Add per Track Low-High-Pass Filter to the Mixer Section

[Robert Spectral]

There are 3 types of automation that are ubiquitous in all my Ableton projects. These are Track Volume automation, Send automation, and Low-High-Pass Filter Cutoff automation. Two of these features are included by default for each track in the Mixer/Send Sections. For Low-High-Pass filter cutoff automation, we currently rely on Ableton's Auto Filter device. However, Auto Filter has issues such as requiring additional automation on the Device Activator since both LP/HP modes, but especially High-pass mode, do not leave the signal unaffected when the filter is fully open.

I'd like to see an ultra-clean Low-High-Pass filter added to each track. Put it right there with the Track Pan. For this type of filter there is no effect at the center (flat response). As the knob is turned CCW from center, the filter cutoff moves from 20 kHz toward 20 Hz. As the knob is turned CW from center, the filter cutoff moves from 20 Hz toward 20 kHz. Both filter directions need to go all the way to Off, as one main purpose of this filter is to completely filter out all signal from the channel, as cleanly as if setting the volume to -Inf. One primary use this feature is easier and cleaner filter automation than with the Auto Filter device, but it could also be handy for performing live, as this type of filter is extremely common on DJ mixers.

Note, for my purposes resonance is undesirable, and I immediately imagine that whether and how to implement resonance control in this feature will cause complications. I advocate zero resonance ultra-clean filter modes that serve the common purpose of cutting frequencies as cleanly as possible. The Auto Filter device, as well as 3rd party filter plug-ins, are always available if the purpose of the filter is to add harmonics.

Thanks,
Robert