PLAN B analog blog

The live version of The Secret Life of Semiconductors performed at
Analoglive has been posted on Matrixsynth.  Have a listen!

- P

Really trying out this module for the first time tonight, and I’m not sure about how the routing works – assuming user error at first, rather than module error....

I have a signal plugged into ch. 1 input. This will play out the ch 1 output. However, what I can’t figure out is how to route it to the A or B bus. Shouldn’t the signal be passed there if I have the switch of channel 1 set to A? But I’m getting nothing out the channel A or A + B output jack doing this. Similarly, if I try the B bus....

Am I misunderstanding how this is supposed to work?

It sounds to me like there is no power being applied to the module. 
Not trying to sound like a smart ass, but that's what it seems is
happening.  

The Atten. output will do it's job whether the module is under power
or not.  It's a passive attenuator that uses the ground from the
patchcord connected to it as it's reference.  If you're not getting
any output out of the A, B or A+B jacks, then either the module isn't
powered up or correctly connected to the power (cable reversed).

It could be a crappy power cable however - please try it with another.
 Another option is to check to see if the IC's have shaken loose from
their sockets.

The block diagram on the Model 9 page gives you a real good overview
of it's operation.  Check it out from the EAR site. Bascially, there
are five input channels which can be mixed and routed out of two
independent outputs busses, A and B.  The Ch. Routing swtich
determines which of those two it goes to by thowing it up (Ch. A) or
down (Ch. B). Please note - if the routing switch is set to the
middle, it kills the output from both the A or B busses, but not the
atten. outputs. 

There then is a third output A+B, which sums the information coming
form those two busses to one output.

Along with the mixing capabilities, each of the four main input
channels has it's own send output, which takes the level off the
attenuation pot and throws it out a jack/

There are three PCBs on a Model 9.  One gets the input signals and
passes those to the main (middle board).  That main board does two
things:  1) It sums the five inputs to three different output busses
(A, B and A+B), and 2) it takes the signal straight off each channel's
attenuation pot and sends that to the third board, which holds the
four Atten. Output jacks and the B Buss output jack. 

The fact that you're getting signal out the the Atten Outs proves the
inputs are traveling from the first board, to the main board and then
to the third board.  If those are working, then all the cables are
inserted correctly and operational. That leaves only the main power
connector and the problem yu're seeing seems suspect this may be it.

Just double checked with Analogue Haven who verified that they do test
each module either when it's received, before it's put into their
stock or at the time of shipment to the customer.  


Once you've had a chance to troubleshoot this, please give us an update.

hope this helps,

- P



- P




--- In PLAN_B_analog_blog@yahoogroups.com, Ancient Eyeball Recipe
<implode7@...> wrote:
>
> > Really trying out this module for the first time tonight, and I�m
not sure
> > about how the routing works � assuming user error at first, rather
than module
> > error....
> > 
> > I have a signal plugged into ch. 1 input. This will play out the
ch 1 output.
> > However, what I can�t figure out is how to route it to the A or B bus.
> > Shouldn�t the signal be passed there if I have the switch of
channel 1 set to
> > A? But I�m getting nothing out the channel A or A + B output jack
doing this.

> > Similarly, if I try the B bus....
> > 
> > Am I misunderstanding how this is supposed to work?
>

Well, the module was plugged in correctly, and while (sorry guys) I know from experience that a malfunctioning module can get by the AH testing (they canR17;t test everything...), in this particular case it was an egregious case of dumb user error, whose dumbness is accentuated by the fact that I\u2019m not a bad troubleshooter, but totally failed to consider the fact that maybe you have to turn the power on to the fucking Doepfer case in order for the modules to work. Well, it is the only module in that case that I was using, and it doesn\u2019t have any LEDs, and I didn\u2019t realize that the symptoms pointed to a power issue (some of it was working) - but still. I\u2019m somewhat in awe of my stupidity on this one.

Thanks for taking the time to spell out everything below, so that I feel especially guilty. But I can return the favor by asking whether you shipped me what you were going to ship on Monday?

Thanks,
Gene


>
>
> It sounds to me like there is no power being applied to the module.
> Not trying to sound like a smart ass, but that's what it seems is
> happening.
>
> The Atten. output will do it's job whether the module is under power
> or not. It's a passive attenuator that uses the ground from the
> patchcord connected to it as it's reference. If you're not getting
> any output out of the A, B or A+B jacks, then either the module isn't
> powered up or correctly connected to the power (cable reversed).
>
> It could be a crappy power cable however - please try it with another.
> Another option is to check to see if the IC's have shaken loose from
> their sockets.
>
> The block diagram on the Model 9 page gives you a real good overview
> of it's operation. Check it out from the EAR site. Bascially, there
> are five input channels which can be mixed and routed out of two
> independent outputs busses, A and B. The Ch. Routing swtich
> determines which of those two it goes to by thowing it up (Ch. A) or
> down (Ch. B). Please note - if the routing switch is set to the
> middle, it kills the output from both the A or B busses, but not the
> atten. outputs.
>
> There then is a third output A+B, which sums the information coming
> form those two busses to one output.
>
> Along with the mixing capabilities, each of the four main input
> channels has it's own send output, which takes the level off the
> attenuation pot and throws it out a jack/
>
> There are three PCBs on a Model 9. One gets the input signals and
> passes those to the main (middle board). That main board does two
> things: 1) It sums the five inputs to three different output busses
> (A, B and A+B), and 2) it takes the signal straight off each channel's
> attenuation pot and sends that to the third board, which holds the
> four Atten. Output jacks and the B Buss output jack.
>
> The fact that you're getting signal out the the Atten Outs proves the
> inputs are traveling from the first board, to the main board and then
> to the third board. If those are working, then all the cables are
> inserted correctly and operational. That leaves only the main power
> connector and the problem yu're seeing seems suspect this may be it.
>
> Just double checked with Analogue Haven who verified that they do test
> each module either when it's received, before it's put into their
> stock or at the time of shipment to the customer.
>
> Once you've had a chance to troubleshoot this, please give us an update.
>
> hope this helps,
>
> - P
>
> - P
>
> --- In PLAN_B_analog_blog@yahoogroups.com
> , Ancient Eyeball Recipe
> wrote:
>>
>>> Really trying out this module for the first time tonight, and I�m
> not sure
>>> about how the routing works � assuming user error at first, rather
> than module
>>> error....
>>>
>>> I have a signal plugged into ch. 1 input. This will play out the
> ch 1 output.
>>> However, what I can�t figure out is how to route it to the A or B bus.
>>> Shouldn�t the signal be passed there if I have the switch of
> channel 1 set to
>>> A? But I�m getting nothing out the channel A or A + B output jack
> doing this.
>>> Similarly, if I try the B bus....
>>>
>>> Am I misunderstanding how this is supposed to work?
>>
>