Novation Nova Owner's Manual

Contents

Novation Nova Owner's Manual Manual pdf 16 page image

ABOUT ANALOGUE SYNTHESISAn Analogue Synthesiser can be broken down into three main elements.1 - The Oscillator is the part of a synthesiser that generates “Waveforms” at a certain “Pitch”.2 - The type of “Waveform” selected in the Oscillator & the settings of the “Filter” determine the “Tone” of the sound.3 - The sound is then passed through an “Amplifier” which is controlled by an “Envelope Generator”. These alter the “Volume” of asound over time.All of these three main elements can be controlled by various methods for example:The “Pitch” of a note can be played on a keyboard or a synthesiser & additionally it can be manipulated in real time using the“Pitch Bend Wheel” to create “Slides” & “Bends” in pitch. LFOs ( Low Frequency Oscillators ) can be used to “Wobble” the pitch ofa note at a specific rate creating a “Vibrato” effect. An Envelope Generator can also be used to “Slide” the pitch automatically.The Filter can be manipulated by LFOs to vary the “Tone” of a sound at a specific rate creating a “Wah Wah” type of effect. AnEnvelope Generator can also be used on the Filter so that the “Tone” of a sound changes over time. A feature called “KeyboardTracking” can also be used on the Filter so that the “Tone” of a sound changes depending on the note being played.The Amplifier can be manipulated by Envelope Generators so that changes in the “Volume” of a sound over time can make thesound short & percussive, or more like a piano or even like an organ. Additionally the “Velocity” at which you hit the keys can alsobe used to manipulate volume making a sound more “expressive”.The elements that manipulate these three main synthesis elements are called “Modulation Sources”.The Nova features 3 Envelope generators & 2 LFOs ( Low Frequency Oscillators ) as Modulation “Sources”. In addition to thisVelocity ( The dynamics of your keyboard playing. i.e. ppp to fff ), Aftertouch ( Pressure on the keyboard while note(s) are held ) &the Modulation Wheel are included in a as additional “Sources” of modulation signals in a “Modulation Matrix”. This allows almostany “Source” to modulate a given parameter. It is even possible to have combinations of different “Sources” modulating one param-eter. In the Nova this has been neatly arranged on the front panel so that accessing all the possible combinations of modulation isquick & easy. Below is the Modulation Matrix for the Oscillator section.14