Analog compression

L-Fusion VCA module can also be paired with our (or third party) envelope follower to be used as a compressor. Compressor function attenuates high gain signal more compared to lower gain evening out overall signal strength.

When nothing is patched to positive voltage control VCAs are designed to stay open so their voltage could be attenuated via envelope follower patched to subtractive/negative socket. Envelope follower should have to be fed through an attenuator which sets compression ratio.

By evening out signal gain compressor actually lowers the overal volume which then has to be reamplified to normal levels.  Output  potentiometers in our VCA Eurorack module provide high gain of +12Db to compensate for gain loss without the need of external amplifiers.

Our Envelope Follower

Sidechain Compression

Sidechain compression lowers one signal strength when another signal is present. This is typically used with signals of similar frequencies such as kick drum lowering the gain of a low frequency base line. Kick signal is sent to envelope follower and then its envelope is used to lower synth gain.

Ducking

To save VCAs it is possible to use the same VCA for synth gain control via CV+ input and sidechain signal strength reduction fed from envelope that would reduce the gain. This method is called ducking however it is not a real sidechain compression as this way the signal fed to CV- simply gets subtracted from the positive envelope and zeroed if it becomes negative.

Real sidechain compression

Real sidechain lowers the actual signal according to CV- gain. Gain control voltage gets divided instead of subtracted resulting in much higher dynamic range and accuracy.

Quality module components

Module is bult with high quality electronic components. All potentiometers are precision closed shaft Alpha variety with rubber knobs for soft touch, easy grip and tactile feedback.

Module consists of 8 analog SSI2164 VCA blocks + 38 OpAmps – 317 components in total. Al OpAmps are audio grade from Texas Instruments, with very low drift and offset rated at 0.5milivolt. All OpAmps in audio path are ultra-high dynamic range Soundplus/Burr-Brown type making sure of excellent audio quality and supply voltage noise rejection.

Power saw wave shape

Power saw wave shape: When ring modulator module is paired with our Dual Triangle VCO module and patched saw and pulse waves from the same oscillator it can generate a very interesting wave shape that consists of ramp wave inside of saw wave. Pulse wave can then be modulated with CV which affects the proportion of saw and ramp inside the pattern.

Our Dual VCO Module

2.0 Module update

Upgraded module version has 4 layer PCB layout for ultra low noise as well as trimmers to adjust ring modulation / crossfading balance.

Precision analog calculations

Module performs analog calculations with 0.1% precision sourced from high end voltage reference from Analog Devices. Module is carefully designed using 4 layer PCBs to filter out noise and minimize crosstalk between different VCA channels. We have added plenty of decoupling for all ICs using on high end US Kemet and Japanese Nichicon capacitors.

Plan your Eurorack synthesizer on ModularGrid

Our Quad VCA module is available on ModularGrid where  you can visually build your own Euroack synthesizer rack, also view synthesizers that other artists have built using this module.

Our VCA on ModularGrid