Doepfer

Hi Steve,

I'd recommend reading at least parts of the SoS synth secrets articles:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/allsynthsecrets.htm

Part 9 on VCAs.

To be way over reductionist Mixer = add, VCA = multiply.

Martin

Sent from my iPhone

On 12 Nov 2013, at 05:19, <modular_steve@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Sorry for the (probably extremely) basic question!
>
> I'm having trouble understanding the difference between mixers and  
> VCA's. I have an idea that while there is a fair amount of overlap,  
> there are certain applications where it has to be one or the other.
>
> I hope someone is willing to set me straight.
>
> Thanks in advance!
> Steve
>
>

Hello Steve,

a VCA is an electronic volume fader. Instead of the knob you are using a 
control voltage. The A-132 is the most basic form of a VCA.

A (passive) mixer is several volume faders which sum up several input 
signals into a single output signal. It uses real faders or 
potentiometers with knobs. Sometimes there is also a knob for the output 
level. The A-138 has four inputs with knobs and a knob for the output.

A voltage controlled mixer is the same as a normal mixer, but it uses 
controlvoltages instead of knobs. (Doepfer does not have a real simple 
VC-Mixer. The A-135-1 is a combination of a passive signal adjustment 
and voltage controlled adjustment)


What might have you troubled is the A-130 and A-131. These are 
combinations of a two channel mixer (with knobs) and the output level is 
controlled by a voltage via a VCA.

And what might you trouble also: nearly each VCA module has also a knob 
which provides a voltage, that is used to control the VCA. So from the

Florian