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Subject: Re: M420 filter tips

From: JWBarlow@...
Date: 1999-07-04

Thanks to Dave for his observations about good ways to use the 420. I had
noticed some unpleasant clipping until I reduced the level a bit -- but then
again, I'm a guitar player: distortion is ALWAYS good init? And I did find I
get a pretty good clean level around 6 to 8.

And thanks as well for the notch filter tips. On any given filter excluding
BP, I find myself using LP about %85, HP about %15, and notch the rest of the
time -- but I'm not saying I don't like notch filters! With two 420s, some
interesting phase type sounds would be available I'm sure.

I did notice a rather significant pitch drop (maybe a semitone) as Q goes
from first feedback (at 8) to very saturated (at 10) -- I actually liked this
though I may move initial feedback to about 9 eventually. I also noticed the
dirt noise in the pots, I'm glad to hear I didn't fry mine when I soldered
them in.

This filter is very nice, but when it misbehaves (in an MS20 way) it's even
better!
John B.

In a message dated 7/3/99 1:34:15 PM, synth1@... writes:

>That is correct. This is the #1 "uniqueness" of a MS-20 filter. You can
>get
>all combinations
>of resonance/clipping going, as well as a "clean" sound. I use 2 '300s
>and
>set the IN attenuators
>on about 6.


>On another note:
>If you twist the IN pots with a "hot" signal (ie VCO direct output) plugged
>in, you
>may hear some "grunge noise" that then disappears. This is an artifact
>of
>the
>filter "bouncing" as it gets it's level rapidly swept. The pots are NOT
>"bad", the filter
>is mis-behaving, in a MS-20 way.