Korg NAUTILUS Series

PROGRAM > OSC/Pitch 2–9: Pitch EG
59
2–9b: Envelope
Pitch EG
An envelope creates a modulation signal by moving from
one level to another over a specified time, and then moving
to another level over another period of time, and so on.
The parameters below let you set four levels, the amount of
time it takes to go from each of the levels to the next, and the
shape (from linear to curved) of each transition.
Level
Each of the four levels can be either positive or negative.
Positive levels will make the pitch (or other AMS
destination) go up from its programmed value; negative
levels will make it go down.
Note that, unlike the Filter and Amp EGs, the Pitch EG’s
Sustain Level is always 0.
Start [–99…+99]
This sets the initial EG level, at note-on.
Attack [–99…+99]
This sets the level at the end of the Attack time.
Break [99…+99]
Break, short for Break Point, sets the level at the end of the
Decay time.
Release [–99…+99]
This sets the level at the end of the Release time.
Time
Higher values mean longer times, as shown below:
Attack [00…99]
This sets how long the EG takes to move from the Start level
to the Attack level.
The minimum attack time is 2/3 of a millisecond–as fast as
the most punchy of classic analog synths.
For the fastest possible attack time, you can set the Start
level to +99; in this case, the EG will start instantaneously at
its maximum value.
Decay [00…99]
This sets the time it takes to move from the Attack level to
the Break level.
Slope [00…99]
This sets how long the EG takes to move from the Break
level to the Sustain level (which for the Pitch EG is always
0). Once it reaches the Sustain, the EG will stay there until
note-off, unless it is reset via AMS.
Release [00…99]
This sets how long it takes the EG to move from the Sustain
level to the Release level.
Curve
For the sake of simplicity, most of the diagrams in this
manual show envelopes as being made out of straight lines.
In actuality, though, envelopes are more likely to be made
out of curves.
In other words, each segment’s level will change quickly at
first, and then slow down as it approaches the next point.
This tends to sound better than straight, linear segments.
Classic analog synth envelopes made these curved shapes
naturally. The NAUTILUS goes a step further than vintage
synths, however, and lets you control the amount of
curvature separately for each of the four envelope segments.
When you change the curvature, the EG times remain the
same. However, greater curvature will tend to sound faster,
because the value changes more quickly at the beginning.
Pitch EG Curve
Different curve settings for up and down
You may find that different amounts of curvature are suitable
for segments which go up and segments which go down.
For instance, a curve of 3 is a good default setting for
upward segments, such as Attack. On the other hand, a curve
of 6 or more is good for downward segments, such as Decay
and Release.
EG Value Actual Time
00 0.667 ms
10 10 ms
20 44 ms
30 104 ms
40 224 ms
50 464 ms
60 944 ms
70 1.8 seconds
80 3.8 seconds
90 10.9 seconds
99 87.3 seconds
Note-on or reset Note-off
Attack
Time
Start
Level
Decay
Time
Release
Time
Release
Level
Attack
Level
Change to
Pitch
Sustain Level
(Always 0)
Time
Break
Level
Slope
Time
Curve = 0 (Linear)
Curve = 0 (Linear)
Curve = 10 (Exp/Lo
g)
Curve = 10 (Exp/Log)