User Manual

26 NEUTRON User Manual
Overdrive: Topush toexcess or drive too hard.
Parameter: A setting whose value can be changed.
Parametric EQ: A type of EQ that allows all of the parameters of equalization to
be changed, including center frequency, boost/cut in gain and bandwidth.
Paraphonic: Is the use of two oscillators independently pitched when more than
one MIDI note is played.
Patch: The cables used on modular synthesizers (or synthesizers with modular
compatibility) to connect devices together. Patch cables can carry audio, gate or
control voltage signals.
Phase: A measurement (in degrees) of the time dierence between two
waveforms, or between a single waveform and a reference point.
Pitch Bend / Pitch Bend Wheel: Controlling the pitch of a note after it has
been played.
Polyphonic: Capable of playing more than one note at once.
Polyphony: The number of notes a polyphonic synthesizer can play
simultaneously.
Portamento: An adjustable performance eect that glides or bends the pitch
from one note to the next.
Poly-Chaining: A way to connect multiple monophonic synths to play together
to create a polyphonic sound.
Power Supply Unit (PSU): The component in a system which is responsible for
supplying and managing power.
Psychoacoustics: The study of the perception of sound, that is, how we listen,
our psychological responses, and the physiological eects on the human nervous
system.
Pulse Wave: Similar to a square wave, but without symmetry. Also known as a
"Rectangle Wave."
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM): Modulation of the pulse width (the duty
cycle of a pulse wave measured as a percentage). A pulse width of 50% has equal
positive and negative sections and is considered a square wave.
Rate: The speed at which a particular device is operating.
Release Time: The fourth and nal stage of an ADSR envelope. Specied as the
duration of time for an envelope to reach zero after the played key is released.
Resonance (Reso): The emphasis/boost of frequencies around the
cut-o frequency.
Reverb: An eect where the ambience of a physical space is simulated.
s: Symbol for "second," a unit of time.
Sample & Hold (S&H): A circuit or function in synthesizersthat enables the
instantaneous value (voltage) of a waveform to be captured and continues to
output that value until the nextsampleis taken.
Sawtooth: A waveform that combines an instantaneous rise or fall, followed
by a gradual linear incline or decline. The name comes from the waveform's
similarity to the teeth of a saw.
Semitone: A chromatic half-step. There are twelve semitones in an octave.
Self-oscillation: Occurs when the resonance of a lter is increased to the point
where it will begin to generate a sine wave independently of any input.
Signal ow: The path of a signal from one module (or component of a system)
to another.
Sinusoidal / Sine Wave: Mathematical description of a smooth waveform that
contains only the fundamental frequency and has no additional harmonics. The
shape resembles the letter "S" rotated 90 degrees.
Slew Rate: The rate of change of a voltage or control signal.
Soft Clipping: is a technique for adding warm harmonic distortion to
your audio.
Square Wave: A symmetrical waveform that combines an instantaneous rise
or fall, followed by a positive or negative steady state. The name comes from the
waveform's similarity to a square.
Sum: A way to combine signals
Sustain Level: The third stage of an ADSR envelope. Specied as "the level an
envelope will return to, after the decay stage". The envelope will remain at the
sustain level until the key is released.
Synchronization (Sync): Coordination of timing between devices.
Sync (Tempo): A function where a cyclical event such as an LFO is synchronized
to a tempo value until the played key is held.
Sync (Oscillator): A function where one oscillator is synchronized to another.
The waveform of the slave oscillator is reset whenever the waveform of the
master oscillator restarts.
Sync (Key): A function where an event is synchronized to the pressing of a key.
Threshold: This is the level that must be passed before the processing is
engaged.
Tone Control: Used to adjust the volumes of various frequency ranges for
creative or corrective purposes.
Triggering: Activation of a function, such as the start of a note, envelope, or LFO.
Tune / Tuning: The process of adjusting the root pitch of the instrument to a
specic reference frequency.
Unipolar: A signal having a single polarity, positive or negative.
Unison: Two or more voices that are playing together at roughly the same pitch.
Universal Serial Bus (USB): A "plug and play" interface that provides a fast
connection between a computer and peripherals.
VCA Bias: Controls the minimum amplication present.
Volt (V): A unit of electrical potential dierential.
Voltage Controlled Amplier (VCA): An amplier whose resultant magnitude
is controlled by a voltage.
Voltage Controlled Filter (VCF): A lter whose cut-o frequency can be
controlled by a voltage.
Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO): An oscillator whose cut-o frequency
can be controlled by a voltage.
Voice: A physical embodiment of a complete set of OSC, Envelopes, LFOs and VCF
which can play a single note.
Waveform: A repeating signal typically created by an oscillator. A waveform can
also be random in the case of noise.
White Noise: A sound that contains every frequency within the range of human
hearing (generally from 20Hzto 20kHz) in equal amounts.
Width: Sets the pulse width of oscillator square / tone mod waveforms.