Fundamentals of Synthesizer Programming Ch. 4 - Controllers

Question 1

The _____ _____ is used to produce envelopes as control signals on a synthesizer.

Answer 1

envelope generator

Question 2

Which part of the synthesis model does an EG send a control signal to to shape loudness?

Answer 2

amplifier

Question 3

Which stage in an envelope determines the amount of time it takes for loudness to go from silence to maximum level?

Answer 3

attack

Question 4

What does decay determine?

Answer 4

how quickly the sound begins to die away after the attack stage is completed

Question 5

The _____ stage sets the level held from the end of the decay stage to key off.

Answer 5

sustain

Question 6

If sustain is set to 100%, the setting for the _____ stage is irrelevant.

Answer 6

decay

Question 7

Which stage in an envelope determines the amount of time it takes for the sound to die away after a key is released?

Answer 7

release

Question 8

Which stage is a level setting?

Answer 8

sustain

Question 9

The filter EG does not affect loudness, but instead controls the filter’s _____ _____.

Answer 9

cutoff frequencies

Question 10

What can the amount control on the filter EG be thought of as?

Answer 10

“range” control for filter EG, which adjusts how much effect the envelope has on the cutoff frequency

Question 11

When using a filter EG, you typically want to set the cutoff frequency to a _____ frequency so you can hear it sweep the audio spectrum as it follows the envelope.

Answer 11

lower

Question 12

True or False? Changes to your filter EG may have no effect if the amplifier EG is not set to complementary values.

Answer 12

true

Question 13

Route an EG to a(n) _____ in order for pitch to follow an envelope as you hold a key.

Answer 13

oscillator

Question 14

In which mode will the envelope generators be triggered when a key is pressed, but will not be retriggered when other keys are pressed until the first key is released?

Answer 14

single-trigger

Question 15

In which mode will the envelope generators retrigger an attack stage with every keystroke, whether previous keys have been released or not?

Answer 15

multi-trigger

Question 16

When a(n) _____ is used as a controller, pitch, timbre, or loudness will change in a cyclical, repetitive manner and follow the shape of a waveform.

Answer 16

LFO

Question 17

An LFO routed to a(n) _____ will result in a change in timbre.

Answer 17

filter

Question 18

What is the frequency range of an LFO?

Answer 18

less than 1Hz to 20Hz

Question 19

Which LFO control determines the amount of change (high and low) to the destination?

Answer 19

amount/depth

Question 20

What can be used to achieve more subtle control of LFO depth over time?

Answer 20

physical performance controllers such as modulation wheels

Question 21

What inputs and outputs do analog S/H modules have?

Answer 21

• input for sampling (measuring) incoming voltage signal

- output for sending control signal derived from sampled input

Question 22

What kinds of modules can send signals to the input of an S/H module?

Answer 22

source or controller

Question 23

With an analog synth, the keyboard sends a _____ signal to an EG in order to initiate its attack and release stages.

Answer 23

gate

Question 24

In order to control pitch, the keyboard sends a control voltage signal to the _____ measured at 1 volt per octave.

Answer 24

oscillator

Question 25

In order to control the timbre, the keyboard sends a control voltage signal to the _____.

Answer 25

filter

Question 26

_____ smooths the transition from one note to another as you play, causing the pitches to glide up and down rather than moving in discrete steps.

Answer 26

portamento/glide

Question 27

A _____ _____ keyboard measures the speed at which you strike the keys and translates this measurement into “soft” or “loud.”

Answer 27

velocity sensitive

Question 28

A keyboard with _____ measures the pressure exerted at the bottom of the key travel and translates this measurement into a control signal.

Answer 28

aftertouch