SynthModules

--- In SynthModules@yahoogroups.com, "grantrichter2001" 
<grichter@a...> wrote:
> 
> > Quality? Let's look at signal-to-noise. According to the 
> Synthsizers.com
> > FAQ, the dotcom VCA has "a signal to noise ratio of 82db 
(CD 
> quality is
> > around 96db)." The MOTM-190 has a dynamic range of 
"better 
> than 100dB."
> > That's a very big difference.
> 

I should also mention power supplies. Your signal to noise ratio 
can not be any better than the power supply. Those 82 dB and 
100 dB specs are measured with a single module on the power 
supply, using minimum cable length. A 100 dB S/N ratio with a 3 
foot power cable can become a 82 dB S/N with a 6 foot power 
cable.

And if you add a VCO to the same supply, your S/N can go down 
to 40 or even 30 dB depending on the oscillator, power supply 
and wiring scheme.

The thing to do is to sort your modules by how much power 
supply noise they generate. Connect just a VCA to the power 
supply, set it to unity gain, add gain (20 - 30 dB) in the monitor 
system till you can hear the noise floor of the VCA itself. Then 
connect the different modules in the system one at a time to the 
same power supply and note any modules that cause a raise in 
the noise floor of the VCA (like VCOs will do).

Then put the quietest modules on one supply and the noisy 
ones on their own seperate supply.

You will need to do this with any brand of modular for best signal 
to noise performance.