Modal Electronics ARGON8X User Manual page 18

Envelopes
ARGON8X now provides 3 updated separate 4-stage Envelope Generators (i.e. envelopes),
one for the filter (FILT-EG), one for the amplifier (AMP-EG) and one for modulations (MOD-
EG). With negative amounts only the attack, decay and sustain levels are inverted, the release
phase will still tend to 0.
The envelope generator represented on the encoders can be selected using the 3 dedicated
buttons to the right of the envelope depth encoder.
• Attack: This parameter controls the time passing from the moment you press a key (i.e.
'MIDI Note On' message) until the sound reaches its maximum value.
• Decay: This parameter controls the time passing for the envelope to drop from its
maximum value to a sustain level (see below).
• Sustain: This parameter controls the level of the sustain phase (i.e. the volume of the
sound while keeping the key pressed for AMP-EG). If there are no modulations active, this
volume keeps constant until you release the key. (The envelope then enters the 'release'
phase)
• Release: This parameter controls the time passing from the moment you leave a key (i.e.
'MIDI Note Off' message) until the sound reaches silence.
• Depth: This controls the envelope depth amount of the selected envelope generator (i.e.
FILT-EG, AMP-EG or MOD-EG.) This gives bi-polar control of the amount of modulation
the envelope has over its destination/s.
• Type: There are 8 envelope types. These types are stored per-patch and each envelope
type is independent so you can have a different type for MEG, FEG and AEG in the same
patch. You can find these settings at the bottom of the AEG, FEG and MEG pages on the
screen.
- Expo - classic exponential curve - suited for most sound types
- Snappy - fast attack and decay time curves - best suited for percussive material
- Soft - smoother attack and release time curves - best suited for pads
- Linear - simple linear ramp for each envelope stage - best suited for modulation
- Expo Long – Expo curve with double the maximum time for each stage of the envelope
- Snappy Long – Snappy curve with double the maximum time for each stage of the
envelope
- Soft Long – Soft curve with double the maximum time for each stage of the envelope
- Linear Long – Linear curve with double the maximum time for each stage of the
envelope
Long variants possess a maximum release time of 10 seconds.
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Envelopes
• FILT-EG, AMP-EG, MOD-EG: These buttons selects which envelope generator the above
controls are representing.
Pressing the MOD-EG button again latches the assign mode - you will notice the LED
blinking to indicate you are in assign mode. Press again to exit assign mode.
TIP: Holding down any of the EG select button and changing the ADSR parameters will
alter all three envelopes simultaneously and is a useful shortcut to quickly change all
envelopes at once.
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