Synth-DIY Yahoo! Groups Archives

Thread

frequency and tuning

2001-06-28 by rgadams@earthlink.net

Hello everyone. I want to attempt to tune me oscillators to specific
frequencies (for microtonal purposes) and I was hoping some of you
could share with me what devices you might use to acheive this. Rex
once showed me a Fluke multimeter but this was a bit pricey and I
really don't need all of those features. I understand a frequency
counter will do the job but I really don't know which direction to
look in as I do not have a background in electronics. I'm looking for
something that will display cents in thousandths. Is this possible?
Any help and information would be appreciated. Thank you, Rich

Re: frequency and tuning

2001-06-28 by Microtonal

I use a frequency counter for those very purposes. Generally, multimeters
with sufficient resolution cost around $200. A more affordable solution is
a used frequency counter. You can pick these up on ebay for $25-$40. Look
for a Hewlett Packard 5314A Universal Counter. These are fairly easy to use
and even include operating instructions on a plate on the bottom of the
unit. Resolution goes down to 0.1 Hertz. I checked mine side by side with
a new $200 Fluke multimeter and it was every bit as accurate. As a bonus,
if you're working in just intonation, this unit has two inputs so that you
can compare the ratio between two sources. Trying to tune a perfect fifth,
3/2? Simple, just tune the first oscilllator, then tune the second to a
ratio of 1.50000.

John Loffink
microtonal@...

----- Original Message -----

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From: <rgadams@...>
To: <SergeModular@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 2:44 AM
Subject: [SergeModular] frequency and tuning

> Hello everyone. I want to attempt to tune me oscillators to specific
> frequencies (for microtonal purposes) and I was hoping some of you
> could share with me what devices you might use to acheive this. Rex
> once showed me a Fluke multimeter but this was a bit pricey and I
> really don't need all of those features. I understand a frequency
> counter will do the job but I really don't know which direction to
> look in as I do not have a background in electronics. I'm looking for
> something that will display cents in thousandths. Is this possible?
> Any help and information would be appreciated. Thank you, Rich
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> SergeModular-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Keep on Patchin'!
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Re: frequency and tuning

2001-06-28 by dbauer847@yahoo.com

--- In SergeModular@y..., "Microtonal" <microtonal@w...> wrote:
--- In SergeModular@y..., "Microtonal" <microtonal@w...> wrote:
> I use a frequency counter for those very purposes.

Could someone describe the 'tuning procedure' tuning Drones with a
modular with something like a Fluke Multi meter?

Can you replace the "rods" on a multi meter with banana or 1/4 jacks?
Do you use the red or black for Frequency Tuning? Sorry for the new
be questions, but I cannot find a modular synth/frequency tuning
tutorial.

Also, does anyone have any good DRONE patches they would like to
share?

Dbz

Re: Was (frequency and tuning) now Drones

2001-06-28 by maf@mcs.net

>
> Also, does anyone have any good DRONE patches they would like to
> share?
>
> Dbz

Actually one of my favorite (and one of the simplest) drone
patches on a serge is to use the third stage of the wave
multiplier (that's the bottom section). Pump a low sine into
the input (IN 1) and use a very slow LFO on the VC IN with the
attenuator cranked only to about 2 oclock. Experiment with the
middle section also.

Re: Was (frequency and tuning) now Drones

2001-06-28 by John Papiewski

Yeah, that's a good one.
I like to use two vcos tuned closely (slow beat frequency), send the
triangles to the two wavemultiplier #3 inputs.
Another, send any outputs of closely tuned vco's to the inputs of a
comparator - I have the NCOM. The output is the compared pulse output of the
two inputs. Filter with phase shifter, VCF, or DSG.
Here's a very interesting variant - send pink noise to VCFQ with the VCF
resonance turned way up (but maybe not all the way).
It makes a haunting thunderously resonant moan, esp in the lower registers.
Vary the filter pitch slowly by hand or with slow random voltage.
Works well with lots of reverb.
If you've run out of oscillators in your patch & still want a drone, the
DSG's or DTG's are excellent for this too. Patch two of them up as audio
oscillators and use either the triangular (output) or rectangular (trig)
outputs, send these to a mixer or vcm for more processing. These modules are
hard to tune since you're dealing with two rate knobs, but they are nicely
stable. And they work great in the lower pitch registers.

John P.

maf@... wrote:

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> >
> > Also, does anyone have any good DRONE patches they would like to
> > share?
> >
> > Dbz
>
> Actually one of my favorite (and one of the simplest) drone
> patches on a serge is to use the third stage of the wave
> multiplier (that's the bottom section). Pump a low sine into
> the input (IN 1) and use a very slow LFO on the VC IN with the
> attenuator cranked only to about 2 oclock. Experiment with the
> middle section also.

Re: frequency and tuning

2001-06-28 by Microtonal

>
> Could someone describe the 'tuning procedure' tuning Drones with a
> modular with something like a Fluke Multi meter?
>
> Can you replace the "rods" on a multi meter with banana or 1/4 jacks?
> Do you use the red or black for Frequency Tuning? Sorry for the new
> be questions, but I cannot find a modular synth/frequency tuning
> tutorial.
>

Most multimeters are banana plug compatible. Plug the oscillator output to
the red multimeter jack, and the Serge ground to the black multimeter jack.

John Loffink
microtonal@...

Re: Was (frequency and tuning) now Drones

2001-06-28 by Microtonal

My favorite Serge Drone

The following works well for 3 or 4 note chords in just intonation - tuned
to exact ratios such as 3/2, 4/3, 7/4, etc. Equal tempered chords will turn
to mush.

Take 3 or 4 PCO sawtooth outputs, mix them together. Send the mixed signal
to two Variable Slope Filters (2 Variable Q VCFs should work also). These
filters should be modulated by different DSGs or other modualtion sources.
Take the lowpass or bandpass outputs, send them to the carrier and signal
inputs to a Ring Modulator. The result is a huge wash of harmonics.

John Loffink
microtonal@...

----- Original Message -----

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From: "John Papiewski" <johnp@...>
To: <SergeModular@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 4:28 PM
Subject: Re: [SergeModular] Re: Was (frequency and tuning) now Drones

> Yeah, that's a good one.
> I like to use two vcos tuned closely (slow beat frequency), send the
> triangles to the two wavemultiplier #3 inputs.
> Another, send any outputs of closely tuned vco's to the inputs of a
> comparator - I have the NCOM. The output is the compared pulse output of
the
> two inputs. Filter with phase shifter, VCF, or DSG.
> Here's a very interesting variant - send pink noise to VCFQ with the VCF
> resonance turned way up (but maybe not all the way).
> It makes a haunting thunderously resonant moan, esp in the lower
registers.
> Vary the filter pitch slowly by hand or with slow random voltage.
> Works well with lots of reverb.
> If you've run out of oscillators in your patch & still want a drone, the
> DSG's or DTG's are excellent for this too. Patch two of them up as audio
> oscillators and use either the triangular (output) or rectangular (trig)
> outputs, send these to a mixer or vcm for more processing. These modules
are
> hard to tune since you're dealing with two rate knobs, but they are nicely
> stable. And they work great in the lower pitch registers.
>
> John P.
>
> maf@... wrote:
>
> > >
> > > Also, does anyone have any good DRONE patches they would like to
> > > share?
> > >
> > > Dbz
> >
> > Actually one of my favorite (and one of the simplest) drone
> > patches on a serge is to use the third stage of the wave
> > multiplier (that's the bottom section). Pump a low sine into
> > the input (IN 1) and use a very slow LFO on the VC IN with the
> > attenuator cranked only to about 2 oclock. Experiment with the
> > middle section also.
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> SergeModular-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Keep on Patchin'!
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>