Pluck'n'Duck VCA

Versatile Voltage Controlled Amplifier with built-in envelope follower, input CV gain control and threshold inverter

Applications

>>> See gallery for application examples

The Pluck'n'Duck VCA can be installed on inputs, outputs, or on matrix mixer nodes, effectively forming a VCA Matrix

Might also be available in Eurorack format upon request.

Basic Functioning

The Pluck'n'Duck is a VCA that accepts any type of signal as control voltage, ranging from line audio to 20v gates , with a built-it envelope follower and a true-inverting gain stage.

Here you can find a quick video explaining how it works

You can use both CVs and audio signals as input CVs, the VCA will work with a wide range of signals as control voltages, from 20v gates from old equipment, 10 or 5 Vpp from eurorack, to line level audio, down to very faint line level audio.

The circuit is vactrol-based, giving it a very soft and musical response, while NOT being an lpg (low-pass gate), thus only affecting the amplitude of the controlled sound.

Controls and operation

Each P'n'D VCA has two main controls, [gain] and [smoothness]

P'n'D on an output row

P'n'D in a VCA Matrix

P'n'D on an input

Gain

It's a combined [gain]+[attenuverter] knob, you can attenuate or amplify the incoming CV signal up to 21x (+27dB)

from 12 o'clock up it operates as a normal VCA, "Pluck"; the higher the CV, the louder the sound
from 12 o'clock down you have inverted response, a "Ducking" effect; the higher the CV, the quieter the sound, it will act as a side-chained compressor
of course you can still use the [smoothness] control in "Duck" mode, for all sorts of interesting effects

Smoothness

With the this control you can adjust the release of the envelope follower, with a little bit of influence on the attack as well (with a 1/24 ratio)

You can use it to take in an audio signal, smooth it out and use it as a Control Voltage, or to smooth out transients of actual CVs

fully counterclockwise, the signal will be unaffected
fully clockwise, it will add a ~2seconds smooth attack
use the switch to select whether the VCA is active or bypassed (true bypass)