Retro Synth envelopes in MainStage
Retro Synth features two identical attack, decay, sustain, and release (ADSR) envelopes that shape the filter cutoff and the level of the sound over time.
When you think of different sounds, such as a snare drum, piano, or strings, they’re not only tonally different, but the characteristics of the sound change over time. Both the snare drum and piano are heard immediately when struck. This is because they both have a short attack phase. Bowed strings, on the other hand, slowly ramp up in level—they have a long attack time, in other words.
If you break down any sound over time, you can emulate snare drum-like, piano-like, or string-like characteristics easily with Retro Synth envelopes.
Envelope parameters
Attack handle: Drag horizontally to set the time it takes for the envelope to reach the initial level.
Note: Oscillators automatically switch from free mode to synced mode when the Attack time is set to values below 0.50 ms. This has a pronounced effect on stacked voices, in particular. See global and controller settings.
Decay handle: Drag horizontally to set the time it takes for the envelope to fall to the sustain level, following the initial attack time.
Sustain handle: Drag vertically to set the sustain level, which is held until the key is released.
Release handle: Drag horizontally to set the time it takes for the envelope to fall from the sustain level to a level of zero.
Velocity slider: Determine how sensitive the envelope is to incoming velocity.
If the Vel slider is set to zero, the envelope outputs its maximum level when you strike the keys at any velocity.
At a Vel slider value of 100%, the entire dynamic range is under velocity control.
To explain, raising the slider value reduces the envelope minimum amplitude, with the difference being dynamically controlled by keyboard velocity. For example, when you set the Vel slider to 25%, the minimum envelope amplitude is reduced to 75%. The remaining 25% is added in response to the velocities of keys you play. So, a key played with a zero velocity results in an envelope amplitude of 75%. A key played with a MIDI velocity value of 127 will result in an envelope amplitude of 100%. When you raise the Vel slider value, the minimum amplitude decreases even further.