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 Forum index » DIY Hardware and Software » YuSynth
How to tuning VCO - question from a beginner
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ranioItaly



Joined: Feb 18, 2013
Posts: 13
Location: Italy

PostPosted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 7:35 am    Post subject: How to tuning VCO - question from a beginner Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Hallo to all, I am new on the synth world, I am not keyboard player, I am just electronic technician and guitar player.
I am building a modular synth based of yusynth project
My first modules are:
1 VCO
1 MiniMoogVCF
1 VCLFO
1 Midi toCV conv(Obsoletetechnology Gabbagabi version)

so I would know:
when I connect a CV signal from midi converter to a CV input of VCO the frequency of oscillator depend to CV voltage but also to the position of frequency potentiometer.
therefore how can I know the exactly frequency and pitch ?
for example i believe to play C from keyboard and instead I play G#
have I to tuning ,every time, the potentiometer of the VCO through something like a guitar tuner ?
And if, when I playa song, I inadvertently touch the potentiometer I will never play the true notes.
Is it correct?
sorry if the question to be seems idiot for you but for me is a new world but very interesting.
many thanks
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gdavis



Joined: Feb 27, 2013
Posts: 359
Location: San Diego
Audio files: 1

PostPosted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 4:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Think of the tuning knobs like the tuners on your guitar. Yes, if it's in tune and you inadvertently nudge the knob out of position, it will go out of tune. In fact, even if you don't touch the knob, it may drift out of tune with variations in temperature, day to day, etc., just as guitar might. Classic analog synths are notoriously difficult to keep in tune. Guitar players and analog synth players become accustomed to this and accept that the tuning will never be absolutely perfect and even appreciate it as part of the "charm" of analog instruments. This is why many of us still cling to these instruments while the rest of the world has gone digital.

At one point many synth manufacturers transitioned to DCO's (digitally controlled oscillator) as an intermediate step between fully analog and fully digital, which provided an analog waveform but with a digitally controlled frequency instead of a voltage controlled frequency. This made the tuning very accurate and they are still capable of some great sounds, but you can tell there's a little something missing compared to a VCO based synth (especially with multiple oscillators).

So yes, get used to a little knob twist here and there to keep it in tune, just like you would with a guitar. But the Yusynth VCO is quite nice and stable as far as VCO's go.

The tuning procedure on the website I believe sets the VCO up to standard pitch with the coarse knob all the way counter-clockwise and the fine tune knob centered, but it will need a little adjustment time to time of the fine tune knob to stay at A440.

_________________
My synth build blog: http://gndsynth.blogspot.com/
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ranioItaly



Joined: Feb 18, 2013
Posts: 13
Location: Italy

PostPosted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 12:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

many thanks gdavis for your reply.
so I have to do an accuracy basic tuning at hardware level, and then verify the tuning in time to time with the fine tune knob.
I will pass a long time( if I will find it) to try it and play and fun with this toy
thank you again
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