VCAS

INVESTIGATE D
PART THREE
Ben Duncan continues his survey of FIG 2: Typical gain control law of
`industry standard' VCAs, with ICs from emitter -driven CRT class of VCA
(includes model 1537A, MTA -1537 and
all the manufacturers covered so far and VCA 1001). The `deci -linear' or
logarithmic portion produces a nearly
outlines the test procedures to be used linear rate -of- change or perceived SPL

in their evaluation set up, a circuit of this kind requires precision,

low drift op -amps and close tolerance, low tempco
resistors. The extra cost and complexity of these
parts needs to be borne in mind when
comparisons are made.
In being the first to promote and use a new
species of VCA topology, Aphex have some
TR7f TR8 suggestions as to why the log -antilog VCAs they
experienced pre-1978 have been described in some
OUTPUT OUTPUT
( +) ( -) quarters as imparting a sound that's `compressed',
TR 1 TR2 TR3 TR4 `grungy' and 'undetailed'. Aside from the
objections dealt with in Part Two, npn and pnp
transistors made with existing technology
CONTROL inevitably exhibit different gain-bandwidth
INPUT products across the scale of collector currents (in
BIAS O O VBIAS
TR6 TR7 A2 the future, this might all change with new
processes). So at high frequencies, the two halves
of the signal will develop different and complex
5rJ?Ji O--^/H/- INPUT distortion spectra. Second, Aphex point to music's
asymetric power envelope modulating the core
O vs
devices' emitter junction temperatures, as a cause
of distortion. Whether it's clearly audible or not,
one thing's certain: it won't be evident in
FIG 1: Simplified schematic of B &B 1537A VCA 'industry standard' tests carried out with
continuous sinewaves.
Aphex and the monolithic manufacture. And they can readily be
either npn (as shown) or (if you want to be
In 1987, during development of a new expander -
gate (now known as the 612), the contemplation of
emitter -driven VCA awkward) pnp-achieved by flipping the circuit on
its head and reversing all the arrows. Like
a new generation of products, Aphex decided they
needed a better VCA, one which would extend the
Aphex Systems Ltd entered the VCA arena in Gilbert's original current -ratioing dynamic performance of the 11- year-old 1537A,
1978, when they began using and marketing the transconductance VCA, the 1537A and its considered by Aphex still to be the best available.
1537 VCAtt, designed and patented between '76 derivatives have a preferred maximum gain of In turn, they've recently released a completely
and '78 by B &B (Baskind, Bissot & Associates). 0 dB. So much explains Aphex's preference for the new VCA of their own design. Their VCA -1001
As a processor manufacturer with a mission to term VCAtt. The AGC circuit's inherent builds on the symmetrical AGC circuitry used in
make its wares as transparent as possible, the bandwidth (typically »1 MHz) and high the 1537. With the latest linear IC fabrication
problems Aphex encountered with the VCAs readily frequency linearity is potentially far in advance of facilities, the transistor geometries have been
available at the time (they were all log -antilog log-antilog types, regardless of gain setting. Over optimised for a closer approach to truly
types) were overcome by employing a variant of on the roundabouts, its gain control law, while isothermal conditions. Compared to the 1537A,
the classic CRT cell (see Fig 6, Part One, June logarithmic below -12 dB, changes to a linear Aphex believe their VCA -1001 has wider dynamic
1989). In this kind of topology' (sometimes called curve when the attenuation command traverses range, and better stability when hit by fast
`the AGC format', and previously developed for -12 dB to 0 dB (Fig 2). With a straight control slewing control signals. Control feedthrough is
modulating or multiplying RF signals), are the signal (as produced by a manual, linear fader or specified at typically 10 times less than the
same two differential amplifiers (TR1 -4), coupled linearly rising /falling voltage), the rate -of-change 1537A, or 100 times less than "many log-antilog
back -to -back (Fig 1). Only this time, the audio of signal voltage in the upper reaches would VCAs ".
input is effectively coupled to their emitters. sound highly non -linear. Aphex's VCA -1001 incorporates much of the
Before being applied, the incoming audio is both Yet in certain processor applications, notably external front -end circuitry required with the
summed with one half of the control signal and compressors, the progressive change of law close 1537A, making its performance less dependent on
converted into current by op -amps (Al and A2). to unity gain has been found to be quite useful! layout and physical compactness. A bandwidth of
Note the input and output ports are differential, Besides, the preferred deci -linear control law can several MHz is feasible along with a generous
ie inherently balanced. be closely approached by placing piecewise slew rate, one that remains comfortably beyond
Once again, the four cell transistors are of like correction circuitry in line with the control port audio requirements, even under worst case
polarity, easing the task of precisely matched (Fig 3). For accurate tracking in a multichannel circumstances. Altogether, Aphex claim the 1
59

www.americanradiohistory.com
 478R
CONTROL TO 1537A
INPUT TYPE VCA
1k0 CONTROL
Ok0 10k0 INPUT PIN
30R9
C
inF

CURVE
TRIM

0
9k1

3k83

20kB
1k69

FIG 5: BSS Audio's substractive technique

1k0

Fig 3: .Typical piecewise correction network

This circuit converts the control voltage to a deci-linear law
between 0 and -10 dB, removing the curvature seen in Fig 2

VALLEY
INTERNATIONAL
EGC -107 VCA CORE ME
CONSTANT

J-FET SINKS EXCESS BIAS

WHEN SIGNAL LEVEL «OBBu

STANDARD VALLEY INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT

FIG 4: MTA 1537 internal schematic FIG 6: Audio Kinetic's sliding bias Class -A VCA
Q VCA -1001 is `approximately 10 times better' than Associates was reorganised to market the originally been made on the results of listening
the next best available VCA `in nearly all MTA -1537 directly. tests; later on, it may have been warped by the
measurable aspects'. designer's, accountant's and buyer's own
According to Aphex's literature, low bass is said prejudices, for in manufacturing quantities, the
to sound cleaner, which makes sense if the
VCA- 1001's thermal characteristics mean music's Voltage controlled prices of the OEM VCAs we've looked at ranges
from under £2 (approx $3.00) to over £15.
LF power envelope is inciting less thermal
modulation. Modulation noise is quoted at 1 dB, a alternatives A minority of VCA and equipment
manufacturers have struck out in directions of
great improvement compared to some prior VCA The VCA ICs and transistor arrays discussed so their own, squaring the circle of cost versus
art. Finally, the VCA -1001 differs from all the far are the ones found in the majority of pro -audio performance by elegant means. In their 202X
other OEM VCAs we've looked into, since Aphex equipment. With different approaches to design module (1984) and, later, the 202XL (1986), dbx
quite understandably reserve the right to use it and production, each excels in different ways. have been making use of the partial noise
exclusively in standalone signal processors. Which model appears under the covers hinges on cancellation achieved by paralleling integrated
Otherwise, it's available under a no cost licence to the weighting given by the manufacturers to price VCA cores. For example, two VCA cores in shunt
"OEM manufacturers for use in most other and to the different areas of measured produce 3 dB more noise than one but they can
applications ". performance vis-à -vis the VCA's purpose. If you're also handle 6 dB more signal, so dynamic range is
uncertain as to whose VCA is inside your effectively extended by 3 dB. For dbx, the cost of
favourite FX processor, console or automation paralleling several ICs, like the 2151, is less than
system, the information in Table 1 and Table 2 designing and marketing a lower noise IC from
VCA Associates will aid identification. The choice may have scratch: a significantly reduced noise level would
otherwise require an ultra large geometry device,
VCA Associates was founded in 1979 as a
research partnership, to develop an advanced
VCA for pro-audio, based on circuits devised by
Technical and a correspondingly large dice. So yields would
be low and prices doubly high. The elegance of

David Baskind and Harvey Rubens (one time

director of engineering at Aphex and chief
definitions and dbx's shunt-configuration is that an IC that was
designed nearly 10 years ago and is already in
engineer at Aphex, respectively). Their work',
using 'semi- custom' fabrication led to the Aphex
abbreviations high volume production can service modern
pro -audio requirements.
AGC: Automatic Gain Control BSS's range of processors involves a different
1537A, hailed as the first fully monolithic (audio -
ASB: (class) A Sliding Bias train of thought. Realising that no VCA is
grade) VCA operating in Class A. It was initially
CP: Conductive Plastic perfectly transparent, designers Stan Gould and
marketed through Aphex Systems. In 1984, VCA
CRT: Current Ratioing Transconductance Chas Brooke have literally reconfigured the audio
Associates began to design their own upgrade, the
(type of VCA) signal path. Looking at Fig 5, the VCA in BSS's
MTA -1537, using `full- custom' fabrication (Fig 4).
dice: the innards of a chip DPR-402 compressor/limiter /de -esser is placed
As every good IC designer intends, the cost is
DIL: Dual In Line (package) outside the direct signal path. The direct and
lower, while the new IC's specification claims
DUT: Device Under Test VCA'ed signal are subtracted from each other by
improved performance. Like the VCA -1001 and
NFB: Negative Feedback Al, a differential amplifier. When programme is
original 1537A, device yield is good enough for
RFO: RF Oscillation (>20 kHz) below threshold, the signal doesn't `see' the VCA
the distortion or SYM (symmetry) trimpot found
SIL: Single In Line (package) at all. Above threshold, noise and distortion
in most other VCA circuits not to be required.
ZOL: Zero Operating Level products are added gradually, and only in the
When the MTA -1537 was released in 1985, VCA
same ratio as the subtracting coefficient. D
60 Studio Sound, August 1989

www.americanradiohistory.com
TOTAL CONTROL
If you are looking for a versatile com-
pact loudspeaker, a little control might
be in order Specifically, the JBL Con-
trol 1. It's the smallest system in the
famous JBL Control Series. The Con-
trol 1 combines the well known JBL
sound with a unique approach to en-
closure construction. Molded from
dense polypropylene structural foam,
the enclosure is both nonresonant
and very durable.
The 130 mm low fre-
quency driver is matched to a 19 mm
high frequency device by a sophisti-
cated dividing network incorporating
a power protection unit. As a bonus,
both drivers are magnetically shield-
ed, making the Control 1 ideal for
JBL Control 5
audio /video applications.
Where space permits, the Control 5 offers even more con-
trol. Using the same construction techniques as the Control 1, the Control 5's
larger enclosure permits the use of a 165 mm low frequency driver for better
sensitivity and extended bass response. JBLs remarkable 25 mm pure tita-
nium high frequency unit extends your control beyond the limits of human
hearing. A dividing network featuring the highest quality corn ponents, bypass
capacitors and a power protection device complete the system. As in the
Control 1, both drivers in the Control 5 are magnetically shielded, permitting
use near video monitors without sending the picture out of
control.
By now you should be getting the picture:
the JBL Control 1 and Control 5 put you in control of all JBL
your sound decisions. Total control.

AUSTRIA: w Fi Stereo Center Münchner Burdesstra0e 42, 5013 Salzburg BELGIUM: Bdtronics N.V. SA, Rue de la Célidée straat 29, B-1080 Brussels DENMARK: AudoNord Danmark A/S, Vester Allé 7 8000 Aarhus C.
UNITED KINGDOM: Harman (Audit) UK Ltd., Unit B, Mill Street, Slough, Berks, SL2 SDD. FINLAND: Studiovox KY, Atomitie 5C, 00370 Helsinki. FRANCE: Harman France SA, Peripde 243, 33 avenue du Maréchal de
Larve de lassigny 94127 Fontenay s43ds Cédex. GREECE: Lyric Hi Fi, 7 Stournara St, 10683 Athens. HOLLAND: AEG Nederland N.V, Aletta, Jacobslaan Z 1066 BP Amsterdam. ICELAND: Stein DanieIsson, Skulagata 61,
PO tiPx 5066, 125 Reykjavik ISRAEL Sikma Trade International Ltd.. 19 Echad Haam St, 66541 Tel Aviv ITALY: Linear Italian SPA., Via Arbe 50, 20125 Milano. NORWAY: Erling Neby A/S, Ryenbergvn 70, Oslo 6.
PORTUGAL Valentim de Carvalho Ci SARL Rua Nora do Almada, 9599, 1200 Lisboa. SPAIN: EAR PRO, Sant Gervasi de Cassoles, 17 08022 Barcelona. SWEDEN: Septon Electronic AB, Box 4048, S-421 04 Vastra
Frdlurda. SWITZERLAND: Musica AG, Ramistra0e 42,8024 Zürich WEST GERMANY: Harman Deutschland GmbH, Hürderstrasse 1, 7100 Heilbronn

www.americanradiohistory.com
Q At the same time, the
VCA's dynamic
TABLE 1 Identifying proprietary VCAs
Manufacturer and model Description
TASCAM
characteristics are Aphex VCA -1001 Black 18 -pin DIL IC with gold- painted European Distributors
turned on their head: aluminium heat- spreader plate glued to
top Hi -FiStereo Center Kain
when driven at unity Muenchner Bundesstrasse 42,
dbx 2151 Black 8 -pin SIL IC
gain by high levels, dbx 202 -XL 20x50 mm PCB 5013 Salzburg,
SSM 2014 Black 16 -pin DIL IC AUSTRIA.
distortion is exchanged Tel: (06621 37701
by noise, which is more
Valley EGC-101 Blue plastic, DIL module
Valley TA -101 Green, square plastic box Beltronics
easily masked by signal. VCA Assocs MTA -1537 Black 14 -pin DIL IC Rue de la Celidee Straat 29,
BSS's design is 1080 Brussels,
restricted to attenuating BELGIUM.
TABLE 2 VCAs in commercial equipment Tel: 132) 2 424 0233
over a 30 dB range, VCA Users (Application and product name)
which is all one needs Aphex VCA -1001 Aphex (processors); Pacific Recorders So and Hoyem A /S,
for everyday processor dbx 2151 Audio & Design, BSS Audio, dbx, Orban Bulowsgarden,
(all processors) Bulowsvej 3,
functions. Attenuation Amek, Calrec, Soundcraft, Soundtracs 1870 Frederiksberg C,
can go lower if anyone (all automation) DENMARK.
Tel: (011 22 44 34
wants to trim individual dbx 202-XL SSL (automation)
SSM 2014 'BournsiPMI adhere to a policy of
subtractive losses at HF. commercial confidence' Studiovox Ky,
BSS adhere to the school Valley TA.101, EGC.101 Valley, Symetrix, UREI (processors), Audio Atomitie 5C,
SF -00370 Helsinki,
of engineering that Kinetics, Harrison Systems, Yamaha
(automation); Audiotronics, Cinedco, FINLAND.
prefers to avoid trimpots Neumann, McCubbin Electronics, Neotek, Tel: (80) 562 3411
on the basis that Protech, Sontec, Sound Workshop Harman France,
anything that can be (unspecified) Peripole 243,
VCA Assocs MTA -1537 Hill Audio, Musically Intelligent Devices 33 Av. de Lattre de Tassigny,
misaligned, will be- (Mega -mix), Steinberg Research (Mimix), 94127 Fontenay s /Bois Cedex,
sometime, somewhere. Twister Console Automation, Walker FRANCE.
This raises the question Pro -Mix (all automation); Ampex, B &B, Tel: (01) 4876 1 144
Ensoniq, Gauss, Ivie, McCurdy, Sony Pro -
(carefully phrased by Audio (processors and unspecified) Elina SA,
audio counsel) 'to what 59/59A Tritis Septemvrious St.,
extent have VCA applications configured to Athens 103,
optimised for a different range of currents, with GREECE.
require multiple or critical trimming for audibly an overlap. Their combined behaviour is akin to a Tel: (01) 8220 037
coherent performance, amounted to the placing of twin choke carburettor. With high levels of Greenlands Radio Centre,
a time -bomb under their maker's reputation each attenuation, the noise floor reduces in proportion PO Box 119,
time the equipment is serviced ?' to output, maintaining a more nearly constant 3900 Godthab,
Audio Kinetics have a patented technique that GREENLAND.
noise floor, down to the universal limits (circa Tel: 299 21347
boosts the performance of Valley's discrete log- -130 dBu at 20 °C). Hawksford concludes that a
antilog VCAs. In their MasterMix automation GBC Italiana spa,
parallel array of cascaded cells would yield still TEAC Division,
modules, a Valley International (aka Allison) further enhancement, in turn expanding and Viale Matteotti, 66,
ECG-101 VCA core is configured in a circuit that cleansing the upper reaches of the dynamic range Cinisello Balsamo, Milan,
closely follows Valley's application note but with ITALY.
of CRT VCAs. Improvements of this kind will be Tel: (02) 618 1801
the addition of variable biasing to overcome the valuable if the signal path in analogue systems is
typical 6 dB reduction in noise with every 10 dB to continue to boast a clear lead in SNR over its
Hljodriti
PO Box 138,
- Hot Ice,
of attenuation. In other words, a 4 dB loss of digital cousins. Hafnarfirdi,
SNR for every 10 dB of attenuation is fended off ICELAND.
using a technique that amplifier designers call Tel: 1011 53776
`Class A sliding bias'. With no signal present, or AEG Nederland NV,
signals well below 0 dBu, output noise is greatly
reduced, as the FET, in Fig 6 shunts bias current
Testing VCAs Aletta Jacobslaan 7,
1066 BP
NETHERLANDS.
Amsterdam,

away from the core, according to its Ioss (off-state

current sinking) rating. When the signal
for real Tel: 10201 5105 473
Audiotron A /S,
approaches line levels (>0 dBu) the level sensing Still confused about which VCA performs best? Seilduksgt, 25,
PO Box 2068 Grunerlokka,
connected to the FET's gate progressively drives Each of the manufacturers is dutifully adamant 0505 Oslo 6,
the FET off, ultimately unleashing the full bias that their particular VCA is nearly as good as the NORWAY.
current-enough to provide low distortion best, if not better. As is so often the case, numeric Tel: (021 352 096
operation comfortably beyond the system comparison from data sheets isn't made easy Goncalves,
headroom. The sensing circuit's time constants seeing how widely the scope, depth and accuracy Avenida 5 de Outubro, 53, 1,
have been carefully chosen. Attack time is 200 Ns, Lisboa 1,
of the information varies, along with test
PORTUGAL.
while the decay time is set to avoid audible bias conditions. The scope for masking the truth Tel: (01) 544029
modulation at 20 Hz. multiplies as soon as we look at VCA's in situ.
Audio Profesional SA,
Over the past decade, Dr Malcolm Hawksford Scattered across 101 brands of equipment, each Paseo Maragall 120,
(lecturer at The Dept of Electronic Systems would be saddled with different approaches to Entlo 3a,
Engineering, Essex University) has published a PCB layout, decoupling, alignment and general 08027 Barcelona,
SPAIN.
series of papers analysing shortcomings in diverse QA, let alone grounding technique. To check out Tel: 1931 349 7008
areas of audio electronics, and suggesting some the OEM VCAs in this way would save a lot of Erato Audio Video AB,
radical new approaches. These include a fresh bother but it would be unfair to their makers, and Aeogatan 115,
look at VCAs'-'. He reaches the conclusion that ultimately, uninformative. 116 24 Stockholm,
SWEDEN.
all current- steering translinear circuits (yet To push forward everyone's understanding of Tel: (08) 743 0750
another name for CRT, Current Ratioing where VCA technology stands as the 1980's draw
Telion AG,
Transconductance VCAs) have a distortion to a close, nine of the different VCA techniques Albisriederstrasse 232,
residual or baseline more or less independent of we've looked into were tested using Audio 8047 Zurich,
attenuation. So with high attenuation, distortion Precision's System One PC- driven test set. I first SWITZERLAND.
Tel: (011 493 1515
approaches and (neglecting residual noise) used the AP over four years ago. Since then, it
ultimately exceeds the output signal. Hawksford has become the daily tool of enough pro-audio Teac Deutschland GmbH
argues that this shortcoming in the CRT class of Bahnstrasse 12,
manufacturers, designers and reviewers to become 6200 Wiesbaden -Erbenheim,
VCAs is fundamental. a solid point of reference. As most of the VCAs WEST GERMANY.
Aiming for a dynamic range >120 dB at 1 kHz are in the form of ICs or modules for OEM use, Tel: (06121) 71 580
(meaning that current levels in the cell are this wasn't a task for the fainthearted: they had
spanning a rnillionfold), Hawksford describes a to be assembled from component parts together
TASCAM
circuit containing cascaded VCAs. Each VCA is with their associated support circuitry. Having
62 Studio Sound, August 1989

www.americanradiohistory.com
 -she M -700 TASCAM's new top of the
is

range console. This sophisticated,

automation ready, in -line console has been
designec for the highest audio quality and
engineered to fulfil the most demanding
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the earth Before you check out the price
however, check out these features:

40 channel, 32 group output in -line architecture

Quad panning, 2 stereo and 8 mono Aux send
busses per channel Two signal paths in each
module 4 -band equalization per module
Variable HPF EQ section assignable to Chanrel
or Monitor signal path FLIP switches locally
swap charnel microphone in /line in and monitor
source /return signals (overridden in the master
console mode) SUB switches on the channel
modules allow the corresponding channel to be
used as a sub -group master Post/pre

SOUNDS LIKE A EQ switchable insert points

switchable in -place or AFL /PFL sole
modes with in -place solo defeat

VERY EXPENSIVE switches on the channel modules

permit solo monitoring of multiple
channels Master console mode switches (REC,

CONSOLE 'B, MIX) select eight charnel input, monitor

nput, group input and meter input combinations
Three group mute switches on the master
;ection logically linked to channel module mute
;elect switches Flexible control room /studio
:ommunication facilities Integral patch bay.

Now give us a call to arrange a demonstration

and check out what is arguably the M -700's best
=eature Is price.
fou'It make your accountants as happy as ycur
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Tel 0923 225235 Fax 0523 36290

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www.americanradiohistory.com
Q done this, I can reveal that having to design and second sample to be readily tested if required. sectional area of 1 mm'. Powering was from a lab
build the equipment before you review it is a true Where the maker's recommended circuits supply with low ripple and noise (< -90 dBu) and
experience. indicated close tolerance resistors, 0.5%, 50 nominally low source impedance across the audio
Testing the OEM VCAs in this way -at PPM / °C parts were used. Supply rails were band (<2 ml1), degraded to around 50 mS1 below
component level -means that data gained won't generously decoupled, care being taken to return 100 Hz by the intervening supply connections and
be diminished (by an unknown and variable the larger +ve and -ve capacitors to a common finite decoupling impedance. A second, identical
amount) through the engineering compromises point on the 0 V bus. Bus resistance was kept low lab supply was used to supply the fairly large
that lurk to some extent in real equipment, where by tinning with solder, giving an effective cross (>1 V) control voltages required by the Aphex,
the VCA is but a small part of the whole. PMl and VCA Associate's VCAs.
Isolating VCAs from as much superfluous 50k- SYMMETPT ADJUST For dbx's 2151 IC (Fig 7), a precision voltage
circuitry as possible has its limits though: All the source (Fig 8) was assembled with an emphasis on
OEM VCAs depend on one or more op -amps
150
keeping noise off the control voltage -in view of
(mostly NE5534 and 5532), whose own anomalies the the sensitivity of the 2151's control port. dbx's
aren't easily excluded from measurements. 4
202 -XL module and Valley's TA-101 shared the

MIM
2151 B

Examining the maker's data sheets, each offers AUDIO IN

4 3 5 i AUDIO
same CV source. Fig 9 shows the values adopted
a range of circuit recipes like 'stereo on a tight
OUTPUT
in the 202 -XL's external support circuitry.
budget' or 'reduced feedthrough'. In each instance SSM's 2014 was fitted-up on their purpose -made
the 'best standard circuit' was selected. Standard evaluation PCB. Looking at the circuit in Fig 10,
means 'no frills' -it's probably the circuit most }470V, NP Class A and A -B operation were selected by
equipment makers use, in most of their products. switching the bias setting resistor. Despite
To assist readers who wish to verify the results CV
- 20 TO .240mv, VOLTAGE NOISE
consultations with the maker, a 'bubble' of RFO
for themselves the tests provide background <- 108°BU,20Ri TO 201041 increasing with progressive attenuation and
details to be read in conjunction with the test aggravated by 'A-B' Class operation, proved
configuration schematics presented in Fig 7 to FIG 7: dbx 2151 test circuit impossible to get rid of. With another chip
Fig 14. sample, the symptoms receded a little, enough to
make testing feasible. After the tests were
15V
completed, SSM shipped over a ready -stuffed

Test methodology board which worked perfectly. Although

CONTROL
POT SWINGS
TO -V
CV OUTPUT superficially identical it soon became apparent

and configuration
TO 2151,202 -XL
AND TA -101 that the board tested by myself was an escaped
NE5534
100yF 470AR 'Version 1.0', with a different and clearly
In the instances where the sample ICs weren't iDOyF
470ÚF defective track layout. It's a pity neither board
supplied with evaluation boards, circuits were had an ident, which would have meant the
assembled on Fibreglass Veroboard. Great care -VE MIRROR
problem could have been rectified earlier on.
was taken to keep circuit connections ultra -short
IMAGE CIRCUITRY Valley's TA -101 array was constructed
and direct, notably the VCA cell's (current) according to the standard application circuit
output, which is particularly sensitive to shown in Fig 11 (to be read in conjunction with
FIG 8: Control voltage source Fig 3, Part Two, July 1989). It was the only OEM
extraneous magnetic pickup. DIL and SIL ICs (low noise configuration, for log-antilog D
were mounted in turned -pin sockets, allowing a VCAs)' VCA to retain a BiFET (TLO series) op -amp in its

15 5V
T15 5v 47pF
1OOpF
4(7pF SEE FIG 13 FOR
1000F CORE DETAILS
II II
1COn

INPUT 1Ok TA
101

AUDIO 556 (-noVV,-0 L071

k3 47R

{
INPUT DIFFERENTIAL
220R
CONTROL INPUTS NE5534
NE5534 AUDIO 155V
OUTPUT
k

-155V
CV
CV INPUT
V411 10k
INPUT
(DERIVED
FROM
§= 100k, SYMMETRY TRIM
FROM
FIG 10
OUTPUT)
2 TL072 i TL072

FIG 10
OUTPUT)

FIG 11: Valley TA -101 test circuit

(based on Valley 'Fig 1, VCA-300' schematic)

FIG 9: dbx 202 -XL test circuit

FIG 12: MAT-04 test circuit

Developed around PMI's MAT-04 'super- matched' quad array,
this VCA circuit is a variant of 1537A topology, built from
FIG 10: SSM 2014 appli test circuit discrete parts with an unbalanced input and output
65

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 THD readings above 3 kHz disappeared when the
TRIM 3
R7 00001 -15V LF353 (BiFET) input op -amp specified in Aphex's
4099 TP1m.- TRI
0k preliminary data sheet was substituted by
-M-
124'h0l UIB OOR
00x0
413
499x Cl
1(
1pF_
O
NE5532. This change was incorporated in the test
AUD, 1UTi
LE 353N,
unit supplied. Additionally, the values of the
INVII'
V NE5532 Rl 1000
95 _
.1000 B
R1 4999 15V input IC's associated resistors were cut by half
AUDIO
R,4
OUTPUi (original values are those marked * in Fig 13).
R2 4k99 3 L73
+
41.46553214
33R Otherwise, the circuit values were identical to the
._ 15V
original test fixture. The figures that follow are
R4 10x3 based on this unit. The Veroboard version was
10pF later retested and found to give similar results
R,R
3617 21185 R19 tOhO TZ7
except for the excess noise.
LE 353P
LAB SUPPLY NOISE- FILTER,
ADDED TO TE5T CIRCUIT
VCA Associates' sample IC failed to materialise
I,
L
1.263 NULL
MEEDTWROUGN v
COMMON ONO
R20 /10
in time. To make some kind of test possible, Hill
CV .O TO +11V DC Audio kindly agreed to loan a Concept Series
° 5 10k0
S,ORF mixer module containing a VCA based on the
b MTA -1537. The channel strip was modified to
FIG 13: Aphex VCA -1001 test circuit allow direct links to the VCA and its supporting
circuitry (Fig 14), and powered by Hill's own PS -1
PART VALUES supply. The control input (connected to the
R167 (BASED ON MTA -1537 FULL
IMPLEMENTATION APPLICATION
channel's automation socket) made a direct
FROM FADER
BUFFER
+
' IC14a
14 1 9 CIRCUIT
PR2 50k (FEEDTHROUGH NULL )
connection to the VCA, without RC filtering. Fig
7 10 B
R152. 1M5 8161. 21R5 12 shows the IC's configuration. Overall, the
R153 =100 R162. 538R
6 IC15 OUTPUTS TO R154.101( 8164. 2049 handicap must be borne in mind; without casting
DIFFERENT. R155 3032 R163 4099
PR2 8163 IVC AMP
=

-V _ C70 3 13 R158 20h

R156,7. 3932 IC 13010
any aspersions on Hill Audio's implementation,
MTA -1537 NE5532
8166.67. 3932
C130 2 R164
IC 14010
MTA -1537 might have performed even better on a
+ CV, (0 -5V)
4 6 R165 compact, purpose -built evaluation board.

-
1

TO 5 PIN DIN

Audio Kinetic's Sliding Bias method was

R160

g R162
Ictao
+
R16B
TO MUTE AND BUS
SELECT SWITCHES
evaluated in the form of their MasterMix module.
A CP rotary pot was fitted and the module's
digital control facilities were defeated with
FIG 14: MTA -1537 test circuit jumper links set by the maker. In being supplied
(part of Hill Audio Concept series mixer module) ready -for -use, it was assumed to be pre- tested, so
the trimpots were left untouched. Malcolm
d audio signal path and should be judged in this other than adjusting compensation capacitors to Hawksford's cascaded VCA is no abstraction.
light, particularly at HF, and for gain commands trim RF stability and changing op-amps when Hawksford kindly loaned his prototype, which
above unity. there was a good reason to do so, all the other came ready boxed with an integral control pot,
I was intrigued by an application note in the VCAs were constructed strictly according to the and simply required plugging-in. Again, the
PMI (Precision Monolithics Inc) IC data book, maker's standard recipe. trimpots were assumed to be pre- trimmed.
showing an emitter -driven CRT -type VCA similar The remainder of the VCAs were tested as Next month Ben Duncan will give an evaluation
in topology to the 1537A (Fig 12). It's presented completed assemblies in one form or another. of VCAs with many detailed measurements
as an audio application for PMI's MAT-04, a Aphex's VCA -1001 IC was straightforward, being covering nine of the VCA schemes featured in this
super- matched quad array of large geometry NPN configured on Veroboard according to the circuit series.
transistors. If Valley's TA -101 constitutes a VCA in Fig 13. However, owing to the VCA- 1001's References
building block, why not the MA T-04? very low residual and either my imperfect 1 David Baskind, Harvey Rubens & Gary Kelson,
Like any other VCA, the performance of the The design and integration of a high
soldering or knowledge of optimum component performance voltage controlled attenuator, AES
MAT-04 is dependent on the discrete circuit built positioning (something that even equipment preprint 1555, 64th Convention NYC, 1979
around it. The originally specified OP41 and makers can only discover empirically), Aphex held 2 Malcolm Hawksford, 'Low distortion
programmable gain cell using current steering
OP27 op -amps just weren't good enough. To make that the test fixture returned a few anomalies in cascade topology', J.AES, Nov 1982
the circuit perform without bad slew limiting at the measurements, eg higher than expected 3 Malcolm Hawksford, Paul Mills, 'Topological
20 kHz, even with moderate drive levels, it was modulation noise. To preclude the unknown enhancements of translinear two-quadrant gain
cells', J.AES, June 1989
necessary to respecify the surrounding op -amps, factors in my Veroboard construction while 4 Robin Bransbury, Automation control
as shown. PMI were notified and agreed with the measuring just a few microvolts of residual, techniques, Studio Sound, Aug 1981
upgrade. An extra compensation capacitor, C5 Aphex had their newly produced evaluation PCB
was also required, and even then, stability was
Bibliography and further reading
expressed over just in time to meet the retest W Allen, Applications of VCAs, 70th AES
marginal. While having sight of our interim deadline. It came ready stuffed and mounted in Convention, NYC, Oct 1981
results close to the measurement deadline, SSM's D Baskind, R Harvey, Techniques for the
the shielded box with integral, secondary realisation and application of VCAs and
Ron Dow suggested the MAT-04's operating regulation on the incoming supply. Trimpots were attenuators, AES 60th Convention, May 1978,
current could be increased by a factor of 4 to assumed to be optimally set. In comparing our preprint 1378(A -6)
realise its potential SNR. Here I was forced to P Burton, CMOS DAC application guide, Analog
preliminary results with their own, Aphex's Donn Devices, 1984
draw the line at further redesign and tweaking; Werrbach discovered that some less than perfect P Gray, R Meyer, Analysis and design of analog
integrated circuits, Wiley, 1984
G Korn, T Korn, Electronic analog and hybrid

Principal VCA patents computers, McGraw Hill, 1972

R Lea, 'The junction FET as a VCR', Wireless
World, Jul 1972
J Melis, B Nijholt, 'Voltage controlled gain in the
All patent numbers are USA unless stated SSM audio channel', J.AES Oct/Nov 1972
Audio Kinetics Doug Frey, Voltage controlled element, W Sansen, R Meyer, 'Distortion in bipolar
transistor variable -gain amplifiers', IEEE journal
Robin Bransbury, Signal processing circuits 4,471,320 (1981) and 4,560,947 (1984) of solid -state circuits, Aug 1973
(UK) 2,156,175A (1984) Valley International A Sedra, K Smith, 'Simple digital controlled
dbx Paul Buff, Voltage controlled amplifier, variable gain DC amplifier', Electronic
Engineering, Mar 1969
David Blackmer, Multiplier circuits, 3,681,618 4,225,744 (1978) D Self, 'High quality compressor/limiter', Wireless
11973) Paul Buff, Electronic control device, 4,341,962 World, Dec 1975
Gary Bergstrom, Signal correction for D Sheingold (Ed), Non Linear circuits handbook,
(1980) Analog Devices, 1976
electrical control systems, 4,234,804 (1980) VCA Associates P Williams, 'Amplitude sensing and control',
Log -antilog VCA improvements, 4,331,931 Rubens et al, Voltage controlled attenuator. Wireless World, Apr 1981
11982) 4,155,047 (1979)
J Williams, 'Innovative Linear circuits', EDN,
1986
202X paralleled VGA scheme, 4,403,199 11983) Y Wong, W Ott, Function circuits, design and
applications, Burr Brown, 1976
6Eí Studio Sound, August 1989

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