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Chapter 14 Ultrabeat 365
Ultrabeat envelope overview
Ultrabeat features four identically specied envelope generators per voice. They are abbreviated
as Env 1 to Env 4. In addition to potential use as a modulation source (in the mod pop-up menus
of various sound parameters), Env 4 is permanently connected to the Voice Volume parameter. In
other words, each Ultrabeat drum sound has a hard-wired volume envelope generator—Env 4.
See Attack, decay, sustain, and release on page 486 for information on the roots of the term
envelope generator and its basic function.
The default behavior 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 emulates the natural behavior
of acoustic percussion instruments.
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.
Ultrabeat’s envelope display provides a unique envelope design, consisting of Bezier curves in
which two segments—attack and decay—constitute the entire envelope.
Attack time handle Decay time handle
Decay curve handle
Decay curve handle
Attack curve handle Attack curve handle
In the envelope graphic, you can see various handles (junction points) of two dierent sizes. Drag
these handles to adjust the envelope shape.
Both of the larger handles on the x-axis (the horizontal, or time axis, at the bottom) control the
attack and decay times, respectively. A vertical line extends up from the rst of the two handles
(attack), and divides the envelope into an attack and decay phase.
Both segments have two small curve handles. You can drag these in any direction to deform the
contour of the envelope and shape its amplitude.
You can also directly drag anywhere on the curve itself to reshape the envelope.