Encore UEG - gate insensitivity?

Ranxerox · Post by **Ranxerox** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:32 pm

Been having some trouble triggering my UEG using the gate output from my Kenton Pro-Solo Mk.II. Dotcom Q109s respond OK using the same gate outputs.

I've tried all the different gate voltage/trigger modes on the Kenton, and while the UEG does respond in 'inverted' gate mode, it seems insensitive to the other (normal) modes.

Anyone else have this issue? I'm wondering if it's particular the Pro-Solo; the UEG always used to play nice with the gate out from my Prophet 5...

tobias · Post by **tobias** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:48 pm

it works great with my kenton pro-2...

diophantine · Post by **diophantine** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:46 am

Q109 has a gate threshold of 1.5V; UEG's threshold is 2.5V.
That's the only thing that comes to mind which could be presenting an issue...

nerdware · Post by **nerdware** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:45 pm

Set the Kenton to output 10V gates. That's how I did it. I also need 10V gates for my Digisound 80 EGs.

It's one of those neat features buried amoungst a load of mundane, every day stuff.

doctorvague · Post by **doctorvague** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 10:30 am

I meant to check this out yesterday and forgot.
I just checked my UEG out with a scope.
It won't trigger at anything less than 4.5V.
Anything above that works fine, anything below not at all.

EDIT: Ranxerox - I just listened to the tracks on your web site - sounds great!

Ranxerox · Post by **Ranxerox** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:10 pm

Thanks! I've been meaning to update the site in a while, got some new stuff to put up there.

Weird - the UEG manual states a gate response of 2.5 volts. It seems neither the UEG or the Kenton can be calibrated. I can delegate a Q118 or Q125 to amplify the gate, but it's a bit of a PITA

diophantine · Post by **diophantine** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:17 pm

Wow, 4.5V? That is a pretty substantial difference from the published 2.5V!

doctorvague · Post by **doctorvague** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:20 pm

Ranxerox wrote:Thanks! I've been meaning to update the site in a while, got some new stuff to put up there.

Weird - the UEG manual states a gate response of 2.5 volts. It seems neither the UEG or the Kenton can be calibrated. I can delegate a Q118 or Q125 to amplify the gate, but it's a bit of a PITA

Yeah I wasn't sure where the 2.5V spec came from but that's definitely not what I was seeing- not good news but good to be aware of I guess. According to Nerdware you can set the Kenton gates to 10V, yes-no? That would save tying up another module.

doctorvague · Post by **doctorvague** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:28 pm

diophantine wrote:Wow, 4.5V? That is a pretty substantial difference from the published 2.5V!

Yeah I double checked it too. Keep in mind, that's just this one I have - maybe they vary. I was surprised when I kept cranking up the voltage and got up to 4V and still nothing.

diophantine · Post by **diophantine** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:32 pm

I just did a quick'n'dirty check of mine (MS-10 modulation wheel to the UEG until it triggered, unplugged it and checked the voltage with a multimeter), and yup! 4.5V

Christopher W. · Post by **Christopher W.** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:24 pm

This forum is amazing.

I just ran into the same problem on the UEG unit I received last night. Just like Ranxerox, I couldn't figure out why my Kenton's gate wasn't causing the UEG to fire. My solution was slightly different from the ones posted here:

1. Patch a trigger into the reset input of a MegaOhm LFOTwo's top circuit.

2. Set the waveform to a short, quick pulse (around 90% counter-clockwise).

3. Take the pulse output, patch it into the UEG's trigger input.

4. Put the LFO rate to an ultra-slow setting to keep it from retriggering its cycle.

5. $$$ Profit $$$

The LFOTwo acts as a substitute for an Q125 or VCA but causing the lower voltage of the trigger to generate a much higher voltage from the LFO.

Having said that, using a Q125 is much quicker. Just set the gain to 150% and you're good to go. Nice to know there's more than one way to reduce feline hirsuteness.

nerdware · Post by **nerdware** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 4:23 am

I first used the gate feature on the Kenton with my Digisound 80, which expects a 10V gate. I solved the problem by using a mixer module to boost the signal - serious overkill, but the module was unused in that patch, so it worked well.

I also like the LFO solution.

I don't know if that would've worked with a Digisound 80 VCLFO, but I might try it next time I fire up the old synth. Thanks.

Something else I want to try soon: using the UEG as a gate length extender for another EG.

I thought I might have a use for that app a few days ago, but a moment's thought gave me a much better way of solving my problem: using the UEG itself to provide the extended envelope.

Thinking about this again, a few days later, I have another potential UEG app to try: a ratchet sequencer. Instead of generating the ratchetted envelopes directly, which would likely link the slopes with the timing, use it to generate bursts of gates with irregular intervals for firing a 2nd EG, which does fixed slopes. I can imagine some interesting effects with modulated TC on the UEG and/or the 2nd EG.

If I had the time, I'd try it right now...

Dave Peck · Post by **Dave Peck** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 11:18 am

If you happen to have a logic module that puts out a 5V pulse you can use that too. Use the lower voltage from the Kenton to trigger the logic pulse and use the logic pulse to trigger the UEG.

MOD WIGGLER

MOD WIGGLER

Encore UEG - gate insensitivity?

Encore UEG - gate insensitivity?