morgs
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by morgs on May 28, 2020 11:03:41 GMT
Feeling embarrassed by this but I've been super stumped on the power module when not using it as a headphone output.
Set up: MIXER4-4 Out A going into POWER I/OI. I/OI going into my 8 channel mixer and then to my speakers.
Patching nothing more than a saw wave from the oscillator into channel 1 of the MIXER4-4 I get the sound but I'm unable to control the levels in any way. At first I thought it was my switch configuration at the bottom but at this point I've tried every combination of Aud/CV/ 1-2- HP I/O. I've taken a video of each configuration but will spare the the repetition. Also, I've tried this using the 4ATTMIX and it's the same issue. What am I doing wrong?! Thanks!
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Post by admin on May 28, 2020 11:30:02 GMT
I think you may have a problem with the mixer, but your video is very short and hard to follow what is patched. Could film it a bit more slowly so we can see what is going on?
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morgs
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by morgs on May 28, 2020 11:59:50 GMT
Feeling embarrassed by this but I've been super stumped on the power module when not using it as a headphone output. Set up: MIXER4-4 Out A going into POWER I/OI. I/OI going into my 8 channel mixer and then to my speakers. Patching nothing more than a saw wave from the oscillator into channel 1 of the MIXER4-4 I get the sound but I'm unable to control the levels in any way. At first I thought it was my switch configuration at the bottom but at this point I've tried every combination of Aud/CV/ 1-2- HP I/O. I've taken a video of each configuration but will spare the the repetition. Also, I've tried this using the 4ATTMIX and it's the same issue. What am I doing wrong?! Thanks! |
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morgs
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by morgs on May 28, 2020 12:18:29 GMT
I think you may have a problem with the mixer, but your video is very short and hard to follow what is patched. Could film it a bit more slowly so we can see what is going on? Thanks admin / Carsten. Apologies for the junky recording and audio quality. Just using my phone. In the meantime, let me explain the set up. I have two racks, each with their own power supply and mixers. Everything you saw patched in the video (e.g. Topograf) is being routed into the 4ATTMIX of the first rack and sent into the Audio I/O of the Master module (rack 1) which is then sent to channel 1 of an 8 channel mixer (and then to my speakers). Rack two is powered by the POWER module and the 1st I/O is sent to channel 2 of the 8 channel mixer. Rack two has both a Mixer 4-4 and a 4ATTMIX. In the video attached the only signal being patched into the Mixer 4-4 is a direct saw wave. I don't think it is the Mixer 4-4 as I'm having the same issue if I try routing the routing the saw wave into the 4ATTMIX. There is an audio signal but it is uncontrolled by the Mixer knob and cannot be turned 'off'. I think it would be the POWER module and I'm wondering if it has to do with how I have switch configuration? |
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Post by MikMo on May 28, 2020 12:35:23 GMT
Do the two racks have a common ground ?
they should !!
Try to connect one of The I/O jacks on the power module to one of the I/O jacks in the master module in the other rack, that would connect the grounds of the two racks together.
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morgs
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by morgs on May 28, 2020 12:47:25 GMT
Thanks MikMo sorry for being super naive here and not being able to directly answer that. Not exactly sure what common ground means. I can say that I've troubleshooted the power supply/mixer in the following way: 1) Both racks are powered by one AE modular adaptor + cable splitter. The hinge kit is only using the hinge portion, not the ribbon cable. Still the issue persists. 2) Rack 1 w/Master module has the AE modular adaptor powering it and I'm using the hinge kit + ribbon cable to power the second rack and then just routing the audio out of POWER module into the 8 channel mixer. 3) I am only using Rack 2. That is AE modular adaptor powering Rack 2 (rack 1 is no longer in the picture) and trying to use said mixer configurations and still the mixer knobs of both Mixer 4-4 and 4ATTMIX are redundant. Can you explain further? Maybe I can troubleshoot it. Thanks! |
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morgs
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by morgs on May 28, 2020 12:51:52 GMT
Do the two racks have a common ground ? they should !! Try to connect one of The I/O jacks on the power module to one of the I/O jacks in the master module in the other rack, that would connect the grounds of the two racks together. Ack! Sorry, I replied before seeing your suggestion! Will try it now. However, it still doesn't help explain why I can't get to either of the Mixer modules to work just with POWER module for rack 2 if I completely eliminate rack 1. Could you also suggest which position the switches in POWER module should be set to? I know this shouldn't be confusing but I'm finding it to be... |
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Post by MikMo on May 28, 2020 13:02:04 GMT
If it doesen't work when using only one of the racks, then common ground is not the problem.
But when using the two racks together, it must be established.
For common ground i don't think the switch positions on the power module matters.
Do you have a multi meter ?
If so, try to measure the voltage on the 5V and GRND sockets on the powermodule (should be very close to 5V), and also measure the output of the powersupply, when it is not connected to the AE.
Also try to use the powersupply from the rack with the master module in the rack with the power module to eliminate a faulty PS as the cause.
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morgs
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by morgs on May 28, 2020 13:37:00 GMT
Thanks again MikMo and admin for the help. I don't have a multimeter unfortunately. Here is another video where it is just the second rack with the AE power adaptor going into the POWER module as the power source and the simple attempt of a saw wave into each of the MIXER modules. Again, there is sound but no ability to control the knobs. I have also tried routing the audio cable out to each of the different channels of the 8 channel mixer and tried two different audio cables to make sure it wasn't a case of a faulty cable. I'm tempted to think it is a ground cable connection issue because I wouldn't have thought to do that and the MIXER4-4 was working fine before I got the second case and the POWER module but I don't understand why it doesn't work if I'm just using the 2nd rack and POWER module. I suppose the other thing to check would be to move the two MIXER modules into Rack 1 and see if they work with the MASTER on their own but I haven't yet taken any of the modules out because I'm supposed to be 'working' :p MikMo to test the common ground situation can I do the following: 1. Keep the setup where I have both racks powered by the AE power adaptor and splitter cable going into each power supply (So not using hinge kit ribbon cable) 2. Have two separate audio outputs from each rack going into separate channels of the 8 channel mixer. 3. Rack 2: Saw going into input 1 of MIXER4-4; out A of MIXER4-4 going into I/O1. 4. Rack 2: POWER module 1/O2 going into the MASTER A2/CTRL2 I/O as the way of establishing my ground connection? 5. Rack 1: MASTER A1/CTRL1 I/O still maintaining a separate audio out cable going into the 8 channel mixer. Sorry for the high level of detail, just want to make sure I've got it straight! Thanks |
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Lugia
Wiki Editors
Ridiculously busy...ish.
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Post by Lugia on May 28, 2020 17:04:43 GMT
This looks like a groundplane issue to me as well...it's an inherent issue with all single-conductor patched synths, so you also see this in multicab Serge systems, interconnecting the Kilpatrick Phenol to other synths, Buchla control signals, Folktek and Bastl pinwire stuff, etc.
The fix is really easy. If you're not using a link cable between the cabs, simply find a connector on each one marked "GND" and then connect one of those to the other. Leave that patchwire in place FOREVER. But if the cabs are connected with one of those little ribbons, then you might have a break in the ground wire, which should be correctable by replacing the ribbon.
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morgs
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by morgs on May 28, 2020 22:47:05 GMT
This looks like a groundplane issue to me as well...it's an inherent issue with all single-conductor patched synths, so you also see this in multicab Serge systems, interconnecting the Kilpatrick Phenol to other synths, Buchla control signals, Folktek and Bastl pinwire stuff, etc.
The fix is really easy. If you're not using a link cable between the cabs, simply find a connector on each one marked "GND" and then connect one of those to the other. Leave that patchwire in place FOREVER. But if the cabs are connected with one of those little ribbons, then you might have a break in the ground wire, which should be correctable by replacing the ribbon.
Sorted! Thanks Lugia and all for the help and inputs from others. And rest assured I've now got a multimeter on order :p Now using the ribbon connector all is fine. So admin could probably delete this thread as there is no problem with the MIXER 4-4 That taken care of, I will say one thing: I don't know what it is but I absolutely LOVE the plastic smell of the hinge kit. It's a cross between a bonfire and children's action figure. eau de AE I guess. |
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Post by admin on May 28, 2020 23:04:15 GMT
Awesome! So it was a problem with two cases not sharing a common ground and you patched the OSC from one case into the mixer of another and connecting the cases via ribbon cable solved the problem?
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morgs
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by morgs on May 28, 2020 23:32:30 GMT
Awesome! So it was a problem with two cases not sharing a common ground and you patched the OSC from one case into the mixer of another and connecting the cases via ribbon cable solved the problem? Yup :) |
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