See also:
Wiring a Multi-Stage Envelope
The usual way to wire
Stage,
Booster Stage,
Hostage,
and Upstage
modules
-into multi-stage envelopes is:
-
-- Place the modules side-by-side in the order you want them to execute.
-- Connect each output to the input on its right.
-
-For example,
-suppose you want generate a four-stage envelope using Stage modules:
-
-Notice how:
-
-- The ACTIVE outputs line up with the DEFER inputs.
-- The EOC outputs line up with the TRIG inputs.
-- The OUT outputs line up with the IN inputs.
-
-That is your clue to wiring the modules together:
-
-- Connect each module’s ACTIVE output
-to its successor’s DEFER input.
-- Connect each module’s EOC output
-to its successor’s TRIG input.
-- Connect each module’s OUT output
-to its successor’s IN input.
-
-Here is the result:
-
-Now all that remains is to
+into multi-stage envelopes is:
- Place the modules side-by-side in the order you want them to execute.
- Connect each output to the input on its right.
For example,
+suppose you want generate a four-stage envelope using Stage modules:

Notice how:
- The ACTIVE outputs line up with the DEFER inputs.
- The EOC outputs line up with the TRIG inputs.
- The OUT outputs line up with the IN inputs.
That is your clue to wiring the modules together:
- Connect each module’s ACTIVE output
+to its successor’s DEFER input.
- Connect each module’s EOC output
+to its successor’s TRIG input.
- Connect each module’s OUT output
+to its successor’s IN input.
Here is the result:

Now all that remains is to
connect a trigger source to the first stage,
connect the final stage’s output
to whatever parameter you want your envelope to modulate,
-and adjust the levels, curves, and durations to taste.
-Note:
+and adjust the levels, curves, and durations to taste.
Note:
Hostage has a GATE port instead of a TRIG port.
Upstage has a different set of ports.
-But even these modules' ports are arranged
+But even these modules’ ports are arranged
so that the usual wiring scheme —
“connect each module’s outputs to its successor’s inputs” —
usually applies.
-See the examples below for details and exceptions.
-Setting Levels
-
--
-
Each module’s LEVEL knob
+See the examples below for details and exceptions.
Setting Levels
Each module’s LEVEL knob
determines the ending level
-of the stage it generates.
-
--
-
The starting voltage of each stage
+of the stage it generates.
The starting voltage of each stage
is determined by the signal
arriving at its IN input
-at the instant it is triggered.
-
--
-
In this way,
+at the instant it is triggered.
In this way,
each stage begins
-where its predecessor ends.
-
--
-
So to set each module’s starting level,
+where its predecessor ends.
So to set each module’s starting level,
set the previous stage’s
-ending level.
-
-
-Adding a Hold Stage
-The Hostage module is designed specifically
-to create hold and sustain stages.
-A hold stage
+ending level.
Adding a Hold Stage
The Hostage module is designed specifically
+to create hold and sustain stages.
A hold stage
holds the envelope voltage constant
-for a given duration.
-With a hold stage,
+for a given duration.
With a hold stage,
you can generate an
Attack-Hold-Release
or
Attack-Decay-Hold-Release
-Envelope.
-To generate a hold stage with Hostage:
-
-- Wire it into the chain of modules
-in the position where you want the the hold stage
-- Set its mode to HOLD.
-
-Hostage holds the voltage
+Envelope.
To generate a hold stage with Hostage:
- Wire it into the chain of modules
+in the position where you want the the hold stage
- Set its mode to HOLD.
Hostage holds the voltage
at the level where the previous stage ended.
It offers a knob, a range switch, and CV modulation
-to set the duration of the hold stage.
-Adding a Sustain Stage
-The Hostage module is designed specifically
-to create hold and sustain stages.
-A sustain stage
+to set the duration of the hold stage.
Adding a Sustain Stage
The Hostage module is designed specifically
+to create hold and sustain stages.
A sustain stage
sustains a constant envelope voltage
-as long as the sustain gate is up.
-With a sustain stage,
+as long as the sustain gate is up.
With a sustain stage,
you can generate an
Attack-Decay-Sustain-Release
-Envelope.
-The wiring for a sustain stage
+Envelope.
The wiring for a sustain stage
differs from the usual scheme.
-Note the bold text below.
-To generate a sustain stage with Hostage:
-
-- Wire it into the chain of modules
-in the position where you want the the sustain stage.
-- Set its mode to SUSTAIN.
-- Connect its GATE input
+Note the bold text below.
To generate a sustain stage with Hostage:
- Wire it into the chain of modules
+in the position where you want the the sustain stage.
- Set its mode to SUSTAIN.
- Connect its GATE input
to the same gate source
-that triggers the envelope.
-
-Hostage sustains the voltage
+that triggers the envelope.
Hostage sustains the voltage
at the level where the previous stage ended
-as long as the gate remains up.
-Making Envelopes Retriggerable
-Each multi-stage envelope shown in
+as long as the gate remains up.
Making Envelopes Retriggerable
Each multi-stage envelope shown in
Generating Multi-Stage Envelopes
is retriggerable.
If a trigger arrives
while an envelope is in progress,
the new trigger
interrupts the in-progress envelope
-and begins a new one.
-The general rule of retriggering for
+and begins a new one.
The general rule of retriggering for
Stage,
Booster Stage,
Hostage,
and Upstage
-modules is:
-
-Unless you
+modules is:
Unless you
take steps to suppress retriggers
while an envelope is in progress,
-the envelope is retriggerable.
-
-For example,
-here is a retriggerable ADHR envelope:
-
-The cyan scope trace shows the envelope.
-The magenta trace shows the incoming triggers.
-Notice that when a new trigger arrives
+the envelope is retriggerable.
For example,
+here is a retriggerable ADHR envelope:

The cyan scope trace shows the envelope.
+The magenta trace shows the incoming triggers.
Notice that when a new trigger arrives
while the release stage is still in progress,
the trigger interrupts the release stage
-and starts a new envelope.
-Making Envelopes Uninterruptible
-If you want to prevent incoming triggers
-from interrupting in-progress envelopes:
-
-- Insert an Upstage at the front of the chain.
-- Rewire the trigger source
+and starts a new envelope.
Making Envelopes Uninterruptible
If you want to prevent incoming triggers
+from interrupting in-progress envelopes:
- Insert an Upstage at the front of the chain.
- Rewire the trigger source
so that the trigger signal passes through Upstage
-rather than going directly to the first stage.
-- Connect Upstage’s WAIT input
-to the final stage’s ACTIVE output.
-
-For example,
-here is an uninterruptible ADHR envelope:
-
-The cyan scope trace shows the envelope.
+rather than going directly to the first stage.
- Connect Upstage’s WAIT input
+to the final stage’s ACTIVE output.
For example,
+here is an uninterruptible ADHR envelope:

The cyan scope trace shows the envelope.
The magenta trace shows multiple triggers
-arriving during each iteration of the envelope.
-With this configuration,
+arriving during each iteration of the envelope.
With this configuration,
whenever an envelope is in progress,
the final stage’s ACTIVE signal
tells Upstage to suppress incoming triggers.
When the envelope finishes,
-Upstage resumes forwarding incoming triggers to the first stage.
-Looping Envelopes
-To generate a looping envelope,
-we need to
-
-- Manually trigger the first envelope
-- Configure the final stage
+Upstage resumes forwarding incoming triggers to the first stage.
Looping Envelopes
To generate a looping envelope,
+we need to
- Manually trigger the first envelope
- Configure the final stage
to retrigger the envelope
-when it finishes
-
-And we might want a way to stop or retrigger a looping envelope.
-Upstage and Booster Stage
-offer ways to control looping envelopes.
-Controlling Loops With Upstage
-
-- Configure a non-looping envelope in the usual way.
-- Add an Upstage before the first stage.
-- Connect the final stage’s EOC output to Upstage’s TRIG input.
-- Connect Upstage’s TRIG output to the first stage’s TRIG input.
-
-Here is a looping ADHR envelope using Upstage:
-
-You can use Upstage’s buttons
-to start, stop, and retrigger the loop.
-
-- To start the loop:
-Press the TRIG button.
-- To retrigger the loop:
+when it finishes
And we might want a way to stop or retrigger a looping envelope.
Upstage and Booster Stage
+offer ways to control looping envelopes.
Controlling Loops With Upstage
- Configure a non-looping envelope in the usual way.
- Add an Upstage before the first stage.
- Connect the final stage’s EOC output to Upstage’s TRIG input.
- Connect Upstage’s TRIG output to the first stage’s TRIG input.
Here is a looping ADHR envelope using Upstage:

You can use Upstage’s buttons
+to start, stop, and retrigger the loop.
- To start the loop:
+Press the TRIG button.
- To retrigger the loop:
Press the TRIG button
-while the envelope is running.
-- To stop the loop:
+while the envelope is running.
- To stop the loop:
Press the WAIT button
and hold it
-until the final stage finishes.
-
-Weird Fact:
+until the final stage finishes.
Weird Fact:
You an also stop the loop
by pressing the TRIG button
(causing the loop to restart)
-and holding it until the final stage finishes.
-Controlling Loops With Booster Stage
-
-- Configure a non-looping envelope in the usual way,
-using a Booster Stage as the first stage.
-- Connect the final stage’s EOC output to Booster Stage’s TRIG input.
-
-Here is a looping ADHR envelope using Booster Stage:
-
-You can use Booster Stage’s buttons
-to start, stop, and retrigger the loop.
-
-- To start the loop:
-Press the TRIG button.
-- To retrigger the loop:
+and holding it until the final stage finishes.
Controlling Loops With Booster Stage
- Configure a non-looping envelope in the usual way,
+using a Booster Stage as the first stage.
- Connect the final stage’s EOC output to Booster Stage’s TRIG input.
Here is a looping ADHR envelope using Booster Stage:

You can use Booster Stage’s buttons
+to start, stop, and retrigger the loop.
- To start the loop:
+Press the TRIG button.
- To retrigger the loop:
Press the TRIG button
-while the envelope is running.
-- To stop the loop:
+while the envelope is running.
- To stop the loop:
Press and hold any Booster Stage button
-until the loop stops.
-
-I leave it as an exercise for the reader
+until the loop stops.
I leave it as an exercise for the reader
to discover
when and at what voltage
-each button stops the envelope.
-If you want a gentler, more controlled stop,
+each button stops the envelope.
If you want a gentler, more controlled stop,
use Upstage and its WAIT button
-to control the loop.
-Variations
-
-- For additional versatility,
+to control the loop.
Variations
- For additional versatility,
replace any Stage module with a
-Booster Stage.
-- To start each envelope at a level other than 0V,
+Booster Stage.
- To start each envelope at a level other than 0V,
connect an
Upstage
-or other voltage source.
-- To start each envelope
+or other voltage source.
- To start each envelope
at the level where the previous one ended,
connect the the final stage’s OUT output
-to the first stage’s IN input.
-- Follow Artur Karlov’s lead and
-make a sick kick.
-- Generate audible waveforms
+to the first stage’s IN input.
- Follow Artur Karlov’s lead and
+make a sick kick.
- Generate audible waveforms
by configuring a loop
-with very short durations.
-- Generate an envelope with seventeen stages.
-- Configure a stage to trigger two or more successor stages.
-- Vary something.
-- Vary something else.
-
-
-