DFAM VCA dead!!!

System 55 • System 35 • Model 15
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Radium2k7
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:30 am

DFAM VCA dead!!!

Post by Radium2k7 » Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:36 am

Hey guys,
my DFAM VCA Out ist dead, no sound, nothing. All other works, also the single VCO outs.
Any idea?

Thanks....

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analogmonster
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Re: DFAM VCA dead!!!

Post by analogmonster » Sat Jul 12, 2025 1:11 am

The block schematic diagram of the documentation implies an analog technology behind. If that's true you will find an OTA like the LM13700 serving as VCA. Check the input and output of that OTA with a scope to see any signals reach and pass the VCA. If the output is dead, just replace the OTA.

Noisecriteria29
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2025 11:39 am

Re: DFAM VCA dead!!!

Post by Noisecriteria29 » Sun Aug 03, 2025 12:25 pm

Hi
I've run into an issue with my Dfam, making random click noise , I think related to the VCA (decay?), it always seems to happen when it reset to the first step.

Any idea?

Thanks

SPR
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:36 pm

Re: DFAM VCA dead!!!

Post by SPR » Sun Sep 07, 2025 11:16 am

A silent VCA out doesn't necessarily mean the VCA is dead. If the VCO mixer or the VCF or the VCA EG are dead, you would still get nothing at the VCA out. A few easy things to try:

Plug in into a mixer or amp and turn the gain up until you can hear the background hiss of the DFAM.
If you turn the volume, does the hiss level vary - if so the is before the output stage.
Do the filter controls alter the hiss in any way? If they do, the fault is before the filter.
If you stick a CV into VCA CV input, does it vary the noise? That would suggest the EG isn't working.

Hope that helps narrow it down a bit...

Steve

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analogmonster
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Re: DFAM VCA dead!!!

Post by analogmonster » Wed Sep 10, 2025 12:39 am

SPR wrote: Sun Sep 07, 2025 11:16 am A silent VCA out doesn't necessarily mean the VCA is dead.
...
Yes, so at the end you must do a kind of back tracing. Start at the VCA and "follow the rabbit" backwards to the saw core or whatever the first sound source is.

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