The Etherwave Plus sees implemented most of the modifications found in the “HotRodding your Etherwave” booklet, including the CV’s of course. It is pretty level now on that regard. Yet there’s a mod that makes a lot of sense and that I really would like to have done, either through an official field upgrade, or mod instructions or similar.
Very simple but very practical : a switch would be added to the unit, disconnecting the volume antenna from it’s primary function (volume control) but still emitting it’s output CV. The out CV can then be used strictly to control an external fooger (Murf in the case here), while the Etherwave can still be played (at full volume) for audio output.
Maybe I’m missing your intent, but I think you can do this by simply changing the jumper for the
“Pitch Preview” option. Then, the Headphone Output output would always be “On”.
If you used that as your sole output then the Volume antenna would only be controlling the CV Output.
I did notice that the instructions say, “It is not recommended to use the Headphone Output with a
2-conductor, Tip-sleeve 1⁄4” instrument plug for an alternate audio output.” But I’m not entirely sure
why that would be a problem, especially if you weren’t simultaneously using the Audio Output.
Hi Dan. Thank you for this, it’s half the solution right there, the bigger half in fact. For what I want to do, that will work. This listening preview jumper will turn in handy. At last, the good excuse I was waiting to open the box;)
Moog does not recommend using the headphone output because it’s not the same impedance as line output. Same thing as using headphone output on entry level Yamaha keyboards, sound is not as good than it would be on a +4dBu line, but it’s all you got. Actually, without line volume output, the Etherwave is harder to match with my other instruments (way too high) and I have tapped into the headphone output already. I even made a custom 1/4in TRS to 3.5mm TRS cable to input direct to my recording software from headphones output.
I will install the switch this week end. My own needs are not studio level quality and that will do fine for now. But I love good sound as much as the next guy, so I will still be looking for a mod closer to the root and a more permanent fix the way I suggested.
In the meantime, I now wonder if I can add a volume pot direct to line output. It should not be too difficult to do from the jacks contact. I happen to have a spare Gibson pot waiting to spring into action. I opened the unit already. I don’t want to make too much cosmetic changes to the EW+, but there’s just the proper empty space for a switch and pot at the left of the controls pcb. Switch and pot will be easily but discretely accessible from under the unit.
Thanks for your product videos btw, always interesting to watch.
What I wanted to do was install, accordint to Amos, a Two throw, 3 pole switch to disconnect the CV outs (just the opposite of what youwant to do) so that you can patch your CV connections but play clean tone, and, in mid-performance, switch the switch to engage activation of modular gear.
Its just impossible to connect the cv’s in mid performance and stay on key unless you are really precise, really practiced, or have a studio/stage hand to connect them for you (but still run the risk of affecting your capacitance.
This is not what I want to do… no during performance. What I have now is an EW that I can use either as a controller with 2 CV’s or as a musical instrument with a volume and pitch control. I know the CV’s are available to control anything else, but in musical mode their primary function is just that : expressive theremin music.
What I want is an half and half EW, half controller and half theremin (without volume), at the flick of a switch, while maintaining original functionality. There’s more to do I think with the CV coming out of the volume antenna (cp251 mult then … ) but for that, the antenna has to be prevented from performing it’s actual function.
maybe i don’t understand it fully,
but why not connect the output to , lets say a morley optical volume pedal ? that way simply pressing the pedal will switch of the theremine sound.
other option is a switchpedal as used with guitar amps to switch from one amp to the other.
DemonDan