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Smooth Sound Transitions
Overview
Smooth Sound Transitions (SST) help to avoid jarring
discontinuities when changing between Programs,
Combinations, and Songs, by allowing the previous sound
and its effects to ring out naturally as you play the newly
selected sound. You can even continue to hold notes on the
old sound (on the keyboard or with the sustain pedal) as you
play the new sound.
SST applies to all modes—not just the Set List. For instance,
notes and effects are sustained when changing from one
Combination to another in COMBINATION mode, or from a
Program (in PROGRAM mode) to a Combination (in
COMBINATION mode).
There are only two parameters that relate to SST: the Global
Hold Time, and the Hold Time for each Slot in a Set List.
Under the hood, though, there's a lot going on. We'll talk
about some of this in detail below, but if you're in a hurry,
here are the main things that you need to know:
Using Smooth Sound Transitions
Using Hold Time
The NAUTILUS has two Hold Time parameters. As noted
above, these control how long the old sound rings out after
all of its notes have been released.
One of these parameters is on the Global Basic page, and it
controls the hold time for everything outside of the Set List,
including PROGRAM, COMBINATION, and
SEQUENCER modes. The other, in the Set List Slot
parameters, controls the hold time for each individual Slot.
Let's look at how this one works.
1. Go to the SET LIST > Edit page.
2. Select Set List 127.
This has been left initialized for your own use.
3. Select Slot 1, and set its Program to D048: Scary
Splites Lead.
This sound has a long delay on the lead sound, which will
help to demonstrate the effect of Hold Time.
4. Set Slot 1's Hold Time to 10 seconds.
5. With Slot 1 still selected, press the Copy button.
6. Select Slot 3.
We'll leave Slot 2 set to the default piano sound.
7. Press the Paste button.
Slot 3 becomes a copy of Slot 1, with the same Program
setting.
8. Set Slot 3's Hold Time to 0 seconds.
9. Play a brief phrase on the lead synth sound on the
right-hand side of the keyboard, and then pause to
listen.
Notice how the delay repeats for a long time, as the sound
gradually fades away. Hold Time doesn't affect the
sound as long as you stay on the same Slot.
Smooth Sound Transitions Overview
• SST works between two sounds at a time: the current
sound and the previous sound. If you select a new sound
while two older sounds are still overlapping, the oldest
sound stops.
• SST requires that the effects for both the old and new
sounds fit into the available processing power. For
factory sounds, this should almost never be a problem. In
the unlikely event that the effects don't fit, the older
sound will be silenced, including all of its notes and
effects.
• The Hold Time parameters control how long the old
sound rings out after all of its notes have been released.
• Arpeggiator and the Drum Track stop when you change
sounds. Their notes will continue to ring out naturally.
10.Play the phrase again, and this time immediately
switch to Slot 2.
This time, the sound disappears very quickly. The Hold
Time comes into play when you change between
different sounds. Note that it's the old Slot's Hold Time
(Slot 3 in this case) that determines the speed of the fade.
Also, notice that even though Hold Time is set to 0
seconds, it's still a smooth fade; after the Hold Time has
elapsed, there's always a half-second or so fade to
silence.
11.Select Slot 1.
Remember, this Slot's Hold Time is set to 10 seconds.
12.Play the phrase again, and immediately switch to Slot
2.
Notice how the delay repeats for a long time.
13.Play something briefly on Slot 2's piano sound, and
then pause to listen.
Notice how the delay from Slot 1 is still fading out,
alongside the piano sound.
So, why would you want to change this in the first place?
Even though the default of 5 seconds works well to smooth
transitions in general, there may be times in live
performance when you'd either like the effects and decaying
notes to ring out for a long time, or fade away immediately.
The per-Slot Hold Time gives you this control.
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