Re: Precise frequency meter
2014-11-07 by Brian Hamlin
The Toptop Z3000 oscillators have a frequency counter built in. There's an input for measuring external sources and you get an extra VCO into the bargain.
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Re: Precise frequency meter
Re: [Doepfer_a100] Re: Precise frequency meter
2014-11-07 by David Kellett
Ahh - I had not realized about the ability to measure an external signal. That would be very handy!! Thanks for the info, David www.movingisliving.co.uk Sent from my iPhone
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> On 7 Nov 2014, at 09:23, Brian Hamlin brianhamlin@btinternet.com [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > The Toptop Z3000 oscillators have a frequency counter built in. There's an input for measuring external sources and you get an extra VCO into the bargain. > >
Re: [Doepfer_a100] Re: Precise frequency meter
2014-11-07 by Nicholas Keller
I have one Z3000 and it's not quite as helpful as I had hoped. It's nice for quickly tuning your VCOs together (like adjusting all to A440) but no good if you want to calibrate anything, or to adjust to intervals as those would not be whole numbers. For that, you need something with hundredths or thousandths places. (I suppose it's possible to tune intervals by sending a midi A-note to VCO 1 and setting to 440Hz, then sending a different midi note to VCO 2 (5 semitones down would be the E below the A) but also tuning to 440Hz....that could work, right? Then when you send A to BOTH VCOs, you should have a decent 5th interval with VCO2 now 5 semis above VCO1, but I haven't tried this) My portable DMM has a freq counter which I've used to calibrate some VCOs and VCFs, but I'd prefer to get a dedicated bench unit if I continue to build and service my own gear. My DMM has 4 number places, so I can adjust to 8.000Hz or 3200Hz, but not 3200.000Hz. Another option would be to use a free computer-based analyzer for precision adjustment. Sent from the future
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> On Nov 7, 2014, at 5:01 AM, "David Kellett davidkellettwoulf@yahoo.com [Doepfer_a100]" <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > Ahh - I had not realized about the ability to measure an external signal. That would be very handy!! > > Thanks for the info, > > David > > www.movingisliving.co.uk > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On 7 Nov 2014, at 09:23, Brian Hamlin brianhamlin@btinternet.com [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: >> >> >> The Toptop Z3000 oscillators have a frequency counter built in. There's an input for measuring external sources and you get an extra VCO into the bargain. > >
Re: [Doepfer_a100] Re: Precise frequency meter
2014-11-07 by David Kellett
Yeah - I would like something portable and not to expensive ideally!! David www.movingisliving.co.uk Sent from my iPhone
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> On 7 Nov 2014, at 12:45, Nicholas Keller maq163x2@gmail.com [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > I have one Z3000 and it's not quite as helpful as I had hoped. It's nice for quickly tuning your VCOs together (like adjusting all to A440) but no good if you want to calibrate anything, or to adjust to intervals as those would not be whole numbers. For that, you need something with hundredths or thousandths places. > (I suppose it's possible to tune intervals by sending a midi A-note to VCO 1 and setting to 440Hz, then sending a different midi note to VCO 2 (5 semitones down would be the E below the A) but also tuning to 440Hz....that could work, right? Then when you send A to BOTH VCOs, you should have a decent 5th interval with VCO2 now 5 semis above VCO1, but I haven't tried this) > My portable DMM has a freq counter which I've used to calibrate some VCOs and VCFs, but I'd prefer to get a dedicated bench unit if I continue to build and service my own gear. My DMM has 4 number places, so I can adjust to 8.000Hz or 3200Hz, but not 3200.000Hz. Another option would be to use a free computer-based analyzer for precision adjustment. > > Sent from the future > >> On Nov 7, 2014, at 5:01 AM, "David Kellett davidkellettwoulf@yahoo.com [Doepfer_a100]" <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: >> >> >> Ahh - I had not realized about the ability to measure an external signal. That would be very handy!! >> >> Thanks for the info, >> >> David >> >> www.movingisliving.co.uk >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On 7 Nov 2014, at 09:23, Brian Hamlin brianhamlin@btinternet.com [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>> The Toptop Z3000 oscillators have a frequency counter built in. There's an input for measuring external sources and you get an extra VCO into the bargain. > >
Re: [Doepfer_a100] Re: Precise frequency meter
2014-11-07 by Zoë Blade
> I have one Z3000 and it's not quite as helpful as I had hoped. It's nice for quickly tuning your VCOs together (like adjusting all to A440) but no good if you want to calibrate anything, or to adjust to intervals as those would not be whole numbers. For that, you need something with hundredths or thousandths places. Are we talking about measuring Hertz? As no more than about +/- 5 cent accuracy is likely to be perceptible, unless it's in the form of how the different pitches interact with one another, as in the beating. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cent_(music)#Human_perception for details. So hundredths are definitely going to be sufficient, with thousandths not necessary. Just in case anyone's thinking of making such a thing, and doesn't want to make it more accurate than necessary. :)
Re: [Doepfer_a100] Re: Precise frequency meter
2014-11-07 by David Kellett
And the knobs on most oscillators are gonna make it hard to get to thousandths of a hertz accuracy :-) David www.movingisliving.co.uk Sent from my iPhone
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> On 7 Nov 2014, at 13:54, Zoë Blade zoe@bytenoise.co.uk [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > > I have one Z3000 and it's not quite as helpful as I had hoped. It's nice for quickly tuning your VCOs together (like adjusting all to A440) but no good if you want to calibrate anything, or to adjust to intervals as those would not be whole numbers. For that, you need something with hundredths or thousandths places. > > Are we talking about measuring Hertz? As no more than about +/- 5 cent accuracy is likely to be perceptible, unless it's in the form of how the different pitches interact with one another, as in the beating. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cent_(music)#Human_perception for details. So hundredths are definitely going to be sufficient, with thousandths not necessary. > > Just in case anyone's thinking of making such a thing, and doesn't want to make it more accurate than necessary. :) > >
Re: [Doepfer_a100] Re: Precise frequency meter
2014-11-07 by Nicholas Keller
Right, I just meant that I'd like to be as precise as possible when calibrating 1V/oct scale Nick
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> On Nov 7, 2014, at 9:06 AM, "David Kellett davidkellettwoulf@yahoo.com [Doepfer_a100]" <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > And the knobs on most oscillators are gonna make it hard to get to thousandths of a hertz accuracy :-) > > David > > www.movingisliving.co.uk > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On 7 Nov 2014, at 13:54, Zoë Blade zoe@bytenoise.co.uk [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: >> >> >> > I have one Z3000 and it's not quite as helpful as I had hoped. It's nice for quickly tuning your VCOs together (like adjusting all to A440) but no good if you want to calibrate anything, or to adjust to intervals as those would not be whole numbers. For that, you need something with hundredths or thousandths places. >> >> Are we talking about measuring Hertz? As no more than about +/- 5 cent accuracy is likely to be perceptible, unless it's in the form of how the different pitches interact with one another, as in the beating. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cent_(music)#Human_perception for details. So hundredths are definitely going to be sufficient, with thousandths not necessary. >> >> Just in case anyone's thinking of making such a thing, and doesn't want to make it more accurate than necessary. :) >> > >
Re: [Doepfer_a100] Re: Precise frequency meter
2014-11-07 by Florian Anwander
Hello Am 07.11.2014 17:11, schrieb Nicholas Keller maq163x2@gmail.com [Doepfer_a100]: > Right, I just meant that I'd like to be as precise as possible when > calibrating 1V/oct scale I think I repeat my self every two weeks on that topic: Doing the 1V/oct calibration with a frequency counter is quite stupid, because after each turn of the scale trim you have to readjust the offset trim. It makes it an endless game. Instead: Use a tuner with a needle meter. Adjust only the scale and only look at the fact, that the needle no longer jumps when you do octave jumps (don't care for the absolute tuning). When you have reached the clean octave jumps, you set the offset once and you are done. With this method I can adjust a OB-Xa (16 VCOs!) within one hour. Florian
Re: [Doepfer_a100] Re: Precise frequency meter
2014-11-07 by Nicholas Keller
Thanks, I think.
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> On Nov 7, 2014, at 11:19 AM, "Florian Anwander fanwander@mnet-online.de [Doepfer_a100]" <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > Hello > > Am 07.11.2014 17:11, schrieb Nicholas Keller maq163x2@gmail.com > [Doepfer_a100]: > > Right, I just meant that I'd like to be as precise as possible when > > calibrating 1V/oct scale > I think I repeat my self every two weeks on that topic: > > Doing the 1V/oct calibration with a frequency counter is quite stupid, > because after each turn of the scale trim you have to readjust the > offset trim. It makes it an endless game. > > Instead: Use a tuner with a needle meter. Adjust only the scale and only > look at the fact, that the needle no longer jumps when you do octave > jumps (don't care for the absolute tuning). When you have reached the > clean octave jumps, you set the offset once and you are done. With this > method I can adjust a OB-Xa (16 VCOs!) within one hour. > > Florian > >
Re: [Doepfer_a100] Re: Precise frequency meter
2014-11-07 by David Kellett
My need is more to explore ratios - especially, but not exclusively with FM. David www.movingisliving.co.uk Sent from my iPhone
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> On 7 Nov 2014, at 16:29, Nicholas Keller maq163x2@gmail.com [Doepfer_a100] <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > Thanks, I think. > > > >> On Nov 7, 2014, at 11:19 AM, "Florian Anwander fanwander@mnet-online.de [Doepfer_a100]" <Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com> wrote: >> >> >> Hello >> >> Am 07.11.2014 17:11, schrieb Nicholas Keller maq163x2@gmail.com >> [Doepfer_a100]: >> > Right, I just meant that I'd like to be as precise as possible when >> > calibrating 1V/oct scale >> I think I repeat my self every two weeks on that topic: >> >> Doing the 1V/oct calibration with a frequency counter is quite stupid, >> because after each turn of the scale trim you have to readjust the >> offset trim. It makes it an endless game. >> >> Instead: Use a tuner with a needle meter. Adjust only the scale and only >> look at the fact, that the needle no longer jumps when you do octave >> jumps (don't care for the absolute tuning). When you have reached the >> clean octave jumps, you set the offset once and you are done. With this >> method I can adjust a OB-Xa (16 VCOs!) within one hour. >> >> Florian > >