> VCA grouping is a powerful feature that can be just what you need when you’re mixing, but what are its benefits and how do we use it? That’s what we’ll be tackling in this masterclass today.
We usually associate VCAs with synths, where the voltage-controlled amplifier/attenuator (VCA) is a key component of the output stage. So how did this name end up being used for a grouping tool? For that we need to go back to analogue mixing desks and more specifically, desks that included fader level automation. By incorporating a VCA into the channel output stage it became possible to have a controlled and thus automated fader level, albeit one where the fader didn’t move. Desk designers then
