Envelope (ADSR)
also called “adsr”also called “attack decay sustain release”
The short version
The shape of a sound's volume over time.
Four stages: Attack (fade in), Decay (settle), Sustain (hold level), Release (fade out). Every synth sound is built from this shape.
Pluck▁█▇▅▃▂▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁
Pad▁▂▃▄▅▆▇███▇▆▅▃▂▁
Volume over time
Why you'd careChange nothing but the envelope and a synth can go from an organ to a pluck to a huge pad.
88 words and counting in The Music Guide. Back to the guide
