Voyager XL Ribbon Controller issue

[kironmusic]

Would like to start this thread for those Voyager XL owners who are into the details of the Voyager XL capabilities/issues/downsides.

The issue:
There's no programmable option for Ribbon CV OUT to go to "0" Voltage (the center position of the Ribbon controller) after contact is no longer made with its touch surface.

Is this issue important? - Well, if you play your solo and want to use the Ribbon controller for pitch-band then you want your instrument be in tune after contact is no longer made with the Ribbon touch surface, isn't it? (the same with filter cutoff controlled by Ribbon, etc., etc.)

What causes the issue: The signal on the Ribbon CV OUT jack is ALWAYS the control voltage of the last fingered ribbon position.

What MOOG’s personal should do about the issue: make "Ribbon Controller Touch Surface Memory" PROGRAMMABLE.

Is there a way around? I found one:
1. Connect Ribbon's "Gate Out" jack (Modular Patch Panel/Ribbon Outputs) to MOD1 input jack (CV Inputs). In one of the "Pot Mapping Source and Destinations" set Source to MOD1 and Destination to "Pedal Amount". Set "Amount" value to 100%.
2. On Modulation BUS Pedal/ON: switch SOURCE to MOD2/ON; DESTINATION to PITCH (if you want to control pitch by Ribbon Cntr.) or to FILT.(if you want to control filter cutoff by Ribbon Cntr.); Set SHAPING to PGM and set to 0% both programmable shaping controls. AMOUNT - to any position (it's being controlled digitally now, so it's position doesn't matter right now).
3. Connect Ribbon output voltage jack (ATTENUATORS/CHANNEL 2 OUT) to MOD2 CV INPUT jack.
4. Press note and adjust/tune the sound (playing the same note) without touching Ribber controller and with touching it IN THE CENTER of the controller by adjusting OFFSET knob of the attenuator to make sound the same. That's it. By changing the "Amount" of the attenuator you'll be changing the depth of the "pitch-band" (or filter cutoff) effect.

Downsides of this "way around":
a. you can't store it (positions of the attenuator's knobs are not programmable)
b. hard to set it up in live-concert situation

[Vsyevolod]

Thanks for figuring out that solution, sounds brilliant.

The XL is straddling the world of semi modular with its patch bay. Some things are best done with patch cords, though I too would love to see a software update that gives us the option of setting the ribbon to snap back to zero upon release. Also the ability to set it to "Absolute" or "Relative" (that's the lingo that Kurzweil uses for their ribbon controller). 'Absolute' means that when you touch in a certain place, you will always get the same pitch or voltage. 'Relative' means that wherever you first touch is zero volts and it moves up or down from there. It resets to zero when you touch it after letting go, zero is now where you touch it next.

Stephen




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[kironmusic]

You're right Stephen, the "Absolute" or "Relative" option are GREAT options (especially in life performance situation) and would be a MUST for XL to be on the top!! Strange that MOOG doesn't have those options.. while all the "other" guys have those options for quite a while..