[sdiy] Digital ADSR - perceivable staircase?

[Jerry Gray-Eskue]

I think it is more an issue of how large the step is. Humans are very 
sensitive to Pitch changes, but much less sensitive to Volume changes.

Basically we use db ( decibel ) because it is the smallest unit (ratio) of 
change we can commonly perceive as a volume difference. This ratio from one 
power level to one db up is about 1.122.

So if you are using a liner D2A converter you will have large db changes in 
the first few steps
D2A value from 1 to 2 ~= 3db (2*the level ~= 3db)
By the time you get to D2A value from 9 to 10 you should be running under 
1db per step.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Matthew Smith" <matt at smiffytech.com>
To: "Synth DIY" <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 12:12 AM
Subject: [sdiy] Digital ADSR - perceivable staircase?


> If we consider a digitally-generated attack signal as a staircase, at what 
> 'width' of step - in other words the time between increments in level - 
> would the increase in volume of the system output become noticeable?
>
> So as to have something to go on, I am considering a maximum A/D/R time of 
> 2 seconds so, at maximum time, a 'step' would be about 8ms long, based on 
> 256 levels x 256 steps.
>
> Really wondering what my maximum time can be before the 256 steps become 
> obvious.
>
>
> -- 
> Matthew Smith
>
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