[sdiy] Waveform/source mixers in classic polysynths

[Richie Burnett]

I've noticed this too Tom, and am interested to hear people's comments.  I 
have no idea why linear pots are used in synths to mix oscillator volumes 
instead of the more usual log taper for audio mixing!

-Richie,



-----Original Message----- 
From: Tom Wiltshire
Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2017 9:29 PM
To: *SYNTH DIY
Subject: [sdiy] Waveform/source mixers in classic polysynths

The accepted wisdom is that audio mixers should use a log response rather 
than linear response. Audio mixers are usually equipped with log pots for 
this reason.

However, many polysynths have a waveform or oscillator/noise source mixer 
which usually uses linear control. Is there any reason for this?

Is it just that it was simplest when the obvious VCA to control a source’s 
level ahead of the filter was based on an OTA, which has a linear response?

Are there any examples of classic synths where this is *not* the case, and 
the waveform/source mixing is done with an audio/log response?

Background: I’ve been looking at old schematics again, for the Prophet 5 
(learning from the masters!). I suppose there’s an outside chance they did a 
Lin/log conversion in the software before they sent the CV out, but I 
seriously doubt it.

Thanks,
Tom

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Synth & Stompbox DIY
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