[sdiy] Question about Envelopes

[Declare Update]

from google, I just typed “envelope”



a covering or containing structure or layer.
"the external envelope of the swimming pool"
the outer metal or glass housing of a vacuum tube, electric light, etc.
the structure within a balloon or nonrigid airship containing the gas.
MICROBIOLOGY
a membrane forming the outer layer of certain viruses.
ELECTRONICS *******************
a curve joining the successive peaks of a modulated wave.



it is a funny thing though, explaining why it seems to make sense is still hard. it’s an association I definitely take for granted. I’ve been using synths for so long that “enveloping” something just totally means controlling its volume or some other parameter with a AR or ADSR envelope. 

Chris 

> On Nov 29, 2017, at 10:43 PM, Chromatest J. Pantsmaker <chromatest at azburners.org> wrote:
> 
> I know this is probably a silly question, but....
> 
> I'm getting my fiance into synths and I was going over her new synth with her, explaining what a VCO is, VCF, etc... 
> 
> Then I get to the EG (ADSR) and she asks me why it is called an envelope generator?  
> 
> I said because it generates envelopes.
> 
> That wasn't good enough for her, and I don't have a better answer.  I've been playing with and working on synths for decades, even took a synthesis class in college (they had the biggest Roland System 100M, I tell ya), but I don't know why they call it an envelope.  Google searches have not been helpful.
> 
> Silly question, but can anybody explain?
> 
> -c
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