Voyager - keyboard gate not working

Tips and techniques for Minimoog Analog Synthesizers
Post Reply
neolithic
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed May 03, 2017 5:48 am

Voyager - keyboard gate not working

Post by neolithic » Thu Mar 28, 2019 3:44 pm

Hey all

I have an early Voyager - but I had a new digi-board installed a few years ago on Moog's advice so it has the latest OS etc.

It has been working flawlessly for the last few years - I should add it doesn't get gigged - it sits in a studio and never moves.
Suddenly it seems the keys don't respond - wondered on any ideas? Here's what I tried for diagnosis:

- It's not the patch (!!! i'm not a total noob guys!)
- Plays fine via external MIDI controller
- Created a patch to use the TS as a gate/pitch controller - works fine.
- Turning the keyboard/gate switch to gate produces a sound as expected.
- pitch/mod controls work fine.
- Haven't tried external CV gate/pitch control yet but guessing it will work fine based on other findings.

Guessing it's either a faulty ribbon connector (what caused it to spontaneously fail i wonder?) or maybe the keyboard controller circuit/chip.
This is not an analog/synth issue: it seems the synth works fine as if it was a rack module, it is literally just the keyboard.
Before I open her up, I wondered if it sounds familiar to any of you good people here?

Thanks
N
Currently using Moog Voyager, Nord Stage 2, Prophet 08, Rolands, Squarp Pyramid, Blofeld... Strymon BigSky helps the analogs be epic

User avatar
Analog Prophet
Posts: 113
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2010 8:25 am
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Contact:

Re: Voyager - keyboard gate not working

Post by Analog Prophet » Thu Mar 28, 2019 6:39 pm

Sound as you turned Keyboard Local off. It can be turned on/off with the menu (Master Function) at the display (page 62 in the owners manual).
_____________________________________________
http://www.soundofmusic.se

neolithic
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed May 03, 2017 5:48 am

Re: Voyager - keyboard gate not working

Post by neolithic » Fri Mar 29, 2019 5:00 am

Hey - thanks for your fast response. I forgot to mention that I checked that - it was one of the first things I tested. I also tried disabling and re-enabling it, to no avail. Currently local control is set to ALL ON

Cheers
N
Currently using Moog Voyager, Nord Stage 2, Prophet 08, Rolands, Squarp Pyramid, Blofeld... Strymon BigSky helps the analogs be epic

User avatar
till
Posts: 1364
Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2005 6:17 pm
Location: south-west Germany
Contact:

Re: Voyager - keyboard gate not working

Post by till » Fri Mar 29, 2019 6:08 am

Maybe accidentally set to resend as part of a poly chain?

Check this:
MASTER MODE -> MIDI Key Order ->
set MAXIMUM Keys to 1
set ACTIVE Key to 1 or OFF (I am not sure about this, as I am not next to my Voyager right now)
keep on turning these Moog knobs

Sequence:
Prodigy * minimoog '79 * Voyager * MF102 * MF103 * MF104z * MP201 * Taurus 3 * Minitaur * Sub Phatty * MF105 * Minimoog 2017+ MUSE * One 16

neolithic
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed May 03, 2017 5:48 am

Re: Voyager - keyboard gate not working

Post by neolithic » Sat Mar 30, 2019 7:24 pm

Hey
Thanks guys for the feedback. It turned out to be a hardware issue as suspected.
Even though this thing never gets moved around, I sometimes have the controls tilted up when i'm programming a specific sound, or laid flat when i'm using other gear. It seem that in the last 2 years or so of use, the keyboard ribbon connector worked its way loose. I reseated it and everything is good :-) I notice that Moog originally glued the ribbon connector in place on both the keyboard and the mod/pitch wheel using a silicone glue. In the course of servicing, these have both been de-glued, so it may be worth reapplying (but i don't have anything suitable right now).

Thanks again - hope the combination of suggested remedies and actual solution may help someone in future

Cheers
N :D
Currently using Moog Voyager, Nord Stage 2, Prophet 08, Rolands, Squarp Pyramid, Blofeld... Strymon BigSky helps the analogs be epic

Post Reply