newbie: vca mixer?

[Bissell, Harry]

It is really hard to match the performance of a good fader with a VCA. If
you need automated control, the VCA (or digital equivalent) is a must. For
synths, even a half-ass VCA (with respect to distortion and ultimate
attenuation) is usually fine... if you can get 60db down with the VCA, that
would be off, and any distortion might actually give you a sound you want.
The same VCA as a quality audio mixer, for CD recording etc. would be a
pitiful performer.  You might try National Semiconductor Comlinear division
for some chips... Jim Williams of (National) and Linear Tech has written
some good articles in EDN and Electronic Design magazines on really high-end
audio uses of these companies parts. If I can find the one I'm looking for
I'll get back with you. One had a really good VCA (but really complex...)
dbX makes some chips but I don't think you can get them unless you are a
licencee. Good Luck  Harry :-)

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Andras Muranyi [SMTP:murr at miwo.hu]
> Sent:	Thursday, February 04, 1999 3:11 PM
> To:	Synth-DIY mailing list
> Subject:	newbie: vca mixer?
> 
> Hi
> 
> I'm absolutely new to this list; in fact I didn't even have time to get
> used to the topics, feeling, etc, before posting - although this should
> be the right behaviour on lists like this.
> No, I dont have time to wait, 'couse I want to build boxes that make
> sound, ASAP! :)
> So forgive if my question doesn't fit in...
> 
> Q: How can I obtain information, (preferably schematics) on sound mixers
> that use VCAs instead of direct fader control? I heard that VCAs are the
> best alternatives of superb quality mixer parts - that are quite
> expensive, and still don't live forever...
> 
> 
> thanks and greetings
> 
> -- 
> * Andras Muranyi web-designer
> * mailto: murr at miwo.hu
> * http://alpina.honlap.net/