2, we haven’t selected any filter to use. Change this by clicking on the popup
menu in the header of Filter 2 and selecting the Scream filter. Now hold a note and gradually
increase the Cutoff control to its maximum value (all the way to the right) by clicking and drag-
ging with the mouse; you should hear the sound gradually change as the cutoff is increased.
Now set the Resonance Control to a middle position, approximately 50% of its total range. If
you play a note, the sound should sound a bit different than without Filter 2, but the differ-
ence is still marginal. (Remember, you can compare the sound with and without Filter 2 in the
signal chain by moving the Output Fader up and down with the mouse.)
In order to make more complex and interesting sounds with MASSIVE, we need to add a few
more techniques to our sound design toolkit. In the next section, we’ll look at how to use modu-
lation sources to change the parameters of the oscillators and filters over time.
2.2.3 Setting up MIDI Assignments and Modulation Sources
There are basically two different types of modulation that you can use in MASSIVE: you can set
up MIDI assignments that allow you to change the parameters manually (or by sending MIDI au-
tomation commands from a host sequencer), or you can set up modulation sources within MAS-
SIVE that automatically change over time, such as envelopes, LFOs and sequencers.
Quick Start
Creating Your Own Sound
MASSIVE - Manual - 17