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Subject: Re: [motm] "Light Plug"

From: Nathan Alan Hunsicker <nate@...>
Date: 2000-07-04

Although this sounds like a cool idea, I don't know if the unit would
work in the manner you describe it. The CV monitor used a 1/4" plug, a
resistor and an LED. It works because a voltage there is voltage present
at the jack to power the LED. If you were to remove the resistor and
replace the LED with a photocell I don't think the photocell would
generate voltage to control an module. If I recall correctly, a
photocell acts a variable resistor, in order for this circuit to work
you would need a source voltage for it to do anything. I wonder if a
solar cell would produce the effect you are looking for? It would be
very interesting under stage lighting since a solar cell responds
differently to varying intensities and colors of lights. You'd probably
have to deal with a portamento effect on the response though figuring
the FM controls on the modules don't draw enough current to drain the
cell instantly. -Nate ( the other one)

nathan durham wrote:

> At the recent NYC meeting, RevTor had a couple of the LED jacks (they
> light up when signal is present) that were discussed a few months ago
> on
> the list. Today, reading Keyboard magazine, I came across a review of
> the
> "Lovetone Ringstinger" effects pedal. One paragraph caught my eye:
>
> "The unit ships with a "light plug", a 1/4" plug with a photoresistor
> in
> the plastic housing. By inserting the light plug into one of the
> Ringstinger's external pedal jacks and changing the amount of light
> hitting the photoresistor, you can sweep either the LFO depth or VCO
> frequency."
>
> Seems like something similar might be a simple, interesting controller
>
> for MOTM, or any other CV synth. Would this work?
>
> nathan
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