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KEY "ON"
KEY "ON"
PITCH
TIME
PortMode = Linear
KEY "ON"
KEY "ON"
PITCH
TIME
PortMode = Expo
KEY "ON"
Parameter:
Pre-Glide
Displayed As:
PreGlide
Default value:
0
Range of adjustment:
-12 to +12
VOLUME
PreGlide takes priority over Portamento, though it does use the PortTime parameter to
set its duration. PreGlide is calibrated in semitones, and each note played will actually
begin a on a chromatically-related note up to an octave above (value = +12) or below (value
TIME
= -12) the note corresponding to the key pressed, and glide towards the 'target' note. This
differs from Portamento in that, e.g., two notes played in sequence will each have their own
PreGlide, related to the notes played, and there will be no glide 'between' the notes.
KEY "ON"
Although the use of Portamento is not recommended in Poly modes when playing
more than one note at a time, this restriction does not apply to PreGlide, which
VOLUME
can be very effective with full chords.
Parameter:
Polyphony Mode
TIME
Displayed As:
PolyMode
Default value:
Poly1
Range of adjustment:
Mono, MonoAG, Poly1, Poly2, Mono2
KEY "ON"
As the names imply, three of the possible modes are mono and two are polyphonic.
1.
Mono – this is standard monophonic mode; only one note sounds at a time, and the
"last played" rule applies.
VOLUME
2.
MonoAG – AG stands for Auto-Glide. This is an alternative mono mode, which
differs from Mono in the way Portamento and Pre-Glide work. In Mono mode,
Portamento and PreGlide apply both if notes are played separately, or in a legato
style (when one note is played when another is already held down). In MonoAG
TIME
mode, Portamento and Pre-Glide only work if the keys are played in a legato style;
playing notes separately produces no glide effect.
3.
Poly1 – in this polyphonic mode successively playing the same note(s) uses
separate voices and the notes are therefore 'stacked', so the sound gets louder
KEY "ON"
as more notes are played. The effect will only be evident on patches with a long
amplitude release time.
4.
Poly2 – in this alternative mode, successively playing the same note(s) uses the
VOLUME
original voices, so the volume increase inherent in Poly1 mode is avoided.
5.
Mono 2 – this differs from Mono in the way the Attack phases of the Envelopes
are triggered. In Mono mode, when playing Legato style, the envelopes are only
triggered once, by the initial key press. In Mono 2 mode, every key press will re-
trigger all the Envelopes.
ATTACK
TIME
Edit menu - Submenu 6:
Env
The MiniNova provides a great deal of flexibility in the use of envelopes in sound creation,
based on the familiar ADSR concept.
KEY "ON"
VOLUME
ATTACK
20
TIME
Portamento Time
Portamento Time
KEY "OFF"
KEY "OFF"
KEY "OFF"
KEY "OFF"
SUSTAIN
DECAY
RELEASE
KEY "OFF"
SUSTAIN
DECAY
RELEASE
The ADSR envelope can be most easily visualised by considering the amplitude (volume)
of a note over time. The envelope describing the "lifetime" of a note can be split into four
distinct phases, and adjustments are provided for each of these:
•
Attack – the time it takes for the note to increase from zero (e.g., when the key is
pressed) to its maximum level. A long attack time produces a "fade-in" effect.
•
Decay – the time it takes for the note to drop in level from the maximum value
reached at the end of the attack phase to a new level, defined by the Sustain
parameter.
•
Sustain – this is an amplitude value, and represents the volume of the note after the
initial attack and decay phases – i.e., while holding the key down. Setting a low value
of Sustain can give a very short, percussive effect (providing the attack and decay
times are short).
•
Release – This is the time it takes for the note's volume to drop back to zero after
the key is released. A high value of Release will cause the sound to remain audible
(though diminishing in volume) after the key is released.
Although the above discusses ADSR in terms of volume, note that the MiniNova is
equipped with six separate envelope generators, allowing control of other synth
blocks as well as amplitude – e.g., filters, oscillators, etc. Note that envelope
generators 1 and 2 are dedicated to Amplitude and Filter control respectively, and
are referred to as Amp Env and Fltr Env. A total of 16 parameters per envelope is
available for adjustment.
With this submenu, it is first necessary to select the envelope whose parameters are to be
adjusted:
Displayed As:
xxx Env or Env n (see range below)
Default value:
Amp Env
Range of adjustment:
Amp Env, Fltr Env, Env 3, Env 4, Env 5, Env 6
Amplitude Envelope
The following parameters apply only to the Amplitude Envelope, and will be available if
Env n (above) is set to Amp Env.
Parameter:
Amplitude Attack Time
Displayed As:
AmpAtt
Default value:
2
Range of adjustment:
0 to 127
This parameter sets the note's attack time. With a value of 0 the note is at its maximum
level immediately the key is pressed; with a value of 127, the note takes over 20 seconds
to reach its maximum level. At the mid-setting (64), the time is approx. 250 ms (provided
Amplitude Attack Slope (AmpAtSlp) has a value of
AmpAtt can be also adjusted directly from Row 5 of the PERFORM section of
P
the control panel with Tweak Control RC1.
Parameter:
Amplitude Decay Time
Displayed As:
AmpDec
Default value:
90
Range of adjustment:
0 to 127
This parameter sets the notes' decay time. Decay time only has meaning if AmpSus (see
below) is set to less than 127, as the Decay phase will be inaudible if the sustain level is
the same as the level reached during the attack phase. At the mid-setting (64), the time is
approx. 150 ms (provided AmpDcSlp has a value of 127).
AmpDec can be also adjusted directly from Row 5 of the PERFORM section of
P
the control panel with Tweak Control RC2.
Parameter:
Amplitude Sustain Level
Displayed As:
AmpSus
Default value:
127
Range of adjustment:
0 to 127
The value of the Sustain parameter sets the volume of the note after the completion of the
decay phase. Setting a low value will obviously have the effect of emphasising the start of
the note; setting it to zero will render the note silent after the decay phase has elapsed.
AmpSus can be also adjusted directly from Row 5 of the PERFORM section of
P
the control panel with Tweak Control RC3.
zero).
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