[sdiy] 3340 oscillator - current limiting resistor equation is wrong?

[Oakley Sound]

 > I wonder why they did that? Better performance or the hope of fewer 
fried 3340s?

Better performance I think. If the supply voltage is kept below Vz then 
no power is dissipated by the zener and the chip runs cooler.

And, maybe the zener voltage won't be as stable as any external -5V 
supply. At least with an external supply all the VCOs are receiving the 
same supply and performance across the whole synth is likely to be more 
consistent.

Tony

www.oakleysound.com