Erica Synths SYNTRX II, User Manual

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The SYNTRX II has a distinct looping envelope generator called TRAPEZOID. It is
functionally similar to the one found on the EMS Synthi, because the envelope
shape is reminiscent of a trapeze. The Trapezoid generates control voltages to
control events on the SYNTRX – signal amplitude, pitch of the oscillators, cutoff
frequency of the filter, etc. By default, it is a looping envelope generator with 4
stages – ATTACK, ON, release (DECAY), and OFF.
All stages are manually adjustable and the decay stage is also voltage controlled,
so the decay time of the envelope can be varied automatically if a control voltage
is applied to the Decay input on the matrix mixer. If the OFF control is set to more
than 9, the looping is terminated and a new envelope cycle can be initiated by
pressing the GATE button next to the joystick controller. If the SYNTRX II is used
with external CV/Gate signals (connected to CV and Gate inputs correspondingly)
or a MIDI keyboard or sequencer, in most cases, the looping must be off (OFF
control all way clockwise), otherwise, when the gate will be off, the envelope will
start looping. Also with the external gate signal applied, the ON knob will have no
effect – the ON time is defined by the gate length.
The output level of the envelope generator is adjusted by the TRAPEZOID knob, in
other words, it sets the modulation depth for other “modules” on the SYNTRX II.
Besides the envelope generator, the trapezoid unit has a built-in voltage-controlled
amplifier (VCA); its control voltage input is linked to the output of the envelope
generator. The audio signal input of the VCA is the Envelope Signal input on the
patch matrix and the SIGNAL control in the trapezoid unit sets the audio signal
level after the VCA output.
The LED gives visual feedback on the envelope generator status
ATTACK time of the envelope generator is 6ms – 850ms
ON time of the envelope generator is 0-1,5s
DECAY time of the envelope generator is 16ms – 2s
OFF time of the envelope generator is 14ms – 1,3s
TRAPEZOID - ENVELOPE GENERATOR AND
VOLTAGE CONTROLED AMPLIFIER
OUTPUT LEVEL
LAMP ON LAMP ON
ATTACK
TIME
ATTACK
TIME
ON
TIME
ON
TIME
DECAY
TIME
OFF
TIME
LAMP DIM OR OFF
ATTACK BUTTON
IN MANUAL MODE
TIME
TRAPEZOID
SIGNAL
DECAY
TRAPEZOID
ON ATTACK
OFF
MANUAL
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