logo elektroda
logo elektroda
X
logo elektroda

How to Add LFO Modulation to VCA Circuit Without Clipping at Low Control Voltages?

42 6
ADVERTISEMENT
  • #1 21669871
    Patrick Edwards
    Anonymous  
  • ADVERTISEMENT
  • #2 21669872
    DAVID CUTHBERT
    Anonymous  
  • ADVERTISEMENT
  • #3 21669873
    Patrick Edwards
    Anonymous  
  • ADVERTISEMENT
  • #4 21669874
    DAVID CUTHBERT
    Anonymous  
  • #5 21669875
    DAVID CUTHBERT
    Anonymous  
  • ADVERTISEMENT
  • #6 21669876
    Patrick Edwards
    Anonymous  
  • #7 21669877
    DAVID CUTHBERT
    Anonymous  

Topic summary

The discussion addresses adding LFO modulation to an existing VCA circuit without causing clipping at low control voltages. The original VCA circuit uses a 4.5V key down and 0V key up control voltage feeding a 15k resistor into a 3906 PNP transistor with its base grounded, and the collector connected through a 10k resistor to the input bias of an LM3080 transconductance operational amplifier. The collector voltage swings from -15V (key up) to -12V (key down). The goal is to modulate this collector voltage with an LFO triangle wave swinging ±1.6V, such that the modulation depth scales with the control voltage: full swing (-15V to -12V) at 4.5V input, reduced swing at lower voltages, and zero output at 0V input. The LFO frequency range spans from 0.2 Hz to audio frequencies, with power supplies at +12V, -12V, -15V, and +5V. A proposed solution involves using an op amp to provide a voltage source output with a gain of approximately -2.67 to map 0-4.5V input to 0 to -12V output, replacing or supplementing the transistor stage. The op amp output, connected via a 10k resistor to the -15V node (input of the LM3080), can drive the node with the desired modulation current. To maintain a current source characteristic and reduce errors from transistor base current, replacing the PNP BJT with a P-channel MOSFET is suggested. Waveform examples confirm the modulation behavior, and the approach allows the modulation amplitude to scale with the control voltage, preventing clipping at low voltages.
Summary generated by the language model.
ADVERTISEMENT