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Voyager and Rhodes resulting noisies

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 2:38 pm
by Normann
Hi everybody,

I own a Voyager Anniversary and a Rhodes MK II, when i put the Voyager panel 's light on on top of the Rhodes i have a noise (hight note) in the amp when i light it. I know this problem for a long time as i had it before with a computer on the Rhodes. But this wasn't a big problem as i just moved it off the piano to another place. But ...actually i am going to use the Voyager on top of the Rhodes on stage and i would like to know if somebody here has solve this problem of noise due to the electric power from the Voyager resonating in the Rhodes microphons !

Thn'x

JC

Re: Voyager and Rhodes resulting noisies

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 5:25 pm
by Vsyevolod
It's a simple fix really. Don't use the light on the Voyager, use a battery powered one instead.

Stephen




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Re: Voyager and Rhodes resulting noisies

Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:52 pm
by EricK
JC,
Nothing like a Moog and a Rhodes, right?

Is yours a stage or a suitcase?

'71 MK I Suitcase seventy-three owner here. I never did feel comfortable putting the Voyager on top of the Rhodes, particularly because the harp cover is rounded. But even on the flat MkII I still feel like the Voyager will damage the lid over time. But also, I am not confident with the metal parts of the frame used to support the Voyager or other heavy synths like the Mini. But people have been doing this for years, Chick Corea included.

So check out this stand from Ken Rich:
http://kenrichsounds.com/store/index.ph ... ucts_id=88
Image
If you find the B-Stock or damaged ones cheaper, that will be better. I ordered the damaged one and the "damage" was negligible. It supports my D6 effortlessly.

This may provide enough isolation from the light to not cause any kind of electro-magnetic interference. I had the same issues when I tried to use one of those Roland VS-840 units on the Rhodes. Hope this helps.

If you have a suitcase there might be another way to eliminate that interference.
Eric

Re: Voyager and Rhodes resulting noisies

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 12:46 am
by MC
The rhodes piano has a pickup for each key. These pickups are like radio antennas and are very sensitive to EMI, which manifests itself in noise. This is exactly what happens when any keyboard with a power transformer is placed on top of the Rhodes. Those transformers generate EMI which will permeate the audio through the rhodes pickups.

Re: Voyager and Rhodes resulting noisies

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 12:53 am
by MC
And lining the inside of the harp cover with aluminum foil will not shield the pickups from EMI. Been there.

Re: Voyager and Rhodes resulting noisies

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:08 am
by EricK
If it was a suitcase I was going to suggest installing an isolation box inside the cabinet before the amps. I suppose something like this could be installed in a stage as well if it would be effective.

Eric

Re: Voyager and Rhodes resulting noisies

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:16 am
by stiiiiiiive
MC wrote:And lining the inside of the harp cover with aluminum foil will not shield the pickups from EMI. Been there.
...that's why I was about to suggest :/
I did that for a guitar and it works well; maybe that's because the whole cavity is covered with aluminium, rather than just a plate.

Eh! Wrap your Voyager in aluminium! :lol:

Re: Voyager and Rhodes resulting noisies

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:48 am
by Normann
Hello,

Thn'x everyone !
So my Rhodes is the MKII with the square lid ! so the Voyager's feet fit on it perfectly around the lid. So it's closer to the mics too. Eric, your solution is right good, but .... it'll put the Voyager a bit high to play it, i must consider this because i play a lot of bass line on it and too high is painful for the arm :(

I was thinking about the fact like suggest by MC of putting something between the V and the Rhodes like for example a metal plate covered by a soft piece of cloth to protect the lid and the Moog ? i am going to try this. But i am going to see this stand from Ken Rich too

Jean Claude

Re: Voyager and Rhodes resulting noisies

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:44 am
by thealien666
Since the backlight of the panel on a Voyager so equiped has a limited lifespan anyway, I would suggest also to use another kind of light to shine on the panel. Preferably an incandescent one that won't produce PSU harmonics that can be picked-up by the Rhodes, as Vsyevolod has suggested...

Re: Voyager and Rhodes resulting noisies

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:46 am
by Normann
Thn'x for the answer and suggestion.

But on stage the backlights is really a must have !
i am actually trying to put it higher and i have a pretty good result ! with an angle the keys still stay nearly the same place and payable !

8)