Nord User Forum

[jro_sf]

I've read the Lead 2X manual and played with the Filter Envelope Amount but do not understand the behavior of the Filter Envelope Amount if Velocity is NOT used. I understand how it works when velocity IS enabled.

When Velocity is off:
If the Env Amt knob is all the way to the left, is the filter still working? If it is set in the middle and it is starting half-open, where is it half open from-- the cutoff frequency or from Zero Frequency? I guess my real question is where is the Envelope Amount relative when velocity is off-- from 0 Hertz or from the Filter cutoff frequency?

Can anyone clearly explain?

[Mr_-G-]

The EG is a way of sweeping the frequency parameter (from 0 up) according to the pattern you set in the ADR values. So the amount is just a multiplier between 0 and 1. Eg, for a LPF, a little amount, opens the filter little, max amount you open it all. Some synths have a polarity setting (so you close it instead) but that is not so in the NS2, not sure about the NLs.
Hope it helps.

[mjbrands]

As I understand it, this is all relative to the currently set filter cut-off. That's the way it seems to function on all my synths.

Here's an image shamelessly stolen from the Nord Modular manual.



LFO's are generally bipolar (on my Virus and my Blofeld I can also use unipolar LFOs), which is to say they have both a positive and a negative part - in the image above the LFO is the 'big' sine wave that only shows a single cycle. The envelope (in this case a typical ADSR envelope, though the NS2 might only have an ADR or even AD envelope) will only add to the current filter cut-off setting, while the LFO would both add and subtract in alternating fashion (think dubstep wobble).

[RedLeo]

I'm thinking of adding the tagline:

"I used to understand synthesisers until mjbrands explained them to me"

[RedLeo]

When Velocity is off: If the Env Amt knob is all the way to the left, is the filter still working?

The FILTER still works, but the Filter Envelope now has no effect on the filter, because you've turned it to zero.

If it is set in the middle and it is starting half-open, where is it half open from-- the cutoff frequency or from Zero Frequency?

It is NOT starting from half-open, it starts from the same place as usual (the Filter Cutoff Frequency), but has a moderate effect on the filter.

I guess my real question is where is the Envelope Amount relative when velocity is off-- from 0 Hertz or from the Filter cutoff frequency?

It starts from the Filter Cutoff Frequency.


You might want to spend a little time understanding the relationship between the Filter Envelope, The Env Amt knob, and the Filter.

Basically, the Filter Envelope sweeps (changes) the Filter Cutoff frequency according to its (the Envelope's) settings. The Env Amt (Envelope Amount) knob sets HOW MUCH effect the Filter Envelope has on the Filter Cutoff frequency:

Fully left (off): the Filter Envelope does not affect the Filter Cutoff frequency at all.

Fully right: (fully on): the Filter Envelope has maximum effect on sweeping the Filter Cutoff frequency.

Halfway: the Filter Envelope has some effect on sweeping the Filter Cutoff freqency.

Note that the Filter Envelope, Env Amt and Filter Cutoff frequency all interact. For example, if you manually set the Filter Cutoff frequency wide open (bright), then the other controls won't have much or any effect, because they can't open the filter any more - it's already fully open.

[nutrinoland]

think of it as 2 points. filter cutoff and env amount.. One is the upper limit, one is the lower limit. with env amount active, you will get a sweep between these two points. the ADSR says if its gonna open the filter...move up- attack or or close the filter move down- decay ..