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show_chart Envelopes are commonly used to describe an envelope function for use by LFOs like Hz.LFO. You can think of Envelopes as y = f(x) and often (as with LFOs) x represents a time or phase value.

We've taken this idea to an extra dimension and introduce Deep Envelopes where you define a topo-surface of values (eg amplitudes) defined over a plane. For the mathematically inclined, y = f(x, z). This representation is well suited to describe a time varying spectral filter and is central to the operation of Hz.Spectre. THere, x represents frequency and z represents time.

You may also find other uses for Envelopes in your soundscapes. You can copy and paste envelopes between Envelope Editor, script files, and other GUIs where applicable. We also provide a Envelope class in the MusicAPI.

Envelope files are small files containing a sequence of control points (knots) that describe an envelope function. An envelope is divided into segments where each segment has two endpoints (circles) and a single midpoint (square) that controls its curvature. All knots are described within a coordinate system on [0-1] in both t (x) and y. Deep Envelopes are represented in the same format by wrapping a simple envelope into an array with an associated z for each envelope.

Interface

An Envelope Editor panel appears if you select a file with extensions .knt or .vitallfo from the workspace panel. You can also create a default envelope session by selecting Envelope Editor from the Layouts Menu.

Basic Editing

ctrl-click atop an endpoint to delete its (following) segment.
double-click to insert a new linear segment between two endpoints.
drag an endpoint in x and y to move it in time and space. Hold/release Shift-Key to snap/unsnap endpoints to nearby grid locations.
drag a midpoint in y to modify its curvature.
copy and paste entire envelopes between editors and other applications. e click the global smooth button to toggle smoothing for the envelope.
undo and redo the above operations.
save the edited result to a file.
use New to reset the editor to a simple triangle envelope.

Deep Editing

A deep envelope is indicated by the presence of the z-slider.

To convert a simple envelope into a deep envelope you can simply select Add Plane from the Edit Menu. You can also copy a single plane from a deep envelope and paste it into a simple envelope to go from deep to simple.

Each plane is represented by a yellow diamond on the z-slider where z goes from 0 to 1, left to right. Above we can infer that the deep envelope has 4 editing planes. The current z is controlled and represented by the green slider "thumb". Drag it anywhere along the z to visualize envelope the produced by interpolating adjacent planes.

Right-clicking on a yellow knot reveals a context-menu that can be used to move or delete the plane.

Grid Style

You can choose how to represent a background grid with the settings menu. When operating in Uniform grid style, holding the shift-key will cause knots to snap to a nearby grid point when draggin.
The Log grid style is useful for visualizing envelopes for spectral filtering. Note that the LogMin, LogMax are stored in the knt file and should be used by envelope-consumers to interpret the envelope.

Sonifying Previewer

In addition to displaying a plot of the envelope function you can also hear the envelope in action using the Play/Pause menubar controls.