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Thread

problem with MIDI on Dark Energy I

2014-02-18 by Mike and Delonna Hyland

Hello friends,

I am having trouble with my Dark Energy (mk I) changing pitch when using its MIDI In from a MIDI keyboard. It will receive a signal and play a note, but always the same note (near C 130Hz), regardless of what I play on the keyboard. I’ve tried 3 different MIDI cables, 3 different keyboards. I tried the reset procedure as in the manual, holding down the learn button and then turning on power, with no results. I checked the power supply and measure it at AC 15.67v (it is the same supply that came with the DE from AnalogueHaven). I purchased my Dark Energy about 3 years ago, and everything has worked fine up until now. I have never opened the case or removed any jumpers. The glide option is not installed.

If I use the Dark Time gate 1 and CV 1 to Dark Energy gate and VCO in, then the pitch WILL change to however the DT knobs are set. Everything else on the DE appears to work fine (filter, VCA, LFO, ADSR) as far as I can tell.

Does anyone have any suggestions for anything I can do?

Or, if I need to repair it, where do I do that? Doepfer? AnalogueHaven? Local keyboard repair shop (Audio Electronics in Dallas, TX)?

Many many thanks. I don’t contribute much to this forum, but am really glad to learn from all of you.

Mike

Trouble-Shooting

If your Dark Energy does not work as expected please carry out these procedure:

Check the power supply. The supply has to deliver an AC voltage in the range from 12 to 15V and at least 400mA (valid for Dark Energy I) or 800mA (valid for Dark Energy II). If by mistake a DC supply is used the sound generation unit will not work !
Reset the unit as described in the user's manual. Pay attention that the learn button has to be actuated before the power supply is plugged in and that the button has to be held down for a few seconds during the power on procedure !
After the Reset the unit is set to Midi channel 1 and reference note number 36 (i.e. the incoming Midi note messages have to be sent on Midi channel 1 and in the note number range 36-96)
Adjust all controls to the basic setting as shown in the user's manual.
double check all used cables
If the Dark Energy does not change the pitch probably the jumper JP4 has been removed. In this case please refer to Glide Option.

Re: [Doepfer_a100] problem with MIDI on Dark Energy I

2014-02-18 by Florian Anwander

Hello Mike

I don't own a DE, but this sounds like the CV from the interface is fed 
via a switching contact in the VCO-F socket to the VCO. If this 
switching contact is worn out, you won't have any longer a control from 
the MIDI-interface.

If you dare to open the DE, then you might repari the socket like 
described in http://www.doepfer.de/faq/a100_faq.htm#contact%20problems

Florian

AW: [Doepfer_a100] problem with MIDI on Dark Energy I

2014-02-19 by yahoo@doepfer.de

Please try this: connect the CV1 output at the rear panel to the VCO F
socket at the front panel. If then the pitch changes as it should the
internal CV connection is interrupted (if the glide option has been
installed an removed again the former jumper has to be installed, details on
the FAQ page). If this external connection does not help probably the
Midi-to-CV interface is faulty and the unit has to be sent in for repair.

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com]Im Auftrag von Mike and Delonna
> Hyland
> Gesendet: Dienstag, 18. Februar 2014 19:45
> An: doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> Betreff: [Doepfer_a100] problem with MIDI on Dark Energy I
>
>
>
>
>
> Hello friends,
>
> I am having trouble with my Dark Energy (mk I) changing pitch
> when using its MIDI In from a MIDI keyboard.  It will receive a
> signal and play a note, but always the same note (near C 130Hz),
> regardless of what I play on the keyboard.   I’ve tried 3
> different MIDI cables, 3 different keyboards.  I tried the reset
> procedure as in the manual, holding down the learn button and
> then turning on power, with no results.  I checked the power
> supply and measure it at AC 15.67v (it is the same supply that
> came with the DE from AnalogueHaven).  I purchased my Dark Energy
> about 3 years ago, and everything has worked fine up until now.
> I have never opened the case or removed any jumpers.  The glide
> option is not installed.
>
> If I use the Dark Time gate 1 and CV 1 to Dark Energy gate and
> VCO in, then the pitch WILL change to however the DT knobs are
> set.  Everything else on the DE appears to work fine (filter,
> VCA, LFO, ADSR) as far as I can tell.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions for anything I can do?
>
> Or, if I need to repair it, where do I do that?  Doepfer?
> AnalogueHaven?  Local keyboard repair shop (Audio Electronics in
> Dallas, TX)?
>
> Many many thanks.  I don’t contribute much to this forum, but am
> really glad to learn from all of you.
>
> Mike
>
>
> Trouble-Shooting
> If your Dark Energy does not work as expected please carry out
> these procedure:
> Check the power supply. The supply has to deliver an AC voltage
> in the range from 12 to 15V and at least 400mA (valid for Dark
> Energy I) or 800mA (valid for Dark Energy II). If by mistake a DC
> supply is used the sound generation unit will not work !
> Reset the unit as described in the user's manual. Pay attention
> that the learn button has to be actuated  before the power supply
> is plugged in and that the button has to be held down for a few
> seconds during the power on procedure !
> After the Reset the unit is set to Midi channel 1 and reference
> note number 36 (i.e. the incoming Midi note messages have to be
> sent on Midi channel 1 and in the note number range 36-96)
> Adjust all controls to the basic setting as shown in the user's manual.
> double check all used cables
> If the Dark Energy does not change the pitch probably the jumper
> JP4 has been removed. In this case please refer to Glide Option.
>
>
>
>

AW: [Doepfer_a100] problem with MIDI on Dark Energy I

2014-02-19 by yahoo@doepfer.de

The Dark Energy does not use a switching contact for the internal CV connection. The internal CV (from Midi/USB interface) and the external CV (VCO F socket) are summed.

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer

Show quoted textHide quoted text

> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com]Im Auftrag von Florian Anwander
> Gesendet: Dienstag, 18. Februar 2014 21:15
> An: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> Cc: Mike and Delonna Hyland
> Betreff: Re: [Doepfer_a100] problem with MIDI on Dark Energy I
> 
> 
> Hello Mike
> 
> I don't own a DE, but this sounds like the CV from the interface is fed 
> via a switching contact in the VCO-F socket to the VCO. If this 
> switching contact is worn out, you won't have any longer a control from 
> the MIDI-interface.
> 
> If you dare to open the DE, then you might repari the socket like 
> described in http://www.doepfer.de/faq/a100_faq.htm#contact%20problems
> 
> Florian
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> Yahoo Groups Links
> 
> 
>

Re: AW: [Doepfer_a100] problem with MIDI on Dark Energy I

2014-02-19 by Florian Anwander

Hello Dieter

On 19.02.14 09:44 , yahoo@doepfer.de wrote:
> The Dark Energy does not use a switching contact for the internal CV
> connection. The internal CV (from Midi/USB interface) and the
> external CV (VCO F socket) are summed.
Ah! Thanks for clearing.

Florian

Re: AW: [Doepfer_a100] problem with MIDI on Dark Energy I

2014-02-20 by hy5@airmail.net

Dieter, thanks for your reply. I tried connecting the CV1 output at the rear panel to the VCO F
socket at the front panel as you recommended. There still is no pitch change.

So, it sounds like I need to get the MIDI-to-CV interface repaired. Is it ok to have it repaired locally?

Thanks,

Mike

AW: AW: [Doepfer_a100] problem with MIDI on Dark Energy I

2014-02-21 by yahoo@doepfer.de

> Dieter, thanks for your reply.  I tried connecting the CV1 output
> at the rear panel to the VCO F
> socket at the front panel as you recommended.  There still is no
> pitch change.
>
>
> So, it sounds like I need to get the MIDI-to-CV interface
> repaired.  Is it ok to have it repaired locally?
>
>
> Thanks,
> Mike

Please contact the dealer where you have purchased the unit. But I suppose
that they will send the unit to Germany for repair or replace the complete
supply/interface board. It's a very unusual fault and I cannot remember that
we had ever a similar problem in the past. Sounds like a defective DA
converter or DAC reference or processor or .... ?

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer