Tiptop Audio Z4000 Voltage Controlled Envelope Generator

The Z4000 is a snappy voltage controlled analog envelope generator with built-in CV processor for scaling, inverting, and voltage control deviating of the envelope shape. The Z4000 generates an envelope made of the four classic segments, Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release, in which each segment can be manually set or dynamically set under voltage control.

Control knobs for the Attack, Decay, and Release segments are scaled to have the first 0-50% of the knobs' rotation angle dedicated to high resolution adjustment in the millisecond range; this gives you a fine adjustment to reduce the clicks and pops to a minimum with the least amount of delay and loss in snappiness. Conversely, the rotation of the knobs from 50% to 100% provide envelopes that can last several minutes and up to infinity.

The output levels are fully adjustable with signals that can reach up to 10V in either polarity and can be mirrored into the opposite polarity or clipped using the voltage controlled deviater scaler. A bi-color led indicates intermediate values in both polarities and their crossfade state.

The Attack slope switch allows selection of a logarithmic or exponential curve for the attack segment; this subtle effect further helps in fine adjustment of the attack segment slope.

A Shoot button is provided to let you fire the enevlope manually. the Z4000 also provides the classic interface to a CV/GATE keyboard with the addition of a re-trigger input for legato notes. Going down to nuts and bolts, the Z4000ﾑs smooth and snappiness is formed by a four-segment active-charge discrete circuit which is an extended version of circuits found in classic two-segment Rise/Fall transient generators.