Further analysis is given in the Minimoog Service Manual, Section 2.3, which can be found online: http://www.cyborgstudio.com/synthmp3s/m ... manual.pdf
Note that
(a) The collector of Q8 is held at ground by the negative feedback around op-amp IC6.
(b) So 5 microamps flow in R30 as claimed on the schematic [though in the opposite direction to that marked].
(c) The emitters of Q7 and Q8 are held at a V_BE drop (appropriate to I_C = 5 μA) below ground by action of the op-amp.
(d) When the base of Q7 is at ground potential, 5 μA will flow in Q7 also.
(e) This will charge C7 to 5V in 1ms, and give the oscillator a frequency of 1kHz, assuming reset time is negligible. Indeed the legend 200Hz/μA appears above R30.
(f) But the legend 0.00mV = 2' lo F = 350Hz appears at the base of Q7, implying that setting the oscillator's range switch to the highest (2 foot) setting and pressing the bottom note on the keyboard will produce a voltage of 0.00 mV here and a frequency of 350Hz. And indeed, taking A4 = 440Hz gives F4 = 349.23Hz according to [an online source].
These things can't all be true at once! Is it just (f) that's wrong, or is there some reason why the current sink doesn't give 5 μA but something more like 5/3 μA when Q7's base is at ground?
Bonus question: what is the purpose of CR2 in this circuit?
Thanks.
