Intellijel Quadra + Expander - Manual (Page 3)

Intellijel
Quadra
Manual
Version
1
Page
|
3
What
is
it
for?
If
you
come
from
a
more
traditional
synthesizer
background
all
this
talk
of
function
generators
and
quadrature
mode
may
seem
overwhelming.
Perhaps
you
find
it
strange
that
we
talk
about
the
Quadra
as
an
Envelope
Generator
but
then
do
not
mention
the
envelope
type
you
are
familiar
with,
the
ADSR.
This
is
because
the
design
concept
of
the
Quadra
is
inspired
by
what
is
commonly
referred
to
as
“West
Coast”
synthesis
concepts
(a
nod
to
Don
Buchla,
a
pioneer
in
synth
design
from
California).
You
can
think
of
each
function
generator
in
the
Quadra
as
a
simple
envelope
generator
.
However
since
the
Quadra
can
also
create
very
complex
looping
LFO
shapes
in
quadrature
mode
or
create
complex
interacting
combinations
using
the
OR
outputs
we
use
the
more
traditional
name
of
“Function
Generator”.
You
can
use
the
Quadra
on
its
own
as
four
AD
or
ASR
envelope
generators.
If
you
are
not
using
a
tradition
keyboard
controller
AD
mode
is
preferred
by
many
since
it
is
independent
the
incoming
gate
time.
Once
the
AD
is
triggered
it
will
move
through
its
stages
until
completion.
This
is
ideal
for
sequencer
or
random
based
patches.
You
can
use
the
Expander
VC
inputs
to
control
the
decay
time
which
is
like
controlling
the
gate
time
at
the
sequencer
but
has
a
different
sound.
Why
would
you
use
so
many
envelopes?
If
you
consider
the
average
synthesizer
voice
needs
at
least
two
envelopes,
one
for
final
VCA,
the
other
for
filter
cutoff
it
is
not
hard
to
imagine
in
a
more
complex
voice
how
to
use
more.
For
example
another
AD
envelope
could
be
used
to
control
the
modulation
index
of
a
two
VCO
FM
patch.
You
can
use
envelopes
to
control
the
amount
a
LFO
controls
the
filter
via
another
VCA
or
use
a
multed
VCA
in
parallel
with
the
final
VCA
to
act
as
an
effect
send.
You
can
see
how
with
a
little
imagination
and
a
lot
of
VCAs
you
will
quickly
run
out
of
envelope
generators,
especially
once
you
start
designing
percussive
sounds.