Envelope 1 (Amplitude) Parameters - Novation Ultranova User Manual

RE2: Amplitude Decay Time
Displayed as:
AmpDec
Initial value: 90
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
This parameter sets the notes' decay time. Decay time only has meaning if the Sustain
parameter value 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 Amplitude Decay Slope (Page 2, RE2) has a value of
127).
RE3: Amplitude Sustain Level
Displayed as:
AmpSus
Initial 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.
RE4: Amplitude Release Time
Displayed as:
AmpRel
Initial value: 40
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
Many sounds acquire some of their character from the notes remaining audible after the key
is released; this "hanging" or "fade-out" effect, with the note gently dying away naturally (as
with many real instruments) can be very effective. A setting of 64 gives a Release Time of
approx. 300 ms. The UltraNova has a maximum release time of approx. 30 seconds (with
Release set to 127), but shorter times will probably be more useful! The relationship
between the parameter value and the Release Time is not linear – see the graph below.
Note that when playing polyphonically with sounds having long release times, it is
possible for 'Voice Stealing' to occur. This means that some notes still sounding
(in their Release phase) might suddenly cut off when other notes are played. This
is more likely to happen when multiple Voices are in use. See page 18 for more
information on this topic.
RE5: Amplitude Velocity
Displayed as:
AmpVeloc
Initial value: 0
Range of adjustment: -64 to +63
Amplitude Velocity does not modify the shape of the ADSR amplitude envelope in any
way, but adds touch sensitivity to overall volume, so that with positive parameter values,
the harder you play the keys, the louder will be the sound. With Amplitude Velocity set
to zero, the volume is the same regardless of how the keys are played. The relationship
between the velocity at which a note is played and volume is determined by the value. Note
that negative values have the inverse effect.
For the most "natural" playing style, try setting Amplitude Velocity to about +40.
RE6: Amplitude Envelope Repeat
Displayed as:
AmpRept
Initial value: 0
Range of adjustment: 0 to 126, KeyOff
By using Amplitude Repeat, it is possible to repeat the Attack and Decay phases of the
envelope before the Sustain phase is initiated. This can produce an interesting "stuttering"
effect at the start of the note if the Attack and Decay times are set appropriately. The value
of the Repeat parameter (from 0 to 126) is the actual number of repeats, so that if you set it
to, e.g. 3, you will hear a total of four attack/decay phases of the envelope – the initial one,
plus three repeats. The maximum setting of KeyOff generates an ininite number of repeats.
RE7: Amplitude Touch Trigger
Displayed as:
AmpTTrig
Initial value: Off
Range of adjustment: Off, T1ReTrig to T8ReTrig
You will have noticed that the UltraNova's rotary encoders are touch-sensitive – the associ-
ated LED illuminates as soon as the knob is touched. This touch sensitivity can be utilised
in real time to provide creative control over the sound, which is especially useful when
playing live.
Amplitude Touch Trigger assigns any one of the encoder knobs to act as a re-trigger but-
ton – as soon as the knob is touched, the amplitude envelope is re-triggered. After making
the assignment, in order to use the feature it is necessary to open the Animate Touch mode
by pressing the TOUCH button [22] (select Page 1 if it is not already visible); you will see
20
TOUCH M 123456 M 123456 M 123456
0 ------ 0 ------ 0 ------
NmbrMods NmbrMods NmbrMods
that an 'R' appears under RE1, below the selected encoder to conirm the assignment of
0 0
Envelope1 to that encoder. The touch-sensitive knob is now active.
E123456 E123456
----- -----
M 123456 M 123456 M 123456
0 R----- 0 ------ 0 ------
RE8: Amplitude Multi-trigger
Displayed as:
Initial value:
Range of adjustment:
OSCILLATORS O1Semi O1Cents
0 0
When this parameter is set to Re-Trig, each note played will trigger its full ADSR amplitude
envelope, even if other keys are held down. In Legato mode, only the irst key to be pressed
O1PtchWh O1WTInt
+12 127
will produce a note with the full envelope, all subsequent notes will omit the attack and
decay phases, and sound only from the start of the Sustain phase. "Legato" literally means
O2Semi O2Cents
0 0
"smoothly", and this mode aids this style of playing.
O2PtchWh O2WTInt
+12 127
It is important to appreciate that for the Legato mode to be operative, mono voicing must
O3Semi O3Cents
be selected – it will not work with polyphonic voicing. See page 19
0 0
O3PtchWh O3WTInt
What is Legato?
+12 127
As stated above, the musical term Legato means "smoothly". A Legato keyboard
style is one where at least two notes overlap. This means that as you play the
FILTERS F1Freq melody, you keep the previous (or an earlier) note sounding as you play another F1Res
127 0
note. Once that note is sounding, you then release the earlier note.
FBalance FRouting FreqLink
-64 Parallel
Legato style playing is relevant to some of the UltraNova's sonic possibilities. In the case
F2Freq F2Res
of Amplitude Multi-Trigger, for example, it is important to appreciate that the envelope will
127 0
re-trigger if any 'gap' is left between notes.
FBalance FRouting FreqLink
-64 Parallel
ENVELOPES Envelope 1 (Amplitude) parameters (Page 2) AmpAtt AmpDec
2 90
AmpAtSlp AmpDcSlp AmpAttTk
0 127
FltAtt FltDec
2 75
RE1: Amplitude Attack Slope
Displayed as:
FltAtSlp FltDcSlp FltAttTk
0 127
Initial value:
Range of adjustment:
E3-E6 E3Att E3Dec
10 70
This parameter controls the "shape" of the attack characteristic. With a value of 0, the
volume increases linearly during the attack phase – that is to say, increases by equal
E3AtSlp E3DcSlp
0 127
amounts in equal time intervals. A non-linear attack characteristic may be selected as an
alternative, where the volume increases more rapidly at irst. The diagram below illustrates this:
RE2: Amplitude Decay Slope
Displayed as:
Initial value:
Range of adjustment:
This parameter applies the same function as Amplitude Attack Slope to the Decay phase
of the envelope. With a value of 0, the volume drops linearly from the maximum value to that
deined by the Sustain parameter, but setting Decay Slope to a higher value will cause the
volume to reduce more rapidly initially. The diagram below illustrates this:
KEY "ON"
VOLUME
ATTACK
TIME
RE3: Amplitude Attack Track
Displayed as:
Initial value:
Range of adjustment:
This parameter relates a note's attack time to its position on the keyboard. When
Amplitude Attack Track has a positive value, the attack time of a note decreases the
higher up the keyboard it is played. Conversely, lower notes have a longer attack time. This
aids in simulating the effect of a real stringed instrument (such as a grand piano), where
the mass of the strings on the lower notes have a slower response time when struck. When
a negative value is applied, the relationships are reversed.
M 123456 M 123456 M 123456
0 ------ 0 ------ 0 ------
NmbrMods NmbrMods NmbrMods
0 0 0 0
E123456 E123456 E123456 E123456
----- ----- ----- -----
M 123456 M 123456 M 123456
0 ------ 0 ------ 0 ------
AmpMTrig
Re-Trig
Legato or Re-Trig
O1VSync O1Wave O1PW/Idx O1Hard
0 Sawtooth 0 127
FixNote ModVib MVibRate OscDrift
Off 0 65 0
O2VSync O2Wave O2PW/Idx O2Hard
0 Sawtooth 0 127
FixNote ModVib MVibRate OscDrift
Off 0 65 0
O3VSync O3Wave O3PW/Idx O3Hard
0 Sawtooth 0 127
FixNote ModVib MVibRate OscDrift
Off 0 65 0
F1Env2 F1Track F1Type F1DAmnt
0 127 LP24 0
ResLink
Off Off
F2Env2 F2Track F2Type F2DAmnt
0
127 LP24 0
ResLink
Off Off
AmpSus AmpRel AmpVeloc AmpRept
127 40 0 0
AmpDecTk AmpSusRt AmpSusTm
0 0 0 127
FltSus FltRel FltVeloc FltRept
35 45 0 0
AmpAtSlp
FltDecTk FltSusRt FltSusTm
0 0 0 127
0
0 to 127
E3Sus E3Rel E3Delay E3Repeat
64 40 0 0
E3AttTk E3DecTk E3SusRat E3SusTim
0 0 0 127
AmpDcSlp
127
0 to 127
KEY "OFF"
SUSTAIN
DECAY RELEASE
AmpAttTk
0
-64 to +63
M 123456 M 123456
0 ------ 0 ------
NmbrMods NmbrMods
0 0
E123456 E123456
----- -----
M 123456 M 123456
0 ------ 0 ------
O1Dense O1DnsDtn
0 0
OscPhase NoiseTyp
0deg White
O2Dense O2DnsDtn
0 0
OscPhase NoiseTyp
0deg White
O3Dense O3DnsDtn
0 0
OscPhase NoiseTyp
0deg White
F1DType F1QNorm
Diode 64
F2DType F2QNorm
Diode 64
AmpTTrig AmpMTrig
OFF Re-Trig
AmpLvlTk LvlTkNte
0 C 3
FltTTrig FltMTrig
OFF Re-Trig
FltLvlTk LvlTkNte
0 C 3
E3TTrig E3MTrig
OFF Re-Trig
E3LvlTk LvlTkNte
0 C 3