VA-76 Owner’s ManualMixer, effects and editing

Note: There are additional modulation parameters that can be controlled via the Aftertouch (see page 189). Use them for WahWah (TVF modulation) or tremolo (amplitude modulation).

Timbre (TVF)

By modifying the filter settings, you can control the timbre (tone) of the sound. The VA-76 uses Low-Pass Filters (LPF) that allow only frequencies below the specified frequency to pass. The frequency where the filter starts “cutting off” harmonics (or overtones) is called the Cutoff Frequency. By modifying the setting of the Cutoff Frequency you can make the sound brighter or darker. The Cutoff Frequency can change over time, controlled by the “envelope”. By adjusting the filter and envelope settings, you can create sounds that have movement and expression.

TVF Cutoff [-64~63]—Positive Cutoff settings mean that more overtones will be allowed to pass, so that the sound becomes brighter. The further this value is set in the negative direction, the fewer overtones will be allowed to pass, and the sound will become softer (darker).

Low pass filter characteristics

Level

Frequency

Cutoff frequency

Note: For some sounds, positive (+) Cutoff settings will cause no noticeable change because the preprogrammed Cutoff parameter is already set to its maximum value.

TVF Resonance [–64~63]— This is a parameter one invariably associates with a synthesizer. When the Res- onance value is increased, the overtones in the area of the cutoff frequency will be emphasized, creating a sound with a strong character.

Note: For some sounds, negative (–) settings of Resonance may produce no noticeable change because the Resonance is already set to the minimum value.

Envelope

The volume of an instrument changes with time, from the moment the note begins to sound to when it dis- appears. This change can be indicated on a graph as shown below. The envelope shape is unique to each instrument, and is an important element in how we distinguish the sounds we hear. The envelopes of musical instrument sounds can change depending on how the instrument is played. For example if a trum- pet is played sharply and strongly, the attack will be quick and the sound will be sharp. But if a trumpet is played lightly and softly, the attack will be softer. In order to adjust the attack of a sound, you can modify the Attack Time of the envelope. By modifying the val- ues of the envelope you can simulate the characteris- tics of many different instruments.

The envelope parameters affect both the volume (or amplitude) and the filter. If the cutoff frequency has been lowered, it will rise as the envelope rises, and will fall as the envelope falls.

Volume

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sound ends

 

 

 

Sustain

 

 

 

 

Level

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attack Decay

 

Release

This is where

This is where you

you play a note

release the key

(Note-on)

(Note-off)

Env Attack [–64~63]—This parameter adjusts the onset of the sound. Negative values speed up the attack, so that the sound becomes more aggressive.

Env Decay [–64 ~63]— This parameter adjusts the time over which the sound will fall from the highest point of the attack down to the sustain level.

Note: Percussive sounds usually have a sustain level of 0. Piano and guitar sounds are in this category. Holding the keys for a long time will thus have little effect on the dura- tion of the notes you are playing.

Env Release [–64~63]—This parameter adjusts the time over which the sound will decay after the note is released until it is no longer heard. The cutoff fre- quency will also fall according to this setting.

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Roland VA-76 owner manual Timbre TVF, Envelope, 126