User Manual

Arturia Microbrute User’s Manual 30
Voltage Controller Amplifier
The VCA or voltage controlled amplifier generally follows the filter. The VCA behaves in
a similar way as the volume control, except that it controls the level based on Control
Voltage signals. The gain of the VCA is controllable by the GATE or ENVELOPE on the
MicroBrute. The amplifier is primarily responsible for shaping a sound’s dynamics.
Figure 27
Modulators
Modulators provide signals that are designed specifically to control the behavior of
oscillators, wave shapers, filters and amplifiers. For example, when you sing with vibrato,
you are “modulating” your voice with a low-frequency change in pitch, typically
around 5Hz or so. The tremolo circuit in a guitar amplifier modulates the amplifier’s level.
Modulators are useful to create dynamic pitch changes, timbre sweeps, and level
variations. The modulators in the MicroBrute are the LFO (low frequency oscillator),
envelope generator, and even the keyboard can be considered as a modulator. Using
the MicroBrute’s CV inputs and MOD MATRIX, modulators can also be provided by
external sources that generate control voltage (CV) signals and gate signals that turn
modulators or notes on and off.