Envelopes Menu - Novation KS Rack User Manual

ADVANCED FEATURES
The Envelopes Menu
To complement the front panel controls in the Envelopes section, there
are many other functions located in the Envelopes Menu. This is selected
by pressing the keypad '5' button when a Menu is selected. Use the
PERF / PROG / PAGE up/down buttons to scroll through the Menu func-
tions available - See table below.
Envelope Menu
Page Function
1 Program Level dB
2 Velocity to Amp Env Level ENV Velocity>Amp
3 Velocity to Mod Env Level ENV Velocity>Mod
4 Velocity to AD Env Level
5 Amp Envelope Triggering
6
Mod Envelope Triggering
7
AD Envelope Triggering
8 AD Env Attack
9 AD Env Decay
10
Audio Input Triggering
11
External Audio to Effects
Program Level dB (Menu Page 1)
The value of this function adjusts the program output level. This is used to
maintain a consistent volume level, avoiding distortion throughout all
sound Programs. Delicate sounds (such as those which use just one
Oscillator and closed filter settings) can be increased in volume using this
control. Conversely, sounds that use all Oscillators and high polyphony (6
to 8 notes played at once), can be reduced in volume to avoid distortion.
Using a mixing desk as a comparison, this control can be thought of as
the gain or trim control for the channel.
If a sound appears to be distorting unintentionally, especially when com-
plex chords are being played, reduce the value of this setting.
Velocity To Env Level (Menu Pages 2, 3 & 4)
These functions determine how the Amp, Mod and FM Envelopes
respond to Velocity information.
Setting up a sound to make it's volume respond to velocity
Select the second Page in the Envelopes Menu (ENV Amp Vel). Adjust
the DATA knob. At a setting of zero, a soft key stroke will produce a
sound at the same volume as a hard key stroke. At a maximum positive
value (63) soft key strokes will be much quieter than hard key strokes. At
a maximum negative value (-64), soft key strokes will be much louder
than hard key strokes.
Setting up a sound to make its brightness or pitch respond to velocity
Select the third Page in the Envelopes Menu (ENV Mod Vel). Adjust the
PERF / PROG / DATA knob.Turn the Filter FREQUENCY knob to a near
zero setting or until the sound almost disappears. Turn the MOD ENV
DEPTH knob in the Filter section to a maximum clockwise position.
In the Envelopes section, Set the MOD ENV ATTACK and SUSTAIN knob
to zero and the DECAY knob to nearly full. While playing notes on the
Keyboard, adjust the PERF / PROG / DATA knob. At a setting of zero
there will be no effect on the brightness of the sound.
At maximum positive value (63), soft key strokes will produce a tone
much softer than hard key strokes. At a maximum negative value (-64),
soft key strokes will produce a tone much brighter sound than hard key
strokes.To affect the pitch, adjust the MOD ENV knob in the Oscillator
section.
Adjusting the Velocity Response of the AD Envelope
Select a factory preset FM sound (such as 209). Select the fourth page in
the Envelopes Menu (AD Env modulation). Adjust the PERF / PROG /
DATA knob. Notice how the FM effect at the start of the sound becomes
dependent on how hard the keys are struck.
Display Value
ENV Prog Boost 0.. 30
-64...63
-64...63
ENV Velocity>AD -64...63
ENV Amp MonoTrig SGL-MLT
ENV Mod MonoTrig SGL-MLT
ENV A/D MonoTrig SGL-MLT
ENV A/D Attack 0...127
ENV A/D Decay 0...127
ENV Audio Trig OFF-ON
ENV Audio to FX OFF-ON
Envelope Triggering (Menu Pages 5, 6 & 7)
These functions only apply to a sound which has been set up to behave
in a monophonic manner (see Voice Mode on Page 34).
When the Voice mode is set to any of the Mono options, different enve-
lope triggering options are available for legato playing styles (notes over-
lapping).
When the first note of a musical phrase is played, it might be desirable to
have both the Amp and Mod envelopes trigger. For the remaining legato
notes,just the Mod envelope re-triggering would create the effect of the
phrase becoming quieter and quieter.
As well as affecting the two Envelopes available on the front panel, it is
possible to set the triggering mode for a third, hidden Envelope termed
the AD Envelope. This Envelope has only Attack and Decay stages and is
only used for FM synthesis or for modulating the level of Oscillator 3 in
the Mixer section.
When these are set to SGL (single), the appropriate Envelope will only be
triggered when the first keyboard note is played. Any subsequent legato
style key presses will not re-trigger the Envelope.
When set to MLT (multi), the appropriate Envelope will always re-trigger
on each key press, regardless of the playing style used.
AD Env Attack (Menu Page 8)
When FM synthesis is being used (see Page 35) or the Mixer's OSC 3
Level is being modulated, this value determines the AD Envelope's Attack
time.
Note : The AD Envelope is used only for FM synthesis or modulating OSC
3's level in the Mixer and should not be confused with the Amp or Mod
Envelopes available on the front panel.
AD Env Decay (Menu Page 9)
When FM synthesis is being used (see Page 35) or the Mixer's OSC 3
Level is being modulated, this value determines the AD Envelope's Decay
time.
Note : The AD Envelope is used only for FM synthesis or modulating OSC
3's level in the Mixer and should not be confused with the Amp or Mod
Envelopes available on the front panel.
Audio Input Triggering (Menu Page 10)
Is is possible to process an external audio signal through the Filter and /
or Effects section. However, it should be remembered that the Amplifier is
controlled by the AMP ENVELOPE controls on the front panel. Unless the
Amplifier has been triggered (usually by playing notes on the keyboard or
from a sequencer), the Amplifier will be set at a zero volume level and no
audio signal will be passed through it.
This is not a problem when the external audio signal is to be passed sole-
ly through the Effects Section (since the Effects come after the Amplifier
in the audio signal path). However, if it desired to process the external
audio signal through the Filter, it is often convenient to be able to auto-
matically trigger the Amplifier and Mod envelopes whenever an external
audio signal is present.
Setting this function to ON automatically triggers the Amp and Mod
Envelopes (thus opening up the Amplifier) whenever the external audio
signal strength reaches a certain threshold level. This feature ensures that
it is not necessary to play a note from the keyboard or a sequencer in
order to hear the external audio signal processed through the Filter.
The setting of the threshold level (sensitivity to external audio strength) is
done by adjusting the Input Trigger Sensitivity value found within the
Global Menu. See Page 51 for details.
When the Envelopes are auto-triggered in this way, the KS Rack actually
'plays' a default note of Middle C. If the Mixer levels of any of the three
Oscillators are set above zero, a pitched element to the sound will be
heard (pitched at Middle C) whenever the Amp Envelope is auto-trig-
gered. To remove this, make sure each of the Oscillator Mix levels in the
Mixer Section are set to zero.
See Page 51 for more details of using external audio signals.
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The Envelopes Menu