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Thread

Poly-800 Tape Dump

2011-03-13 by cyllall

Hi Everyone,

The tape out on my Poly-800 is very quiet. Why is it every tape out, on every vintage synth is a whisper?
It took me about 30 mins to find the circuit section on the schematics. I can't see any pots that I could maybe adjust to increase the gain. I've cleaned the socket and enable switch. No difference.

I have boosted the output 40db with a pre amp, and then normalized the file with software, and can get a signal strong enough to play back in, so I have a work around.
Why is it so quiet?
Thanks
Martin

Re: [korgpolyex] Poly-800 Tape Dump

2011-03-13 by ASSI

On Sunday 13 March 2011, cyllall wrote:

> The tape out on my Poly-800 is very quiet. Why is it every tape out, on
> every vintage synth is a whisper?

Because they are all meant to be used with - wait for it - a (cassette) tape
recorder, more specifically one of the consumer variety. These were
generally expecting mV-level signals from high-impedance sources, albeit the
exact source impedance and level varies a bit with the standards that were
in use. So, you either need to use a pre-amp that recovers line level or
change the divider that provides the attenuation to tape level - try
replacing R96? (hard to read on that scan) with 2k to 4.7k.

Achim.
--
+<[Q+ Matrix-12 WAVE#46+305 Neuron microQkb Andromeda XTk Blofeld]>+

Wavetables for the Terratec KOMPLEXER:
http://Synth.Stromeko.net/Downloads.html#KomplexerWaves

Re: [korgpolyex] Poly-800 Tape Dump

2011-03-13 by Gordon JC Pearce

On Sun, 2011-03-13 at 10:15 +0000, cyllall wrote:

> Hi Everyone,
>
> The tape out on my Poly-800 is very quiet. Why is it every tape out,
> on every vintage synth is a whisper?
> It took me about 30 mins to find the circuit section on the
> schematics. I can't see any pots that I could maybe adjust to increase
> the gain. I've cleaned the socket and enable switch. No difference.
>
> I have boosted the output 40db with a pre amp, and then normalized the
> file with software, and can get a signal strong enough to play back
> in, so I have a work around.
> Why is it so quiet?
> Thanks
> Martin

Because it's intended to go into the mike level input of a tape
recorder, which is supposed to be used with a tiny cheap moving-coil
microphone.

Gordon MM0YEQ

Re: [korgpolyex] Poly-800 Tape Dump

2011-03-13 by Martin Ator

Thanks for your help everyone.

I stupidly forgot that it's actually mic in not tape in that's required.The moving coil explained it. Line level is a different thing.
I dug my Beocord 8002 out, and made a din cable so I can use the mic input.
Anyway,now I can use the mic in, boost it, and send it back out of the Beocord into the PC.
Stupid brain. Does it make me look less stupid if I say it's Sunday, and I was on the brandy yesterday?
Will try the resistor change, as I'd rather be able to get dumps straight to the PC.

Thanks
Martin

From: Gordon JC Pearce <gordon@...>
To: korgpolyex@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, 13 March, 2011 12:05:15
Subject: Re: [korgpolyex] Poly-800 Tape Dump

On Sun, 2011-03-13 at 10:15 +0000, cyllall wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>
> The tape out on my Poly-800 is very quiet. Why is it every tape out,
> on every vintage synth is a whisper?
> It took me about 30 mins to find the circuit section on the
> schematics. I can't see any pots that I could maybe adjust to increase
> the gain. I've cleaned the socket and enable switch. No difference.
>
> I have boosted the output 40db with a pre amp, and then normalized the
> file with software, and can get a signal strong enough to play back
> in, so I have a work around.
> Why is it so quiet?
> Thanks
> Martin

Because it's intended to go into the mike level input of a tape
recorder, which is supposed to be used with a tiny cheap moving-coil
microphone.

Gordon MM0YEQ