Soundpaint Glossary

Account
The Account section gives you access to your profile, engine downloads, order history, and purchased instruments. You can log in/log out and manage account settings directly on the Soundpaint website.

ADSR
ADSR stands for Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release. These four stages form an envelope that controls how a sound changes over time. Attack, Decay, and Release set timing, while Sustain sets the held level.
In practice: ADSR shapes whether a sound starts sharply, fades in, holds steadily, or trails off.
→ See also: Envelope

Analog (Arp)
Analog in the Arpeggiator introduces subtle timing and pitch variations. This reduces robotic precision and makes sequences feel more human.
In practice: It prevents arpeggiated notes from sounding too rigid.

Arpeggiator (Arp)
The Arpeggiator automatically cycles through notes in a chosen order to create repeating patterns or rhythms.
In practice: Holding a chord can generate rhythmic sequences without manually playing every note.

Articulation
An articulation defines how a note or sample is played, such as sustained, staccato, or legato.
In practice: Switching articulations lets you change the performance style of an instrument.

Attack Trigger
Attack Triggers are recorded separately from sustains and other triggers. They blend into sustains while adding a sharper, more percussive start.

Attack (ADSR)
Attack sets how quickly a note reaches its maximum volume. Short attacks make notes sound immediate, while long attacks create fades.

Audio/MIDI Settings
This menu controls audio and MIDI behavior. You can set inputs/outputs, adjust sample rate and buffer size, check MIDI devices and channels, and set tempo when running Soundpaint in standalone mode.
In practice: Use this menu to fix sound problems or optimize performance.

Bit Crush (Bit Brush)
Bit Crush reduces bit depth, lowering audio resolution. This produces a gritty, lo-fi digital sound.
In practice: Useful for creating retro or electronic textures.

Cents
A cent is a unit for measuring pitch. There are 100 cents in a semitone.
In practice: Small pitch shifts (like ±10 cents) can add subtle detuning.

Chord (Arp)
The Chord function makes the Arpeggiator play full chords at once rather than cycling through notes individually.

Chord Timer (Legato)
Chord Timer sets the maximum time gap between notes for them to be treated as one chord. Notes played within this window are grouped together.

Chorus
Chorus duplicates the signal, slightly delays and detunes the copies, then blends them back. This creates the effect of multiple voices playing at once.
In practice: Adds width and richness to instruments like guitars, synths, and vocals.

Compression
Compression reduces the dynamic range of audio by lowering loud sounds and raising quiet ones.
In practice: Makes performances sound more consistent and controlled.

Day/Night Mode Switch
This option switches the interface between day mode and night mode. Night mode is the default.

Decay (ADSR)
Decay sets how long it takes for a note to drop from its attack peak to the sustain level.

Delay
Delay records the input signal and plays it back after a set time. The repeats can create simple echoes or complex rhythmic patterns.

Diffusion
Diffusion spreads early reflections in the reverb. Higher settings create smoother, denser reverb; lower settings make reflections sharper and more distinct.

Distortion
Distortion alters the waveform, adding harmonics and making the sound more aggressive.
In practice: Common in guitars, synths, and sound design for adding edge.

Dynamic Sustain (Trigger)
Dynamic Sustain links note velocity to CC1 (mod wheel), letting you control the volume of sustained samples in real time.
In practice: Adds expressive control when performing long notes.

Early Reflections
Early reflections are the first echoes that reach the listener after bouncing off surfaces. They define the perceived size and position of a reverb space.

Effects Order
Effects are processed left to right in the signal chain. Changing their order changes how they interact.
In practice: Putting distortion before reverb sounds very different than the reverse.

Equalizer (EQ)
EQ boosts or cuts frequency ranges. You can enhance bass, reduce harsh mids, or brighten highs.

Envelope
The Envelope (ADSR) controls how a sound evolves over time: how it starts, fades, sustains, and releases.
→ See also: ADSR

Favorites
Favorites let you save and organize Programs, Parts, Attacks, and Releases for quick access.

Filter
Filters remove or boost parts of the frequency spectrum.
In practice: A low-pass filter darkens a sound by cutting highs; a high-pass filter thins it by cutting lows.
→ See also: Low-Pass Filter, High-Pass Filter

Gate
Gate opens and closes audio in a rhythmic pattern, based on a set tempo.
In practice: Creates pulsing or stuttering effects synced to the beat.

Hidden Gem
Hidden Gems are Programs built from Parts in multiple libraries. They unlock as you acquire more libraries.

High-Pass Filter
A high-pass filter removes low frequencies while allowing highs to pass.
→ See also: Low-Pass Filter

Interval (Arp)
Interval shifts notes in the Arpeggiator by a set pitch distance. The sequence then plays transposed notes relative to the base line.

Keyboard
The Keyboard view shows which keys are pressed, wheel positions, and labels for key ranges. You can assign colors and labels to sections.

Key Range
Key Range restricts a Part to play only within a chosen area of the keyboard.

Keyswitch
A keyswitch is a silent key that switches between articulations or Parts. Multiple keyswitches can be active at once.

Late Reflections
Late reflections are diffuse echoes that arrive after bouncing many times. They form the “wash” of reverb.

Legato
Legato smooths note transitions so they connect without retriggering. In sampling, legato triggers special transition recordings.

Legato Speed
Legato Speed sets how quickly transitions occur between legato notes.

Legato Time
Legato Time sets the maximum delay between notes for legato to trigger.

Legato Volume
Legato Volume adjusts the loudness of transition samples between legato notes.

LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator)
An LFO produces a repeating waveform at low frequency, used to modulate parameters like pitch, volume, or filter cutoff. Soundpaint provides up to eight LFOs assignable to multiple destinations.

Library
A library is a collection of instruments and samples, including multiple articulations and microphone positions.

Low-Pass Filter
A low-pass filter removes high frequencies while allowing lows to pass.
→ See also: High-Pass Filter

Manage Library and Part Directories
This menu tells Soundpaint where to find libraries, user Parts, and samples.

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
MIDI is a protocol for transmitting note, velocity, and control data between devices and software.

MIDI CC (Control Change)
MIDI CC messages control parameters in Soundpaint. You can map them to knobs, sliders, or wheels for real-time control.

Modulation
Modulation changes a parameter over time, such as pitch, volume, or filter cutoff. It can be applied via MIDI CC, automation, or internal controls.

Monoglide
Monoglide creates a smooth pitch slide between notes when played one after another in monophonic mode.

Monophonic (Legato)
Monophonic Legato only triggers one legato transition at a time, even if multiple notes are pressed.

Mono Threshold
Mono Threshold sets the minimum time after a note for legato to trigger in Monophonic mode.

Offset
Offset shifts the playback start point of a sample. It can cut off the initial transient or move playback later into the recording.

One Note Same
One Note Same maps a single sample across all keys, so every key plays the same pitch.
In practice: Useful for textures and effects where pitch variation isn’t desired.

One Note Stretch
One Note Stretch maps a single sample across the keyboard so each key plays it at a different pitch.

Panning
Panning places a sound within the stereo field from left to right.

Parts
A Part is a single collection of samples and the core building block of Programs. Soundpaint supports up to eight Parts at once, which are processed together when notes are played.

Permutation
Permutation changes the playback order of samples, adding variation to repeated notes.

Phaser
Phaser shifts the phase of part of the signal and mixes it with the original. This creates sweeping notches in the frequency spectrum.

Pitch
Pitch raises or lowers the tuning of a note.

Polyphonic (Legato)
Polyphonic Legato lets you play chords, with each note having its own legato transition.

Polyphonic Sequencer (Arp)
The Polyphonic Sequencer allows entire chords, not just single notes, to be placed on steps in the Arpeggiator.

Program
A Program is a saved configuration of Parts, effects, and settings that can be recalled at any time.

Rack Control
Rack Controls adjust how instruments and effects behave, either per Part or globally.

Randomizer
The Randomizer loads between one and eight Parts at random when the Dice icon is clicked. You can limit it to certain categories.

Release (ADSR)
Release sets how long a note fades after the key is released.

Release Trigger
A Release Trigger plays at the end of a note, simulating natural instrument release sounds.

Reverb
Reverb simulates how sound reflects in a physical space, from small rooms to large cathedrals.

Round-Robin
Round-Robin cycles through multiple recordings of the same note to avoid repetition.
In practice: Makes repeated notes like drum hits sound more natural.

Sample
A sample is a recorded sound used in playback. In Soundpaint, samples are real instrument recordings, not digital emulations.

Save Program to User Library
This option saves the current Program into your personal User Library.

Settings Menu
The Settings Menu contains global preferences, engine parameters, and account information.

Shop
Shop is a shortcut to the Soundpaint online store.

Sound Mode
Sound Mode sets how a Part’s notes are played. Options include Default, One Note Stretch, One Note Same, and Reverse, with additional controls for velocity, key range, panning, and triggers.

Standard Deep-Sampled (SDS)
SDS libraries use standard deep sampling with limited Round-Robin variations.
→ See also: Ultra Deep-Sampled (UDS)

Stereo Image
Stereo Image adjusts the width of the sound across the stereo field.

Sustain (ADSR)
Sustain sets the volume level that holds after the decay phase until the note is released.

Sustain Trigger
Sustain Triggers play the main sustained portion of an instrument’s sound.

Swing (Arp)
Swing shifts note timing in the Arpeggiator, turning straight rhythms into swung rhythms.

Time (Module)
The Time module changes sample playback speed without altering pitch.

Time Stretching
Time Stretching slows down or speeds up a sample while preserving pitch.

Tone
Tone adjusts the brightness or darkness of a sound by boosting or cutting frequencies.

Touch (Rack Module)
Touch provides global controls for pitch bend up, pitch bend down, and related performance parameters.

Trigger
Triggers are sample types you can toggle on/off for each Part. Options include Attack, Sustain, Legato, Release, Foot Pedal, and Dynamic Sustain.

UI Preferences
UI Preferences let you adjust interface behavior such as pop-ups, font size, window size, mouse settings, and automation.

Ultra Deep-Sampled (UDS)
UDS libraries record thousands of variations with near-infinite Round-Robin. This ensures repeated notes never sound identical.
→ See also: Standard Deep-Sampled (SDS)

Usage Stats
Usage Stats show CPU load, RAM usage, disk activity, and active voices in real time.

User Sampler Editor (USI)
The User Sampler Editor lets you map your own samples and create User Parts. Exported Parts can be added to your directory and loaded after a Full Rescan. Switch to User Libraries to access them.

Velocity
Velocity is how fast and hard you press a key, which affects how samples are triggered and how loud they play.

Velocity Block
Velocity Block prevents a Part from playing if the incoming note velocity falls outside a chosen range.

Velocity Curve
Velocity Curve adjusts how key velocity translates into volume response. You can make an instrument respond more aggressively or more softly.

Velocity Zoom
Velocity Zoom narrows the usable velocity range of a Part and maps it across the full 127 levels for finer control.

Voice
A voice is a single sample being played back. The total voice count shows how many samples are active simultaneously.

Volume
Volume controls overall loudness.

Volume Meter
The Volume Meter shows left and right channel levels in real time. When clipping occurs, the meters and volume slider turn red. Double-click the slider to reset.