Moog Music Forum

I finally procured a VX-351 for my Voyager. As some of you know, it comes with some sort of circuit/chip(?) and instructions on how to open your Voyager and install it. Just out of curiosity (and because I really didn't feel like opening her up) I plugged the pin-connector in, and everything seems to work fine. Does this mean the previous owner installed it already, or would the VX-351 still work without it?

Thanks

It will still work without the piggyback adapter in place, but you run the risk of frying something inside the Voyager if it's not installed.

Talk to Moog Music support about it, and they'll probably confirm this.

Hi,
did the previous owner gave you the output adapter in the antistatic bag ? I have a Performer Edition and it MUST be installed as per instructions given, before going any further...manual, p.93. If you have the same design, don't be afraid to open up your Voyager, just
follow the instructions and you'll be fine. If you don't know if the previous owner did put in place the "bridge", if you don't have it, I
suggest you look inside...follow the appropriate ribbon. A grounding strap around your wrist might be like an "insurance policy"...but not necessary as per instructions given...Talk to someone at Moog Music first if you don't feel good about it, as "The Alien 666" says.
Sorry, I have no picture of my bridge installed. I remember it was an easy moove to do...little stress...but, once done, the "doors opened"
easily disolved what was left of that stress...

Happy new year to all !

Oh god…I really hope I didn't fry anything.

Thanks for the info, guys… I guess I'll have to open her up after all

Don't worry, like JnGd wrote, it's a simple procedure to install that small piggyback board, even if you don't have any experience in electronics. A child could probably do it with the installation procedure and photos as guide.

In case you don't have the installation procedure, here's a web site that describes it well, with photos.

http://www.peff.com/synthesizers/moog/outputadapter/

Hi,
here is an angle view of the output adapter in place...I had pictures of that "journey"...sorry.

JnGd wrote:Hi,
here is an angle view of the output adapter in place...I had pictures of that "journey"...sorry.

Ah ha!
Wow……What??
So the new adapter is shown on top?
It looks like another one on the bottom side. Was the bottom one already there?
Just exactly WHAT does the adapter do? Alter voltage?

Tanks for taking the time to post this.

What you see are very normal single inline package resistor networks. They are passive components and immune to static discharge. Two functions I can imagine are either series resistors for current limiting (e.g. if you accidently patch two outputs together) or pull ups to a common voltage (5V) to shunt or normalise a jack when nothing is plugged in.

@latigid on, pull up/down's is the most reasonable, but the VX-351 is an output jack. So, my money is on current limiting. Why it wasn't included on the mainboard is the question that nags me.

I was a bit worried about doing this too at the time that I got it, as I had never messed with boards or electronics before. But don't worry, follow the instructions, it really is quite easy to do. Just make sure to seat it down fully and apply the pressure evenly.

I have installed the adapter in my Voyager, but currently don't use the VX-351. Is it o.k. to keep the adapter installed or should I remove it when I don't use the VX-351?

It shouldn't hurt anything to leave it connected and I'm guessing the RME version which does not require adding the adapter already has this installed as part of the original design. I believe the adapter is simply a buffer circuit - basically putting a resistor in series with each output in order to short circuit protect them to ground. This helps prevent damaging the Voyager if you plug one of those signals into the wrong place (within reason).