digital input for the Vortex Re: Looperlative LP1 - sample rate

["Timothy Mungenast" <mungenast@earthlink.net>]

Speaking of hiss and sound degradation, I was wondering if it's possible or
even advisable to have a digital input installed on my Vortex so it can
play even nicer with my MPX-500 and VF-1, both of which have digital ports.
As it is now, I run a SPDIF cable from my VF-1 to my MPX-500, and then I do
a kluge workaround by running 1/4" mono patch cords from the MPX-500's
analog output jacks (which are only supposed to accept balanced XLR or
balanced TRS). So far, so good---decent sound quality, but I'm nervous that
I'm hurting something.

My options seem to be finding some wacky XLR-male-to-1/4-mono-male adapter
cords, or equally tough-to-find TRS-male-to-mono-male adapter cords. Or
find someone who can alter to the Vortex to accept XLR, or TRS, or digital.

Or I could stay the course and hope everything keeps working as well as it
has.

Could you guys and gals possibly give me clue?

Yours in the VF-1 Isolator Algorithm,
Tim
 


> [Original Message]
> From: Zoe Keating <cello@zoekeating.com>
> To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
> Date: 12/14/2005 2:00:46 AM
> Subject: Re: Looperlative LP1 - sample rate
>
> The problems I've always had, on both my RPTRs:
>
> - Compression of the cello tone. It always sounds to me as though the  
> upper layers of harmonics get "stripped" once it is recorded. The  
> more layers I add, the more "squashed" and un-cello like it sounds.  
> Sometime this is good and I like to play with it, but increasingly I  
> want more control over my sound. What worked for small gallery shows  
> is not working so well in large theaters.
>
> - Hiss vs Peaks. I've learnt a lot about impedence matching since  
> starting with the Repeater, and I think I'm running the cleanest way  
> possible. However, every way I've ever patched (and I am continually  
> trying new routings to try to get a better sound) I am stymied by the  
> hiss. The obvious solution, increasing the input, is dangerous  
> because I run a serious risk of peaks (and the RPTR sounds horrible  
> when distorted). The cello is a very dynamic instrument, I move  
> quickly from light sounds to heavy ones and I don't like to overly  
> compress  pre-RPTR.  I like to have a lot of headroom to work with. I  
> find that I am so nervous in performance about possible peaks, that I  
> "hold back" in my playing style and that limits me musically and  
> expressively.
>
> - CFC ticking. A few of my pieces rely on long loops. During  
> performance, I need to record them onto the CFC, rather than internal  
> memory or I will quickly hit the memory limit. The CFC ticks and it  
> ticks loudly and I find it embarassing and unprofessional. Stephen,  
> from this list (who I had a lovely meeting with in Seattle last month  
> where we talked all things RPTR) told me about someone in Seattle who  
> can fix this. As soon as I get back from this tour, I intend to get  
> that done.
>
> New audio problems that I expect are from age:
>
> - input knob crackles.
> - left output is lower in volume than the right.
>
> New software problem:
>
> - The RPTR gets "locked" and I cannot stop, play, record, or do  
> anything, via midi or any amount of button pressing. Only way to get  
> out of it is to power down.
>
> Old software problems that still bite me during performance (someone  
> suggested this might be the FCB1010 causing my troubles. Possible. I  
> have it on my task list to locate comparable midi controller that has  
> he same wide, flat buttons as the FCB1010. I tried the Ground Control  
> but I have problem using those little metal buttons while sitting at  
> the cello) :
>
> - loops speed up when I hit multiply (occasionally)
> - stereo record becomes engaged on tracks 3 + 4 when I hit advance  
> track (occasionally)
>
> Old interface problem that messes me up at least once per show:
>
> - lack of feedback as to what tracks are muted! only way to "reset"  
> is to power down. Rather than risk a track being muted as I start the  
> next song, I always power down between songs.
>
>   Fun!
>
>
> On Dec 13, 2005, at 10:07 PM, Travis Hartnett wrote:
>
> > By "various sound quality issues" do you mean that it's started to
> > malfunction, or that it always had these issues?
> >
> > TravisH
> >
> > On 12/13/05, Zoe Keating <cello@zoekeating.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Wow. Exciting!!! I REALLY, REALLY hope it materializes. I love my
> >> Repeater and rely on it heavily, but it is just not holding up very
> >> well in public performance because of various sound quality issues.
> >> I'm ready for a replacement and have given up on waiting for my MK2
> >> to arrive.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >