Discussion:
EMS synthi aks sequencer doesn't change the pitch
(too old to reply)
longjon
2004-07-09 13:51:02 UTC
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Greetings all from a newbie to this group, hope someone can help...

I've recently acquired the first synth I ever used - an EMS synthi AKS
(actually I was shut in a room with a VCS3 at a tender age, and never
been the same since, but the two synths are virtually the same).
Anyway, the synthi AKS has a rather flimsy looking touch-sense
keyboard / sequencer which, after spending £30 on the missing cable &
plugging it in, I began using, fully intending to achieve new levels
of phatness in the bassline dept.
So far I can get it recording and playing back my sequences with one
rather significant problem: all the notes are the same pitch.
Therefore my sequences are slightly boring. I have patched the
joystick up/down(seq.) into the osc1 frequency, and turned the
joystick up/down range to 0 (seq.), which would seem to me to be the
way to allow the sequencer to control the pitch, if the labelling on
the synth itself is to be believed. I am getting envelope triggering
and the clock, er, clocking (visible on the meter) but it resolutely
refuses to control the pitch, each note on the keyboard produces
whatever pitch I've dialled in on the osc.
Does anyone out there know what I'm doing wrong, or have any
resources they can point me to? I am in the process of sourcing a
manual but they appear to be pretty pricey, until then I am tuneless.
Is there a mailing list for users of this synth, or analogue gear in
general?
Anyone with any ideas please reply to ***@antispam.homechoice.co.uk,
substituting the antispam for longjon, thanks in advance.

Jon
EMSAKS
2004-12-21 01:58:51 UTC
Permalink
I hope I'm not too late to help, but having owned one of these in 1974, I
do remember that the cable between the Synthi A and the KS was not the
same as the cable for the Synthi A and DK1 and DK2 keyboards, so the first
question is have you got the correct cable, and are all the connections
O.K.

Std Synthi A Connections

Pin 1 - DC Input 1 Pin 2 - minus 9V
Pin 3 - Ground Pin 4 - plus 12V
Pin 5 | Trigger Pin 6 | DC Input 2
Pin 7 | N.C Pin 8 | N.C.

Synthi AKS Connections

Pin 1 - DC Input 1 Pin 2 - minus 9V
Pin 3 - Ground Pin 4 - plus 12V
Pin 5 | Trigger Pin 6 | DC Input 2
Pin 7 | To Meter Pin 8 | VC Output

If these are all O.K. (by the way pins 1 and 2 should read 100K ohms as
there are resistors in the Male Plug) and as you stated that the Meter
clocks the memory or sequencer so Pin 7 is connected, and the Shift
registers are functioning O.K. phew! as these chips are obselete MF7104,
it maybe that the OP-Amp 741 (A4) is faulty, or more likely that the C5
10mfd electrolytic is open circuit.

Thats all for now.

Best regards
Derek Revell U.K.
w***@googlemail.com
2015-01-10 10:33:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by EMSAKS
I hope I'm not too late to help, but having owned one of these in 1974, I
do remember that the cable between the Synthi A and the KS was not the
same as the cable for the Synthi A and DK1 and DK2 keyboards, so the first
question is have you got the correct cable, and are all the connections
O.K.
Std Synthi A Connections
Pin 1 - DC Input 1 Pin 2 - minus 9V
Pin 3 - Ground Pin 4 - plus 12V
Pin 5 | Trigger Pin 6 | DC Input 2
Pin 7 | N.C Pin 8 | N.C.
Synthi AKS Connections
Pin 1 - DC Input 1 Pin 2 - minus 9V
Pin 3 - Ground Pin 4 - plus 12V
Pin 5 | Trigger Pin 6 | DC Input 2
Pin 7 | To Meter Pin 8 | VC Output
If these are all O.K. (by the way pins 1 and 2 should read 100K ohms as
there are resistors in the Male Plug) and as you stated that the Meter
clocks the memory or sequencer so Pin 7 is connected, and the Shift
registers are functioning O.K. phew! as these chips are obselete MF7104,
it maybe that the OP-Amp 741 (A4) is faulty, or more likely that the C5
10mfd electrolytic is open circuit.
Thats all for now.
Best regards
Derek Revell U.K.
Hi,

I have exactly the same issue.
When playing back a sequence (2 octave c-c jump) I measure about -12.4mc to -14.5mv at the pin 8 socket.

I put a pin in row 16 to the meter and see no movement

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

Wilson
w***@googlemail.com
2015-01-10 10:38:35 UTC
Permalink
Post by w***@googlemail.com
Post by EMSAKS
I hope I'm not too late to help, but having owned one of these in 1974, I
do remember that the cable between the Synthi A and the KS was not the
same as the cable for the Synthi A and DK1 and DK2 keyboards, so the first
question is have you got the correct cable, and are all the connections
O.K.
Std Synthi A Connections
Pin 1 - DC Input 1 Pin 2 - minus 9V
Pin 3 - Ground Pin 4 - plus 12V
Pin 5 | Trigger Pin 6 | DC Input 2
Pin 7 | N.C Pin 8 | N.C.
Synthi AKS Connections
Pin 1 - DC Input 1 Pin 2 - minus 9V
Pin 3 - Ground Pin 4 - plus 12V
Pin 5 | Trigger Pin 6 | DC Input 2
Pin 7 | To Meter Pin 8 | VC Output
If these are all O.K. (by the way pins 1 and 2 should read 100K ohms as
there are resistors in the Male Plug) and as you stated that the Meter
clocks the memory or sequencer so Pin 7 is connected, and the Shift
registers are functioning O.K. phew! as these chips are obselete MF7104,
it maybe that the OP-Amp 741 (A4) is faulty, or more likely that the C5
10mfd electrolytic is open circuit.
Thats all for now.
Best regards
Derek Revell U.K.
Hi,
I have exactly the same issue.
When playing back a sequence (2 octave c-c jump) I measure about -12.4mc to -14.5mv at the pin 8 socket.
I put a pin in row 16 to the meter and see no movement
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks
Wilson
Ha! I figured it out. I turned the knob right down to zero, but did not click it off. :) opps! hope this helps another newbie.
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