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40 | NORD STAGE 3 USER MANUAL OS V2.5X
THE ENVELOPES
The envelopes are used to “shape the sound” over time, from when you
first play a key, to after it has been released. The diagram below illus-
trates the role of each parameter - attack, decay and release - through-
out the course of the total envelope time, for both the Modulation and
Amplifier envelopes.
MOD ENVELOPE
The Modulation Envelope (MOD ENV) is a three-stage
envelope which can be applied to the Osc Ctrl param-
eter and/or to the Filter cut-off frequency.
Used for modulating Osc Ctrl, it can perform a wide
variety of time-based alterations, depending on which
oscillator configuration is used.
With the filter it is used to modulate the tone color
over the duration of a note, for instance creating a
bright attack by modulating the filter at the start of the
note.
ATTACK
Attack sets the time it should take for the envelope to reach maximum
level after you have pressed a key. Turn the ATTACK knob clockwise to
increase Attack time.
DECAY
When the attack phase is over, and the key is still held down, the enve-
lope amount begins dropping down to zero again. Use the DECAY knob
to set the time this should take. If the Decay time is set to maximum, the
envelope will be in Sustain mode, meaning that it stays on a constant
value, until the key is released.
RELEASE
When the key is released, the envelope enters the release stage. The
release time is set with the RELEASE knob.
VELOCITY
When the Mod Env VELOCITY LED is lit, the amplitude of the Modulation
Envelope is controlled by the velocity with which the keys are played.
Play harder and the envelope will modulate the parameter(s) more.
AMP ENVELOPE
The final stage of any synth signal chain normally
consists of an amplifier to control the volume. By
modulating the amplifier with an envelope, the sound
is given its basic “shape” over time. In fact, the
“volume shape” is one of the most important factors
to how we identify the sound. By setting up a proper
volume envelope you can make a sound “soft”,
“hard”, “plucked” “static” etc.
ATTACK
The ATTACK knob is used to adjust how long it takes
for the sound to go from zero to full amplitude after a
key has been pressed. With long Attack settings the
sound will gradually “fade in”.
DECAY
When the attack phase is over, the envelope drops back to zero level.
Use the DECAY knob to set the time this should take. If the Decay time
is set to full, the envelope will stay in its maximum level until the key is
released.
RELEASE
When the key is released, the envelope enters the release stage. The
release time is set with the RELEASE knob.
VELOCITY
With Amp Env VELOCITY active, the output level of the Synth will be
controlled by the velocity with which the keyboard is played. There are
four settings (including Velocity off - no LEDs being lit) giving an increas-
ing amount of Velocity sensitivity.
LFO
The LFO or Low Frequency Oscillator produces
cyclic waveforms, and can do so at very low
frequencies. An LFO is generally not used for
generating audible frequencies. Instead the
output from the LFO is used for modulating
other functions, such as the Osc Ctrl parameter
of the Nord Stage 3 oscillator or the filter frequency. The rate of the LFO
is set with the morphable RATE knob.
To modulate Osc Ctrl, for instance in order to produce a vibrato effect
using the Pitch or Detune oscillator configurations, use the two-way LFO
/ MOD ENV knob in the Oscillator section turned to a setting before 12
o’clock.To modulate the filter frequency, simply turn the LFO AMT knob.
MST CLK
Press Shift and turn the RATE dial to sync the rate of the LFO to the
Nord Stage 3 master clock.
When the LFO is synchronized to the Master Clock, the Rate knob will
be used to set the arpeggio’s subdivison of the tempo of the Master
Clock. The Subdivisions are described in meter: ½ equals half notes at
the clock tempo, ¼ equals quarter notes, 1/8 are eight notes etc. Read
more about this feature on page 26.
decay (time) release (time)
key down
key up
attack (time)
time
amount
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