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Chapter 12 Retro Synth 232
Retro Synth envelopes
Retro Synth features two identical attack, decay, sustain, and release (ADSR) envelopes that shape
the lter cuto and the level of the sound over time.
When you think of dierent sounds, such as a snare drum, piano, or strings, they’re not only
tonally dierent, but the characteristics of the sound change over time. Both the snare drum and
piano are heard immediately when struck. This is because they both have a short attack phase.
Bowed strings, on the other hand, slowly ramp up in level—they have a long attack time, in
other words.
If you break down any sound over time, you can emulate snare drum-like, piano-like, or string-
like characteristics easily with Retro Synth’s envelopes.
Attack handle
Vel(ocity) slider
Release handle
Decay/Sustain handle
Envelope parameters
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Attack handle: Drag horizontally to set the time it takes for the envelope to reach the
initial level.
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Decay/Sustain handle: Drag horizontally to set the time it takes for the envelope to fall to the
sustain level, following the initial attack time.
Drag vertically to set the sustain level, which is held until the key is released.
•
Release handle: Drag horizontally to set the time it takes the envelope to fall from the sustain
level to a level of zero.
•
Vel(ocity) slider: Drag to determine how sensitive the envelope is to incoming velocity.
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If set to maximum, the envelope outputs its maximum level only when the keys are struck at
maximum velocity.
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Softer velocities result in a corresponding change to the levels of each envelope—with a
50% velocity resulting in half-levels for the attack and sustain level parameters. Envelope
attack, decay, and release times are not aected by velocity modulation.