Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

I know that you can add an Evolver desktop unit to a PEK to 
achieve 5 voices of polyphony.  

In this sort of setup, do the controls on the Evolver desktop unit 
still work?  I mean, do they serve as additional controls for the 
(unified) 5-voice Polyevolver Keyboard.  For example, could you 
set the desktop unit to control the tuning and waveshape of 
oscillator 1, while the keyboard controlled the same for oscillator 
2, and adjust both simultaneously?  If so, what happens if you 
set the desktop to control oscillator 2, the keyboard to the same, 
and move both fine tuning knobs simultaneously in opposite 
directions?

Also, the desktop unit has indented knobs, is that right?  (All of 
them or just some?)

2005/7/21, andyklug <andyklug@...>:
> I know that you can add an Evolver desktop unit to a PEK to
> achieve 5 voices of polyphony.
> 
> In this sort of setup, do the controls on the Evolver desktop unit
> still work?  I mean, do they serve as additional controls for the
> (unified) 5-voice Polyevolver Keyboard.

Um, no, at least not in the standard configuration.  The keyboard uses
a midi cable to send overflow notes and control changes to the
desktop, and midi cables are unidirectional.

If you adjust the controls on the desktop, it will change only the
patch on the desktop (so the keyboard and desktop will then be out of
sync until you change patches or re-dump from the keyboard).

> Also, the desktop unit has indented knobs, is that right?  (All of
> them or just some?)

Yes, all of them.

-Miles
-- 
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.

BTW, if you're asking because you're afraid that the keyboard's smooth
knobs might be a usability problem, I'd say don't worry -- they're
slightly annoying, but it's not really that big a deal, you just learn
to be bit more careful when adjusting them.

-miles
-- 
A zen-buddhist walked into a pizza shop and
said, "Make me one with everything."

--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, Miles Bader <miles@g...> 
wrote:
> BTW, if you're asking because you're afraid that the keyboard's 
smooth
> knobs might be a usability problem, I'd say don't worry -- they're
> slightly annoying, but it's not really that big a deal, you just learn
> to be bit more careful when adjusting them.

That was part of it, but I also thought it would be nice to be able 
to adjust oscillators 1&2 or 3&4 with two hands when trying to 
dial in a sound (esp. PulseWidth on 1&2).  Mostly just curious...

Thanks.

I think it might work if the desktop evolver was before the pek in 
the midi chain.

Bigger issue is the output difference between the evolver and the 
pek and rack unit.  The evolvers output is about 6db louder than the 
others making chaining with the evolver just about useless anyway.

--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, "andyklug" <andyklug@y...> wrote:
> --- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, Miles Bader <miles@g...> 
> wrote:
> > BTW, if you're asking because you're afraid that the keyboard's 
> smooth
> > knobs might be a usability problem, I'd say don't worry -- 
they're
> > slightly annoying, but it's not really that big a deal, you just 
learn
> > to be bit more careful when adjusting them.
> 
> That was part of it, but I also thought it would be nice to be 
able 

> to adjust oscillators 1&2 or 3&4 with two hands when trying to 
> dial in a sound (esp. PulseWidth on 1&2).  Mostly just curious...
> 
> Thanks.

>The evolvers output is about 6db louder than the 
> others making chaining with the evolver just about useless 
>anyway.


Good to know!

2005/7/22, dodgingrain <Chris@...>:
> Bigger issue is the output difference between the evolver and the
> pek and rack unit.  The evolvers output is about 6db louder than the
> others making chaining with the evolver just about useless anyway.

Neither unit has a "audio mix" input like the rack, so each will have
it's own mixer channel anyway; you can just adjust any level
differences at the mixer.  I'd be most concerned with any difference
between the rack and the keyboard, as you'll often want to use the
rack's mix input for the keyboard.

[I use a desktop with a PEK, and to be honest I never noticed they
were any different!  Now that I look, the mixer level controls are in
slightly different positions -- but it seems to be the opposite of
what you claimed above... there are other random differences in my
setup (the evolver is currently being used in mono), so who knows. 
Anyway, not a big deal as far as I can tell.]

-Miles
-- 
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.

I know midi is unidirectional, that is why the desktop would go 
first and filter out the first note leaving the rest of the notes 
for the PEK, just like how it performes with the rack.

As far as the output, I had Dave verify the issue.  The desktop is 
6db louder than the rack and probably the PEK as well.  This is to 
give the rack enough headroom to play all 4 notes.  HOWEVER, I 
consider it a bug and a significant flaw that the desktops output 
isn't lowered by 6 db automatically when in polychain so all 5 
voices are consistant.  No, you can't just adjust the volume as that 
would adjust the volume of the rack as well.  And having to have a 
mixer to deal with this is silly, I don't use a mixer at all and 
shouldn't have to.

--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, Miles Bader <miles@g...> wrote:
> 2005/7/21, andyklug <andyklug@y...>:
> > I know that you can add an Evolver desktop unit to a PEK to
> > achieve 5 voices of polyphony.
> > 
> > In this sort of setup, do the controls on the Evolver desktop 
unit
> > still work?  I mean, do they serve as additional controls for the
> > (unified) 5-voice Polyevolver Keyboard.
> 
> Um, no, at least not in the standard configuration.  The keyboard 
uses
> a midi cable to send overflow notes and control changes to the
> desktop, and midi cables are unidirectional.
> 
> If you adjust the controls on the desktop, it will change only the
> patch on the desktop (so the keyboard and desktop will then be out 
of
> sync until you change patches or re-dump from the keyboard).
> 
> > Also, the desktop unit has indented knobs, is that right?  (All 
of

> > them or just some?)
> 
> Yes, all of them.
> 
> -Miles
> -- 
> Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.

2005/7/25, dodgingrain <Chris@...>:
> I know midi is unidirectional, that is why the desktop would go
> first and filter out the first note leaving the rest of the notes
> for the PEK, just like how it performes with the rack.

That's not going to work very well playing from the keyboard though,
not to mention using the keyboard's knobs (which I presume almost
everybody will want to use as the "primary control surface")!

> As far as the output, I had Dave verify the issue.  The desktop is
> 6db louder than the rack and probably the PEK as well.  This is to
> give the rack enough headroom to play all 4 notes.

That's what I thought would be the case, but my PEK actually seems
(slightly) _louder_ than my desktop using equivalent settings.  I
dunno.

> HOWEVER, I
> consider it a bug and a significant flaw that the desktops output
> isn't lowered by 6 db automatically when in polychain so all 5
> voices are consistant

Note that in the usual PEK-desktop polychain configuration, the
desktop actually _doesn't know_ it's being "chained" -- you'd have to
add a new mode to tell it that.   Not sure where you'd add it though,
the desktop doesn't have any menus or anything!  Maybe Dave could add
a "polychain 0" mode (to accompanfy  the other "polychain N" modes) or
something, meaning "last step in a polychain".

> And having to have a
> mixer to deal with this is silly, I don't use a mixer at all and
> shouldn't have to.

If you're talking about the PEK, you've got to mix the outputs somehow
(it doesn't have a "mix" input like the rack)!

-miles
-- 
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.

Thanks for the info in this thread...

I have a similar problem.

My MEK outs are routed into my PER mix input, and like everyone has 
said in here...  Ever 5 note I play is louder since the MEK seems to 
have a louder output.  

This is not good for poly playing...  Its really annoying..

now I thought I could just tune down the master volume on the MEK to 
compensate... But no, the master volume is also linked as part of 
the polychain...  WHY!!!  

Since both the MEK and PER have a master volume knob, having these 
unlinked would solve the volume differences....

Dave Smith please help!!

OK so I'm not too upset and I haven't told DSI about my findings, 
but I thought you peeps here should all know this polychain volume 
issue is real.

Thanks

Chuddy23


--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com, "andyklug" <andyklug@...> wrote:
>
> I know that you can add an Evolver desktop unit to a PEK to 
> achieve 5 voices of polyphony.  
> 
> In this sort of setup, do the controls on the Evolver desktop unit 
> still work?  I mean, do they serve as additional controls for the 
> (unified) 5-voice Polyevolver Keyboard.  For example, could you 
> set the desktop unit to control the tuning and waveshape of 
> oscillator 1, while the keyboard controlled the same for 
oscillator 

> 2, and adjust both simultaneously?  If so, what happens if you 
> set the desktop to control oscillator 2, the keyboard to the same, 
> and move both fine tuning knobs simultaneously in opposite 
> directions?
> 
> Also, the desktop unit has indented knobs, is that right?  (All of 
> them or just some?)
>

Hi,
 
I have an MEK, PER, and an EVO. When I chained the MEK and the PER I
didn't notice a volume difference. Maybe there are some hardware
manufacture variations, or maybe I just wasn't hearing it? Do you have
the latest updates?
 
Speaking of the Poly Rack, I bought one figuring I'd get 4 additional
Evolvers and have the benefit of portability and lower cost but still be
able to to edits using the MEK. But I find the Rack to be pretty awkward
to use, especially with combo mode. Since combo mode doesn't exist in
the MEK, you can't use the keyboard to program combo patches in the
Rack. A patch change from a computer sequencer changes the combo instead
of the program within the combo, which is unlike any other multitimbral
hardware I've ever used. I also find the SoundTower editing software
very clumsy with combos. I've accidently overwritten programs because
SoundTower occasionally forgets which part I'm editing. Editing software
is an essential component in the Rack, and SoundTower falls short. As a
result, I'm not really using the Rack. Even though it's hooked up to my
system, I tend to use the MEK and EVO and just overdub tracks.
 
I'm probably going to sell the Rack and Desktop and buy a PEK.
 
-- Iain

________________________________

From: DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of chuddy023
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 4:48 AM
To: DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Evolver] Re: Polyevolver Keyboard + Evolver Desktop?



Thanks for the info in this thread...

I have a similar problem.

My MEK outs are routed into my PER mix input, and like everyone has 
said in here... Ever 5 note I play is louder since the MEK seems to 
have a louder output. 

This is not good for poly playing... Its really annoying..

now I thought I could just tune down the master volume on the MEK to 
compensate... But no, the master volume is also linked as part of 
the polychain... WHY!!! 

Since both the MEK and PER have a master volume knob, having these 
unlinked would solve the volume differences....

Dave Smith please help!!

OK so I'm not too upset and I haven't told DSI about my findings, 
but I thought you peeps here should all know this polychain volume 
issue is real.

Thanks

Chuddy23

--- In DSI_Evolver@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:DSI_Evolver%40yahoogroups.com> , "andyklug" <andyklug@...>
wrote:
>
> I know that you can add an Evolver desktop unit to a PEK to 
> achieve 5 voices of polyphony. 
> 
> In this sort of setup, do the controls on the Evolver desktop unit 
> still work? I mean, do they serve as additional controls for the 
> (unified) 5-voice Polyevolver Keyboard. For example, could you 
> set the desktop unit to control the tuning and waveshape of 
> oscillator 1, while the keyboard controlled the same for 
oscillator 
> 2, and adjust both simultaneously? If so, what happens if you 
> set the desktop to control oscillator 2, the keyboard to the same, 
> and move both fine tuning knobs simultaneously in opposite 
> directions?
> 
> Also, the desktop unit has indented knobs, is that right? (All of 
> them or just some?)
>



 


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