Dave Smith Instruments TEMPEST - Manual (Page 45)

35 Tempest Operation Manual Envelopes
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 func-
tion. 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 37), 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.
LFO2: 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.