F-V converter? guitar synth

[Rodgre]

Hey there. I was wondering if anyone had a schematic or at least ideas about a relatively reliable Frequency-to-Voltage converter for controlling CV inputs on a synth. I'm sure this is a dead horse, but every now and then I wonder if someone has brought this horse to life.

I see things like the Korg X-911 guitar synth, the Korg MS-20 with it's external input and the 360 Systems Spectre. Surely there has to be a way to turn a monophonic source into a CV voltage, even if it isn't perfect.

I think about simple analog octave dividers and things like the Boss/Behringer Super Feedbacker/Distortion and how it detects a pitch and makes the "feedback" note follow the input. Is this still unrealistic?

Roger

[StephenGiles]

Forget the word "simple" as simple it is not. Look at the EH rack Guitar Synth drawings on Mark Hammer's site. That works, I know because I've played with one and built one in 1980.

[petemoore]

  The new Electro-Harmonix releases I think are doing that stuff.

[Boogdish]

http://www.loscha.com/scans/Polyphony-1978-10.pdf
^^^^^
Blacet has an article in this about a frequency to voltage converter that I've breadboarded.  I wasn't able to get it to track very accurately, but I was able to have fun with it.

[Mark Hammer]

There is this one, if you like analog: http://hammer.ampage.org/files/GuitarP2V.PDF

...and there was a digital one in the thread described here: http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=80030.0 although it outputs MIDI code, not a voltage.

[loss1234]

it is possible, just all depends on how precise you need it to be (as speed versus precision is the big trick), and how large of a project you want to build. I wanted to build something giant

this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJRpvaOcUic

only took me 9 months of testing,
testing of ideas, and tearing my hair out. and at many points along the way, i ended up doubting the entire project.


i am actually releasing a much smaller pedal version of it this year.



good luck!!

[loss1234]

oh and i forgot to add, if all goes well (As far as NAMM) the box i will be releasing will have CV Outs

[Mark Hammer]

I hope it's a commercial success.  You'll need it to pay for all the knobs that need to go with the pots on that ark thing of yours. 

[loss1234]

you can also go completely DIY on this and take a look at some of harry bissells guitar F to V projects.

just do google search for him and you should find some. his circuits are very well thought out BUT require a hexaphonic pickup. he is a super nice guy and if you want more info on getting ahold of him just PM Me.

[loss1234]

Mark...thats why i said pedal version based on the ark!



it wont have nearly the amount of knobs as the original ark.

although if all goes well, I DO PLAN on releasing the audio ark commercially by the end of 2010 just for the people who have been bugging me to buy one. it wont
be as deep of a BOX but it will  still be a 6u beast and will retain ALL of the controls. however that will be one expensive box. (it will no longer be hand painted though


thanks!

[snufkin]

I have the penfold unit board almost fully populated along with a little one board synth

I'm gonna put them together in a box

ill probably finish them when I get some money for parts in the new year

I also have a x911 which actually does a pretty good job when set up right

[jacobyjd]

Oh wow, I remember seeing videos of that thing--holy cow, man, that was awesome!

[Strategy]

Which is the Penfold one?

To a certain extent (as with other effects that 'track' your input signal) the "problems" and artifacts are part of the fun. If you need flawless tracking you probably already have a big Axon rack unit, specialized guitar synth or whatever. I love playing my bass through the korg ms-20, it's like trying to do portraits with an etch a sketch - relatively inaccurate, requires concentration, but fun and goofy results. Flawed is the new perfect I think anyways.

- Strategy

[snufkin]

yeah although Flawed is the old perfect cos autechre aphex twin and all those other glitch artists have been doining it since the 90s
and John Cage/Max Neuhaus (the list goes on) did it in the 70s  

the p2v project on ampage

here is a thrad on electro music about it
stefano  talks about how he got his one working and posts sound clips of tracking and pics
http://electro-music.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14921&postorder=asc&highlight=240

however I have heard its no better than the ms-20 external signal processor if not worse
but its small and stand alone and can control 1V/Octave synths so thats why i'm building one
(I use my x911 with my ms-10 but i want to play my other synths)

[Strategy]

thanks for those details will check it out! and the electro-music thread
Gracias!
- strategy

[Rodgre]

it is possible, just all depends on how precise you need it to be (as speed versus precision is the big trick), and how large of a project you want to build. I wanted to build something giant

this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJRpvaOcUic

only took me 9 months of testing,
testing of ideas, and tearing my hair out. and at many points along the way, i ended up doubting the entire project.


i am actually releasing a much smaller pedal version of it this year.



good luck!!

That is incredible. I will go out and buy a hat to take off to you sir!

That's right up my alley.

Roger

[puretube]

R/C f-to-v converters like a Low-Pass or High-Pass Filter followed by a rectifier are quite nice...

[Rodgre]

R/C f-to-v converters like a Low-Pass or High-Pass Filter followed by a rectifier are quite nice...

Explain?