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Glenouille wrote:I'm stuck!:( Any ideas?

hmmm, what is the audio source for the jupiter III, have you tried the tcm with it, no that defeats synch. so you're using a cv input on the jupiter, and its +/-5mv which is ok for the jupiter? or its +/- 10 mv which is ok?

Is there some impedance issue? shouldn't be as koma said they are independent and buffered.....but? I don't know. You've tried other source in place of the jupiter and no problem? probably already did that....need it all in front of me and just trouble shoot. without getting diy you just might not be able to synch the jupiter. thats too bad.

thee atomosynth looks interesting.

i use and enjoy one of these analogue solution liepzig-s step sequencer/synth. its fully analogue and should give you no problems synching to clock.

http://www.analoguesolutions.org.uk/con ... eipzig.htm

check out page 24 on synching options
http://www.analoguesolutions.org.uk/con ... manual.pdf

Thanks for taking the time UG, I have the TCM too. It's cool but it's a glorified standalone metronome and as you put it, it defeats sync.
I added a cap and a diode to the CV clock signal (as suggested by Koma), it works good, but the problem comes back as soon as I also sync the Goatkeeper this way.
Jamie suggesedt to put a DI box after the Jupiter, I still need to try that but I might stick with using the Roland DB90 to sync the Jupiter, so going from the RH301 via MIDI instead of CV. That worked well in my previous attempts and you can start and stop the DB90 remotely using a FS-5U type of pedal which is pretty cool.

The Liepzig-s is a beast! Many sync possibilities... but I fear it might be an overkill. I like the simplicity of the Mochika and its size. I'm going to pull the trigger today I think.

So replacing the Jupiter III with the Mochika XL from Atomosynth was a good idea, it is much more flexible, includes an 8 step sequencer and takes MIDI clock signal.

I have also added a Drum 1.1 from BASTL Instruments with the BASTL MIDI interface. BASTL Instrument is a small Czech company that builds cool little products runningon the Atmega 328 that can be re-programmed/hacked using the Arduino IDE. The DRUM 1.1 comes with cool samples like a lo-fi T909.

Talking about Arduino, this is probably where there is a lot of untapped potential for pedal junkies who want to sync everything together. The solution I have put together so far includes many different products from different companies (Koma Elektronik, Mutable Instruments, Molten Voltage/PedalSync, Empress, etc.), it ended up being expensive and always a bit of a hit and miss affair, some of these products are fragile and not that much pedalboard friendly. I am therefore exploring the Arduino world and have a few things in progress on breadboards. More on this later.

How Did I end up doing it:
I use Mutable Instruments MIDIpal as my main clock. It is accurate and includes a crazy amount of other functions. The master tempo can be defined by simply taping the pot or turning it. The tempo is displayed in BPM on the LCD screen. Simple enough. The ERM Midiclock can do this too so can the PedalSync Master control.

For all the pedals that can receive a MIDI clock signal (Eventide, Strymon, Boomerang, some Moogerfoogers, Pigtronix, etc.) the MIDI clock signal can be routed to them using a MIDI splitter like the Kenton THRU-5, the Midi Solutions MIDI Thru and Quadra Thru, the Pedalsync MIDI Splitty, etc. MIDI was bigger years ago and if you need more than 5 outputs, you can find products that offers more outputs on eBay, look for Forefront Technology FT5, MIDIman Thru 3x8, etc. There is a company in Brazil (EMW) that still manufactures one and it can also be found on eBay.

On the picture below the EHX 8 Step, the Atomosynth Mochika XL, the Koma RH-301, the Eventide Timefactor (far left), the Boss SL-20 and the Rang (both not on the pic) are all taking the Clock Signal with a MIDI cable. It works with Midi cables with 5DIN plugs but with only 3 active pin. Pedals do not need phantom power and I have not found a pedal that requires 5 active pins (yet), this means that you can make your own cables pretty easily.

For all the pedals that have a tap tempo input to plug a remote tap tempo switch, you can use PedalSync CTL-Sync or build it or even something better but based on the chip used. They sell them too.
On the picture below, the Boss PH-3 and the Montreal Assembly Nasa Attribute are both synced to the main tempo via the PedalSync CTL-Sync.

The Warped Vinyl is designed to accept the signal from the Empress MIDIbox. If you have both a Warped Vinyl and the Empress Phaser of the latest Tremolo, it’s a must have. Joel makes/sells the cables if you need one.
On the picture below, both Warped Vinyls are synced this way.

For all the Moogerfoogers and Koma, MIDI to CV converters exist, Kenton, MIDI Solutions do some. But the Koma RH-301 takes care of it superbly well, it can also deal with old synth that can only do DIN sync.

The Goatkeeper is another kettle of fish entirely. To sync it to the main tempo, I use the Roland DB-90 and plug a cable from the headphone output to the Sync input on the Goatkeeper. To sync perfectly it needs a very neat beat, so the DB-90 needs to be in metronome mode and not in drum machine mode otherwise the Goatkeeper will mimic the pattern. It can be actually very cool but it makes things slightly difficult to fine tune with the Goatkeeper’s sequencer as it follows basically 2 different sequences (the pattern from the DB-90 and the pattern set with its own pots).





So now that I have managed to sync everything. I am moving to the next step of this endeavour which is to trigger events based on divisions of the main tempo with limited or no human interactions. Well I'm going to try...

3 things are in progress, and I am awaiting parts from Mouser, Das Musikding and Mammoth:

1. A splitter with a VCA controlled loop (volume) to use the EHX 8Step to create some fuzz/OD riffs in the background.
2. An Arduino based device that allows complete control on the division (subdivisions/multiples) of the main MIDI tempo and can output a signal as MIDI or tap tempo.
3. A circuit that allows the EHX Freeze and the NASA Attribute to capture notes automatically at specific intervals based on a division of the main tempo using the CTL-Sync (for now) – the arpeggiator of the NA being also synced to a subdivision of the main tempo.

This last one should look like that hopefully:


I'm no pedal builder, so many peeps have given me a hand but it looks like it's going to happen. I'll post clips soon.
 
 
 

This is insane.
I can't even

Wow.
Just wow.

Wow, thanks man, that's really cool, great info!
I guess I only understand the simple half of it, how the 8 Step Program works in your setup and how you sync the DB-90 is a bit blurry (you do this by matching the BPM setting on the DB-90 I guess?) and your next step now you've managed to sync everything is a downright mystery to me…
Are you basically saying that PedalSync Master Control -> PedalSync MIDI Splitty -> PedalSync CTL-Sync -> Goatkeeper doesn't work
and PedalSync Master Control -> PedalSync MIDI Splitty -> Empress MIDIbox -> Empress Phaser + Warped Vinyl does work?

Nevermind the 8Step, in the set up pictured the 8Step is only used to sequence the volume and rate of the second Warped Vinyl.

The DB-90 looks a piece of kit form the 80es but it does some pretty unique things. It can sync to a MIDI clock via MIDI and outputs an audio signal. The Goatkeeper can only sync to an Audio signal, it cannot sync to a tap tempo signal like the CTL-Sync can output, that’s why I need it on top of the rest.

Last I spoke to Molten Voltage they said building a box that could do MIDI>audio was on their to-do-list but since then I started thinking/working on something too.
Nothing as advanced as what they can do, but using Arduino you can take a MIDI Clock and output pretty much whatever you want. The Arduino can even output a simple square wave as an audio signal. I’m trying to get this to work as with an Arduino Nano, an optocoupler a 5pin din, a jack output and the right code, I could fit all this in a small enclosure like a 1590A and replace the DB-90 in my set up. I have it working but I want to add a pot with subdivisions first. (why do simple when you can do overcomplicated?! )

Glenouille wrote:Nevermind the 8Step, in the set up pictured the 8Step is only used to sequence the volume and rate of the second Warped Vinyl.

I love everything about this project. So you are using a Warped Vinyl as a tremolo sequencer? That's freakin' rad.

Glenouille wrote:Nevermind the 8Step, in the set up pictured the 8Step is only used to sequence the volume and rate of the second Warped Vinyl.

The DB-90 looks a piece of kit form the 80es but it does some pretty unique things. It can sync to a MIDI clock via MIDI and outputs an audio signal. The Goatkeeper can only sync to an Audio signal, it cannot sync to a tap tempo signal like the CTL-Sync can output, that’s why I need it on top of the rest.

Last I spoke to Molten Voltage they said building a box that could do MIDI>audio was on their to-do-list but since then I started thinking/working on something too.
Nothing as advanced as what they can do, but using Arduino you can take a MIDI Clock and output pretty much whatever you want. The Arduino can even output a simple square wave as an audio signal. I’m trying to get this to work as with an Arduino Nano, an optocoupler a 5pin din, a jack output and the right code, I could fit all this in a small enclosure like a 1590A and replace the DB-90 in my set up. I have it working but I want to add a pot with subdivisions first. (why do simple when you can do overcomplicated?! )

Cool, righty right, I'm on the same page with you now.
Sounds good man, any plans on selling one of those MIDI -> Audio thingy's you're talking about?

chaseblissaudio wrote:I love everything about this project. So you are using a Warped Vinyl as a tremolo sequencer? That's freakin' rad.

Yes! With The 8Step and the Warped Vinyl both synced to the same Master clock but to different subdivisions, 8Step modulates Volume and Warp (don't ask me why I also modulate the Warp, it ends up being quite subtle but it adds a little je-ne-sais-quoi!) and not the Rate (contrarily to what I initially wrote).

Tristan wrote:Cool, righty right, I'm on the same page with you now.
Sounds good man, any plans on selling one of those MIDI -> Audio thingy's you're talking about?

I did not plan on selling anything, but if you need one once the protyping is over, I'll make another one for you no problem. Just received some Arduino Nano this morning so it should not take too long before I have something new to show (hopefully).

Glenouille wrote:

chaseblissaudio wrote:I love everything about this project. So you are using a Warped Vinyl as a tremolo sequencer? That's freakin' rad.

Yes! With The 8Step and the Warped Vinyl both synced to the same Master clock but to different subdivisions, 8Step modulates Volume and Warp (don't ask me why I also modulate the Warp, it ends up being quite subtle but it adds a little je-ne-sais-quoi!) and not the Rate (contrarily to what I initially wrote).

That's funny, I also often find that I throw in the Warp modulation for shits and giggles quite often.

Glenouille wrote:I did not plan on selling anything, but if you need one once the protyping is over, I'll make another one for you no problem. Just received some Arduino Nano this morning so it should not take too long before I have something new to show (hopefully).

Cool, that sounds great, I'm looking forward to it!
I mailed Molten Voltage and they say they're working on a unit that can sync the Goatkeeper to MIDI Clock but they're not done with it yet.

the arduino midi stuff is pretty good but if you ever want to go further another suggestion for developing midi devices is the MIOS stuff from here:

http://www.ucapps.de/

not to knock anything MV makes but this allows you to go where they have not (yet).

another interesting device is the psoc hardware from cypress. i just started looking at it the other week and it is really easy to use. has built in dacs that can be setup graphically to read from wave tables (even ones you draw manually). there is a cheap dev board for psoc 4 that has sample midi projects so maybe that could be a good starting point.