Eml synthesizers

I am trying to interface my EML101 to an Encore Expressionist MIDI>CV 
converter and am having a heck of a time trying to get the synth to 
track somewhat chromatically.  The patch panel doesn't have the 
sequencer input but does have the OCS1 Ext CV in.  It seems that there 
are several interactive pots to set pitch but I have no idea how to 
make it work.

Any suggestions?

Brian Folkes

--- In emlsynth@yahoogroups.com, "kyhotay" <brianfolkes@...> wrote:
>
> I am trying to interface my EML101 to an Encore Expressionist MIDI>CV 
> converter and am having a heck of a time trying to get the synth to 
> track somewhat chromatically.  The patch panel doesn't have the 
> sequencer input but does have the OCS1 Ext CV in.  It seems that there 
> are several interactive pots to set pitch but I have no idea how to 
> make it work.
> 
> Any suggestions?
> 
> Brian Folkes
>

You can't get the whole instrument to follow any jack and knob combos and the external 
CV seems to have been intended for modulation, and only one envelope will respond to 
the Trig in.

What I figured out was I could tap into the keyboard jack by unscrewing the plug. That way 
I could see which pin is what. I posted my findings on Analogue Heaven years ago though 
I've heard from someone with a different keyboard connector. Anyway one of the pins is 
like an offset for the duophony. You'd probably not want to mess with it until you master 
getting CV/Gate to work. The other thing that really threw me for about an hour is that 
when the EML receives a gate there is an internal buffer that samples and holds the CV 
coming in when the gate goes on. So if you are tweaking the CV on the expressionist you 
won't hear a change until you send a new gate. This might be the reason for the CV input 
jack that seems meant only for modulation. You can't modulate your incoming CV (though 
obviously there are many modulation opportunities within the EML.

Also, while it may be obvious for "old pros". I found the best way to get it to track is to 
temporarily forget about pitch, just get one octave to respond to one octave even if the "C" 
sounds as an "F" a quater tone sharp or something. Once you get your octaves to be 
octaves then it's a piece of cake to just make the C to a C with tuning

Brian,

Back in the early 80's I got a voltage convertor from Dale Blake for
my 101, I also recieved the schematics and installation instructions
and so built another for my 500.
If I can track someone down with a scanner I'll post them here.
Basically the voltage convertor takes the 1 volt per octave input from  
any sequencer (I was using an Arp but later Rolands MPU101 midi to cv
convertor)and scales it to be used with EML's 1.2 volt per octave
system. It works great and cost a few dollars in parts.




> > I am trying to interface my EML101 to an Encore Expressionist MIDI>CV 
> > converter and am having a heck of a time trying to get the synth to 
> > track somewhat chromatically.  The patch panel doesn't have the 
> > sequencer input but does have the OCS1 Ext CV in.  It seems that
there 
> > are several interactive pots to set pitch but I have no idea how to 
> > make it work.
> > 
> > Any suggestions?
> > 
> > Brian Folkes
> >
> 
> You can't get the whole instrument to follow any jack and knob
combos and the external 
> CV seems to have been intended for modulation, and only one envelope
will respond to 
> the Trig in.
> 
> What I figured out was I could tap into the keyboard jack by
unscrewing the plug. That way 
> I could see which pin is what. I posted my findings on Analogue
Heaven years ago though 
> I've heard from someone with a different keyboard connector. Anyway
one of the pins is 
> like an offset for the duophony. You'd probably not want to mess
with it until you master 
> getting CV/Gate to work. The other thing that really threw me for
about an hour is that 
> when the EML receives a gate there is an internal buffer that
samples and holds the CV 
> coming in when the gate goes on. So if you are tweaking the CV on
the expressionist you 
> won't hear a change until you send a new gate. This might be the
reason for the CV input 
> jack that seems meant only for modulation. You can't modulate your
incoming CV (though 
> obviously there are many modulation opportunities within the EML.
> 
> Also, while it may be obvious for "old pros". I found the best way
to get it to track is to 
> temporarily forget about pitch, just get one octave to respond to
one octave even if the "C" 
> sounds as an "F" a quater tone sharp or something. Once you get your
octaves to be 
> octaves then it's a piece of cake to just make the C to a C with tuning
>

Hi Brian

It's been awhile, 25 years but there was a difference depending if the
control voltage was handled exponentially or linear.
If you are able to offset the input voltage you need to go through the
sequencer in jack labeled CM2/CM3 or Seq1/Seq2.
The oscillator control panel will not work OSC4/ext will not track
properly.
If I remember correctly I have the voltage converter placed just after
the Sequencer in jack. In Jack>Voltage converter>101 board, although
going external would be the same thing.
Make sure you are tuning properly (you may already know this), start
with octaves, then intervals, so when off-setting the voltage first
tune for middle C and the offset the voltage to track a few workable
octaves up.
The higher notes are the most noticeable so start from the tracking
from the bottom octave and fine-tune the octaves at the top and then
the bottom octave. You will probably be required to do this a few times.
Now it may be that your Encore Expressionist does not have enough
voltage gain, 1.2 volts per octave to accommodate the EMLs.

Good Luck
Robert
--- In emlsynth@yahoogroups.com, "Brian Folkes" <brianfolkes@...> wrote:
>
> Rob,
> 
> I appreciate that. Theoretically the Expressionist should be able to
do that with the tracking and offset controls, but I can't hear a
difference even at the extreme of settings.

> 
> Brian
>

I'm a bit late on getting in on this but I have managed to play my 
101 by Midi with a bit crazy workaround but all external and needing 
a computer sequencer.

I found that the "External Osc Control" input is the only one that 
can control all 4 Osc's equally.  You have to turn the Control Knob 
all the way to the left as well.  The problem is, This input is not 
scaled for anywhere near 1 - 1.2v/Oct, it needs about 3 or more 
volts/oct to track correctly.  As a quick solution, I went into 
Cubase and set up a transform midi track to multiply any note I play 
by 3.2.  That makes the 101 track perfect with about a 2 octave range 
before midi notes run out.  I can play the 101 keyboard to set the 
octave ranges my midi will control.

Also, if you patch Gate into the External Env control, you will find 
that there is no ENV 1 External control input.  What I did is buy a 
Doepfer envelope and power connector and have that patched into the 
Filter CV so it triggers along with everything else.

Lots of work but it all works for me.

Dan
http://www.REwireMusic.com

If you have a mixer that works with CV (I picked up a doepfer one on ebay for $12, but 
that was a fluke), yoy can do all sorts of useful things. For instance you could easily mix in 
a constant 2 or 3 volts. Some EMLs even have a utility voltage out.  Also you can send your 
CV converter to 2 mixer inputs if it won't do 1.2v on it's own.

As for the External Osc Control, the one on mine is fine for an external LFO or something 
but mine at least tracked exponential not linear as far as I could tell. Though I don't know 
if I messed with the range enough. I do remember I needed at least 3v to get it doing 
much.

Did you get both envelopes to fire? The trigger input on my unit I think intentionally only 
fired one EG. This of course can be a good feature once you gain contol of the other by 
some other means.  That's one of the reasons I gave up with a patchcord interfacae and 
looked at the keyboard connector when I interfaced mine to CV



--- In emlsynth@yahoogroups.com, "Dan Levey" <Leftbrain@...> wrote:

>
> I'm a bit late on getting in on this but I have managed to play my 
> 101 by Midi with a bit crazy workaround but all external and needing 
> a computer sequencer.
> 
> I found that the "External Osc Control" input is the only one that 
> can control all 4 Osc's equally.  You have to turn the Control Knob 
> all the way to the left as well.  The problem is, This input is not 
> scaled for anywhere near 1 - 1.2v/Oct, it needs about 3 or more 
> volts/oct to track correctly.  As a quick solution, I went into 
> Cubase and set up a transform midi track to multiply any note I play 
> by 3.2.  That makes the 101 track perfect with about a 2 octave range 
> before midi notes run out.  I can play the 101 keyboard to set the 
> octave ranges my midi will control.
> 
> Also, if you patch Gate into the External Env control, you will find 
> that there is no ENV 1 External control input.  What I did is buy a 
> Doepfer envelope and power connector and have that patched into the 
> Filter CV so it triggers along with everything else.
> 
> Lots of work but it all works for me.
> 
> Dan
> http://www.REwireMusic.com
>