Folktek Mescaline

[Jwar]

Got the cables in and all I can find this thing doing is oscillating. I did noticed that I had a couple of SMD caps in the box that looks like they might have broke off. My unit might be broken man. This sucks.

[Jwar]

Also, the manual is super confusing to me. This is my first time into anything modular and I honestly am extremely disappointed. The little cables are so fucking fragile. I've had several break already and a few broke off in different parts of the board. Not sure what to do about that. the quality of this thing as it stand is NOT worth what they are charging. Pretty upset with the overall product.

[Jwar]

Ok. I think part of the problem here is I literally have zero clue what I'm doing. Can some explain to me how to get power to all three boards? I'm reading the manual but I'm not sure it makes sense. I'm a very visual guy.

[oscillateur]

Ok. I think part of the problem here is I literally have zero clue what I'm doing. Can some explain to me how to get power to all three boards? I'm reading the manual but I'm not sure it makes sense. I'm a very visual guy.

Yeah, no offense but this looks like user error to me... And you stole one place on the shipping list order, too .

For power you plug the supply in one of the modules and then connect (I think, it's in the manual) Ground and +12V from that one to the others using the small DuPont cables. If you're not sure of what you're doing, ask someone to post a photo of just that wired on one as you don't want to go around randomly plugging power everywhere.

[UglyCasanova]

Also, the manual is super confusing to me. This is my first time into anything modular and I honestly am extremely disappointed. The little cables are so fucking fragile. I've had several break already and a few broke off in different parts of the board. Not sure what to do about that. the quality of this thing as it stand is NOT worth what they are charging. Pretty upset with the overall product.

Did you try punching it?

[Ruiner]

Yeah the powering is in the manual and like oscillateur said. Just plug into any of the three (the example in the manual has the main power going to Channel, the bottom board). Realize each input or output has two points next to it and they are identical. So there are two 12v outs and gnd outs on each for example. Plug the out from the one you have in to the 12v in and gnd on the next board and the out to ins from the second to the third and all boards are powered.

Yes the cables are very small, difficult to use and fragile. Some people don’t like their Matter module because of this. Some will break, never had one break off in the breadboard though.... suppose you’d need tweezers if that happens but you just need to be gentle and not rush it.

What this thing does is do worth the early bird price. It’s just not what you maybe were expecting but if they used 1/4 inch cables this thing would be gigantic and thousands of dollars for what it does and the amount of work that would be. Obviously they’d have to change the entire physical design to withstand the pulling out of cables like that. These are just boards on a stand.

As far as the broken pieces, that happened to me as well. I could tell they fell of Channel and they’re immediately sending me another one. If you don’t know which are broken you’ll have to send all back and have them get you a new Mescaline.

[raj007]

A while back over on Muffs I read that Folktek stuff is fragile and borderline crappily made (from more than one source)...and that scared me off doing this campaign. Honestly, super glad I made that choice. These issues would surely frustrate me.

[D.o.S.]

My top didn’t line up perfectly but I think when I get the proper screws it wil better than it is now. As long as all the screws get in I’m fine with it. And yes, standard 1/4 inch cables....

What this thing does is do worth the early bird price. It’s just not what you maybe were expecting but if they used 1/4 inch cables this thing would be gigantic and thousands of dollars for what it does and the amount of work that would be.

[Jwar]

Ok. I think part of the problem here is I literally have zero clue what I'm doing. Can some explain to me how to get power to all three boards? I'm reading the manual but I'm not sure it makes sense. I'm a very visual guy.

Yeah, no offense but this looks like user error to me... And you stole one place on the shipping list order, too .

For power you plug the supply in one of the modules and then connect (I think, it's in the manual) Ground and +12V from that one to the others using the small DuPont cables. If you're not sure of what you're doing, ask someone to post a photo of just that wired on one as you don't want to go around randomly plugging power everywhere.

I could see how this would be frustrating and I actually agree in some respects even though you’re being tongue in cheek.


Last night I attempted to get the boards powered and nothing happened. This was after reading what you folks had to say. Now, maybe I still did something wrong but the caps being there makes me think something is broken. So, I’m going to try it again and see what happens.

Honestly I didn’t expect this to be that fragile. I’m definitely not forcing things in. I have fat bass player fingers though, so it’s hard to put those tiny things in there. I have the same issue when I solder. Super frustrating.

Right now it seems like it’s a toy. I expected the thing to be big and wow. This is tiny lol! Even after watching Ruiners videos I still expected it to be larger.

The holes not lining up with the frame is super lame to me. I get a got a starter price but this doesn’t seem like a finished product.

At least I know now that Folktek won’t be in my future. If I do modular it will be something less breakable.

[Jwar]

Oh and Ruiner could you post how yours is plugged up for power just so I can be 100%?

[baremountain]

Plug power into the Motion board. Take 1 dupont cable from the either of the two slots on the jumper on the left labeled "12V OUT", plug that into the Mental's jumper on the left labeled "12V IN". Now plug another dupont cable and plug it into the Motion's other "12V OUT" jumper, and plug the other end into Channel's "12V IN". Now jump from the input labeled "Gnd" BELOW the "12V IN" on Channel to the input labeled "GND" BELOW the "12V OUT" on Motion. Do the same with the "GND" BELOW the "12V IN" on Mental. All three boards should light up. You can verify the Motion is working by sending a clock signal to both sequencers (two jumpers on the right) plug the top rows labeled "_____ CLK IN" to any of the /1, /2, /4, etc... Then, click the "Add" buttons at the center of the Motion, and you should see lights start rotating.

Sucks yours has SMD components that came off. Mine came in perfect shape. I was frustrated by the bolts thing too, but they're sending new bolts that'll make everything fit, so
It's kinda confusing so far but I was able to get some cool sounds out of it. Definitely gonna need to reference the manual some more to really get the hang of it though.

[Ruiner]

My top didn’t line up perfectly but I think when I get the proper screws it wil better than it is now. As long as all the screws get in I’m fine with it. And yes, standard 1/4 inch cables....

What this thing does is do worth the early bird price. It’s just not what you maybe were expecting but if they used 1/4 inch cables this thing would be gigantic and thousands of dollars for what it does and the amount of work that would be.

I'm talking about the breadboards obviously there are some 1/4 inch to interface with other equipment and for the audio outs.

[Jwar]

Plug power into the Motion board. Take 1 dupont cable from the either of the two slots on the jumper on the left labeled "12V OUT", plug that into the Mental's jumper on the left labeled "12V IN". Now plug another dupont cable and plug it into the Motion's other "12V OUT" jumper, and plug the other end into Channel's "12V IN". Now jump from the input labeled "Gnd" BELOW the "12V IN" on Channel to the input labeled "GND" BELOW the "12V OUT" on Motion. Do the same with the "GND" BELOW the "12V IN" on Mental. All three boards should light up. You can verify the Motion is working by sending a clock signal to both sequencers (two jumpers on the right) plug the top rows labeled "_____ CLK IN" to any of the /1, /2, /4, etc... Then, click the "Add" buttons at the center of the Motion, and you should see lights start rotating.

Sucks yours has SMD components that came off. Mine came in perfect shape. I was frustrated by the bolts thing too, but they're sending new bolts that'll make everything fit, so
It's kinda confusing so far but I was able to get some cool sounds out of it. Definitely gonna need to reference the manual some more to really get the hang of it though.

Thank you!!

[baremountain]

I'm talking about the breadboards obviously there are some 1/4 inch to interface with other equipment and for the audio outs.

But there aren't any 1/4" outs??? Only 1/8"/3.5mm

Also of course Jwar, lemme know if you get lights & bloops!!! I hope it's not terminal. While assembling mine (until I realized the bolts problem was what made all my shit fit wonkily) I was feeling regretful, but I think it'll be a fun machine when I get more used to it. Definitely hard to wrap your head around at first.
I've also had a few of the Dupont cables lose their black plastic shielding which is super weird because I use those literally all the time when breadboarding and that's never happened to me before Seems like Folktek got dicked by all their outside suppliers here, so I'm gonna leave the delay (as in hold-up, not as in fx) and the misfitting bolts thing behind me and try to just judge the instrument by its function, so long as nothing falls off my board

[Ruiner]

Oh yeah, i meant 1/8...