ARP2600 - Fundamentals of Music Technology - Cyborgstudio.com

GLOSSARYAAC COUPLING - Incoming waveforms are centeredaround the 0 volts mark. Another way tothink of this is that any DC offset which exists ina signal is cancelled out as the signal enters amodule. Most of the inputs on the ARP 2600 areDC coupled, while the inputs on the ring modulatorare switchable between AC and DC couplingsince the two produce very different results in ringmodulation. (See DC coupling, Ring modulation,amplitude modulation.)ADDITIVE SYNTHESIS -The process of constructinga complex sound using a series of fundamentalfrequencies (pure tones or sine waves).Each of the fundamental frequencies usually hasits own amplitude envelope which allows independentcontrol of each partial (harmonic). Someorgans are based on additive synthesis.ADSR - Abbreviation for Attack, Decay, Sustain,and Release. These are the four parameters foundon a basic synthesizer envelope generator. An envelopegenerator is sometimes called a transientgenerator or a contour generator. The Attack, Decay,and Release parameters are rate or time controls.Sustain is a level. When a key is pressed,the envelope generator will begin to rise to its fulllevel at the rate set by the attack parameter, uponreaching peak level it will begin to fall at the rateset by the decay parameter to the level set by thesustain control. The envelope will remain at thesustain level as long as the key is held down.Whenever a key is released, it will return to zeroat the rate set by the release parameter.AMPLIFIER - A device which increases the levelof a signal. See also preamplifier.AMPLIFY - To make louder or increase the amplitudeor height of a waveform. This task is performedby an amplifier.AMPLITUDE - The height or volume of a waveform.It can also be represented through highervoltage.AMPLITUDE MODULATION - (AM) Achange in the level of a signal caused by anothersignal. Although this term can be used if a VoltageControlled Amplifier (VCA) were beingmodulated by a Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO),it is usually reserved for patches utilizing the ringmodulator. The abbreviation of Amplitude Modulationis AM. (See Ring modulator)ANALOG SYNTHESIZER - A synthesizerwhich uses voltage-controlled modules to synthesizesound. The concept of a variety of analogmodules all of which can interconnect via a standardizedvoltage control system was invented byDr. Robert Moog. The three main voltage controlledmodules in an analog synthesizer are: VoltageControlled Oscillator (VCO), Voltage ControlledFilter (VCF), and Voltage Controlled Amplifier(VCA).AR - Abbreviation for Attack-Release. A trimmeddownversion of the ADSR EG. The sustain ispermanently set to full open and as a result, thereis no decay stage.ARP - A synthesizer company founded by AllenR. Pearlman, for whom it is named.ATTACK - The first parameter of an envelopegenerator which determines the rate or time it willtake for the event to reach the highest level beforestarting to decay.125