Modifying the AttackThe "attack" of a sound occurs at the start. It is important in the perception of timbre because it is associated with the way an instrument is excited: a puff of air for a flute, the pluck of a string, the striking of a stick against a drumhead. The TransFormSynth provides a number of parameters that allow detailed control over the attack portion of the sound.The most important is the second dial which adjusts the balance betweem the attack/noise and the steady state portion of the sound. 
This dial is labeled att/noise, and it controls the volume of the attack. Values near zero remove the attack (leaving a smooth, un-noisy start). A value of "1" means the attack occurs at the same volume as in the sample. Higher values emphasize the attack and can change even smooth sounds into percussive monsters. Three small dials (rand, depth, freq offset) are used together to add variety to the attack portion of a sound. 
The depth dial shapes the attack through either the harmonic filter or the formant filter (depending on the position of the pulse harmonic/formant switch). A value of "0" means there is no shaping while a vaue of "1" means the output is fully filtered. The frequency offset 'freq off' dial changes the center frequency of the filter by shifting it up the specified number of Hertz. The 'att vol' dial adjusts the volume of the attack independent of the other dials. Finally, because the attack occurs so quickly, the 'rand' dial allows various kinds of randomization so that every note does not sound identical. There are five positions of the 'rand' dial: Positions on the Attack Randomization Dial (rand)
When automating these dials using continuous controllers, use these numbers:
|
©2008 William Sethares; site design by Anthony Prechtl |