Midi-Related Performance Features; Expression; Sustain - Panda-Audio Future Impact v3 User Manual

MIDI-Related Performance Features

Expression

By default, an expression pedal (or keyboard mod wheel) sending MIDI CC1 controls the
depth of the LFO to the VCO and the VCF as detailed in the LFO Block. As mentioned in
previous sections, there are various other parameters available for expression control, such
as filter cutoff, synth volume, input instrument volume, master volume and portamento time.
Please see the MIDI Implementation chart on the next page for details. Furthermore, by
making use of Flexi Controllers, it is possible to control many more parameters via
expression.

Sustain

The synth sound of the FI, i.e. the VCF output of the Main Mixer, can be made to sustain
indefinitely; it is then possible to play over the top of this using the input instrument without
triggering changes of pitch. Sustain is switched on and off via MIDI CC64. See the MIDI
Implementation chart on the next page for details. Sustain can also be used via a MIDI
keyboard and likewise prevents further triggering of notes from the keyboard when engaged.
The Sustain function "freezes" the synthesizer pitch but does not freeze the VCF frequency
(filter cutoff). This is a desirable feature as it allows continued movement of the sound even
after the sustain has been engaged. Once Sustain has been engaged, the envelopes in the
Envelopes Block can no longer be triggered, however, their decay stages will continue until
they reach their respective sustain levels.
Though the envelopes can no longer be triggered, the same is not true of the Envelope
Follower; the VCF FREQUENCY will still respond to the volume envelope of the input
instrument signal. If you do not want the filter cutoff to react to input dynamics, then the ENV
FOLLOW slider must be set to zero. By the same token, if you do want the filter cutoff to
react to playing dynamics (and this can yield some very nice results) then the ENV
FOLLOWER slider must be set to a non-zero value.
The synth sound sustains at the volume level set by the VCA SUSTAIN parameter in the
Envelopes Block, therefore, if you want a sound that sustains indefinitely, you will have to set
this parameter to a non-zero value, otherwise it will eventually decay to silence. Attention
also needs to be given to making sure that the combination of the VCF SUSTAIN and
FREQUENCY parameters allows sound to be audible.
The Sustain continues until its MIDI OFF command is sent or a program change occurs.
Note: Sustain does not "freeze" the output from the Effects Block, only the Main Mixer output
of the VCF, so the delay lines cannot be sustained.
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