[sdiy] Linear vs. Exponential control of VCA's

[Grant Richter]

Moogs and ARPs have exponential (RC time constant) envelope generators with
linear VCAs.

Buchla developed the linear envelope as a truly general controller. An
exponential envelope does not work correctly for panning, as an example.

The East Coast school (Moog, ARP), which did not view envelopes as general
controllers, used exponential envelopes.

The West Coast school (Buchla, Serge) which consider an envelope to be a
fully general controller, use linear envelopes.

It is relatively easy to bend a linear envelope to exponential by feedback.
It is not as easy to straighten out an exponential envelope by feedback.


> I'm thinking a linear ramp generator driving an exponential VCA is the same as
> an exponential EG driving a linear VCA.
> I guess my question is, what are people using in their systems? What do some
> of the old classic systems (Moog, ARP, OB, etc.) use? Has anybody ever done
> any comparisons?
> 
> jorgen.bergfors at idg.se wrote:
>