Eurorack Dual Voltage Controlled Oscillator - 36HP
The K3200 Dual VCO is a state-of-the-art dual analog voltage controlled oscillator
that is both musically and technically superb. The design is optimized for great
sound and playability for both tonal and experimental music. Both channels also
function as excellent LFOs capable of generating interesting modulating voltages.
Dual independent power supplies provide clean power separately to each channel for
improved stability. Each VCO core is comprised of a monolithic VCO chip which
provides sine, triangle and ramp waves with excellent linearity and low distortion
and high-end matched transistors are used for good CV volt/octave tracking. Internal
factory-trimmed adjustments are provided for CV volt/octave and high tracking on each
channel.
Control and Signal Routing
By offering waveform and mode adjustments through computer-controlled analog signal
routing as well as internal VCA-based mixing circuits, noise-free switching and blending
between waveforms is possible. All modes are shown with LEDs on the front panel, and the
current frequency of each VCO is displayed on an LCD readout. The use of computer control
over the signal routing means that audio signals never pass through the front panel.
Input and Outputs
Inputs are provided on each channel for CV (volt/octave) and FM tuning inputs, PWM and
blend CV inputs for driving the wave shaping stages, and a sync input for hard sync effects.
Outputs are provided for both the blend circuit output as well as a dedicated pulse output
of only the PWM and pulse shaping sections. Two special outputs are provided that contain
signals from both channels. The wave mix output offers only the wave signals from each
channel, and the XOR output provides a digital multiplication of both channels which works
similar to a ring modulator, but outputs square waves.
Cross Modulation Capabilities
In addition to offering two very capable independent VCOs, the cross modulation section
allows control of VCO2 from VCO1. Cross mod controls allow pitch, PWM and blend mixing
modulation, and the internal PLL and SYNC circuits allow the VCO2 oscillator to be
controlled by VCO1 in a variety of different ways without requiring external patch cables.
With only an audio output cable attached, an enormous variety of experimental sound
possibilities exist. As part of a complete modular system the possibilities are virtually endless.
Features and Specs
Eurorack (3U) form factor - 36HP width
Dual VCO with independent power supplies per channel
Backlit LCD screen with frequency counter for each channel
LED indication of selected switch positions and VCO core activity
Each channel:
1V/octave CV input - factory trimmed for 1V/octave response
Linear FM input with level control
Fine and coarse tuning controls
Normal VCO frequency range: 2Hz to 15kHz
LFO mode switch - period: greater than 70 seconds to 8ms (120Hz)
Temperature compensated exponential converter with super-matched transistors
Wave shaper with sine, triangle or ramp waveforms - switch selectable
Pulse shaper with three pulse types - switch selectable
Voltage controlled mixing between wave and pulse waveforms
High-end blend VCAs with ultra-low distortion and linear control
Sync input for hard syncing of VCO core
PWM input with level and offset controls - full deflection with 5Vpk-pk
Blend VCA control input with level and offset controls - full deflection with 5Vpk-pk
Blend output - output from the blend VCA containing wave and/or pulse waveforms
Pulse output - dedicated output from the pulse shaper containing pulse waveform
Internal cross modulation controls:
Pitch modulation control - exponential frequency modulation of VCO2 from VCO1
PWM modulation control - modulate VCO2 pulse width from VCO1
Blend modulation control - blend between WAVE and PULSE waves on VCO2 from VCO1
Internal PLL mode for locking VCO2 to VCO1
Internal Sync mode for syncing VCO2 to VCO1
Wave mix output - buffered mix of VCO1 and VCO2 wave outputs - for FM effects
XOR output - digital Exclusive OR output from both VCOs - for ring mod-like effects
All inputs and outputs are tolerant of +/-12V
All outputs drive 10Vp-p with 1K output impedance
Requires +12V (200mA), -12V (100mA) - 16 pin Doepfer-style power cable used - approx. 3.5W total power consumption
Designed and made in Canada using high quality parts.
Samples consist of the K3020 Dual VCO, Kilpatrick Audio custom-designed
envelope generator, VCA and reverb/delay. The result was sampled by a
Yamaha 01v mixer and recorded digitally. No filters or other sound processing
was done to the audio.
CV and modulation sources include the K4815 Pattern Generator, K1600 MIDI Converter,
a Doepfer LFO as well as the K3020 internal crossmod controls.
Tonal Demo 1 - Several short clips of K3020 playing melodies. Blend and pulse modulation is used. The K4815 generates a sequence on one VCO while a solo is played on the other.
Poly Seq - Polyphonic sequences with both VCO channels. K4815 generates the CV/gate and external MIDI control is used to transpose the pattern.
Square Wave FMod - Using the K4815 to frequency mod VCO2 while VCO1 sweeps the PWM slowly.
Unison Detuned - Both VCOs use the same CV input and the oscillators are slightly detuned. The K4815 provides the sequence.
Crossmod Demo - Various pitch, PWM and blend mods, plus SYNC mode experiments.
Low Freak - A low frequency modulation of VCO2 with VCO1. (the very low bass requires big speakers or headphones)
Experimental Sounds - Several short clips of K3020 doing various cross modulation things.
