Elektron Musical Instruments

I just got my machine drum.  I have a problem though.  When I boost 
the signal to acceptable recording levels, the machine drum produces 
alot of "hiss".  Too much really.  Surely there must be another way 
to route the signal, skipping the effects or something.  If the 
machine drum is actually as noises as mine is, I will have to sell 
it.  I love the sounds and the way it works, I simply can't charge 
people fees and record this kind of noise.  It isn't that is is 
CRAZY loud hiss, but enough to where it stands out in my studio.  
Could it be this version of the machine drum?  Has anyone else had 
this kind of problem?  email me!  sinistersound@...

Frank

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "kingpinmusicdotcom"
<sinistersound@h...> wrote:
> I just got my machine drum.  I have a problem though.  When I boost 
> the signal to acceptable recording levels, the machine drum produces 
> alot of "hiss".

Here's the deal: the Machinedrum has great op-amps and DAC's, so it
outputs at "professional" level, which is +4dB.  Some soundcards only
accept the "consumer" input level, which is -10dB.  If your soundcard
does this, you'll of course get hiss and distortion.  There are two
ways around it: 1) attentuate the signal with e.g. a mixer that
accepts +4dB levels or simply use the main A/B out and the master
volume control; 2) buy a soundcard that accepts +4dB levels and run
direct into it.  The same goes for the Monomachine.

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "kingpinmusicdotcom" 
<sinistersound@h...> wrote:
> 
> 
> I just got my machine drum.  I have a problem though.  When I boost 
> the signal to acceptable recording levels, the machine drum 
produces 
> alot of "hiss".  Too much really.  Surely there must be another way 
> to route the signal, skipping the effects or something.  If the 
> machine drum is actually as noises as mine is, I will have to sell 
> it.  I love the sounds and the way it works, I simply can't charge 
> people fees and record this kind of noise.  It isn't that is is 
> CRAZY loud hiss, but enough to where it stands out in my studio.  
> Could it be this version of the machine drum?  Has anyone else had 
> this kind of problem?  email me!  sinistersound@h...
> 
> Frank

the MD has a hiss problem regardless of the soundcard. when I turn 
the machine on with no input machines active the noise floor is fine. 
as soon as an input machine is selected and activated there is hiss. 
after deactivating an input machine the hiss remains.

I noticed this with the input machines for a while.  I have told 
elektron many times about how they seem to work.  I think they need 
some debugging and clarification in documentation.  Sure email them 
please.

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, Joe <jmelnyk@c...> wrote:
> On Mon, Oct 04, 2004 at 04:36:21AM -0000, analogback wrote:
> >    the MD has a hiss problem regardless of the soundcard. when I 
turn
> >    the machine on with no input machines active the noise floor 
is fine.
> >    as soon as an input machine is selected and activated there is 
hiss.

> >    after deactivating an input machine the hiss remains.
> 
> oops!  yeah, that's an enirely different problem.  you should
> contact Elektron support becasue that's certainly not
> normal.

On Mon, Oct 04, 2004 at 04:36:21AM -0000, analogback wrote:
>    the MD has a hiss problem regardless of the soundcard. when I turn
>    the machine on with no input machines active the noise floor is fine.
>    as soon as an input machine is selected and activated there is hiss.
>    after deactivating an input machine the hiss remains.

oops!  yeah, that's an enirely different problem.  you should
contact Elektron support becasue that's certainly not
normal.

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, Joe <jmelnyk@c...> wrote:
> On Mon, Oct 04, 2004 at 04:36:21AM -0000, analogback wrote:
> >    the MD has a hiss problem regardless of the soundcard. when I 
turn
> >    the machine on with no input machines active the noise floor 
is fine.
> >    as soon as an input machine is selected and activated there is 
hiss.
> >    after deactivating an input machine the hiss remains.
> 
> oops!  yeah, that's an enirely different problem.  you should
> contact Elektron support becasue that's certainly not
> normal.

i have two machinedrums here and the problem is on both! i assumed 
this was in design. its only really noticeable when the gain is 
pusdhed up high.

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "Joe" <jmelnyk@c...> wrote:
> --- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "kingpinmusicdotcom"
> <sinistersound@h...> wrote:
> > I just got my machine drum.  I have a problem though.  When I 
boost 
> > the signal to acceptable recording levels, the machine drum 
produces 
> > alot of "hiss".
> 
> Here's the deal: the Machinedrum has great op-amps and DAC's, so it
> outputs at "professional" level, which is +4dB.  Some soundcards 
only
> accept the "consumer" input level, which is -10dB.  If your 
soundcard
> does this, you'll of course get hiss and distortion.  There are two
> ways around it: 1) attentuate the signal with e.g. a mixer that
> accepts +4dB levels or simply use the main A/B out and the master
> volume control; 2) buy a soundcard that accepts +4dB levels and run
> direct into it.  The same goes for the Monomachine.

I have only pro soundcards.  Motu 24i/o,24i,mkiii 2408, midiman 
delta 1010.  The problem happens even when the machine is not 
connected to ANY inputs.  When I monitor thru the headphone jack, it 
still has alot of white noise.  I am beginning to think that it is a 
design issue with Elektron.  I mean, this unit would be fine for use 
as a DJ.  However, if this is a normal thing with all machine drums, 
(and judging from some of the other posts I am not the only one that 
hears this) Elektron should be ashemed to charge the money they do 
for these units.  NOT PRO QUALITY.

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "analogback" <gehayman@h...> 
wrote:
> 
> --- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, "kingpinmusicdotcom" 
> <sinistersound@h...> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > I just got my machine drum.  I have a problem though.  When I 
boost 
> > the signal to acceptable recording levels, the machine drum 
> produces 
> > alot of "hiss".  Too much really.  Surely there must be another 
way 
> > to route the signal, skipping the effects or something.  If the 
> > machine drum is actually as noises as mine is, I will have to 
sell 
> > it.  I love the sounds and the way it works, I simply can't 
charge 
> > people fees and record this kind of noise.  It isn't that is is 
> > CRAZY loud hiss, but enough to where it stands out in my 
studio.  
> > Could it be this version of the machine drum?  Has anyone else 
had 
> > this kind of problem?  email me!  sinistersound@h...
> > 
> > Frank
> 
> the MD has a hiss problem regardless of the soundcard. when I turn 
> the machine on with no input machines active the noise floor is 
fine. 
> as soon as an input machine is selected and activated there is 
hiss. 
> after deactivating an input machine the hiss remains.

wow...that is pretty bad.

Frank

On Mon, Oct 04, 2004 at 08:36:18PM -0000, kingpinmusicdotcom wrote:
>    I have only pro soundcards.  Motu 24i/o,24i,mkiii 2408, midiman
>    delta 1010.

ahhh... yeah that was just a stab in the dark I guess. just ignore me :-)

>    The problem happens even when the machine is not
>    connected to ANY inputs.  When I monitor thru the headphone jack, it
>    still has alot of white noise.  I am beginning to think that it is a
>    design issue with Elektron.  I mean, this unit would be fine for use
>    as a DJ.  However, if this is a normal thing with all machine drums,
>    (and judging from some of the other posts I am not the only one that
>    hears this) Elektron should be ashemed to charge the money they do
>    for these units.  NOT PRO QUALITY.

well if it is normal, then I have a fluke unit.  because it doesn't
occur with mine at all; neither through the headphones nor the
outputs (and I have similar interfaces to you).  like I said, contact
them to discuss this problem.