Behringer NEUTRON User Manual page 26

26
NEUTRON User Manual
Overdrive: To push to excess or drive too hard.
Parameter: A setting whose value can be changed.
Parametric EQ: A type of EQ that allows all of the parameters of equalization to
be changed, including center frequency, boost/cut in gain and bandwidth.
Paraphonic: Is the use of two oscillators independently pitched when more than
one MIDI note is played.
Patch: The cables used on modular synthesizers (or synthesizers with modular
compatibility) to connect devices together. Patch cables can carry audio, gate or
control voltage signals.
Phase: A measurement (in degrees) of the time difference between two
waveforms, or between a single waveform and a reference point.
Pitch Bend / Pitch Bend Wheel: Controlling the pitch of a note after it has
been played.
Polyphonic: Capable of playing more than one note at once.
Polyphony: The number of notes a polyphonic synthesizer can play
simultaneously.
Portamento: An adjustable performance effect that glides or bends the pitch
from one note to the next.
Poly-Chaining: A way to connect multiple monophonic synths to play together
to create a polyphonic sound.
Power Supply Unit (PSU): The component in a system which is responsible for
supplying and managing power.
Psychoacoustics: The study of the perception of sound, that is, how we listen,
our psychological responses, and the physiological effects on the human nervous
system.
Pulse Wave: Similar to a square wave, but without symmetry. Also known as a
"Rectangle Wave."
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM): Modulation of the pulse width (the duty
cycle of a pulse wave measured as a percentage). A pulse width of 50% has equal
positive and negative sections and is considered a square wave.
Rate: The speed at which a particular device is operating.
Release Time: The fourth and final stage of an ADSR envelope. Specified as the
duration of time for an envelope to reach zero after the played key is released.
Resonance (Reso): The emphasis/boost of frequencies around the
cut-off frequency.
Reverb: An effect where the ambience of a physical space is simulated.
s: Symbol for "second," a unit of time.
Sample & Hold (S&H): A circuit or function in synthesizers that enables the
instantaneous value (voltage) of a waveform to be captured and continues to
output that value until the next sample is taken.
Sawtooth: A waveform that combines an instantaneous rise or fall, followed
by a gradual linear incline or decline. The name comes from the waveform's
similarity to the teeth of a saw.
Semitone: A chromatic half-step. There are twelve semitones in an octave.
Self-oscillation: Occurs when the resonance of a filter is increased to the point
where it will begin to generate a sine wave independently of any input.
Signal flow: The path of a signal from one module (or component of a system)
to another.
Sinusoidal / Sine Wave: Mathematical description of a smooth waveform that
contains only the fundamental frequency and has no additional harmonics. The
shape resembles the letter "S" rotated 90 degrees.
Slew Rate: The rate of change of a voltage or control signal.
Soft Clipping: is a technique for adding warm harmonic distortion to
your audio.
Square Wave: A symmetrical waveform that combines an instantaneous rise
or fall, followed by a positive or negative steady state. The name comes from the
waveform's similarity to a square.
Sum: A way to combine signals
Sustain Level: The third stage of an ADSR envelope. Specified as "the level an
envelope will return to, after the decay stage". The envelope will remain at the
sustain level until the key is released.
Synchronization (Sync): Coordination of timing between devices.
Sync (Tempo): A function where a cyclical event such as an LFO is synchronized
to a tempo value until the played key is held.
Sync (Oscillator): A function where one oscillator is synchronized to another.
The waveform of the slave oscillator is reset whenever the waveform of the
master oscillator restarts.
Sync (Key): A function where an event is synchronized to the pressing of a key.
Threshold: This is the level that must be passed before the processing is
engaged.
Tone Control: Used to adjust the volumes of various frequency ranges for
creative or corrective purposes.
Triggering: Activation of a function, such as the start of a note, envelope, or LFO.
Tune / Tuning: The process of adjusting the root pitch of the instrument to a
specific reference frequency.
Unipolar: A signal having a single polarity, positive or negative.
Unison: Two or more voices that are playing together at roughly the same pitch.
Universal Serial Bus (USB): A "plug and play" interface that provides a fast
connection between a computer and peripherals.
VCA Bias: Controls the minimum amplification present.
Volt (V): A unit of electrical potential differential.
Voltage Controlled Amplifier (VCA): An amplifier whose resultant magnitude
is controlled by a voltage.
Voltage Controlled Filter (VCF): A filter whose cut-off frequency can be
controlled by a voltage.
Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO): An oscillator whose cut-off frequency
can be controlled by a voltage.
Voice: A physical embodiment of a complete set of OSC, Envelopes, LFOs and VCF
which can play a single note.
Waveform: A repeating signal typically created by an oscillator. A waveform can
also be random in the case of noise.
White Noise: A sound that contains every frequency within the range of human
hearing (generally from 20 Hz to 20 kHz) in equal amounts.
Width: Sets the pulse width of oscillator square / tone mod waveforms.