Envelopes and MSEG

This page covers the modulation envelopes and the MSEG generators. Both are sources of movement you connect to controls on the Modulation tab. They differ from the amp envelope, which always shapes loudness; these are free for you to use anywhere.

Modulation envelopes

An envelope makes a one-shot movement that follows each note. It begins when the key is pressed and ends after the key is released. Kiwisynth has two modulation envelopes, separate from the amp envelope.

A common use is to point a modulation envelope at the filter cutoff, so the tone has its own shape in time, different from the loudness shape.

Each modulation envelope has the four classic stages.

Attack. How long the envelope takes to rise to its peak after the key is pressed.

Decay. How long it takes to fall from the peak down to the sustain level.

Sustain. The level the envelope holds at while the key is down.

Release. How long it takes to fall back to nothing after the key is released.

You can also shape these by dragging the points of the envelope curve in the editor.

MSEG

MSEG stands for multi-segment envelope generator. Where an ordinary envelope has four fixed stages, an MSEG is a contour you draw yourself, with as many points as you like. It can rise and fall several times, hold, and loop.

Use an MSEG when you want movement with a specific shape that an ordinary envelope or an LFO cannot give, such as a rhythmic pattern or a complex swell.

Kiwisynth has two MSEGs. You draw each one in the editor: drag points to move them, bend the segments between them, and add or remove points. You can mark a point where the contour holds while the key is down, and a section that loops.

Rate. The one knob control for each MSEG. It sets how fast the drawn contour plays back. A higher rate runs the shape faster.