VC Envelope Generator A

Marienberg Devices VC Envelope Generator A with advanced features

JLR NOTE: while the appearance of Marienberg modules is very Moog/Synthesizers.com like and the panels are indeed 5U tall, they use different widths and mounting hole specifications so mounting in cases with wooden rails will leave gaps and mounting to machined rails will likely be impossible without modifying the panel or drilling/tepping the rails. Also they recommend only using their own power supply, their power connectors are different from all other 5U manufacturers and some of their modules require a +3.3v rail in addition to the standard +-15v and sometimes +5v rails.

The VC Envelope Generator A is an exotic among envelope generators, as it offers not only voltage control ( CV ) of all four phases but also some very rare, if not unique, functions.

special functions

Time Compress : The control voltage input TC CV IN shortens the times for the attack , decay and release phases globally as the voltage increases. This can be used, for example, to synchronize the speed of a sequencer with that of the envelope. Or to simulate the physical properties of string instruments by shortening the decay time proportionally to the length of the string.

Retrigger : When activated ( On ), the envelope starts at 0 volts with each gate signal. This means that the capacitor is discharged before starting. When deactivated ( Off ), the envelope uses the current voltage value (of the previous envelope) as the starting point.

Auto Offset : The sustain voltage is used as a reference value. This value is always 0 volts, while the sustain value can be used to shift the envelope vertically. A potential shift of the envelope is achieved, with the voltage value of the sustain phase being defined as a new, virtual zero potential. The voltage of the entire envelope is thus shifted vertically by the sustain value. This can, for example, avoid the constant retuning of an oscillator if the envelope is used to control the oscillator frequency.

Dec to Rel : The decay control voltage is routed to the release value. This makes it possible to change two phases (decay and release) simultaneously using one control voltage. This function is extremely valuable and almost indispensable for fast solos.

Free / Forced Attack : This function is not included on the front panel, but can only be set via a jumper on the circuit board. With Free Attack , the release phase can be initiated at any time by deactivating the gate signal. With Forced Attack , the attack phase is always completed regardless of the gate signal.

Technical data

Temperature-stabilized exponential converter
Times for attack, decay and release from 1.5 ms to 10 s (logarithmic)
Time-Compress function
retrigger function
auto-offset function
Dec-To-Rel function
Free / Forced Attack function
1 CV input for the attack phase ( 0 – 10 V ), with attenuator
1 CV input for the decay phase ( 0 – 10 V ), with attenuator
1 CV input for the sustain phase, with attenuator
1 CV input for the release phase ( 0 – 10 V ), with attenuator
1 CV input for the time compression function
1 gate input
1 gate output for the attack phase
1 gate output for the decay phase
1 gate output for the sustain phase
1 gate output for the release phase
2 gate outputs for the beginning ( ON ) and end ( OFF ) of the envelope
1 envelope output

http://marienbergdevices.de/modular/uebersicht/vceg-a/