ATSR

ATSR is closely related to the familiar ADSR, and on the surface, it plays like a fully voltage controllable envelope generator.

The difference in name belies the difference in functionality. In a traditional analog ADSR, the output decays from a higher attack voltage to a lower, but still positive, sustain voltage. ATSR can traverse a T slope from any attack voltage to any sustain voltage within the operating range of -10V to 10V.

The module has fully analog attack and sustain level inputs which can vary continuously without changing the slope times.

This allows you to use the level inputs as internal VCAs. The attack level input fades in during the A stage, then the T stage is a crossfade to the sustain level. R fades out the mix of the levels when the gate is released. A wide bandwidth at the level inputs allows you to use CV or audio, creating a useful tool for routing audio or modulation signals.

With a different patching approach, enabling the sample and hold functionality generates envelopes with random levels and slope times using a single noise source.

A set of logic outputs can be used to cascade other sources or impose looping behavior when self patching.

If you haven't yet, take a glance at this introduction of Via's controls, IO, and user interface.

Each knob controls the time of the respective stage. With no CV connected, the minimum time is 3ms (counterclockwise) and the maximum time is about 4 seconds (clockwise).

Note that the stage time does not change with the distance traveled, a unique feature rarely found in traditional envelope generators.

The CV inputs provide control over slope time. Slope time increases with input voltage.

The GATE input is the primary input on the module. It behaves as you would expect from an analog ADSR, initiating a slope to the attack level on a rising edge and a release stage on a falling edge.

A rising edge at the RETRIG input while GATE is high and after attack is complete will initiate a new attack/release cycle.

OUT is the output from the ATSR envelope.

LOOP is a gate output that goes high when the release stage is complete and low when T stage has completed. Patching this to the GATE input causes the module to loop through the A, T, and R stages, creating an LFO.

SEG is high during the stage selected by the corresponding parameter.

DELAY is a copy of the gate input delayed by the sum of the A and T stage time. If new gates arrive at the input during the delay period, they are ignored. A retrigger event is passed into the gate delay as a momentary off-on event.

The A and S level inputs are actually scaled and mixed under the hood to compose the envelope, so much of the display is dedicated to showing the amount of attenuation on each input at the output. The blue and red tints of the triangle indicate the scale of the A and S inputs at the output respectively.

When the level sample and holds are disabled, the white LEDs on the left mirror the red and blue indicators, with a copper trace connecting each LED to the associated level input. When the sample and holds are enabled, they are dark through the envelope.

The LEDs on the right indicate the state of the respective gate outputs.