Vst Jargon

Here's a quick explanation for noobs over what certain paramiters achieve with your soft synths:

ADSR

The four stages of a sound's envelope: Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release.

Analogue

When referring to synthesis, analogue means 'old' in that most analogue synths still create and shape sound in the same way that the first synths, built in the 60s did.

Envelope

The shape of the 'cross-section' of a sound affecting its volume over time. This can be changed to alter the overall impact of any particular sound or to emulate "real" instruments.

Filter

Basically they 'clean up' a sound by restricting certain frequencies and allowing others to pass through.

Frequency

The pitch of a note which can be measure through electrical pulse in Hertz. The higher the frequency, the higher the note sounds in pitch.

LFO

Low Frequency Oscillator. Basically an oscillator which produces very low-frequency sounds (almost too low to be heard by the human ear. (Also a kick ass group on warp records, Go get there albums... now).

Oscillator

The very first stage in the process of creating sounds, the oscillator produces a raw sound which is basically a crude buzz.

Pitch

The position of a certain note or sound in the frequency scale. To say a sound is 'high in pitch' is the same as saying it has a high frequency.

Timbre

Difficult to accurately define, the timbre is the 'feel' of a sound, in terms of harshness or mellowness.

Tremolo

A wobble in the sound created by tiny fluctuations in volume.

Vibrato

A wobble, similar to tremolo, but with rapid changes in pitch rather than volume. (can be useful when used on a bass ;) )