@gravitas I actually tried one of those. Problem is with iOS you can't set it to use all the outputs, and Presonus said they won't be fixing it. I appreciate you being on the lookout :)
The Ultralite Mk5 actually seems to output +/-5v, though I didn't do a real voltmeter test or anything.
I decided to sell the piece of gear I was using that needed this, a Gotharman Urano. It was definitely cool, but overkill when I already had Drambo. Also even though it was a full digital/analog modular synth you couldn't really use it like one because the ability to control it via midi/cv were pretty limited.
Nice ! Yea the Urano only allows you to to map 8 midi macros, and those are the same ones that the built in knobs control. And there are 4 cv parameters. That's really not enough to do a modular performance.
I think the Gotharman LD3 allows more CCs so I may try that someday.
Comments
Quick update.
I've now wired in four compressor/distortion guitar pedals to the Behringer UMC1820
and I'm using them as effects send and return.
With the assistance of @rec I've also developed a tool to adjust
for latency with sample accurate (inregards to timing) alignment.
Here's what it sounds like on an 808 kDrm going from clean to fully effected.
One of the things I've discovered when level matching the compressor pedals
to the audio interface is that they will distort when the signal is to loud which
can be used as an effect in itself especially as I cannot CV input the pedals as yet.
My guitar pedal board currently looks like this.
Here are the tools to adjust for latency.
Any questions just ask.
Quick update.
After some research I've found out that either the blackface ADAT's
have dc coupled outputs albeit at a low signal or can be modified for full 10v CV.
I passed an LFO through my ADAT's inputs from my iPhone and the LFO
retained it's shape when looking at the inputs on an oscilloscope.
Also with DC offset @gravitas?
Was it a square wave LFO set to low frequency?
I didn't try with a DC offset and the wave shape was a low frequency sine wave.
I'll try it again today with an offset and a square wave.
Modified ADAT machines used to be used to record and play back CV signals for LAZER lights.
I came across this on my searches.
"In order to properly record laser show data, the recorder must be able to record a DC
signal. If you apply a steady +5V DC signal to one of the channels on an unmodified
ADAT, you would see that the recorded signal starts at +5V and slowly goes down to
0V. The input signal is the same +5V however; the recorded signal is now 0V. Why is
this? Most, if not all, recorders utilize a function known as AC Coupling. This
intentionally prevents a DC signal from being recorded. So in order to record a DC
signal, a modification is needed. The original Alesis “Blackface” ADAT was very easy
to modify to allow recording of DC signals. Simply soldering a bridge across several
capacitors allowed playback and recording of DC signals. As the technology progressed
it became more difficult (nearly impossible) to modify a unit for DC recording.
As an alternative, recording “digitally” to an ADAT resolves this problem completely.
The only problem left is to convert the analog laser signals to a digital stream of data
that an ADAT can understand. This is just what the EK-DZ ILDA to ADAT Converter is
designed to do!"
@rs2000
Have a look here for ADAT mod for the outputs.
https://photonlexicon.com/forums/showthread.php/4554-WANTED-Blackface-ADAT-cable-to-ILDA
Looks like a super simple mod.
Do you know why the OpAmp was changed? The NJM isn't a rail to rail type but the LME is even worse...
Agreed, it does look like a super simple mod.
I’ve no idea why the op amp was changed.
I wish my knowledge of electronics was up to scratch.
This is the main thread that I found in regards to the ADAT mod.
https://photonlexicon.com/forums/showthread.php/7535-ILDA-ADAT-Blackface-Modification-Guide-Expanded
I'll see about doing the mod when the vactrols turn up which should
be within the the next couple of weeks as I'm waiting for stuff to arrive.
The vactrols have arrived.
Resistors next.
@gravitas Which ones have you got? They're quite different in behavior, depending on the material used in fabrication.
Good question. 😁
I'm winging right now so I just choose the first reasonable priced ones I saw on EBay.
Head scratch, head scratch ....
The vactrols I ordered are " Audio VTL5C9 opto-coupler vactrol".
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164485717719
I made a post over on the MuffWiggler Forum and
a member there kindly put together a simulation for me.
Here's the thread.
and there's the simulation.
I'm currently waiting for the 220k ohm resistors to turn up
in the interim I'm looking at how I'm going to do this.
whilst I’m trying to be as patient as possible here’s an actual performance.
“dyna compressors and other stuff”
Quick update.
My backup LaunchControl XL has arrived.
Sending my current one in for repair.
Time to finish of the performances pieces that I have for dRambo.
On that note live streaming should be happening really soon.
Most probably by next week.
Quick update.
My Komplete Audio 6 mkii died on me a few weeks ago
I was facing a rather expensive brick which I actually
mentioned to the Native Instruments repair department.
I was quite grumpy because I was about to live stream when it died.
Native Instruments was amazing, they have replaced the unit entirely
free of charge including postage to and from Germany.
Big time respect.
Replacement potentiometers have also arrived.
I know need to decide whether I want toggle switches or buttons switches.
I've changed my mind about adapting the foot pedal.
I put this together instead as a tester.
It works when sending it a CV signal and as a basic tone control when the CV input has nothing in it.
I've been looking at expression controllers
Boss-EV-1-WL-Wireless-MIDI-Expression-Pedal
looks sexy
Yeah,… it does.
I’ve got a Line 6 FBV Express Mkii usb foot pedal which I have connected up to
an old iphone SE and a Zoom U-44 which I’ve been configuring for my guitar needs.
It sounds great.
I can use the expression pedal wirelessly so I’ve got that covered. ;)
I’m sure you will enjoy the Boss pedal. :)
im still looking at all kind of controllers and can't decide what I want, picky me
maybe I should just get a push 2 and call it a day ^^
I know you've been unable to decide. :)
I would recommend getting an LC XL and LaunchPad X.
Personally speaking I'm happy with both my LC XL's and the Launchpad X.
I've got two LC XL's because one is for back up.
The combination is really cool and bear in mind I have quite a few
dRambo templates that will come pre mapped for these controllers. ;)
Presonus 1824c has dc coupled inputs and outputs I've now discovered.
Whether it does full -5v to 5v?
It seemed so at first glance.
@gravitas I actually tried one of those. Problem is with iOS you can't set it to use all the outputs, and Presonus said they won't be fixing it. I appreciate you being on the lookout :)
The Ultralite Mk5 actually seems to output +/-5v, though I didn't do a real voltmeter test or anything.
I decided to sell the piece of gear I was using that needed this, a Gotharman Urano. It was definitely cool, but overkill when I already had Drambo. Also even though it was a full digital/analog modular synth you couldn't really use it like one because the ability to control it via midi/cv were pretty limited.
@quartzite
Good to know.
I was about to get it myself but if it doesn't use all the outputs
with iOS then it's useless for me at this moment in time.
Ah, well...:)
I've just had a look at the Urano and yup I agree that would be overkill for sure.
Oh wow the midi/cv is limited?
I'm currently having serious fun with dRambo and routing audio in and out from it.
I've finally gain staged my guitar pedal board and put together a few dRambo projects
to test it's sonic capabilities and it's fuuuuunnnnnnn. :)
More than on that later. ;)
Oh yes, I may have mentioned, though doable, putting aside my idea to replace
the potentiometers with CV inputs or add CV inputs to my main guitar pedal.
I'm going to explore vactrol VCA's instead and possibly
get a small CV capable synth just to play around with.
LPG's are also looking good.
Getting sample accurate aligned audio in and out from dRambo has changed things somewhat.
More on that later as well.
Nice ! Yea the Urano only allows you to to map 8 midi macros, and those are the same ones that the built in knobs control. And there are 4 cv parameters. That's really not enough to do a modular performance.
I think the Gotharman LD3 allows more CCs so I may try that someday.
does that work without noise gate?
usualy vactrols dont close completely and bleed through ...
I've no idea.
I'm about to find out.