Rhodes CHROMA - SYNTHESIZER CHANNELS

STRUCTURE
SYNTHESIZER CHANNELS
The synthesi;f.er channds inside the Chroma
h.ne Jo structure that de termines the kinds of sounds
they create. One of the important thin){s in determin-
ing the power of a synthesizer is the degree ta which
the structure Gan be varied. [n othee words, \Vhat can
be patched inta what. The Chroma has better
jHtching capabilities than mast modular systems, and
1['S fully programmable. Aiso important is the degree
uf control avec critical adjustmenrs. ~ot only does
the Chroma have pienty of resolution on ail ies
parameters, the sounds ie creates are perfeetly
repeatable from channel to channel, from day to
day, and from Chroma ta Chroma. This is because all
control signaIs are generated digitally by the corn·
puter, and all audio circuits are kept precisely tuned
uy the computer against digital standards.
1 1
OSCILLATOR
~
WAVE-
(Pit'h)
SHAPER
T
1
GU DE SWEEP
(Kybd)
GENERATOR
This suffiees for simple sounds that require only
one oscillator and a two-pole filter. The two
envelope generators allow a variety of shapes. Either
is capable of generating ARs and ADRs by itself.
Using
two modulation inputs. say ta the filter, the
mix of AR and ADR envelopes yeilds the traditional
ADSR shape. as long as the (WO attacks are the same.
Hut note that the ADR and AR signaIs are still
available
separately. The AR might have a different
touch sensitivity setting from the ADR (whieh is
use fui.
not whimsieaJ). Combining a fast percussive
envelope with a slow percussive envelope yeilds a
realistic
"piano" envelope, with a rapid initial deeay
and a long final decay. Combining a short envelope
with a delayed slow attaek envelope yeilds a
sforzando envelope. And envelope 2 May be used for
auto-repeat while the other ereates a long decay, for a
reaIistie
eeho effeet.
1 1
FILTER
I~
AMPLIFIER
(Cutoff)
(Vo/ume)
l T
1 1
ENVELOPE
ENVELOPE
GENERATOR 1 GENERA TOR
2
.. FOOTSWITCHES
:: VELOCITY
CKEYBOARD)
., LEVERS
.. PEDALS
The structure is easy ta remember:
• Four audio buUding blacks. the osciIla[Qr, wave·
shaper, fùter and amplifier (controlled by the
bottom row of parameters).
• Four main control signal generators, the glide,
sweep and two envelopes (controlled by the top
row of parameters) .
.Six performance contraIs, the two levers, the
(wo pedaIs, the velocity and the key pressure.
•
•
•
•