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Table Of Contents
Chapter 24 Ultrabeat 379
Env 1 to 4
Further modulation sources available to you in the Mod menu include four identically
specified envelope generators. Envelope parameters are described in this section.
Note: In addition to its potential use in the Mod menus of various sound parameters,
Env 4 is permanently connected to the Voice Volume. In other words, Ultrabeat has a
hard-wired volume envelope generator.
Structure of the Envelope Generators
The default setting of the envelope generators is known as the one shot envelope
mode: after a key is pressed (note on message), the envelopes run their course,
regardless of how long the note is held. This setting is ideal for percussive signals
because it allows simple emulations of the behavior of natural percussion sounds. For
special cases such as sustained pad or cymbal sounds, you can activate a sustain mode
where the envelopes take the lengths of the played notes into account.
Editing the Envelopes Graphically
Before delving into the individual parameters, please take the time to familiarize
yourself with the graphical depiction of an envelope, shown below.
Ultrabeat’s envelope display provides a new type of envelope design, consisting of
Bezier curves in which two segments—attack and decay—make up the entire
envelope.
In the envelope graphic, you can see various junction points of two different sizes. Both
of the larger handles on the x-axis (the horizontal, or time axis) control the attack and
decay times, respectively. A vertical line extends up from the first of the two handles,
and divides the envelope into an attack and decay phase. Both segments each have
two small curved junction points. You can move these in any direction to deform the
contour of the envelope, and freely shape its amplitude.
In order to move the curved junction points, simply grab them and drag them to a new
position. Experiment with the different junction points and you’ll quickly realize that
handling is very intuitive. You can also directly click-hold and drag any curve edge on
the envelope itself.