Skip
Free domestic shipping over 15,000 yen | FREE DHL SHIPPING WORLDWIDE FOR ORDERS 50K+ yen : Details
Free domestic shipping over 15,000 yen | FREE DHL SHIPPING WORLDWIDE FOR ORDERS 50K+ yen : Details

Befaco Pony VCO

¥32,900 (Tax excluded ¥29,909)
Built-in wavefolder and VCA in 4HP interface. SSI2130 based analog through-zero VCO/LFO

Format: Eurorack
Width: 4HP
Depth: 30mm
Current: 32mA @ + 12V, 25mA @ -12V

Manual PDF (English)

MUSICAL FEATURES

The Pony VCO is a fully analog thru-zero oscillator with a built-in wavefolder and VCA. Powered by the powerful core of Sound Semiconductors' SSI2130 VCO IC, this compact module offers excellent stability and tunability, as well as octave setting and waveform selection, as well as range selection that allows operation in the LFO region. Prepare. 

A 1U format version with identical features and operating layout is also available.

  • Thru-zero frequency modulation
  • Wave folding (Timbre) control
  • Pulse width modulation (PWM)
  • SYNC function
  • Built-in VCA
  • LFO mode

HOW TO USE

Interface

 

The explanation of each part is displayed by mouse over

Warming up the VCO

Since the Pony VCO is a fully analog oscillator, it is recommended to warm up for at least 15 minutes before use.This allows the oscillator core to reach the ideal temperature and guarantees tracking stability.

Thru-zero frequency modulation

For a conventional VCO, the frequency is controlled by the positive voltage.The relationship between voltage and frequency is proportional, meaning that as voltage increases, so does frequency.

A VCO's tuning control modulates its frequency by applying various positive voltages, but frequency in modular synths can also be controlled from external signals, including negative voltages, such as other VCOs.

With a standard FM input on the oscillator, any incoming voltage will be added to the manual control setting.If you feed a negative voltage to this input, this value will be subtracted from the current voltage value, thus slowing down the oscillator frequency.
If the negative voltage incoming to this input is higher than the current value, the oscillator will stop and will oscillate again when the voltage value to the FM input is above zero.

For a thru-zero oscillator, the frequency is controlled by voltage across the positive and negative poles.Unlike a typical VCO, the core reverses its phase and continues oscillating even when the voltage to the FM input goes below zero.
For example, suppose 5V is applied to the FM input and the VCO is oscillating at 523Hz (C5).With a slew-zero VCO, the output is still 5Hz (C523) with -5V applied to the FM input, the only difference being the phase reversal of the output waveform.
This slight change in operation makes it possible to create a completely new range of timbres that cannot be obtained with a general VCO.

Wave folding (Timbre)

The Pony VCO's built-in wavefolding circuitry can be applied to sine, triangle, and sawtooth waves.A wavefolder circuit reverses and folds the waveform when the input signal reaches a certain threshold.

In general, performing this operation multiple times creates a very complex sound even with a simple input signal.

Increasing the folding amount (Timbre) lowers the threshold value and increases the number of times the waveform folds. The Timbre parameter folds the entire waveform twice during processing, adding several new overtones that are perfect for use with the aforementioned TZ-FM.

Pulse width modulation (PWM)

When a square wave is selected, the Timbre parameter changes function to a bipolar pulse width modulation control.This control sets the amount of time the square wave is at its maximum level each cycle.

Usually this is measured as a percentage of the duty cycle, with the Timbre control in the middle position, a 50% duty cycle is the default and the time ratio between the maximum and minimum level of the square wave is the same. The wide PWM range that the Pony VCO can count on allows you to get extremely tight pulse widths.

This is especially useful for creating monophonic 'string' or 'chorus' like sounds.Note that the Pony VCO's PWM circuit covers the full range of duty cycles, so it stops oscillating at the minimum and maximum values ​​of Timbre. 

SYNC

A signal to this input resets the oscillator core on its own cycle (hard sync).The signal to use will give the best results if it is a waveform with a sharp rising edge, such as a pulse or sawtooth.

If the signal used to sync the core is not octave related to the core frequency, the shape of the waveform will be destroyed, creating interesting ripping tones.

VCA

The Pony VCO contains a dedicated VCA circuit that allows you to modulate the amplitude of the oscillator with an external signal.This circuit has a linear response and the shape of the external signal is not affected by the VCA, making it ideal for both subtractive and AM types. 

Top
x