External Audio Input on the SUB-37

[RickD]

Hello,
I would like to please know how I would go about connecting an external audio signal into the SUB-37.
I tried what your manual said, and it did not work the way it said it would - I think whoever wrote the
manual skipped a few important steps that a novice would be unsure of.

Evidently I am not the only one asking this question because there is the exact same question being asked about the SUB-Phatty, where a guy on YouTube goes through the following explanation:

- Plug the audio Out of the SUB-Phatty into an amplifier and make sure that you hear sound as you play the SUB-Phatty.
- Plug a working source audio signal into the ext audio in port of the SUB-Phatty - make sure that the source device is outputting a signal.
- Plug a dummy 1/4" jack into the KB Gate input of the SUB-Phatty - this dummy jack cord is not connected anywhere on the other end.
- Turn both oscillators right down.
- Turn the Noise knob right down.
- Go into Shift mode by holding down the bank 4 preset button.
- Turn noise knob up slowly till level is right
- Go out of Shift mode by holding down the bank 4 preset button.

Can you please confirm if this is the correct procedure for the SUB-37 as well ?
If it is not - can you please tell me how to input an external audio signal ?
I want to be able to run a guitar signal, or another keyboard signal through the SUB-37.

Thank you,
RickD

[mikeh11]

I tried what your manual said...

All I found in the Sub 37 manual is a description of the ExtIn/Fdbk level control. No directions.
I think those instructions for the Sub-Phatty have nothing to do with the Sub 37.

Simply plugging in a line-level input to the Audio In jack on the side of the Sub 37, turning up the level control and turning on the push-button in the mixer section (the same as all the other mixer inputs) should let you hear the external signal when you play a note.

As for a guitar signal - I think you will probably need a pre-amp to boost the low-level guitar signal to a line level signal for the Sub 37. Maybe not; maybe the Sub 37 input circuitry has enough gain to help you there.

If you want to hear the external signal without playing a note, then you have some more work to do. Maybe use a foot-pedal to trigger the Sub 37 from the KB Gate jack input. Or 'Latch' the Amp Envelope and use a high Sustain value to let the signal through. The Sub 37 manual should help you with those.

I'll see if I can play around with it tomorrow after scrounging up a 1/4" plug. I suspect you'll get it working before then!

[RickD]

Hello mikeh11,

Thank you sir for the push in the right direction - I got it working and it sounds so cool. I basically fed a polyphonic signal from my digital synth into the external audio in port of the Sub-37, and was able to get it all working once I plugged a dummy 1/4" jack into the KB Gate port, and turned down the oscillator levels.

This shouldn't have been so complicated - once you told me to turn on the ext in button in the mixer stage, and I gated the KB that was it. Very logical with your help.

Anyways, thanks again, I'll try running my guitar through it - but I'll take your advice & feed it through my signal processor first to get some gain.
I'll post the results later.
Hopefully once I learn how to get some good sounds out of that thing we can trade notes again.
Take care,
RickD