Korg Poly800/EX800 Users

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

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

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

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