Instruction Manual

16Studio Electronics Boomstar Quick Start Manual Panels
initialriseandfalloftheattackanddecaytimestothesustainlevel,thereleasetimetakeseectafterthesustain
level segment, when the played key or note is lifted. The frequency at which the sustain level is set, falls to the initial
ltercutofrequencylevelattheratesetbythereleasetime.
5.2.8 ENV 2 - Envelope 2
A word about the Amplier Envelope:
The volume of the audio signal, which passes through the VCA envelope, is contoured by the ENV 2 controls. Each
timeakeyispressed,theenvelopeorcontourgeneratorattachedtotheamplierisactuated,andsendsacontrol
signaltotheamplier.Likethelterenvelopecontrolsignal,theVCAenvelopecontrolsignaliscomposedofthe
same four segments: initial rise, decay, sustain level, and release time. The volume of the note is shaped according
to the settings of the envelope controls. These four parameters are shown below.
The ATTACK knob sets the attack time. The attack time determines the duration of the initial rise in volume to a peak.
Noticethesoundtakeondierentqualitiesasyouincreasefromashortsharpattacktoalongslowcrescendo.
Switching INVERT onreversesthebehaviourofthenormalADSRenvelope...Waitthissoundfamiliar:ENV2’sinvert
functionsisanexactclone(whatusedtobecalledacarboncopy)ofENV1’s.The LFO TRIG (LowFrequencyOscillator
Trigger)switchselection,triggersthe“gate”ofENV2:theamplierenvelope.
The DECAY knob sets the decay time. The decay time determines the duration of the drop in volume from the initial
peak to the sustain level. Shorter decay times will produce more percussive/snappy sounds, longer times open up
and stretch out the sound. Switching SINGLE TRIG (singletrigger)onallowsforthecontinuationofthedecaycycle
through a legato, or multi-note phrase. Switching MULTI TRIG (multipletrigger)onforcestheattackanddecaycycleof
both ENV 1 and ENV 2 to restart with every key press, or note on command.
The SUSTAIN knob sets the sustain level. The sustain level determines the volume level at which the envelope contour
levelsoaftertheattackanddecay.Setat“0,”nosustainlevelisheard.Setat“5,”thecontourdiminishestoalow
volume.Setat“10,”nodropinvolumeisheardaftertheinitialpeakisreached.With DRONE on, the last note received
bytheBoomstar—MIDIorCV—isindenitelysustained.The MASTER switch setting makes ENV 2 modulate both the
lterandtheamplier. ENV 1 ’s controls are still active in that they can still modulate the frequency of Oscillator 2
and the pulse width of Oscillator 1. To restate for clarity’s sake: ENV 2 ’s knobs assume the Boomstar’s Attack, Decay,
Sustain,andReleasevaluesforbothlterandamplier:atidyandretrosoundstylingthatbringstomindcertain
beloved analog keyboards from the ‘80s.
The RELEASE knob sets the release time. The release allows the sound to fade out at the time set, rather than
immediatelyuponreleaseofanoteorkey.This“naldecay”takeseectafterthesustainlevelsegmentofthe
envelope and “does work” after the playing, triggering, or sequencing is done.