Bitwig ADSR-Envelope Modulator - Per-Note Envelope Signals
Bitwig Guide | Apr 16, 2022
The pulley synth features two built-in envelopes, FEG and AEG, but you can add a simple ADSR-Envelope for more modulation options. In pulley mode, each note or voice gets its own ADSR curve, shown as multiple dots, while disabling it applies one overall envelope to all notes. This flexible setup allows you to cross-modulate with LFOs and add multiple ADSRs to customize your sound design.
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Short Overview #
When I need an extra envelope in the Pulley synth, I can easily add an ADSR, which lets me shape the sound using attack, decay, sustain, and release. By dragging the modulator handle or using the slider, I can adjust how much the envelope affects things like the filter cutoff. I like that I can even modulate the ADSR with an LFO, allowing for more creative options. Switching between pulley mode and normal mode changes whether the ADSR affects each note individually or all at once, giving me precise control over my sound.
- Pulley Synth features two built-in envelopes: FEG and AEG.
- You can add an additional ADSR-Envelope for more control, featuring attack, decay, sustain, and release phases.
- Modulation depth can be set by dragging the handle or using the slider.
- The ADSR-Envelope can be further modulated by sources like LFOs for cross modulation possibilities.
- Pulley mode allows the ADSR curve to be applied per voice, so each played note starts its own envelope independently.
- Without pulley mode, the ADSR-Envelope is applied collectively to all notes, following the curve from the first triggered note.
- Pulley mode is visually indicated by multiple dots, representing active voices.
- Multiple ADSR-Envelopes can be added to a device, enabling versatile sound shaping.
Introduction to Envelopes in Pulley Synth #
In this section of the video, I am exploring the envelope capabilities within the Pulley Synthesizer. The synth already comes equipped with two envelopes: the Filter Envelope Generator (FEG) and the Amplitude Envelope Generator (AEG). However, there might be situations where I need an additional envelope, which is where adding an ADSR-Envelope becomes particularly useful.
Adding and Configuring the ADSR-Envelope #
To introduce a third envelope, I can add the ADSR module. ADSR stands for Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release, which are the four stages that define the shape of the envelope. Here is how I interact with it:
- Attack: Determines how long it takes for the envelope to reach its maximum value after a note is played.
- Decay: Sets the time it takes for the envelope to fall from the maximum value to the sustain level.
- Sustain: Defines the level at which the envelope holds as long as the note is sustained.
- Release: Specifies the time it takes for the envelope to return to zero after the note is released.
To assign the ADSR-Envelope to modulate a parameter, such as the filter cutoff, I click on the small modulator handle. I can adjust the modulation amount directly by dragging the handle or by using the dedicated slider available.
Modulation and Cross-Modulation Features #
Not only can I use the ADSR to modulate parameters, but I can also modulate the envelope itself with another source, such as an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator). This cross-modulation ability provides extensive sound design flexibility and allows me to create evolving textures.
Understanding Pulley Mode #
A key concept detailed in the video is the Pulley Mode. Pulley Mode determines how modulation sources like ADSR-Envelopes are applied in polyphonic contexts, when multiple notes are played at once.
- With Pulley Mode enabled: Each note (or voice) played receives its own unique instance of the ADSR-Envelope. For instance, if I play three notes at different times, each note starts its ADSR from zero at the moment it is triggered. I see a visual representation of each envelope as individual dots, each corresponding to an active voice.
- With Pulley Mode disabled: There is only one envelope instance for all notes. The envelope is triggered by the first note, and all subsequent notes share the same envelope state. Visually, this appears as a single line rather than multiple dots.
Practical Example and Visualization #
I demonstrate this difference visually: when in Pulley Mode, I see three dots (representing the three concurrent voices, each with its own envelope). When I disable Pulley Mode, I see one envelope acting universally for all notes.
Flexibility and Power of the ADSR Module #
The ADSR module in Pulley Synth is both simple and powerful. There is no restriction on how many ADSR-Envelopes I can utilize per device, enabling highly sophisticated and layered modulations.
Explaining Additional Concepts #
What is Modulation? #
Modulation refers to using one signal (such as an envelope or LFO) to dynamically alter another parameter (like filter cutoff or amplitude) over time, adding movement and expressiveness to synthesized sounds.
What is an Envelope? #
An envelope is a shape or curve that describes how a parameter changes in response to a trigger (like pressing a key). The ADSR-Envelope is the most common, allowing detailed control over how a sound initiates, sustains, and fades away.
What is Polyphony in Synthesis? #
Polyphony in a synthesizer context means the ability to play multiple notes at once. Pulley Mode leverages this by providing independent modulation per voice, whereas monophonic or grouped envelopes apply one modulation shape to all notes collectively.
Conclusion #
Using the Pulley Synth’s ADSR-Envelope, especially with the added functionality of Pulley Mode, significantly extends my creative possibilities. I can craft intricate, evolving sounds with precise control over how each note modulates my chosen parameters, and stack as many ADSR-Envelopes as needed for complex, dynamic patches. This modular, polyphonic approach is both intuitive and highly effective for both basic and advanced synthesis.
Full Video Transcription #
This is what im talking about in this video. The text is transcribed by Whisper, so it might not be perfect. If you find any mistakes, please let me know.
You can also click on the timestamps to jump to the right part of the video, which should be helpful.
Click to expand Transcription
[00:00:00] So the pulley synth has already two envelopes in place,
[00:00:04] FEG and AEG, but if you need actually a third one,
[00:00:09] you can add here the ADSR, which is a simple ADSR-Envelope
[00:00:13] with attack, decay, sustain, and release phase.
[00:00:16] We click on the small little modulator handle here,
[00:00:19] again modulator to cut off.
[00:00:21] You can change the strength by just holding click and drag.
[00:00:29] Or you can also change the strength by using this slider here.
[00:00:34] You can also modulate this here with an LFO for instance.
[00:00:46] So we can cross modulate.
[00:00:57] You can see we have here three dots at the same time.
[00:01:00] That's because we are in pulley mode.
[00:01:04] In pulley mode, we apply this curve to each note or to each voice individually.
[00:01:11] And because we have here this note or these three notes playing at different times,
[00:01:17] we basically start with each ADSR at a different point in time.
[00:01:22] So when we disable the pulley mode here,
[00:01:25] you can see it switches from the dots here to this one line.
[00:01:29] And basically the ADSR starts with the first note
[00:01:34] and applies the curve to the rest of the notes.
[00:01:37] So it's one ADSR for three notes.
[00:01:40] And if you switch this to pulley mode,
[00:01:42] we apply this ADSR to each note individually.
[00:01:47] You can see this on these three dots here.
[00:01:51] These are basically the voices currently playing.
[00:01:54] Okay, so the ADSR is pretty simple, pretty powerful,
[00:01:58] and you can add as many as you want to each device.