Oberheim Matrix-12 - How Volume and Velocity Work; Brightness Modulation by Velocity

Option #2
A second alternative which may work just as well - and remember, you're still
experimenting - is to apply VEL to the AMP of ENV 2 (which is controlling
VCA 2) instead of VCA1.
Select ENV 2 and set its AMP amount to about 25. VCA 2 is the last circuit in
the Patch before the sound is fed to the synthesizer's AUDIO OUTPUTS. Its
normal setting is 0 because it is almost always modulated by ENV 2 -a
common Source for providing loudness articulation. VEL may be applied to
the AMP of ENV 2 but be careful. Interference from other Sources, such as
Volume Pedal control by PEDAL 1, may make Velocity ineffective.
How "Volume" and "Velocity" Work
Velocity and the VCA parameters work hand-in-hand and, depending on their
initial settings and the routings of other modulations in the Patch. If the Value of
VCA 1 is set to 63, Velocity will seem to have little or no effect if you give it a
positive Value. This is because at a Value of 63, VCA1 is set as loud as it will go
and Velocity cannot make it any louder. Also, if VCA1 is given low Values, positive
Velocity settings will require very hard playing all the time or some notes will seem
to "drop out11 and not be heard. You should plan to spend some time
experimenting to find the right combination of values to suit your particular need.
Velocity performance also relies on the amount values you give it for "Scale" and
-Sensitivity" (see MASTER PAGE MISC. VELOCITY SCALE and
SENSITIVITY). Using extremes in the available Values may yield unusable
results. For example, setting VCA 1 to 0 and +63 for VELOCITY in the
Modulation Page will be almost useless if the Sensitivity is set to maximum. The
resulting dynamic range may be too wide to be of any real use.
Brightness Modulation by VELOCITY
Velocity is also commonly used to increase the "brightness" of the Patch. It is a
common occurance with acoustic instruments that harder playing not only
produces more volume but a brighter sound as well. This is accomplished in
synthesizers like the MATRIX-12 by applying Velocity to the VCF FREQ
parameter:
Option #1
1. Select the VCF/VCA Sub-Page and set FREQ to a VALUE X between 30
and 60. When adding Velocity to an existing Patch, reduce its initial
FREQ amount by approximately 1/3 to 1/2, for best results.
2. Press the button beneath FREQ in the display. Apply VEL as a
Modulation Source. VEL will appear in the display next to ENV 1. Set the
VALUE X amount of VEL to +63 as a starting point.
This particular example shows how Velocity can modulate the VCF Frequency
independent of ENV 1. As mentioned in the Ground Rules, VEL and
ENV 1 are summed together in this case. Another approach would be to
scale ENV 1 AMPby Velocity as we did previously in creating volume
dynamics with Velocity:
Matrix-12 Owner's Manual 147