Envelope Follower

– Originally a Voltage Controlled Effect which Basically Converts Amplitude into DC Voltages (Louder Signal = More Voltage it Outputs)

– e.g. on a ARP2600 you Plug the Microphone into the Preamplifier –> Into the Envelope Follower –> Into to the Multiple (which Distributes the Voltage to whatever you Plug into it) –> From Multiple Into a Desired Module such as VCO, VCF

– Envelope Followers are Kind of Lowpass Filters with Extremely Low Cutoff Frequencies where the Attack and Decay of the Input Signal Controls the Rise and Fall Time of the Voltage Circuit

– Basically you use the Volume Envelope of a Signal and Apply its Dynamics to another Signal (Early often used to Drive Cutoff Frequencies of an VCF)

– the Term “Envelope Follower” is Used Because the Module Follows the Volume Envelope of an Incoming Signal, thus its Shape is Based on the Incoming Signal

– i.e. in Synths you can Use an Envelope Follower to Transform a Audio Signal (Audio Shape) into a Modulation Signal, thus it is a Dynamic Effect (whereas LFOs are Static)