Some Voyager OS Questions

Tips and techniques for Minimoog Analog Synthesizers
Post Reply
pcx9
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 2:21 am

Some Voyager OS Questions

Post by pcx9 » Wed Aug 07, 2019 10:13 pm

I'm really interested in picking up a Voyager Old School once one shows up for a good price again (missed a few nice deals sadly.) However since I can't test first I have some questions.

1. On some other Voyagers the filter did not track the glide, so that even if the oscillators would take a few seconds to move from one note to the next, the filter jumped there right away. Is this fixed in the Voyager OS?

2. This seems obvious from the manual, but I read a post somewhere which seemed to contradict, so... When you assign, say, aftertouch to control the LFO depth, regardless of what the amount knob is set at, there should not be any modulation unless you actually trigger aftertouch, correct? Someone said it was always triggered on every key press which is not at all ideal...

3. What is the range of serial numbers affected by the faulty TI chip?

Thanks!

User avatar
MC
Posts: 2907
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2003 2:20 pm
Location: Secluded Tranquil Country

Re: Some Voyager OS Questions

Post by MC » Thu Aug 08, 2019 10:59 am

1. On some other Voyagers the filter did not track the glide, so that even if the oscillators would take a few seconds to move from one note to the next, the filter jumped there right away. Is this fixed in the Voyager OS?
Should be, I helped Moog developed that fix. It became a production mod shortly after that, which would had been long before the OS model.
2. This seems obvious from the manual, but I read a post somewhere which seemed to contradict, so... When you assign, say, aftertouch to control the LFO depth, regardless of what the amount knob is set at, there should not be any modulation unless you actually trigger aftertouch, correct? Someone said it was always triggered on every key press which is not at all ideal...
The OS lacks the processor so it doesn't offer pot mapping. Has to be done through the mod buss. Moog did offer a modification to improve the aftertouch, not sure it is still available.
3. What is the range of serial numbers affected by the faulty TI chip?
There has never been a list published.
Gear list: '04 Saturn Ion, John Deere X300 tractor, ganged set of seven reel mowers for 3 acres of lawn, herd of sheep for backup lawn mowers, two tiger cats for mouse population control Oh you meant MUSIC gear Oops I hit the 255 character limi

Markyboard
Posts: 354
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2003 6:46 pm
Location: Springfield, VA

Re: Some Voyager OS Questions

Post by Markyboard » Thu Aug 08, 2019 1:16 pm

MC wrote:
2. This seems obvious from the manual, but I read a post somewhere which seemed to contradict, so... When you assign, say, aftertouch to control the LFO depth, regardless of what the amount knob is set at, there should not be any modulation unless you actually trigger aftertouch, correct? Someone said it was always triggered on every key press which is not at all ideal...
The OS lacks the processor so it doesn't offer pot mapping. Has to be done through the mod buss. Moog did offer a modification to improve the aftertouch, not sure it is still available.
I believe the OP is referring to the standard Voyager where the shaping signal provides additional gain to the source signal. If the mod amount knob is set to 0 or the wheel/pedal is set at minimum then the shaping controllers have no affect, i.e. no modulation. Of course anything but 0 then you get modulation before the shaping control is initiated. Using the pot mapping mitigates this nicely.

The Voyager OS does not have this issue as the mod buses are not tied to the mod wheel or foot pedal. You don't have "shaping" signals, you just select a controller. Of course I've learned to live with my pot mapping addiction.

pcx9
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 2:21 am

Re: Some Voyager OS Questions

Post by pcx9 » Thu Aug 08, 2019 5:40 pm

Markyboard wrote: I believe the OP is referring to the standard Voyager where the shaping signal provides additional gain to the source signal. If the mod amount knob is set to 0 or the wheel/pedal is set at minimum then the shaping controllers have no affect, i.e. no modulation. Of course anything but 0 then you get modulation before the shaping control is initiated. Using the pot mapping mitigates this nicely.

The Voyager OS does not have this issue as the mod buses are not tied to the mod wheel or foot pedal. You don't have "shaping" signals, you just select a controller. Of course I've learned to live with my pot mapping addiction.
Yes, this is what I meant. Someone in another thread I found had commented that their VOS was not behaving as you and the manual describe so just had to double check. All good then!

That is a bit concerning re: not having the serials. I guess it is better to look for the older units.

Markyboard
Posts: 354
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2003 6:46 pm
Location: Springfield, VA

Re: Some Voyager OS Questions

Post by Markyboard » Thu Aug 08, 2019 7:00 pm

pcx9 wrote:
That is a bit concerning re: not having the serials. I guess it is better to look for the older units.
AFAIK there were 2 official emails from Moog regarding this issue. The first attempted to identify specific Voyager models and serial numbers. The second email basically bounded the issue to units produced between 2010 and 2013 as posted here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21943&start=15

I’m still reading about related failures where Moog is covering this under warranty - one just last week. It almost seems like if any of these TI chips ever fail Moog will cover it. Because apparently other than this one bad batch these chips are indestructible :roll:

Hey I’m not complaining-damn nice of Moog. I do wonder if they’re replacing the entire analog board or just replacing the failed parts.
Last edited by Markyboard on Fri Aug 09, 2019 10:02 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Nordlicht
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Jul 13, 2014 7:49 am
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Some Voyager OS Questions

Post by Nordlicht » Fri Aug 09, 2019 2:37 am

pcx9 wrote: 2. This seems obvious from the manual, but I read a post somewhere which seemed to contradict, so... When you assign, say, aftertouch to control the LFO depth, regardless of what the amount knob is set at, there should not be any modulation unless you actually trigger aftertouch, correct? Someone said it was always triggered on every key press which is not at all ideal...
This is correct. Of course the modulation only is activated after using the assigned controller (e.g. aftertouch or mod wheel).
pcx9 wrote: 3. What is the range of serial numbers affected by the faulty TI chip?
Mine is serial no. 0573 and the previous owner of the synth actually had to change the mainboard because of the TI chip problem (broken oscillators). Since I got my OS in 2016 it works fine!
https://www.spektralfarben-music.com

KAWAI ES7, Uhl X3-2, Korg Kronos2-61, Nord Stage 3, Sequential Take 5, Nord Lead A1, Korg Pa3XLe.

User avatar
MC
Posts: 2907
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2003 2:20 pm
Location: Secluded Tranquil Country

Re: Some Voyager OS Questions

Post by MC » Tue Aug 13, 2019 2:56 pm

Nordlicht wrote:
pcx9 wrote: 3. What is the range of serial numbers affected by the faulty TI chip?
Mine is serial no. 0573 and the previous owner of the synth actually had to change the mainboard because of the TI chip problem (broken oscillators). Since I got my OS in 2016 it works fine!
Early Voyagers - such as my SE - had sockets for the ICs.

Later models did not have IC sockets. Probably why the mainboard had to be swapped out.

Another tip: early Voyagers used polystyrene caps for the VCO timing caps. Later Voyagers substituted mylar caps - presto, instant tuning drift. I discovered this on my RME while diagnosing the tuning problem. Moog may have made the substitution due to supply issues - I could find no US source for 3900nf polystyrene caps, had to buy them from the UK. Once I replaced the caps with correct ones, tuning was much better.
Gear list: '04 Saturn Ion, John Deere X300 tractor, ganged set of seven reel mowers for 3 acres of lawn, herd of sheep for backup lawn mowers, two tiger cats for mouse population control Oh you meant MUSIC gear Oops I hit the 255 character limi

suffixfoe
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2019 3:58 am

Re: Some Voyager OS Questions

Post by suffixfoe » Mon Sep 16, 2019 4:03 am

pcx9 wrote: Wed Aug 07, 2019 10:13 pm What is the range of serial numbers affected by the faulty TI chip?
There has never been a list published.
Update gun mayhem 2 online.

User avatar
bichuelo
Posts: 862
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 5:25 pm
Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Contact:

Re: Some Voyager OS Questions

Post by bichuelo » Mon Sep 16, 2019 12:15 pm

http://audiotecna.info
T-III, Voyager, VX-351, Slim Phatty, Model D, Sub Phatty, Subsequent 37, Minitaur, all moogerfoogers and minifoogers, EW+, Theremini, Model 15, Filtatron, Animoog, Model D App, iOS 11 Mother-32, DFAM, Werkstatt, Win7, High Sierra

User avatar
ummagumma
Posts: 827
Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:37 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Some Voyager OS Questions

Post by ummagumma » Thu Sep 19, 2019 10:12 pm

MC wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 2:56 pm
Early Voyagers - such as my SE - had sockets for the ICs.

Later models did not have IC sockets. Probably why the mainboard had to be swapped out.

Another tip: early Voyagers used polystyrene caps for the VCO timing caps. Later Voyagers substituted mylar caps - presto, instant tuning drift. I discovered this on my RME while diagnosing the tuning problem. Moog may have made the substitution due to supply issues - I could find no US source for 3900nf polystyrene caps, had to buy them from the UK. Once I replaced the caps with correct ones, tuning was much better.
that is an interesting bit of info, about the caps affecting the OSC tuning! and the IC sockets

Bichuelo, I thought I had seen a list of affected serials but couldn't find it in a search. thx for the link!

Post Reply