Doepfer A-142-3 Envelope/LFO Controlled VCA

Doepfer A-142-3 Envelope/LFO Controlled VCA

The Doepfer A-142-3 combines an AD/AR envelope generator, looping LFO, and linear audio VCA in a compact 4 HP Eurorack module, providing a complete modulation and amplitude-control signal path from a single module.

The envelope generator features dedicated Attack and Decay/Release controls and switchable AD or AR behavior. Its exponential curves are derived from capacitor charge and discharge characteristics, making it particularly suitable for musical amplitude envelopes and percussive sound shaping.

When operating in AD mode, the generator can be switched into LFO operation for continuous modulation. The LFO also uses exponential rise and fall curves and produces a unipolar signal ranging approximately from 0 to +10V.

Two timing ranges can be selected internally. The standard range provides Attack and Decay/Release times of approximately 4 ms to 7 seconds, while the fast range covers approximately 0.1 ms to 150 ms. The resulting LFO frequency range extends from cycles as slow as approximately 20 seconds to frequencies reaching the audio range.

The integrated CEM3381 VCA provides linear voltage control and is optimized for audio signals. Because the VCA is AC-coupled, it is not intended for processing control voltages.

The envelope output is internally attenuated from approximately 0–10V to 0–5V before being normalized to the VCA CV input. This allows immediate envelope-controlled amplitude shaping while preserving the option to override the normalization with an external control voltage.

• Envelope generator, LFO, and VCA in one module
• AD envelope mode
• AR envelope mode
• Looping LFO operation
• Exponential envelope curves
• Dedicated Attack control
• Dedicated Decay/Release control
• Two selectable timing ranges
• Approximately 4 ms to 7 sec standard envelope range
• Approximately 0.1 ms to 150 ms fast range
• LFO operation from very slow cycles to audio-rate frequencies
• Envelope/LFO output approximately 0 to +10V
• Integrated CEM3381 VCA
• Linear VCA control characteristic
• Audio-only AC-coupled VCA
• Envelope internally normalized to VCA
• External VCA CV input
• Approximately 0 to +5V VCA CV range
• Manual Gate button
• Gate input
• LED signal indication
• 4 HP wide
• 45 mm deep
• Power consumption: +20 mA / -20 mA