Waldorf Largo - Manual (Page 94)

Appendix
Largo User´s Manual 94
Clipping
Clipping is a sort of distortion that occurs when a signal
exceeds its maximum value. The curve of a clipped signal
is dependent of the system where the clipping takes place.
In the analog domain, clipping effectively limits the signal
to its maximum level. In the digital domain, clipping is
similar to a numerical overflow and so the polarity of the
signal’s part above the maximum level is negated.
Control Change (Controllers)
MIDI messages enable you to manipulate the response of
a sound generator to a significant degree.
This message essentially consists of two components:
• The Controller number, which defines the element to be
influenced. It can be between 0 and 120.
• The Controller value, which determines the extent of
the modification.
Controllers can be used for effects such as slowly swelling
vibrato, changing the stereo panorama position and
influencing filter frequency.
Decay
"Decay" describes the descent rate of an envelope once
the Attack phase has reached its zenith and the envelope
drops to the level defined for the Sustain value.
Envelope
An envelope is used to modulate a sound-shaping
component within a given time frame so that the sound is
changed in some manner. For instance, an envelope that
modulates the cutoff frequency of a filter opens and closes
this filter so that some of the signal's frequencies are
filtered out. An envelope is started via a trigger, usually a
fixed trigger. Normally, the trigger is a MIDI Note. The
classic envelope consists of four individually variable
phases: Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release. This
sequence is called an ADSR envelope. Attack, Decay and
Release are time or slope values, and Sustain is a variable
volume level. Once an incoming trigger is received, the
envelope runs through the Attack and Decay phases until
it reaches the programed Sustain level. This level remains
constant until the trigger is terminated. The envelope then
initiates the Release phase until it reaches the minimum
value.
Filter
A filter is a component that allows some of a signal's
frequencies to pass through it and dampens other
frequencies. The most important aspect of a filter is the
filter cutoff frequency. Filters generally come in four
categories: low pass, high pass, band pass, and band stop.
A low pass filter dampens all frequencies above the cutoff