Dotcomformat

From: jeffsynth
Subject: [dotcomformat] Re: On the signpost up ahead, you're entering the ZO Zone
To: dotcomformat@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, April 20, 2009, 7:23 AM

Rig,

I got one for sale...Still interested?

Jeffsynth

--- In dotcomformat@ yahoogroups. com, "Mark Rauch"
wrote:
>
> Howdy,
> Anybybodt got one for sale?
> Rig
>
> --- In dotcomformat@ yahoogroups. com, "savage1729" savage1729@ wrote:
> >
> > Yee-hah! Thanks Morb and Bernie for the info. I figured that there
had to be some kind of manual or datasheet that came with it, but I
didn't get that (which is OK because documentation with things like this
often get lost or forgotten). So following you guys' lead, I had to
join The_Cyndustries_ List, but I got there and found both the manual and
the test/calibration procedure. To paraphrase Archimedes, give me a
manual and a place to read and I will move the world. I have a dinner
to go to this evening after work, but just as soon as I get home, whoa,
ho, hooooooooo, Nelly!
> >
> > And thank you, Phil, for your help. I understand most of the
labeling, I've read about the Vari Sync on the Cyndustries website, and
I have been able to do things like low-frequency modulation, and I
figured out the inputs and such. I've also used the various waveform
outputs and accomplished PWM. But this thing does just sooooooooo much
more, and it does it in a wild and unpredictable manner... at least, so
far. I remain hopeful that the manual and test/calibration
documentation is going to help.
> >
> >; We'll see. I'm not in the ZO Zone yet, but I can now see the
signpost up ahead.
> >
> > Savage
> >
> > --- In dotcomformat@ yahoogroups. com, "Bernie" wrote:
> > >
> > > Besides the manual, there's the "ZO Test & Calibration Procedure
2.2.pdf" in the Files section of The_Cyndustries_ List.
> > >
> > > Bernie
> > >
> > > --- In dotcomformat@ yahoogroups. com, "~Morbius~" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > There is a manual that comes with it. Because I don't have the
time right now, I can't address (properly) the +'s and -'s of the
manual... but it addresses most, if not all of the front panel
controls/jacks, and functions... theories.
> > > >
> > > > At the end, it does say something to the effect that ' since it
IS so new... even I don't know all about it'.... evidently, by Cynthia.
I'm not saying the manual is good or bad. Just 're-glancing' thru it...
it may be that some people (not excluding myself) aren't 'getting' what
is being said.... or- it could be that it's just fine.... IF you have
advanced degrees in warp-theory. ... I dunno, some mo. It does say that
experimenting is a big part of it. It also has some 'demos'.... try
patching this to that... hold your tongue... do the 'hokie-pokie' , and
turn yourself around....
> > > >
> > > > I'll say this... my Zo's were some of the first done... and as I
recall, things were crazy at Cyndustries at that time... working 40-hour
days, etc. One of my manuals was printed upside-down, and printed from a
computer and unalighned.. .. probably because they were rushed and
trying to keep-up... understandable. I also noticed some pots which
were loose. All I'm saying is that all of what I'm saying kinda says
that they were trying to catch-up... filling orders. maybe the manual's
be reprinted, or altered... I dunno.
> > > >
> > > > Did the manual help me...... uh?!.... somewhat. Did it help me
to realize the Zo's full potential?.. .. I don't think so... but that's
probably my fault. Is the Zo capable of much more than I've used it
for..... oh!... without a doubt. But like i said before.... in my
opinion (worth maybe 39-cents)... this module is really for
experimentation, and those who want to find the meaning of the
universe.... n-sh!t like that.... and if that's your 'thing'... you
definitely want a Zo. I 'do' use it.... I really do.... but it's
overkill for what I'm doing... and I think someone who's heavily into
the aleatoric stuff, would put it to much better use than I have.
> > > >
> > > > I know this hasn't helped much... but it's all I have time for,
right now.
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: peng3002
> > > > To: dotcomformat@ yahoogroups. com
> > > > Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 2:08 PM
> > > > Subject: [dotcomformat] Re: On the signpost up ahead, you're
entering the ZO Zone
>; > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Take everything I write with a grain of salt because I do not
have a ZO. If there was ever a module that should have a user's guide to
explain functions, jacks, and controls...THIS IS IT! I couldn't find one
on the site and I'm assuming you ZO owners don't have one either?!
> > > >
> > > > That said, I'll try to explain what I THINK some of the
functions and controls are. You will have to report back and tell us if
I am right.
> > > >
> > > > Vari Synch - this is like the soft sync control that is on the
q106 aid module (don't know that module number).
> > > >
> > > > Linear FM controls - The LIN FM jack and pot above it are just
like the LIN FM jack and pot on a Q106.
> > > >
> > > > Dynamic Depth controls - The DYNAMIC 1 and 2 jacks, FM INDEX
pot and jack, and the MOD OUT jack are all a part of the inear dynamic
depth modulation section. Dynamic depth control is nothing more than
placing a VCA in front of the LIN FM input on a normal oscillator.
> > >; > It's a difficult to tell what is going on with the DYNAMIC 1
and 2 jacks but referring to the Modcan A format gives a clue. Modcan A
uses white jacks for CV and Grey for audio. So I am guessing DYNAMIC 1
can be a CV or audio input to the VCA (the ZO uses a Ring Mod instead of
a VCA but it is nearly the same thing, more about this later). DYNAMIC 2
input jack also goes to the VCA (RM) but is AC coupled for audio signals
only. It looks like the signal patched to DYNAMIC 2 is also normalled to
the LIN FM jack above it.
> > > > The FM INDEX pot and jack is the control for the VCA (RM).
Patch an EG here and adjust its level with the index pot.
> > > > The MOD OUT jack is the output of this VCA (RM) to use
elsewhere in your system.
> > > >
> > > > So why do I refer to a VCA when it is actually a Ring Mod.
Because a VCA and a Ring Mod are almost the same thing!
> > > > VCA - bipolar input / unipolar control
> > >; > Ring Mod - bipolar input / bipolar control
> > > >
> > > > Controlling a Ring Mod with an EG is the same thing as using a
VCA BUT if you invert the EG (make it 0 to -5V) the audio will come out
inverted. Using a 0 to -5v EG with a VCA does not result in phase
reversal of the input signal, the VCA will simply remain off.
> > > > Note: some RM are AC coupled on both inputs so you cannot use
them as a VCA. Very lame! This is not the case with the ZO ring mod
(also, it probably uses an AD633 multiplier IC and these work great as
RM or a VCA. Sound quality-wise probably a step up from the DotCom VCA
design).
> > > >
> > > > The Morph section - Patch an EG to MORPH A IN. As the EG rises
the waveform at the MORPH out jacks (0, 180) should change from triangle
to sine to square. Try short EG times here like 0 Attack, relaese,
sustain, and adjust the decay time (short). This may result in a
pluck-like sound. I have circuits that behave like this in some VCOs I
build and the sound can be reminiscent of a LoPass Gate (ie: a
Vactrol-like softness).
> > > >
> > > > That's all for now. Tell me how it goes because I'm interested
if I got these sections right.
> > > >
> > > > Oh yeah, if anyone has a ZO they can loan me I'd be glad to do
an exhaustive experimentation session and write up a descent user's
guide.
> > > >
> > > > p.
> > > >
> > > > --- In dotcomformat@ yahoogroups. com, "savage1729"
wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Those of you here who are also members of the
synthesizersdotcomg roup may remember that I got hold of Guido's
dotcomformat Zeroscillator. I have lurked on this group because I have
not had any dotcomformat modules that weren't Dot Com, until now. I also
wanted to work with it a while before I posted any opinions or cried for
help. And so...
> > > > >
> > > > > It is definitely a box o' noodles. It's pretty easy to
create some really wild sounds with the ZO, but everything I've managed
to do with it has been 'accidental' . I find it difficult to be able to
predict what I'm going to get. I figure this is largely in part to the
fact that it is a very complex module.
> > > > >
> > > > > The function of the module feels very Buchla-like, or at
least what I envision a Buchla to function like since I've never
actually used a Buchla. One reason that causes me to feel it's
Buchla-like is it took me more than a day of working with it before I
could get any kind of sound that would track accurately with the
keyboard. Once I would arrive at a tonality, I would have to adjust
multiple parameters to get the keyboard to track correctly. The beast
does not like to be tamed. Because of this, I have used the sequencer
with the ZO as a tone source more than the keyboard.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have yet to figure out how to make the module react to an
envelope. I have yet to figure out what functions on the module can be
voltage-controlled beyond the inputs at bottom-left and -right. Most of
the tonal changes I've managed were accomplished by knob-twiddling. The
signal flow seems to be from bottom to top. Is that universally true, or
are there exceptions?
> > > > >
> > > > > I have searched the Internet far and wide to see how others
have used this module. I found some block diagrams on the Cyndustries
web site, but only one or two of those were for single ZO's, and I only
have one ZO. (The 'basic patch' was the only one I really found useful.)
I found one mention of someone elsewhere on the 'Net using a ZO in a
patch, but it was a 'Buchla-like' aleatoric patch, and I got the
impression that he 'tripped over' the sound he was getting. There seems
to be a lot of people out there with ZO's, but I can't find where anyone
actually discusses using it, not like I find with Dot Com modules (or
any others, for that matter). There used to be a discussion group for
people who have ZO's, but when I tried going there, I couldn't find it.
I either had the wrong URL or it has been dissolved.
> > > > >
> > > > > I do understand the concept of Chowning FM synthesis, even
getting down to the math aspect. I've used a software synth that uses
nothing but combinations of multiple sine waves to create tones. So it's
not FM synthesis that is causing me problems. It's just knowing what
each knob and jack actually does and how they interact with each other.
I also understand the concept of 'negative frequencies' and how they
move in a complex waveform. The theory doesn't bother me; it's where on
the panel do those concepts come into play?
> > > > >
> > > > > For example, there are technically seven different functions
on a ZO according to the Cyndustries web page; yet, I don't know where
on the panel one gets each of those functions. Can you combine these
functions with a patch that is totally internal on the ZO, and if so,
how? And how can you apply external voltages to change various
parameters on the ZO? I have not been able to find a single input that
will cause it to respond to an envelope generator.
> > > > >
> > > > > If anyone here has any basic patch ideas that would get me
started, I would greatly appreciate any assistance. I don't need any
specific patches for this tone or that, just something that leads me in
the right direction so I get a better understanding of how the module
works. Even without patches, if anyone can give me some information on
what each knob and jack does on it, I would appreciate it.
> > > > >
> > > > > Overall, I do like the ZO; I'd just like it a lot better if
I actually knew things like what the jack under the Vari Sync knob did.
It is, as I said, a box o' noodles in that you can get really cool and
bizarre sounds out of it. I have figured out how to get ring
modulation-type 'klang tones' out of it. But right now, I'm questioning
whether it's appropriate for a 44-space system and may be more
appropriate when I expand to 66. I had to remove a 4-channel mixer (as I
still have the 8-channel), a ring modulator (since the ZO is capable of
ring modulation), and a clipper/rectifier. The latter is the one I miss
the most, but something had to go, so...
> > > > >
> > > > > Is the ZO just a box o' noodles for random tonalities, or
can it be predictably controlled? If I can't figure out how to do more
than just achieve random tones on the ZO, I may end up taking it out,
putting the three modules mentioned back, and waiting until I get a
third portable cabinet before it goes back into service. I don't mind
random tones, but I prefer knowing what I'm doing with a module such
that if I get an idea for a tone, I know pretty much what to do to get
it. So far, I can't do that with the ZO. It just screams wildly as I
twiddle the knobs.
> > > > >
> > > > > Am I the first emperor to ackowledge that I have no clothes?
;-)
> > > > >
> > > > > Savage
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
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> > > >
> > > >
> > >; >
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> > > >
> > >
> >
>