What is a "gain driven oscillator"?

[Tony]

Can anyone explain what that is?

Thanks,
Tony

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

I have no idea. What context did it come up in?
Sinewave oscillators usually have a loop with a gain control in the loop that adjusts the gain to stay just on the edge of oscillation, to avoid overdriving & keep the output waveform pure. Works down to thousnadths of a % distortion, too!!

[niftydog]

all oscillators could be described as "gain driven". Google "Barkhausen criteria " for more info.

Theoretically, you need unity gain and feedback to make an oscillator.

In practise, the gain varies around unity at all times. Positive gain builds up the oscillations, but if let run wild you'll end up with clipping, so when the oscillations get to a certain point, negative gain is needed to keep it under control, then you go to low and need positive gain again... etc etc. ad infinitum.

Maybe the idea is that you can turn off the oscillations or cause the oscillator to clip by affecting the gain of the circuit.  :?:

[ExpAnonColin]

I'm guessing you got that off of the parallel universe schematic... what I meant was that the frequency was controlled by the gain.  Man, I wrote that a long time ago... it was me trying to explain something I didn't quite understand.

-Colin

[Tony]

I'm guessing you got that off of the parallel universe schematic... what I meant was that the frequency was controlled by the gain.  Man, I wrote that a long time ago... it was me trying to explain something I didn't quite understand.

-Colin

Yes, It looks very interesting. What does it sound like?

Thanks for explaining the term.

Tony

[ExpAnonColin]

I'm guessing you got that off of the parallel universe schematic... what I meant was that the frequency was controlled by the gain.  Man, I wrote that a long time ago... it was me trying to explain something I didn't quite understand.

-Colin

Yes, It looks very interesting. What does it sound like?

Thanks for explaining the term.

Tony

It's hardly a term though, so don't quote me

Go to http://www.nseffects.com.  There are a few clips there.

-Colin

[Boofhead]

What is the source of the term?

I haven't heard of it but I could extrapolate like others have.

People make up terms all the time - some stuff you don't have to worry about.

[ExpAnonColin]

What is the source of the term?

I haven't heard of it but I could extrapolate like others have.

People make up terms all the time - some stuff you don't have to worry about.

The source is basically that the frequency is determined by the gain-gain driven.  Envelope controlled frequency oscillator would be a better way to say it.

-Colin

[Boofhead]

The source is basically that the frequency is determined by the gain-gain driven. Enve

I meant where did the original poster find the term written down.   People invent terms all the time - there's a difference between common technical terms and things people make-up on an adhoc basis.   I wouldn't be too worried about the latter.

[travissk]

He got it off of Colin's Parallel Universe schematic:

http://www.experimentalistsanonymous.com/diy/Schematics/Parallel%20Universe%20Schematic.gif

-Travis

[Tony]

Hi,

Yes, I got it off of his site. Very interesting design and great sound. I can hear the oscillation going on, almost like a ring mod.

Thanks,
Tony