An envelope in a synthesizer is a control signal that modifies a sound’s amplitude and other properties over time. Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release are its four main parameters (often abbreviated as ADSR).
- Attack: controls the time it takes for the sound to reach its maximum amplitude after a note is played.
- Decay: controls the time it takes for the sound to decrease from its maximum amplitude to the sustain level.
- Sustain: controls the level of the sound while the note is held.
- Release: controls the time it takes for the sound to decrease from the sustain level to silence after the note is released.
Subtractive synthesis relies heavily on envelopes, frequently used in sample-based, FM, and physical modeling synthesis techniques.
An envelope in a synthesizer is a control signal that gradually alters a sound’s amplitude and other properties. Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release are its four primary parameters. By shaping the amplitude and other parameters like the filter cutoff frequency, pitch, and others, these parameters can control how the sound changes over time. To produce dynamic and expressive sounds, they can also be modulated by other synthesizer elements, such as LFOs and velocity. They are an essential component of subtractive synthesis and are frequently applied to other synthesis techniques.
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