Zebra envelope behaviour in legato mode

[Synthbuilder]

Is it possible to stop the envelopes from starting from zero every time a new note is pressed in legato mode? On most analogue synths (and DIVA) any new note simply retirggers the same envelope and it rises from the level the last note left it at. In Zebra it seems to always start from zero, cutting the last note off completely, unless you play in legato fashion.

Tony

[3ee]

Every env in Zebra has this 1st knob that can be either nothing, delay or 'int' ... You're after 'int' which sets the value for envelope start

[Synthbuilder]

Every env in Zebra has this 1st knob that can be either nothing, delay or 'int' ... You're after 'int' which sets the value for envelope start

Thanks for that. Unfortunately this doesn't do what I'm after. The init knob seems to just set a constant which is the starting value of the envelope. What I'm after is to allow the envelope to re-trigger with the same value the last note left it at just before the new note is pressed. Essentially making the init value a new value each time and one that is determined by the state of the envelope when the new note is struck.

Currently what we have in Zebra, and many other digital synths, is an envelope that always starts from scratch each time a new note is pressed. This causes the last note to be truncated before the new note rises from the init value (normally 0). This is normally called 'return (or reset) to zero' - RTZ. It is not normally the preferred option when playing in mono or legato mode.

I've not noticed it before since I tend to use Zebra polyphonically but it is fairly obvious if one uses long attacks and long release times and plays in legato (mono) mode.

Tony

[Howard]

Hey Tony
Unlike Diva and ACE (optional), Zebra2 doesn't do what we call "singing envelopes", sorry - it's RTZ only.
(BTW see complaints about Korg Minilogue envelopes being RTZ unless you switch portamento on).

[3ee]

not wise enough atm to figure it out but had a play in the mod matrix and there are some interesting results to alter the envelope behavior.

so, select "init" for the desired envelope and set value to 0
pick an empty mod matrix slot, select the init for the desired envelope and modulate it with the envelope itself with a positive value = to what you have for the sustain value?

now the int knob should be more dynamic, riding along with the envelope.

I can tell you that it won't work as you wish but at least is another step into the right direction?

[Synthbuilder]

Unlike Diva and ACE (optional), Zebra2 doesn't do what we call "singing envelopes", sorry - it's RTZ only. (BTW see complaints about Korg Minilogue envelopes being RTZ unless you switch portamento on).

Thanks Howard. I guessed as much. I was hoping there was a clever workaround but in this case, put it down as a sneaky request to add it to a future version.

As for the Minilogue, switching the portamento does indeed switch off RTZ but only when you play legato. Unfortunately, it still returns to zero when playing with gaps between notes. I haven't got one yet but it seems that in Mono mode it still plays all four voices in round robin fashion but only one at a time. Very odd.

Tony

[Synthbuilder]

so, select "init" for the desired envelope and set value to 0
pick an empty mod matrix slot, select the init for the desired envelope and modulate it with the envelope itself with a positive value = to what you have for the sustain value?

now the int knob should be more dynamic, riding along with the envelope.

I tried to do something like this after your first post. There's probably some way of doing it but I too haven't figured it out yet. What we need to get is a level signal from the EG itself of some other signal that is being modulated by it. I'll need to play a bit more with this.

Tony

[Howard]

As for the Minilogue, switching the portamento does indeed switch off RTZ but only when you play legato.

Thanks, good to know - Paul Nagle suspected as much. NOT a dealbreaker!

[Synthbuilder]

NOT a dealbreaker!

It is for me especially when linked to the obvious thumping on fast attack and release times when the cut-off frequency is low. It makes me think (I could be wrong of course) that the VCA is DC coupled from the VCF which itself has poor CV rejection. Part of me wants to go and buy one and see what's happening inside.

Anyway, back to the topic on hand. I tried to play with the init feature of the EGs in Zebra. In the matrix if the source is set from ENV1 and sent to INIT of ENV1 it sort of behaves as an analogue non-RTZ EG should do. I say 'sort of' because it doesn't work all the time and the results can be unpredictable. Sometimes it appears to work perfectly and the attack starts where the release tail left off. But at other times the attack phase will start at some aribitary point. It's like the ENV1 output is not being sampled at exactly the point of re-triggering. I guess asking the software to sample its own output and reacting to it is pushing it a little too far.

Tony

[Howard]

IIRC modulating envelope 'Init' is a hit-and-miss affair, has to do with what gets calculated first. Nevertheless an interesting experiment!