ADSR stands for Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release.
AdsrFilter is a filter with ADSR envelope which can modulate filter frequency, bandwidth and filter mix! Extremely low resources taken! Features: One filter with lowpass, highpass and bandpass. Bandwidth and filter mix. ADSR envelope with unique up/down mode. Volume compensation for ADSR with crescendo side to right, left or both. VST 4 FREE - Free Audio Plug-ins and Archives Free audio plugins archive - Instruments and effects for audio software. Plugins for Cubase, FL studio, Reaper, Ableton and other VST/AU platforms. ADSR Sample Manager Review (Free VST Instrument) Written on 13th July 2018 at 9:12 pm by Audio Animals Ltd. The ADSR Sound Manager is a great plugin that acts as an instrument in your DAW.
It’s a must-know concept for all types of music production and sound design. Together, they make up the ADSR envelope.
ADSR envelopes apply to all sound no matter what kind of source you’re using. ADSR controls are most commonly found on VST synths, hardware synths and samplers.
Knowing what each part of ADSR means—and more importantly how and when to use them—is essential for music creators.
This guide will help you understand ADSR by visualizing what ADSR envelopes actually do to sound.
Plus, I’ll cover some of the common uses for ADSR and how to tweak the parameters to get the sound you want.
Let’s get started!
What is an ADSR envelope?
ADSR is the Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release of a sound. Together, they make up the ADSR envelope. An ADSR envelope determines how a sound unfolds over time.
All sound can be described using ADSR.
For example: An angry dog bark has a fast attack and fast release while that squeaky door you’ve been meaning to fix has a slow attack with a medium sustain and long release.
Confused? Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself… Let’s start with the basics.
ADSR envelopes are most easily understood through tweaking synthesizer sounds. So I’ll be talking about ADSR with synthesizer sounds in mind. But ADSR envelopes are also used with effects, samples, and even LFOs.
Here’s what each part of ADSR means and stands for:
How to Use ADSR
Now that you know what ADSR is, it’s time to figure out how and when to use each parameter to get the perfect sound.
There’s infinite uses for ADSR. But there’s some specific applications that are really useful no matter what instrument you’re working with.
Applying it right won’t always have a dramatic effect. But making subtle changes with ADSR will have an overall effect on the quality of your mixes and productions.
So here’s 5 useful ways to use ADSR throughout your process:
1. Use a long attack time and long release time to build beautiful pads
Big lush pads the perfect accent to any track. Creating them by tweaking ADSR times is a super easy way to make your own custom pad sounds.
Do it with your favourite hardware synth or synth VST.
To make it clear, let’s compare the same MIDI notes, but different attack and release times. Here’s the MIDI pattern I set up as an example.
I used Ableton Live’s built-in Operator synth. But the same concepts work for any VST synth and DAW with ADSR controls, just play with the settings to find your flavour.
Use a medium attack time with medium decay. Set a long release time to get some nice juicy pads to fill out your next track. Here’s how I set the ADSR and how it sounds:
http://blog.landr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2-long-A-long-R.wavIf you set a fast attack and fast release your pads will sound plucked. They won’t have that lush effect but they’re great for other lead sounds or percussive FX. These are the settings and how they sound:
http://blog.landr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2-short-A-short-R.wavUse your custom pads as leads or lower end bass. It’s up to you. No matter how you use it, ADSR makes creating custom pads a breeze.
2. Keep your attack time at zero with a fast release to get a staccato sound
Fire up your favourite hardware or VST synth. Keep your attack time at zero to get a sound that hits immediately. A fast attack is perfect if you’re looking for a staccato effect on a specific sound.
Low or short attack times are also perfect for synthesizing percussive sounds like toms, snares or hi-hats. It’s also the secret for creating perfect trance stabs.
Let’s make another comparison using the same MIDI notes but different attack and release times. I used Ableton Live’s Operator again.
Set your attack at zero and a fast release to make groovy staccato stabs. Here’s how I set it and how it sounds:
http://blog.landr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/3-staccato.wavIf you set a longer attack time and a long release, you get a glissando instead. Glissando will give you a slide effect between each note. Here are the settings and how it sounds:
http://blog.landr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/3-glissando.wavHot Tip: Create a percussive sound with a fast attack and slow release time to put some nice tails on a snare or hi-hat type sound (more on this in a sec).
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3. Give your high register percussion nice resonant tails with a slower release time
Another trick for synthesized percussion is to stretch the release time out.
If you’re synthesizing percussive sounds like a hi-hat, crash or snare applying a long release time will you give you some nice long tails. The tail is pretty obvious in the waveform below:
Here’s how our long tail waveform sounds:
http://blog.landr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/4-slow-R.wavKeeping the tails on your sounds will give your track some added texture and space without applying effects right away.
Hot Tip: Try reversing percussive sounds with longer release times to get a nice building effect.
4. Adjust your attack to remove clicks or whacks at the start of samples
If you chop a sample from the middle of a WAV form a common problem is clicks or blips at the start of the sample.
Slightly adjusting the Attack time to be longer will get rid of the initial clicks and pops that you might be hearing. It’s basically a tiny automated fade-in.
Here’s how I did it using Ableton Live’s Simpler instrument. Try it on any sampler, whether it’s a plugin or hardware.
I set a longer attack time and here’s how it sounds:
http://blog.landr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/1-long-A.wavSo stop trying to zoom in on that waveform to find the perfect starting point. Just adjust the attack and fix ‘em up quick.
5. Highlight your Transients with a slow decay and lower sustain level
If you’re using a pad or lead sound with a lot of energy at the start, a medium decay with a lower sustain level is a great way to highlight the early transients.
Transients are the high points of your waveform where the most energy happens. A lower sustain and medium decay emphasizes the initial punch and energy of a sound without letting it overpower all the other elements of your arrangement.
So keeping your sustain lower is a great way to give your track some dynamic peaks and valleys. It will overall make your track more interesting to the ear.
Here’s how I set it and how it sounds. ‘FM2 Filterless Sweep Lead’ preset under Operator in Ableton Live.
http://blog.landr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/5-low-s.wavThe initial energy of the sound is there. But the lower sustain level gives it some room to breath after the initial hit.
Now let’s compare it to a higher sustain and longer decay—without changing anything else.
The sound is more overpowering and big. It might be subtle on its own. But you risk drowning out other elements in your mix and burying the initial energy of your synths.
Here’s what the settings look like and how it sounds:
Don’t Search for the perfect sound. Make it.
Understanding ADSR opens a whole world of sound possibilities.
It even turns your presets into starting points for something unique. Try loading up your favourite preset and start tweaking.
ADSR makes something that’s already good even better. Plus you’re actually building your own sounds rather than relying on presets.
So Attack your projects, Decay your distractions, Sustain your success, and Release your best possible sound.
The drum machine changed music. There’s no getting around it.
Every DAW software these days comes with some sort of sampler or drum machine built right in. They’ve become a pillar of modern music production.
But picking a sound can be tough when you have infinite possibilities at your fingertips.
That’s why these drum VST plugins are so great. They impose some limitations to help you corral the creative juices a bit.
So here’s the 10 best free drum VST plugins for making your drums pop.
1. T.REX 606
The name says it all. The T.REX 606 is a compact rompler modelled after the iconic Roland TR-606 drum machine.
The simple interface keeps things basic. Which is nice these days when so many VSTs are needlessly complicated.
It’s just volume, reverb and 7 classic sounds. Easy peasy.
Download it here for free
2. Djinndrum
The Linn LM-1 is a classic drum machine. It’s been used by everyone from Peter Gabriel, to Prince, to Michael Jackson.
But let’s face it, these days they’ve gotten a bit pricey for what they are.
No problem, The Djinndrum has you set for all that classic sound that the LM-1 packs in.
Download it here for free
3. Drum PRO
Drum Pro has 20 built in drum kits, 12 pads and global effects, what more do you need from a drum machine plugin?
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The Drum Pro has you covered no matter what you’re making. Big EDM? Check. Techno? Check. Everything else you need for sweet drums? Check that too.
Download it here for free
4. Line of Legends
This plugin may not look as technical as others. But don’t let the looks of Line of Legends fool you.
This plugin boasts 47 high quality samples, 8 individual output channels, and punch, release & attack knobs for some serious tweakage.
Heads up: you may have to set up the output channels in your DAW if it’s only showing one channel. So check your DAW manual to figure out how.
Download it here for free
5. Sean Pandy Drums
Sean Pandy Drums is based on a sample pack made by heavy metal drummer Sean Pandy. So if you’re looking for a heavier drum sound on your mix, this VST will definitely give you it.
The ‘Sub Blower’ is especially good and certainly lives up to its name…
Download it here for free
6. KickMaker
2 of the most important elements in any track that thumps is the kick and bass. So they deserve some serious attention.
That’s what makes KickMaker so great. It’s a plugin built for crafting the perfect kick. So what’re you waiting for? Get kickin’.
Download it here for free
7. Beat Factory Drums
Beat Factory Drums is easy to use, sounds great, and packs a serious punch.
It has fully tweakable ADSR parameters so you can customize each and every kit to your sound. Not bad for a FREE plugin.
All you have to do is enter your email and that’s it.
Download it here for free
8. MT Power Drum Kit 2
MT Power Drum Kit 2 isn’t just a plugin for drums. In addition to top notch drum sounds that cut through any mix, it also has a fully pre-programmed groove library.
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It’s wicked for composing your own patterns, or stringing together grooves for the drum accompaniment you need.
Download it here for free
9. Dub Turbo DrumTROOP
The DrumTROOP drum machine is big both in its sound and what it offers. It’s a powerful tool for everything from EDM to house and back again.
Their website calls it a “weapon of mass production.” I can’t really disagree with that. It’s definitely massive is every respect.
Download it here for free
10. Single Cycle Vintage Drum Elements
Vintage Drum Elements has a nice, warm analogue sound that so many vintage drum machines have.
The 12 pad interface is easy to use and tweak, and the preloaded samples are all top notch.
Name your price or enter your email to grab it on the Single Cycle Bandcamp.
Download it here for free
Drumming up the perfect sound
Nothing beats a banging drum track. They’re the backbone of tons of top notch songs.
And the drum machine is a superb way to hone in on a specific sound for your tracks.
So grab these sweet plugs and program away!
Already set for drums? Grab some of our other favourite free VSTs.