Creating Self-Running Envelope Feedback Loops
How Can Envelope Generators Become Cyclic Modulation Sources?
Creating Self-Running Envelope Feedback Loops
A pair of envelope generators can become a continuously running modulation system by introducing feedback.
From Chain to Loop
In an envelope chain, one envelope triggers the next.
By feeding the End Of Cycle signal of the final envelope back to the first envelope, the sequence becomes circular.
The cycle repeats indefinitely.
How It Works
Only a single initial trigger is required.
After that:
Envelope A completes.
Envelope A triggers Envelope B.
Envelope B completes.
- Envelope B triggers Envelope A.
The process continues endlessly.
Why It Is Useful
The resulting structure behaves similarly to a sophisticated LFO.
However, unlike a traditional LFO, the waveform can contain highly complex multi-stage behaviour.
Applications
Feedback envelope systems are useful for:
Ambient sound design
Slow generative modulation
Complex filter movements
- Self-running patches
Conclusion
Envelope feedback loops transform ordinary envelope generators into autonomous modulation engines capable of producing rich and evolving control voltages.
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