Doepfer

Thanks to Josh for answering my BBD question.  Now here's one about the A-198 Trautonium / Ribbon Controller.
 
Is it normal for the pressure gate on the original 
A-198 Trautonium / Ribbon Controller to require a very uncomfortably heavy "touch" to activate the pressure gate?  I use the word touch in quotes because it requires so much weight to activate (even at the lowest threshold setting) that it feels like I'm having to practically jump on it to get it to gate.  The way this unit's responding, I feel it puts a dangerous amount of strain on my fingers and wrists to be able to use it regularly. 
 
I'd like to be able to play melodies on the ribbon controller the way one would use a standard keyboard controller, with an envelope controlled VCA thats got a significant release time.  The way things seem to be set up, when hold is set to off, the gate is activated on ribbon contact and deactivated when the ribbon is released.  At the same time, the CV output drops suddenly when the ribbon is released.  This obviously won't work for most sounds that haven't got an immediate release.  If the hold switch is set so the output CV doesn't drop off upon ribbon release, the CV holds well enough, but the gate remains on.  Is this normal?  
 
Is it possible to set up the ribbon controller (without using additional modules) to play a sound with a decent release without its pitch changing on release?  I thought perhaps the pressure gate could be used, but like I said above, it requires an uncomfortable amount of pressure.  Plus, when the pressure gate is used, the normal (non-pressure) output CV increases on ribbon release (!).  Is something wrong with this unit or is this just the way it was designed?  
 
Please reply to me directly at minime123 at onebox dot com as I don't check my hotmail account too often.
 
Thanks,
Mini
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What happens when you tune the dials on the pressure section, like  
lowering the threshold or increasing the CV scale?  Is it more  
sensitive then?  (Just curious, I don't own one.)

On Dec 27, 2008, at 10:26 AM, mm123 ah wrote:

>
> Thanks to Josh for answering my BBD question. Now here's one about  
> the A-198 Trautonium / Ribbon Controller.
>
> Is it normal for the pressure gate on the original
> A-198 Trautonium / Ribbon Controller to require a very uncomfortably  
> heavy "touch" to activate the pressure gate? I use the word touch in  
> quotes because it requires so much weight to activate (even at the  
> lowest threshold setting) that it feels like I'm having to  
> practically jump on it to get it to gate. The way this unit's  
> responding, I feel it puts a dangerous amount of strain on my  
> fingers and wrists to be able to use it regularly.
>
> I'd like to be able to play melodies on the ribbon controller the  
> way one would use a standard keyboard controller, with an envelope  
> controlled VCA thats got a significant release time. The way things  
> seem to be set up, when hold is set to off, the gate is activated on  
> ribbon contact and deactivated when the ribbon is released. At the  
> same time, the CV output drops suddenly when the ribbon is released.  
> This obviously won't work for most sounds that haven't got an  
> immediate release. If the hold switch is set so the output CV  
> doesn't drop off upon ribbon release, the CV holds well enough, but  
> the gate remains on. Is this normal?
>
> Is it possible to set up the ribbon controller (without using  
> additional modules) to play a sound with a decent release without  
> its pitch changing on release? I thought perhaps the pressure gate  
> could be used, but like I said above, it requires an uncomfortable  
> amount of pressure. Plus, when the pressure gate is used, the normal  
> (non-pressure) output CV increases on ribbon release (!). Is  
> something wrong with this unit or is this just the way it was  
> designed?
>
> Please reply to me directly at minime123 at onebox dot com as I  
> don't check my hotmail account too often.
>
> Thanks,
> Mini
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> VINTAGE SYNTH DEALER
>
> -We Buy, Sell & Trade Analog Synths
> -Huge Selection, Years of Experience, Reliable Service
> -Visit us at http://www.123synthland.com (redirects)
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> __________________________________________________________
> Life on your PC is safer, easier, and more enjoyable with Windows  
> Vista®.
> http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/127032870/direct/01/
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

i find mine requires a good amount of pressure, but not TOO much,
perhaps it's your unit?

On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 10:54 AM, Monroe Eskew <monroe.eskew@gmail.com> wrote:
> What happens when you tune the dials on the pressure section, like
> lowering the threshold or increasing the CV scale? Is it more
> sensitive then? (Just curious, I don't own one.)
>
> On Dec 27, 2008, at 10:26 AM, mm123 ah wrote:
>
>>
>> Thanks to Josh for answering my BBD question. Now here's one about
>> the A-198 Trautonium / Ribbon Controller.
>>
>> Is it normal for the pressure gate on the original
>> A-198 Trautonium / Ribbon Controller to require a very uncomfortably
>> heavy "touch" to activate the pressure gate? I use the word touch in
>> quotes because it requires so much weight to activate (even at the
>> lowest threshold setting) that it feels like I'm having to
>> practically jump on it to get it to gate. The way this unit's
>> responding, I feel it puts a dangerous amount of strain on my
>> fingers and wrists to be able to use it regularly.
>>
>> I'd like to be able to play melodies on the ribbon controller the
>> way one would use a standard keyboard controller, with an envelope
>> controlled VCA thats got a significant release time. The way things
>> seem to be set up, when hold is set to off, the gate is activated on
>> ribbon contact and deactivated when the ribbon is released. At the
>> same time, the CV output drops suddenly when the ribbon is released.
>> This obviously won't work for most sounds that haven't got an
>> immediate release. If the hold switch is set so the output CV
>> doesn't drop off upon ribbon release, the CV holds well enough, but
>> the gate remains on. Is this normal?
>>
>> Is it possible to set up the ribbon controller (without using
>> additional modules) to play a sound with a decent release without
>> its pitch changing on release? I thought perhaps the pressure gate
>> could be used, but like I said above, it requires an uncomfortable
>> amount of pressure. Plus, when the pressure gate is used, the normal
>> (non-pressure) output CV increases on ribbon release (!). Is
>> something wrong with this unit or is this just the way it was
>> designed?
>>
>> Please reply to me directly at minime123 at onebox dot com as I
>> don't check my hotmail account too often.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Mini
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>> VINTAGE SYNTH DEALER
>>
>> -We Buy, Sell & Trade Analog Synths
>> -Huge Selection, Years of Experience, Reliable Service
>> -Visit us at http://www.123synthland.com (redirects)
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>> __________________________________________________________
>> Life on your PC is safer, easier, and more enjoyable with Windows
>> Vista(R).
>> http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/127032870/direct/01/
>>
>>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> 



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