Tiptop Audio VCA Voltage Controlled Amplifier Module

Tiptop Audio VCA is a full-featured, precision-calibrated analog voltage controlled amplifier. At its heart is a novel design of control circuitry, a function that lets you sweep continuously through three different response curves – logarithmic, linear, exponential – giving you all three shapes in a single module.

This special control circuitry design by Mr. Osamu Hoshuyama was adopted into the VCA module to make it a great-sounding synthesizer VCA with flexibility to address all duties: level control for both audio and CV modulation, gating audio into silence and amplitude modulation effects.

A VCA, sometimes referred to as an audio gate, is an essential module to any eurorack rig and no system is complete without one. The concept is an input, an output and a control that sets how much of the input signal passes through to the output.

A great VCA means minimal feedthrough of the control signal bleeding into the passing signal and minimal distortion applied to the passing signal. An excellent audio gate means minimal leakage of signal from IN to OUT when the control tells the VCA to fully close. These are the most critical conditions for a good sounding, good responding VCA and are what the Tiptop Audio design carefully addresses.

Two LED peak indicator lights on the front panel light up with incoming CV or audio signals. While a clipping indicator for audio is expected, clipping of CV is often overlooked and it's included here to visually maintain the full dynamic range of an envelope driving the VCA.

Tiptop Audio VCA lets you concentrate on creative uses rather than figuring out the module's anomalies. The result is an excellent sounding synthesizer VCA that's a joy to use and pleasing to hear.

• Features
• Analog VCA with a great sound
• Special control circuitry designed by Mr. Osamu Hoshuyama
• Sweep continuously through three response curves: logarithmic, linear and exponential
• Minimal leakage of signal from IN to OUT when the VCA is closed
• High-speed processing for amplitude modulation effects
• Clean and natural analog response, low distortion
• CV modulation as well as audio level controls
• Gating audio down to silent and sidechaining
• Peak indicator lights to detect audio and CV signal clipping
• Use lights to visually maintain the full dynamic range of an envelope driving the VCA
• Module controls
• LEVEL knob: sets output volume
• SHAPE knob: varies the response of incoming CV among logarithmic, linear and exponential curves
• OFFSET knob: opens and closes the VCA by adding CV offset
• CV IN knob: attenuates signals coming through CV IN jack
• Patch points
• CV input: input for voltage control over VCA level, attenuated by CV IN knob
• IN input: audio/CV input
• OUT output: main output of the VCA
• Physical specifications
• Size: 4hp
• Module depth: 31mm
• Power usage: 35mA @ +12V, 25mA @ -12V