Waldorf Q+ User Manual download pdf (Page 161)

Appendix – Glossary

Waldorf Q User’s Manual 162

dampens the frequencies below the cutoff. The band

pass filter allows only those frequencies around the

cutoff frequency to pass, all others are dampened. A

band stop filter does just the opposite, i.e. it dampens

only the frequencies around the cutoff frequency. The

most common type is the low pass filter.

Filter Cutoff Frequency

The filter cutoff frequency is a significant factor for

filters. A low pass filter dampens the portion of the

signal that lies above this frequency. Frequencies

below this value are allowed to pass through without

being processed.

Envelope

An envelope is used to modulate a sound-shaping

component within a given time frame so that the

sound is changed in some manner. For instance, an

envelope that modulates the cutoff frequency of a

filter opens and closes this filter so that some of the

signal's frequencies are filtered out. An envelope is

started via a trigger, usually a fixed trigger. Normally,

the trigger is a MIDI Note. The classic envelope

consists of four individually variable phases: Attack,

Decay, Sustain and Release. This sequence is called

an ADSR envelope. Attack, Decay and Release are

time or slope values, and Sustain is a variable volume

level. Once an incoming trigger is received, the

envelope runs through the Attack and Decay phases

until it reaches the programed Sustain level. This

level remains constant until the trigger is terminated.

The envelope then initiates the Release phase until it

reaches the minimum value.

Gate

The term „Gate“ has different meanings in a technical

context. Like a real gate, it describes something, that

can be open or closed, or - to use a technical term -

active or inactive. A gate in sense of a device is a

unit, that damps a throughpassing signal

corresponding to some specific conditions. E.g. in a

noise gate a signal is cut off, when its level falls

above a predetermined threshold.

Gate stands also for a control signal of analog

synthesizer systems. A keyboard generates an active

gate signal as long as a key is held down. When the

key is released, the gate signal becomes inactive

again. An envelope generator can use this signal for

its trigger purposes, and as a result a VCA unit can be

controlled.

High Pass Filter

A high pass filter dampens all frequencies below its

cutoff frequency. Frequencies above the cutoff point

are not affected.

LFO

LFO is an acronym for low-frequency generator. The

LFO generates a periodic oscillation at a low

frequency and features variable waveshapes. Similar

to an envelope, an LFO can be used to modulate a

sound-shaping component.

Low Pass Filter

Synthesizers are often equipped with a low pass filter.

A low pass filter dampens all frequencies above its

cutoff frequency. Frequencies below the cutoff point

are not affected.

MIDI

The acronym MIDI stands for "musical instrument

digital interface." It was developed in the early '80s

so that diverse types of electronic musical instruments

by different manufacturers could interact. At the time

a communications standard for heterogeneous

devices did not exist, so MIDI was a significant

advance. It made it possible to link all devices with

one another through simple, uniform connections.

Essentially, this is how MIDI works: One sender is

connected to one or several receivers. For instance, if

you want to use a computer to play the Pulse, then

the computer is the sender and the Pulse acts as the

receiver. With a few exceptions, the majority of MIDI

devices are equipped with two or three ports for this

purpose: MIDI In, MIDI Out and in some cases MIDI

Thru. The sender transfers data to the receiver via the

MIDI Out jack. Data are sent via a cable to the

receiver's MIDI In jack.

MIDI Thru has a special function. It allows the sender

to transmit to several receivers. It routes the incoming

signal to the next device without modifying it.

Another device is simply connected to this jack, thus

creating a chain through which the sender can

address a number of receivers. Of course it is

desirable for the sender to be able to address each

device individually. Consequently, there is a rule

which is applied to ensure each device responds

accordingly.

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