Novation KS4 User Manual

Contents

Envelopes SectionAMP and MOD EnvelopesThe Envelopes are used to shape a sound throughout its duration. TheAMP Envelope determines the volume of the sound with respect to itsduration.The MOD Envelope may be used to control other sound elements of thesynthesizer throughout the duration of the sound. It can control OscillatorPulse Width, Filter frequency and Oscillator Pitch.ATTACK Knob / SliderSets how quickly the envelope rises to its maximum level when a note isstruck. Fully anticlockwise and this rise time or slope is very fast, lessthan half a thousandth of a second (instantaneous to the ear) increasingexponentially to twenty seconds when fully clockwise. To shorten attacktimes, turn this control towards zero and to lengthen attack times, turn thiscontrol towards maximum.Note : When the attack time is set to Zero, the instantaneous rise time ofthe Envelope may produce audible ‘clicks’. This is not a faulty conditionand may be useful for the creation of certain sounds (for example, ‘keyclicks’ on organ simulations). If this is undesirable, increase the Attacktime until the clicks are inaudible.DECAY Knob / SliderSets how quickly the envelope falls to a sustain level after the maximumlevel has been reached. Set to zero, this time is about one thousandth ofa second (still instantaneous to the ear ) increasing exponentially to twen-ty seconds when set to maximum. To shorten decay times, move this con-trol towards zero and to lengthen decay times move this control towardsmaximum.SUSTAIN Knob / SliderSets the level at which the envelope remains following the Decay phase,only while a key is being held on a controller keyboard (or there is a MIDINote On command present). When set to zero, the envelope will decay tozero without being interrupted. As the control is moved towards maximum,the sustain level increases until, when at maximum, the sustain level is atits maximum level.RELEASE Knob / SliderSets how quickly the envelope falls from the sustain level to zero once thenote has been released. When set to zero, this time is about one thou-sandth of a second (instantaneous to the ear) increasing exponentially totwenty seconds when set to maximum. To shorten release times, movethis control towards zero and to lengthen release times, move this controltowards maximum.Additional settings associated with the Envelopes can be found within theEnvelopes Menu. See Page 39.Volume and Keyboard Octave controlsVOLUME KnobThis control adjusts the overall output volume on both the Left and Rightmaster audio outputs found on the rear panel. It also controls theHeadphone output, also on the rear panel. Using a mixing desk as a com-parison, this control can be thought of as the channel volume fader.Keyboard OCTAVE ButtonsThese buttons allow the keyboard to be shifted up or down by a wholeoctave. The entire MIDI note range of C-2 to G8 can be accessed.To return to a mid position where the A above middle C on the keyboardis 440Hz. Press both the Up and Down OCTAVE buttons simultaneously.Note : When set to the highest octave setting, the top notes on the key-board beyond G8 will not trigger or transmit MIDI Note messagesbecause they will be outside of the note range defined by the MIDI specifi-cation.The Keyboard octave setting is memorized along with all of the othersound information when a Program or Performance is written to memory.MAIN FEATURES AND OPERATIONEnvelopes Section - Volume and Keyboard Octave controls• 26 •