LP Calibration/Tuning Features in Voyager Someday?

As seen here…

http://www.gearwire.com/moog-little-phatty-stage-edition-wnamm.html

The new LP OS seems really cool - looks like a great little instrument. Any chance we will see some of these new calibration/tuning features in our Voyagers? Is it even possible or do some of them already exist and I just don’t know about them?

Not bloody likely as this would require changes to both software and hardware, not a cheap or trivial modification.

I agree that if hardware changes would be required it would not be possible without some $ but software changes are usually much easier and less $ and time.

I’m a software guy so I can say that and the bottom line is (big software secret about to be revealed - stop reading now if you don’t want to know) even when we say it can’t be done - it really can - it just means we don’t feel like it :wink:

I’m a software AND hardware guy (EE with lots of software experience). In my 20 years in the business, I’ve learned just because it can be done in software does not mean it is the best or easiest solution.

No argument that it is cheaper to implement in software but the hardware is not there to support it. Calibration voltages are fixed by trimpots on the Voyager. In order to implement the LP software calibration feature, the trimpots would have to be replaced with support circuitry, IF there are spare DAC channels in the system. Three VCOs each with three trimpots to be replaced with software calibration would require nine new DAC channels, and I highly doubt there are that many spares as DAC real estate is precious and not wasted. And we haven’t even discussed the counter circuits to read the period of each VCO so that the software can detect scale/range errors and compensate in real time. So it is a major circuit board change to implement this, and you also have regression testing to confirm that the changes have no adverse effect which analog VCOs are notorously fickle about. Rearranging components on a PC board is not without its problems. Regression testing on hardware changes of this nature is a lot of effort especially when warranties are involved.

Sure it LOOKS easy in software and can be done - but the hardware side is a major shoehorning operation. Many software developers fail to see that.

In my career I have fixed many “software” problems in HARDWARE. The Voyager aftertouch fix was better implemented in hardware not software because the AT element has a log response that has to be converted to linear. If you tried to convert log to linear in software you would have a lot of trouble smoothing the dv/dt changes around the top 50% of the response curve, which is where a lot of AT activity is done. The correct solution is to condition the signal before it enters the digital domain.

You’re making us software guys out to be hacks. :wink:

Good explanation - thanks for taking the time.

It would be pointless on the voyager as it doesnt suffer from tuning problems…

The Voyager aftertouch fix was better implemented in hardware not software because the AT element has a log response that has to be converted to linear.

Hi MC,
I agree totally, thanks for that explanation!
I have a private question to you is it possible to send me your email address?
Have fun,
Rudi

Rudi,

Check your PMs.

Hi MC,
I answered your email. Did you get it?
Have fun,
Rudi

Rudi,

No email received…??

Hi MC,
I sent you three sysex files. Did you get them?
Rudi

Rudi,

I received no email, no sysex files. I verified the address I sent and it should work. Try sending each sysex files in separate emails, it may be rejecting a single email with all three if it is too big.

OK, I sent it again.
Rudi

Rudi,

Email rcv’d… but the email server crapped out :frowning: Will reply ASAP.

Sorry for the noise folks.

You guys need gmail accounts! :slight_smile: Reliable, handles large files and is accessible via your mail app or web. If you need an invite (not sure if you can setup an account without one or not these days) send me a PM with your email address and I will send one.