A Note About Envelope Shape

Like most synthesizers, Tempest’s envelopes are not linear, but curved. Without going into too much detail (or math), the curve is based on a logarithmic func­tion. But that curve — and, therefore, the envelope’s shape — can be altered with modulation.

For example, figure A below shows the “normal” decay of a simple AD envelope where attack is set to 0.

Using one of Tempest’s Mod Paths (see page 29), an envelope can be used to modulate itself. Figure B shows what happens when the envelope in figure A is used as the modulation source and the mod destination is that same envelope’s decay, with a mod amount of -60; figure C is with a mod amount of 60.

Note: Modulating an envelope segment also changes its length (time). In the previous examples, figure B’s decay time was decreased and figure C’s decay time was increased.

LFO 1 & 2

Tempest has two low frequency oscillators (LFOs). The LFOs can be free-running or synced to the beat.

LFO 2: Off, On — Chooses the LFO to edit. When off, the panel controls affect LFO 1; when on, LFO 2.

Rate: 0...162 — Sets the LFO frequency. Speed ranges from slow (30 seconds) to very fast — at 90 (8 HZ, C-2) and above the speed steps in semitones, up to 162 (523 Hz, C4 or an octave above middle C).

Note: Some of the analog functions may not respond as expected to the fast­est LFO speeds, due to speed limitations of the control voltages, but they will certainly generate some interesting sounds.