DOEPFER / A-132-3V Dual Liner/Exp VCA

Variations

This module is made by the German synthesizer manufacturer Doepfer. It consists of two identical voltage-controlled amplifiers (VCAs) and can process signals up to 16Vss (e.g., -8V to +8V) without distortion.

The A-132-3 consists of two identical voltage-controlled amplifiers (VCAs). Each VCA has a manual gain control and a CV input with an attenuator. The control scale characteristics can be switched between linear and exponential. All inputs and outputs are DC coupled. Therefore, the VCAs can handle both audio voltages and control voltages. The input does not have an attenuator, but it can handle signals up to 16Vss (e.g., -8V to +8V) without distortion.

Technical Notes
The special circuit ""CEM3360"" used in the initial version is no longer available, so the design had to be changed. Modules manufactured in the fall of 2010 use the VCA circuit ""SSM2164"". This circuit is still in production and works without problems. The main difference between the old and new versions of the module is that the old version with the CEM3360 had a maximum gain limited to ""1"". The new version, featuring the SSM2164, is not limited to a gain of ""1,"" and can achieve a gain higher than 1 by increasing the CV. The corresponding input level limits the output range to approximately +/-10V, potentially causing clipping and output distortion. In both linear and exponential modes, a gain of ""1"" is achieved at approximately the 8 position on the manual ""Gain"" control (i.e., the ""3 o'clock"" position).

Updated 2020: The special CEM3360 circuit is now being reproduced as the clone circuit ""AS3360,"" and has been manufactured again using the 3360 since spring 2019. The two versions can be identified by the circuit in the center of the PCB (CEM/AS3360 or SSM/V2164).

*Current stock in Japan uses the ""V2164.""

■Width: 8HP
■Depth: 50mm
■Current Consumption:
+12V: 30mA
-12V: 30mA