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17. Envelope Generator

 

The envelope generator section is a four stage (attack, decay, sustain, release) envelope generator that smooths 
the shape of the incoming gates and triggers to produce a more expressive instrument. The envelope generator 
output can be used to control the amplitude of an oscillator, the cutoff frequency of a filter or any other function 
that accepts control voltages.

 

The incoming gate or trigger signal passes through each of the four stages to output an envelope. When the 
envelope generator module receives a gate or trigger signal, the attack slider(41) determines the amount of time 
needed for the envelope generator to reach the peak output voltage and move on to the decay stage. The decay 
slider(42) sets the amount of time needed to transition to the level set by the sustain slider(43). The sustain level 
is maintained as long as the incoming gate remains on or high. Once the incoming gate goes low or off, the 
release slider(44) sets the time needed to close the envelope and return the envelope generator output to 0 volts. 

 

 

Envelope Generator Patching Note

 

• 

A classic monosynth sound can be achieved by patching the output jack(119) of the envelope generator into 
the binary filter frequency modulation input jack (120). This syncs the filter and VCA modulation. Adjust the 
binary filter frequency modulation trimmer(17) until the shape of the envelope can be heard in the filter 
sweep.

 

Содержание Microvolt 3900

Страница 1: ...pittsburgh modular synthesizers microvolt 3900 manual...

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Страница 3: ...uid design to create an instrument that does not need to fit the modern monosynth mold instead it allows us to experiment with new analog circuit designs and synthesis ideas The Microvolt 3900 is the...

Страница 4: ...l cause the Microvolt 3900 circuitry to short circuit and may cause permanent damage Do not attempt to modify the Microvolt 3900 Tampering with the circuitry may cause permanent damage Do not place he...

Страница 5: ...Synthesis Sections 18 8 Voltage Controlled Oscillator Waveform Generator 21 9 Waveform Mixer 22 10 Binary Filter 25 11 Dynamic VCA 26 12 Output 29 13 Midi Arpeggiator 30 14 Modulation Sources 42 16 F...

Страница 6: ...ut Balance Trimmer Dynamic VCA inputs balance control 24 Dynamics Modulation Trimmer Set the dynamics CV input amount Output 25 Output Drive Trimmer Set the output drive gain 26 Output Slider Adjust t...

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Страница 9: ...el slider fold wave output Envelope 118 Input Jack Gate input used to trigger the envelope 119 Output Jack 0 5v shaped CV signal Filter 120 Frequency Input Jack Frequency modulation CV input 121 Input...

Страница 10: ...on on each section can be found later in the manual Control voltages CV is a static or variable DC or AC voltage used to indirectly manipulate the audio signal by controlling the circuitry that proces...

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Страница 13: ...f CV trimmers An attenuator trimmer starts at zero signal when turned full left and at full right it is outputting the full signal level The zero point for an attenuverter trimmer is at 12 o clock Tur...

Страница 14: ...to be cut when a patch cable is inserted A simple example would be the pitch input of the voltage controlled oscillator Internally the pitch output of the midi section is wired to the switched jack in...

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Страница 17: ...d Waveform Mixer Output Output of the Waveform Mixer sent to the input of the Binary Filter 121 e Function Generator Output Output of the Function Generator 134 sent to the Frequency Modulation Trimme...

Страница 18: ...Synthesis Sections The Microvolt 3900 is comprised of 10 individual synthesis sections Each section has a corresponding set of jacks in the patch bay The following pages will explain the features of...

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Страница 21: ...itch input uses the 1 volt per octave standard for stable pitch tracking The pitch input is internally patched to the midi pitch output This allows the octave up 31 and octave down 32 buttons to be us...

Страница 22: ...waveform level siders set the output level of the oscillator waveforms The output of each waveform level slider is patched internally to the input of the binary filter using switched jacks Patching i...

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Страница 25: ...e The frequency slider 15 sets the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter The resonance slider 16 adjusts the filter Q factor Patching into the filter frequency input 120 will break the connection wi...

Страница 26: ...ard VCA The original lowpass gate was limited to a static response time that varied from unit to unit This made each lowpass gate a little different The dynamic VCA in the Microvolt 3900 adds a unique...

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Страница 29: ...verdrive circuit The output fader controls the level for both the line output 108 and headphone output 109 jacks The output of the dynamic vca is internally wired to the output section This can not be...

Страница 30: ...nnel of the Microvolt 3900 is set to omni allowing the synthesizer to respond to all midi channels The midi input jack 105 uses the supplied stereo 1 8 to 5 pin din connector to connect to a tradition...

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Страница 33: ...urorack standard 1 volt per octave scaled CV is output from the pitch jack 104 The gate output jack 106 outputs a high signal 5v when a key is pressed The gate output jack outputs a low signal 0v when...

Страница 34: ...hold keys on a midi keyboard The arpeggiator will cycle through the depressed keys in the order they were pressed sometimes called as played To stop the arpeggiated sequence release one or all of the...

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Страница 37: ...ing and holding the edit button 30 then pressing the arpeggiator button 27 The random function will random jump between the notes of the arpeggiated sequence Disable random by pressing and holding the...

Страница 38: ...is saved in memory and recalled when the Microvolt 3900 is powered on External Midi Clock The external midi clock responds to midi start stop messages and midi tempo from an external midi clock source...

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Страница 41: ...the Microvolt 3900 is powered on Midi Channel The Microvolt 3900 can be assigned to midi channel 1 16 or omni To set the midi channel press and hold the edit button 30 The midi can only be changed wh...

Страница 42: ...ps to the next step there is a chance the value stored in that step will be replaced with a new value The result is a random source that feels both random and evolutionary with an ever evolving 6 step...

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Страница 45: ...er offset section to the input of the function generator 133 and the second output jack 138 into the input of the envelope generator 118 Use the Random CV output jack as a modulation source for the fu...

Страница 46: ...midi gate jack 106 If you do not want the midi gate to trigger the function generator plug a patch cable in the input jack 133 of the function generator to break the internal connection to the midi ga...

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Страница 49: ...ime needed for the envelope generator to reach the peak output voltage and move on to the decay stage The decay slider 42 sets the amount of time needed to transition to the level set by the sustain s...

Страница 50: ...f an inverted version of the signal up to the level of the incoming signal or unity gain Signal Splitter Patch a signal into input a the turn the input a level trimmer 45 full right A copy of the inpu...

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Страница 52: ...amples that showcase the wide range of functionality and sounds available using only the Microvolt 3900 and a midi keyboard The patches are designed to familiarize musicians with the layout synthesis...

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Страница 55: ...the first step toward getting the most out of the Microvolt 3900 The important user interface controls are highlighted in blue but all of the controls of the Microvolt 3900 can impact the sound and f...

Страница 56: ...lable in the patch bay The important user interface controls are highlighted in blue but all of the controls of the Microvolt 3900 can impact the sound and functionality of the patch Once the initial...

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Страница 59: ...e fold wave 117 into the input of the dynamic VCA 124 bypassing the filter and allowing the fold timbre slider 3 full control over the harmonic content of the fold wave The input balance trimmer knob...

Страница 60: ...fect on the signal path In this example the ramp output of the LFO is patched into input a 135 of the mixer This allows the level of the LFO to be adjusted using the input a atteunverter 45 The output...

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Страница 63: ...nerator as a modulation source The important user interface controls are highlighted in blue but all of the controls of the Microvolt 3900 can impact the sound and functionality of the patch Once the...

Страница 64: ...ty 33 The output of the function generator 134 is manually patched into the clock input 100 See the midi arpeggiator section of the manual to learn how to set the clock source to external gate In the...

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Страница 66: ...et returns all of the stored settings to the default setting Hold down edit first then hold down octave and octave for 5 seconds The arpeggiator button hold button clock button octave button and octav...

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Страница 68: ...68 21 Service and Other Information Please contact us for service or other information related to the Microvolt 3900 or any other Pittsburgh Modular product www pittsburghmodular com contact...

Страница 69: ...900 has been damaged by accident mishandled altered improperly serviced or repaired by the customer where such treatment has affected its performance or reliability This includes but is not limited to...

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