Optomix Rev 2

[hawkfuzz]

it's normal. Faulty would be STRIKE doesn't work on the knobs do nothing. Vactrols have variance.

[Phitar]

So I just received this module and have a quick question...

If I do a side be side comparison of the two low pass gates (i.e, mult the same oscillator and same envelope and put the oscillator into the two main inputs and the identical envelopes into the two strike inputs) the responses are quite different. So the first LPG one gives a pretty tight sound that closes pretty sharply after the envelope stops whereas the second one feels like the VCA never fully closes so there's a longer ring after the envelope stops. Is this normal behaviour due to the nature of vactrols never fully sounding identical or should a side by side comparison be more or less the same? To use a guitar analogy it's almost like the palm muting on the first gate is a bit firmer than on the second gate, where the note rings a tad more.

I'm guessing by some of the posts in this thread that it's fairly normal behaviour but just wanted to double check it wasn't a faulty module!

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forum!
Variability in vactrol responses is normal. With that said I haven't got any Make Noise modules where there are really wide differences between identical channels. If in doubt contact Make Noise and I pretty sure they can provide additional guidance.

[GOM]

Welcome to the forum!
Variability in vactrol responses is normal. With that said I haven't got any Make Noise modules where there are really wide differences between identical channels. If in doubt contact Make Noise and I pretty sure they can provide additional guidance.

Thanks for the reply.

It's certainly not a really wide difference but it's immediately noticeable. It's very similar to what one other poster in particular commented where the note rings slightly (yet noticeably) longer from the second LPG. I actually like the variation so I'm happy it's not behaviour that suggests something is wrong with the module!

Loving the sound though, given a new life to digital oscillators like Hertz Donut and Basimilus!

[clwilla]

So I just received this module and have a quick question...

If I do a side be side comparison of the two low pass gates (i.e, mult the same oscillator and same envelope and put the oscillator into the two main inputs and the identical envelopes into the two strike inputs) the responses are quite different. So the first LPG one gives a pretty tight sound that closes pretty sharply after the envelope stops whereas the second one feels like the VCA never fully closes so there's a longer ring after the envelope stops. Is this normal behaviour due to the nature of vactrols never fully sounding identical or should a side by side comparison be more or less the same? To use a guitar analogy it's almost like the palm muting on the first gate is a bit firmer than on the second gate, where the note rings a tad more.

I'm guessing by some of the posts in this thread that it's fairly normal behaviour but just wanted to double check it wasn't a faulty module!

Thanks in advance.

Not to say you’re “wrong”, because you aren’t, but according to the manual, the “Strike” input is designed for triggers and gates in mind (8v gates to be specific), not envelopes.

Try striking the vactrol with a trigger or gate.

[GOM]

Not to say you’re “wrong”, because you aren’t, but according to the manual, the “Strike” input is designed for triggers and gates in mind (8v gates to be specific), not envelopes.

Try striking the vactrol with a trigger or gate.

Yes this is true! I like how it sounds with weird envelopes going from my Kermit into the strike. I guess the "correct" way to do it would be a gate into strike and then the envelope into control? I literally had a quick ten minutes with it earlier prior to heading out so still an absolute novice (although there admittedly doesn't seem like there's too much of a learning curve with this one!).

[clwilla]

Not to say you’re “wrong”, because you aren’t, but according to the manual, the “Strike” input is designed for triggers and gates in mind (8v gates to be specific), not envelopes.

Try striking the vactrol with a trigger or gate.

Yes this is true! I like how it sounds with weird envelopes going from my Kermit into the strike. I guess the "correct" way to do it would be a gate into strike and then the envelope into control? I literally had a quick ten minutes with it earlier prior to heading out so still an absolute novice (although there admittedly doesn't seem like there's too much of a learning curve with this one!).

Yes. Gates/Triggers into Strike, envelopes in Control.

Here’s a jam I made yesterday with XPO > Optomix.

The first section is random triggers striking the vactrols. The Damp knob is CV’d by an attenuated smooth random signal.

[disp]

Is it just me, or does the Optomix sound really harsh around the 4.000hz region?

For context, I'm usually running a stereo audio signal through it (either from the computer or an external synth).
The signal coming from my modular then goes through an Overstayer MAS, an API 5500, a Thermionic Phoenix Mastering Compressor, and a BAX EQ.
Since this is my mastering chain that I'm using every day, I can safely say the harshness it coming from the Optomix.

[nectarios]

Is it just me, or does the Optomix sound really harsh around the 4.000hz region?

Mine's about 1dB down at 4khz compared to the raw VCO output.
So its actually less harsh around that region and progressively drops off the top end even more, as if the CTRL knob does not open the LPG, fully.

[disp]

Is it just me, or does the Optomix sound really harsh around the 4.000hz region?

Mine's about 1dB down at 4khz compared to the raw VCO output.
So its actually less harsh around that region and progressively drops off the top end even more, as if the CTRL knob does not open the LPG, fully.

Hm strange. I’ll post an audio example later.

[nectarios]

I am not doubting your findings, these modules are known to vary in terms of sound and the Optomix does saturate easily so who knows.

[Feldspar]

I wasn't interested at first but I'll probably end up with two, just like Maths.