Envelope Followers
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 3089 posts since 4 May, 2012
I'd like to get a better idea of people's usage of envelope followers and how important they are in everyone's workflow.
Personally, I probably wouldn't want to mix without them. They are half the fun of mixing, which is why I use them on every mixing project. Envelope followers are also very useful for getting an extra element of life out of guitar amp simulations. They allow for sonic relationships to be created; where sounds react to each other proportionately.
How do you use envelope followers in your work?
If you don't use envelope followers, could you give a reason for this decision.
Thank you for your time.
Personally, I probably wouldn't want to mix without them. They are half the fun of mixing, which is why I use them on every mixing project. Envelope followers are also very useful for getting an extra element of life out of guitar amp simulations. They allow for sonic relationships to be created; where sounds react to each other proportionately.
How do you use envelope followers in your work?
If you don't use envelope followers, could you give a reason for this decision.
Thank you for your time.
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- KVRAF
- 7873 posts since 24 May, 2002 from Tutukaka, New Zealand
Voted rarely. Although rarely really does mean once in a very blue moon. I just don't see the need for them. If a drum doesn't have a decent transient, then I probably need to pick a better sample that hasn't already been destroyed. If a synth doesn't sound snappy enough, then I need to use a different synth with a faster envelope (one of the real benefits of some analogue synths IMO). And for any other type of synthesised sound, there are envelopes galore already inside the synth. Basically, if I need to snap up my transients, it's most likely because I've already killed them with too much compression etc. So I should dial back on the compression instead of adding another processing layer. Not saying envelope followers don't have uses, but basic mixing can usually sort out what they do. And personally, I'd rather spend time on the mix and its elements than complicating things further with an env follower.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 3089 posts since 4 May, 2012
That's interesting. So you mostly view envelope followers as a transient shaping tool, rather than a source of parameter modulation.kritikon wrote:Voted rarely. Although rarely really does mean once in a very blue moon. I just don't see the need for them. If a drum doesn't have a decent transient, then I probably need to pick a better sample that hasn't already been destroyed. If a synth doesn't sound snappy enough, then I need to use a different synth with a faster envelope (one of the real benefits of some analogue synths IMO). And for any other type of synthesised sound, there are envelopes galore already inside the synth. Basically, if I need to snap up my transients, it's most likely because I've already killed them with too much compression etc. So I should dial back on the compression instead of adding another processing layer. Not saying envelope followers don't have uses, but basic mixing can usually sort out what they do. And personally, I'd rather spend time on the mix and its elements than complicating things further with an env follower.
Indeed, for the purposes you have listed, I would probably employ a compressor or tweak the envelope controlling the VCA of the synth I am using.
Thank you for contributing.
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Perimeter Sound Perimeter Sound https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=162713
- KVRAF
- 1744 posts since 11 Oct, 2007
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 3089 posts since 4 May, 2012
Hehe. Though maybe he's more of an envelope facilitator.Perimeter Sound wrote:Sorry, I thought this was a thread about my mailman.
I'm starting to wonder if I should have posted in the DSP section - or maybe people don't think about envelope followers as much as I expected.
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- KVRAF
- 1548 posts since 12 Jan, 2010 from Copenhagen
Envelope Followers are important!
Filterscape by u-he has envelope followers that can be used to modulate the frequence response.
Trash 2 uses envelope followers to form the sound again through modulation of the filters response curve.
I've used Envlope Follwers to control a VCA in Numerology in my homemade wavetable synth. I patched a loop of some modulation waveforms to create my own custome LFO.
I'm sure there are many interesting applications yet to be discoverd with envelope followers.
My first experience with an envelope follower was when using the ensoniq DP4 for it's Wah effect. I suppos envelope followers can be used in getting the talking guitar effect as well.
Yes I love the idea of envelope followers creating modulation values. It makes sense to have modulations follow the level of the incoming signal.
Filterscape by u-he has envelope followers that can be used to modulate the frequence response.
Trash 2 uses envelope followers to form the sound again through modulation of the filters response curve.
I've used Envlope Follwers to control a VCA in Numerology in my homemade wavetable synth. I patched a loop of some modulation waveforms to create my own custome LFO.
I'm sure there are many interesting applications yet to be discoverd with envelope followers.
My first experience with an envelope follower was when using the ensoniq DP4 for it's Wah effect. I suppos envelope followers can be used in getting the talking guitar effect as well.
Yes I love the idea of envelope followers creating modulation values. It makes sense to have modulations follow the level of the incoming signal.
waves break, but somehow it all makes sense.
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- KVRist
- 89 posts since 29 Mar, 2009
Unaspected wrote:I'd like to get a better idea of people's usage of envelope followers and how important they are in everyone's workflow.
Personally, I probably wouldn't want to mix without them. They are half the fun of mixing, which is why I use them on every mixing project. Envelope followers are also very useful for getting an extra element of life out of guitar amp simulations. They allow for sonic relationships to be created; where sounds react to each other proportionately.
How do you use envelope followers in your work?
If you don't use envelope followers, could you give a reason for this decision.
Thank you for your time.
I'm curious to hear how you use them, what tools you use, etc. Thanks!
- KVRian
- 551 posts since 28 Jul, 2011 from USA
FabFilter products have envelope followers including their synth, Twin 2. The only reason I don't use them more is well ... they aren't all that common.
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- KVRist
- 322 posts since 2 Jul, 2012 from Castanet, Aveyron, France
I love using that, but never as a mixing trick, allways as a creative trick, as in having an envelope follower sending info from the snare volume to modulate the pads delay send, or things like that.
To me it should be a part of every DAW, as I use it quite a lot, but actualy is this a comune feature? I use reaper and Usine and both can do it but I allways wondered if it was possible in other DAWs (well of course it is in anything modular, but else?)
Have a good day!
To me it should be a part of every DAW, as I use it quite a lot, but actualy is this a comune feature? I use reaper and Usine and both can do it but I allways wondered if it was possible in other DAWs (well of course it is in anything modular, but else?)
Have a good day!