Alesis Fusion Tutorial

ALESIS FUSION ANALOG SYNTHESIS TUTORIAL
Envelope generators
Also known as envelope shapers or (on Moog synths) contour generators, the purpose of the
envelope generator is to generate a programmable control shape every time a trigger is
received:
ENVELOPE
GENERATOR
Trigger input
TIME
Note-on Note-off
Typically, the trigger comes from the keyboard so every time you press a key, the envelope is
triggered. Almost without exception, an envelope generator is connected to the final amplifier
to ‘shape’ the sound’s overall amplitude but another envelope generator will almost always be
connected to the filter to ‘shape’ tonal variation. Let’s just remind ourselves of the basic synth
layout again:
Controllers Page 24

Alesis Fusion Specifications

General

Type	Workstation
Polyphony	64 voices
Synthesis Types	Sample Playback, Virtual Analog, FM, Physical Modeling
Display	240 x 128 pixel LCD
MIDI	In, Out, Thru
RAM	64MB (expandable to 192MB)
Weight (61-key)	28 lbs
Keyboard	61 or 88 keys
Keyboard Type	Semi-weighted (61-key), Hammer action (88-key)
Effects	Reverb, Chorus, Delay, Flanger, Phaser, Distortion, EQ
Storage	40GB internal hard drive
Sampling	Yes
Inputs	2 x 1/4" inputs, 1 x XLR
Outputs	4 x 1/4" outputs, 1 x Headphone