Kurzweil PC3, Musician'S Manual

Page: 98 / 308

6-42
Program Mode
The Amplitude Envelope (AMPENV) Page
Because the PC3’s ROM samples are stored in a compressed format, applying an altered
amplitude envelope can change more than just the amplitude of your sound, since it also
changes the rate at which the samples are decompressed for playback. When the samples are
made to play back with altered envelopes, the timbres can evolve in new and interesting ways.
The AMPENV page’s top line gives you the usual location reminder, points out the currently
selected layer, and tells you the relative scale of the envelope’s graphic view. The envelope
graphic shrinks in scale as the segment times get longer. This auto-zoom feature maximizes the
available display space. Try lengthening one of the segment times. The envelope graphic will
stretch to fill the display from left to right. When it fills the display, it will shrink to half its size,
and the top line will indicate that the scale has changed (from [1/1] to [1/2], for example).
Each parameter on this page has two values, as listed below. For the envelope segments, the first
(upper) value is the duration of the segment, and the second is the amplitude level at the
completion of the segment. For the Loop parameter, the values define how the envelope loops,
and how many times the loop cycles.
Attack Segment Times
These indicate how long it takes for the current layer’s amplitude to reach its final level from its
starting level.
Attack Segment Levels
These are the final levels that each segment achieves at completion. The levels are expressed as
percentages of the maximum possible amplitude for the current layer. Attack segment 1 always
starts at zero amplitude, and moves to its assigned level in the time specified by its time value.
So the default settings of
0 seconds and 100% mean that the first segment of the attack section
moves instantly from zero amplitude to 100% amplitude. Increase the time of Attack segment 1
if you want the sound to ramp up more slowly.
Attack segments 2 and 3 affect the sound only when you set a nonzero value for time. They will
then move to their assigned levels in the time specified. Their starting levels are equal to the
final levels of the preceding segment.
Parameter Group Parameter Range of Values
Attack Segment 1, 2, 3
Time 0 to 60 seconds
Level 0 to 100%
Decay Segment
Time 0 to 60 seconds
Level 0 to 100%
Release Segment 1, 2, 3
Time 0 to 60 seconds
Level
0 to 150% (Release Segment
3 is always set to 0%)
Loop
Type Off, Forward, Bidirectional
# of loops Infinite, 1 to 31 times