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Subject: Re: [motm] Purchasing decisions

From: "J. Larry Hendry" <jlarryh@...>
Date: 2000-04-04

> From: Dave Bradley <daveb@...>
> I have a scope but dial mine in by ear. It doesn't
> particularly make sense to buy one 300 assembled
> for calibration purposes, because they both will
> have to be calibrated with whatever midi/CV
> converter you purchase. IMO the easiest way to
> calibrate is to run 2 VCOs, one at a static pitch, the
> other connected to the kbd, and set the tracking to
> be 'beatless' over 5 octaves or so. Then calibrate the
> original drone to the second with both tracking.

When Dave originally suggested this, it was a big help to me. I started
trying to track my VCOs to a DCO I have and found out that not so good.
Dave's thoughts above is exactly what worked best for me. One thing I
might add that helped me a little with hearing the beating when the
oscillators were more than three octaves apart was to also use the 120.
Since it is exact division, I found it useful to bring the higher
oscillator frequency down an octave or two when beating against the lower
osc.

> 2. The Expressionist doesn't have true trigger outputs,
> just gate. I don't find this to be an issue, if you use the
> newer 800s or do the simple mod to the early 800s which
> allows them to run a complete ADSR cycle from a gate
> only.

Yes, but only using triggers will allow re-triggering without prior note
release. This is probably the decision maker for some when deciding
between the Kenton and Encore. For Dave, the true triggers was not an
issue. For me, it was, so I bought the Kenton (and gave up the poly mode).

> The new 440 SSM filter rocks!

DITTO DITTO DITTO. If you are into LOW pass filters, this is the one.

Larry H