Access virus indigo ii Manuale Utente
ACCESS VIRUS OS5
17
The Amplifier Envelope
THE AMPLIFIER ENVELOPE
Long-term exposure to this sound will definitely
grate on your nerves, so let’s get started with
changing it into a signal you might enjoy hear-
ing, beginning with the volume characteristics.
Locate the section labeled AMPLIFIER at the
bottom right of the control feature panel of the
VIRUS. Here you can see four pots labeled AT-
TACK, DECAY, SUSTAIN and RELEASE, re-
spectively.
grate on your nerves, so let’s get started with
changing it into a signal you might enjoy hear-
ing, beginning with the volume characteristics.
Locate the section labeled AMPLIFIER at the
bottom right of the control feature panel of the
VIRUS. Here you can see four pots labeled AT-
TACK, DECAY, SUSTAIN and RELEASE, re-
spectively.
These controls will help you to dial in volume
characteristics called an amplifier envelope and
put an end to the nerve-racking drone that may
remind you of one of those cheesy organs that
you hear in ‘60s B-movie sound tracks.
characteristics called an amplifier envelope and
put an end to the nerve-racking drone that may
remind you of one of those cheesy organs that
you hear in ‘60s B-movie sound tracks.
Rotate the ATTACK pot while you repeatedly
engage a key to hear the note. The further you
turn the pot up, the longer it takes for the sound
to achieve maximum volume after the start of
the note. So you can say ATTACK controls the
initial volume swell of the sound.
turn the pot up, the longer it takes for the sound
to achieve maximum volume after the start of
the note. So you can say ATTACK controls the
initial volume swell of the sound.
Presumably the ATTACK pot was set to a ran-
dom position before you made any adjust-
ments. Nevertheless the volume automatically
increased to the maximum level before you
started rotating the pot. The reason for this is
that an ATTACK value of 0 is saved in the sound
program - START - and this value remains valid
until you determine a new value by adjusting
the position of the pot, even if you turn it ever
so slightly.
dom position before you made any adjust-
ments. Nevertheless the volume automatically
increased to the maximum level before you
started rotating the pot. The reason for this is
that an ATTACK value of 0 is saved in the sound
program - START - and this value remains valid
until you determine a new value by adjusting
the position of the pot, even if you turn it ever
so slightly.
Take a look at the display of the VIRUS to gain
an impression of the difference between these
two values. It shows two numeric values when
you dial a pot: at the left you can see the value
stored in the sound program and at the right,
the numeric equivalent to the value determined
by the current position of the pot.
an impression of the difference between these
two values. It shows two numeric values when
you dial a pot: at the left you can see the value
stored in the sound program and at the right,
the numeric equivalent to the value determined
by the current position of the pot.
Always keep in mind that for a programma-
ble synthesizer the position of the control fea-
ture or pot does not necessarily indicate the
actual value of the given function. The reason
for this is that when you first activate a sound
program, it will reflect the programmed value.
You have to adjust the control feature before
the programmed value is superseded by the val-
ue you determine manually.
ture or pot does not necessarily indicate the
actual value of the given function. The reason
for this is that when you first activate a sound
program, it will reflect the programmed value.
You have to adjust the control feature before
the programmed value is superseded by the val-
ue you determine manually.
Now fiddle with the DECAY pot while you re-
peatedly press a key to activate a note. Hold
the key down for good while. You will notice
that the volume, once it reaches maximum level
at the end of the ATTACK phase, drops until it
reaches a minimum level. The DECAY pot de-
termines the speed, or in synthesizer jargon, the
rate at which the volume decreases.
peatedly press a key to activate a note. Hold
the key down for good while. You will notice
that the volume, once it reaches maximum level
at the end of the ATTACK phase, drops until it
reaches a minimum level. The DECAY pot de-
termines the speed, or in synthesizer jargon, the
rate at which the volume decreases.
However, the DECAY level does not always
drop to the minimum level; you can determine a
random value between the maximum and mini-
mum levels at which the volume remains con-
stant. This level in turn is controlled via the
SUSTAIN pot.
drop to the minimum level; you can determine a
random value between the maximum and mini-
mum levels at which the volume remains con-
stant. This level in turn is controlled via the
SUSTAIN pot.
Whenever the SUSTAIN level is set to maxi-
mum, the volume cannot drop during the DE-
CAY phase; in other words, in this situation the
DECAY pot is ineffective.
mum, the volume cannot drop during the DE-
CAY phase; in other words, in this situation the
DECAY pot is ineffective.
The individual functions of a synthesizer are
designed to interact; many functions are depen-
dent on other functions. In a number of cases
this means that some functions are subordinate
dent on other functions. In a number of cases
this means that some functions are subordinate
ATTACK
ATTACK
DECAY
DECAY
SUSTAIN
SUSTAIN
RELEASE
RELEASE
0
6
12
12
0
6
12
12
0
6
12
12
0
6
12
12
AMPLIFIER
AMPLIFIER