Exploring envelope retriggering

The 2.5 firmware lets users loop the Amp and Mod envelopes. Let’s see this in action…

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Retriggering allows the BS2’s envelopes to cycle, meaning that as soon as the envelope’s Release stage ends, it immediately begins again at the Attack stage. This allows them to act like a shapable LFO. Turn on retriggering for the Mod Env by holding Function and pressing the Velocity–ModEnv key twice, then changing the setting to r 1.

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Press latch and play a note to create a drone. Now bring down the LPF cutoff and apply some upwards modulation from the Mod Env. Play around with the Mod Env’s four stages – hear how the modulation continuously cycles and how the speed of this is controlled by the length of Attack and Decay.

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Of course, this LFO-like envelope can also be combined with the BS2’s actual LFOs. Try adding modulation from LFO 2 to the filter, alongside this looping envelope. Play around with the rate and shape of the LFO, and direction of the modulation – this can be a great way to add complex, polyrhythmic movement.

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We can do the same thing with the amp envelope. Disengage Latch and turn on amp envelope retriggering by holding Function, pressing the Velocity–AmpEnv key, then changing the setting to r 1. Turn off any filter modulation for now, so we can hear the effect.

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Now hold down a note and hear how the Amp cycles as long as the key is depressed. Play around with the Amp Env to hear how it changes the speed of the movement. Now reintroduce the Mod Env – modulate the filter, pulse width or pitch, for a quick route to complex sounds.