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Decay (and not the dental kind)

2005-06-24 by Matthew Hiscock

Hi all,

I had a pretty basic "theory" question about how decay works in a 
(mono) modular:

Let's say I have a simple [keyboard -> vco -> vcf -> vca -> mixing 
desk] setup, and that I'm using an eg to control the vca.

When I press a key on the keyboard, it triggers a certain note on the 
vco and also makes the eg fire. Then when I take my finger off the 
keyboard, does that note instantly stop sounding at the vco level? I'd 
be inclined to think "yes" but then what about decay....

If I take my finger off the keyboard, the eg wants to have the signal 
continue - if there's no more signal, obviously the "decay" control is 
irrelevant.

Is it then the case that the vco in a modular is *always on* so that 
you *need* a vca to just selectively bring up the volume when a note is 
actually being played? And the purpose of voltage control is to just 
adjust the frequency, not turn the signal "on" or "off"?

I ask this because I'll be growing my modular (from just a filtering 
station) in very slow increments, so I want to make sure I get the 
order right.

thanks,
Matthew

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