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Sub-harmonic Synthesizer
Sub-harmonics are fractional multiples of a fundamental frequency. Some audio media have had difficulty recording the lowest octaves of the audio spectrum and thusly are deficient in this sonic area. The Diamond Cut Sub-harmonic Synthesizer is designed to help correct this audio anomaly. It can also be used to add “deep bass” to any recording. The sub-harmonic synthesizer takes audio signals in the bass portion of the spectrum and divides those signal frequencies in half and then adds them back into the system’s output mix. When the “Cents” control is set for 0, this division by 2 is exact. But, sometimes music sounds more natural when its subharmonics are not
perfect halves. Thus, you can vary the “Cents” control up to +/- 200 cents (each semitone = 100 cents on a 12 tone scale of equal temperament). Higher than 0 Cent value settings will make the subharmonics sound sharper while values less than 0 will make them sound more flat.
The Sub-harmonic Synthesizer
You can choose the upper frequency limit at which this process takes place via the “Frequency” control. A good frequency to begin with is 125 Hz; adjust to your personal taste using the Preview button. You can also adjust the wet/dry mixture of the synthesized sub-harmonics with the original source signal by way of the “Level” control. As an example, if the sub-harmonic synthesizer frequency control is set to 125 Hz, frequencies are generated in the range of 62.5 Hz on down to the bottom end of the audio spectrum. These signals are then added back into the main signal pathway thereby re-constituting bass (or deep bass) notes which may be missing from a recording. With no checkboxes checked, the transition of the system below the frequency setting is gradual and often works effectively. Bass male vocals can “bleed” into the sub-harmonics sometimes. If that occurs, try checking the Male Vocal Discriminator checkbox which should improve the sound quality. If the male voice still bleeds through, lower the frequency control and/or check the Sharp Cutoff Checkbox instead of using the Male Vocal Discriminator.
The Sub-harmonic Synthesizer includes the following user controls:
Note 1: For “Ultra Deep” bass effects, you can cascade two sub-harmonic synthesizers together in the Multifilter. Set the second one in the chain to half the frequency value of the first. For example, set the first one to 150 Hz and the second one to 75 Hz.
Note 2: Sub-harmonic distortion can be introduced by this effect on male vocals, especially when the frequency control is set to values greater than 100 Hz.
Note 3: It is easy to over-apply this effect thereby creating an un-natural sound. Keep its “Sub-Level” control as low as possible to add in a pleasing effect, but not so much as to create an un-natural effect.
Sub-harmonics are fractional multiples of a fundamental frequency. Some audio media have had difficulty recording the lowest octaves of the audio spectrum and thusly are deficient in this sonic area. The Diamond Cut Sub-harmonic Synthesizer is designed to help correct this audio anomaly. It can also be used to add “deep bass” to any recording. The sub-harmonic synthesizer takes audio signals in the bass portion of the spectrum and divides those signal frequencies in half and then adds them back into the system’s output mix. When the “Cents” control is set for 0, this division by 2 is exact. But, sometimes music sounds more natural when its subharmonics are not
perfect halves. Thus, you can vary the “Cents” control up to +/- 200 cents (each semitone = 100 cents on a 12 tone scale of equal temperament). Higher than 0 Cent value settings will make the subharmonics sound sharper while values less than 0 will make them sound more flat.
The Sub-harmonic Synthesizer
You can choose the upper frequency limit at which this process takes place via the “Frequency” control. A good frequency to begin with is 125 Hz; adjust to your personal taste using the Preview button. You can also adjust the wet/dry mixture of the synthesized sub-harmonics with the original source signal by way of the “Level” control. As an example, if the sub-harmonic synthesizer frequency control is set to 125 Hz, frequencies are generated in the range of 62.5 Hz on down to the bottom end of the audio spectrum. These signals are then added back into the main signal pathway thereby re-constituting bass (or deep bass) notes which may be missing from a recording. With no checkboxes checked, the transition of the system below the frequency setting is gradual and often works effectively. Bass male vocals can “bleed” into the sub-harmonics sometimes. If that occurs, try checking the Male Vocal Discriminator checkbox which should improve the sound quality. If the male voice still bleeds through, lower the frequency control and/or check the Sharp Cutoff Checkbox instead of using the Male Vocal Discriminator.
The Sub-harmonic Synthesizer includes the following user controls:
- Frequency: Range is 60 Hz to 300 Hz – This controls those frequencies below which are used to excite sub-harmonics. It is the “corner frequency” setting.
- Sub Level: Range is -60 dB to + 15 dB – This controls the amount of the effect applied to the output of the effect.
- Output Level: Range is – 60 dB to +10 dB – This controls the overall output level of the effect which includes both the wet and dry signals. Keep this control set so that the “Clip” LED does not illuminate.
- Cents: 200 (sharp) to -200 (flat). Creates imperfect subharmonics (often more musically pleasing than perfect divisible values)
- Male Vocal Discriminator Checkbox: This reduces the propensity of the subharmonic synthesizer from creating subharmonics from bass male vocals.
- Sharp Cutoff Checkbox: This feature creates a very steep slope below the frequency setting providing a very high degree of discrimination of lower frequencies being applied to the synthesizer. This feature can often decrease low frequency artifact generation by the synthesizer at the expense of a slightly lower level of smoothness of the frequency crossover transition of the system.
Note 1: For “Ultra Deep” bass effects, you can cascade two sub-harmonic synthesizers together in the Multifilter. Set the second one in the chain to half the frequency value of the first. For example, set the first one to 150 Hz and the second one to 75 Hz.
Note 2: Sub-harmonic distortion can be introduced by this effect on male vocals, especially when the frequency control is set to values greater than 100 Hz.
Note 3: It is easy to over-apply this effect thereby creating an un-natural sound. Keep its “Sub-Level” control as low as possible to add in a pleasing effect, but not so much as to create an un-natural effect.