LFO Filter Without Massacering My Synth Sound?!

[TheAudioMedium]

I'm still fairly new to producing on the computer. Actual instruments have always been my forte. However, I have been messing around just for the hell of it for a while, never taken it too seriously. Lately though I'm pretty psyched on it and this one aspect has plagued me every time I've ever attempted it and I've not found the answer I'm searching for yet. Hopefully it hasn't been asked elsewhere on here, though it really seems like something that would've been discussed previously...

Basically, I design a kickass synth sound. Then, naturally, I want to end up sweeping an LFO through the filter to create the ever-present "BWAHP". Problem is, the filter completely fucks up my synth sound. A LP filter reduces it to mud, and that's not at all what I'm going for. I've been trying out duplicating the synth and making one a low end, the other high and then filtering them seperately and mixing the result together... That doesn't seem to do it for me. (I've tried filters aside from LP as well, to clarify.)

I don't know man... I hate to come in here asking for tips on what seems to have become an endlessly discussed aspect but it's really giving me problems. It's super easy for me to get a nice wom-wom-wom, deep bass that is typically used in the darker, more original type dubstep sound. But anytime I want to try working on a more aggressive type of "in your face" BWAHP ala the likes of Datsik and such, I am immediately bitch slapped and sent off with my head down.

Is there something basic I am not considering or aware of? (For a bit of additional information, I have lately been creating sounds in Zebra and then resampling them in Albeton. I have been then dragging the resampled audio clips into Simpler, and using the LFO and filter contained therein. Maybe my problem lies in this approach somewhere but I still feel I should be able to get a little closer to what I'm after this way than I've been able to so far.) Any advice or trips is massively appreciated!

[Trichome]

its probably because the distortion is routed after the filter. change the routing so its the other way around.

[Mammoth]

try a bandpass filter

[mthrfnk]

Try something other than a LP such as bandpass, bandreject or comb filter. If you really get stuck try the demo of Sugarbytes WOW (http://www.sugar-bytes.de/content/produ ... hp?lang=en) and see if you have any success.

[e-motion]

Why r you resample and then filter? Zebra's filters are probably better than simpler/sampler.

[SoundNuisance]

You can always layer the sample and the sample after it has been oscillated (is that even a word). I have done it before, sounds pretty nice actually.

[syrup]

You HAVE moved the filter cutoff to higher freq right?

[TheAudioMedium]

Why r you resample and then filter? Zebra's filters are probably better than simpler/sampler.

You're probably right about that. To be honest I've just started using Zebra and I'm not that familiar with it so it's just the approach I took the last few attempts. I'm going to spend some time today familiarizing myself with Zebra more and maybe that will get me some progress toward what I'm trying to achieve.

You can always layer the sample and the sample after it has been oscillated (is that even a word). I have done it before, sounds pretty nice actually.

This is actually sort of what I've been experimenting with. Although I've been having each sample layer contain only one area of the frequency spectrum (for example, EQ out mids and highs and LFO the bass frequencies. Then HP the un-oscillated sample and combine the two). Definitely interesting and worth experimenting with more but it's not seeming to help me get to where I'm trying to go. Really want I'm searching for is that hard attack sound.

You HAVE moved the filter cutoff to higher freq right?

Yes, I've moved the filter cutoff and the resonance all over the place experimenting with different combinations and I just don't seem to find what I'm looking for even when I use filers other than the LP.

To clarify, what I'm really searching for and struggling to get is that really hard attack type of sound. I'm really confused on how to get that sharp, aggressive BWAHP, instead of a more mellow WOM sort of filter sound. No matter where the filter settings are, whether I use sine, saw up, saw down, it never has the aggressiveness I'm looking for. Maybe the answer lies more within the synth sound I'm filter/LFO'ing than it does with anything else?? Really not sure how to get closer to what I'm after, I've been experimenting with it for a while before I came here to ask and no luck was had so I figured it was time to seek out some advice.

It sounds like a retarded question. "How can I get a BWAHP instead of a WOM?!" but fuck, I don't know how else to ask it and I can't get it to happen as of now.

[Trichome]

did you try routing the distortion to be before the filter/lfo? im 90% sure that is the problem

[TheAudioMedium]

I'm not really sure what you mean... Only because I think that's what I'm doing. I mean, I have a synth sound that is pretty raw already. Then I might resample it a little bit to make it a little more distorted. Then from there that is when I'm adding the filter and LFO.

I'm not doing it all in one synth. However, I will add my distortions and stuff before the filter/LFO when I try make it entirely in one synth program. But for now, I'm pretty sure I'm doing what you mean, by having a dirty/distorted synth sound and then filtering/LFO'ing that already distorted synth.

[mitchAUS]

It sounds like a retarded question. "How can I get a BWAHP instead of a WOM?!" but fuck, I don't know how else to ask it and I can't get it to happen as of now.

Sounds to me like you are using a sine wave as ur lfo source. Try different waveforms and the phase/start time. i don't know what it would be called on zebra. atm ur filter cutoff is probably set up to start at neutral and then open up then back past neutral and close up, back to neutral. If i understand what u mean by that "bwahp sound" try using a triangle wave and move adjust the start position/ phase so the filter starts of open and then closes. that way you will get the attack you're after

[Trichome]

I'm not really sure what you mean... Only because I think that's what I'm doing. I mean, I have a synth sound that is pretty raw already. Then I might resample it a little bit to make it a little more distorted. Then from there that is when I'm adding the filter and LFO.

I'm not doing it all in one synth. However, I will add my distortions and stuff before the filter/LFO when I try make it entirely in one synth program. But for now, I'm pretty sure I'm doing what you mean, by having a dirty/distorted synth sound and then filtering/LFO'ing that already distorted synth.

basically in the synth you can set your distortion/fx to be applied to the signal before it enters the filter. if its routed afterwards it will distort the sound after, which usually sounds very messy, unless you only distort a little bit.
imo little amounts of distortion sounds cleaner and less of a hassle to eq, cos tbh making sounds clean is all about eqing and mixing properly..

[syrup]

Oh if that's the matter try different LFO shape, reverse saw could work