Arturia Forums
Hardware Instruments => MicroBrute => MicroBrute Technical Questions - FAQ => Topic started by: vestan_pance on May 11, 2014, 11:57:10 am
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Hi,
I've had my Microbrute for about 5 months now, and just recently it has been suffering with tuning which drifts wildly during use.
If I start off completely in tune with my other synths, within minutes it can have drifted a number of semitones - to the point where the fine tune knob will not bring it in tune again. It started I think after the first time I did a fine tune on it and it hasn't been right since. Note, this is NOT within the first few minutes of operation - this is well past the warm up period - and is NOT operating in extreme temperatures.
Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but it's becoming a real pain.
Steve.
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Wow
Exactly the same problem, and i have had mine for exactly 5 months! self Christmas Present...it sounds very ill like someone is constantly playing with the pitch wheel, and sometimes its so out the tuning knob wont even get close...mine also has a tracking problem where every octave up on the key board gains a semitone??? Unusable...so disappointing...was starting to think it was my favourite synth... :-[
Have started back and forth with technical as of yesterday, You?
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O.K.
I just had tech support send me Solution 6? which was a PDF explaining how to rectify the tuning problem...and it worked!!!
No More "go home you're drunk" osc.... ;D
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I got there myself over the weekend - Jerome responded this evening with Technote 6 which goes through the use of the tuning screws to calibrate the oscillator. Having thought I'd solved the problem with a firmware update earlier last week, the issue returned and so I decided over the weekend to try the screw adjustments. As soon as I touched one of them with the screwdriver the unit just seemed to jump back into tune again - didn't actually need to tweak anything - and it's been solid as a rock ever since.
So yes, sorted now - and very happy as it is a wonderful little synth.
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:'( it stayed in tune for about 12 hrs...I have tuned it 5 times now and its back to the drunken osc 6 minutes after being in perfect tune....I bet the screw you touched was the one on the left if you are looking from the back....if I touch mine with a screwdriver it screams wildly jumping semitones....I bet there is a fault....what firmware update did they recommend ? It may see mine returned to something other than a $300.00 paper weight...
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you should try to turn both tunning trimmers few turns right and left. after that, redo calibration as decribed in TechNote_06.
Some trimmers need to be burnt in before proper usage is possible. If not done enough they could be jumpy
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I m glad someone is having luck...i remember i ve made the same point more than 3 months ago now.Never had an answer.Bruno said to watch the tech notes.I ve never found them.So please guys if U can help me explaining how to get this technote I ll be very happy and glad.Please...I'm still using it during my Live concert...but when it comes to play with others in tune....well I let U imagine.Please....any help Thanks all
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I'm just wondering about the fact that after 4 hours of searching I still haven't find what I'm looking for.Please Bruno Moderator can U please send me this Technote 6 so I can try to fix this tuning?I mean ....I've paid for it ...why don't someone send me this technote?Please Bruno.
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LoItaliano78: check your mailbox ;)
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Hi,
I just wanted to add my new Microbrute to a song I´ve recorded and checked the pitch for the first time...
I´ve connected it to an external Tuner and the pitch is about 1/2 halftone too high. So I popped out the fine-tune knob;
tweaking it from complete left to complete right the tuner does not move a bit...
Any ideas? Or is there a way to get a look at this mysterious TechNote_06???
Thanks in advance for every suggestion!
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I've made a ticket to the service center and write a pm to Bruno@arturia on this forum.They've send me a file just after some day.Very fast.But to be honest on that note it's clearly stated that:
"As with the major modules of the MicroBrute, the note tracking is pure analog, therefore:
Full “0-cent accuracy” can not be achieved: +/- 5 cents tolerance generally is OK.
Expect some drift at the extremes (up to +/- 20 cents): C-3 will *not* be accurate, neither will be C5."
After some tweaking Thats what I've atm after the tuning.
C1---130.80hz
C3---528..50hz.
I've spent 1 hour on slope and offste and that's the best tuning i can made.No chance to be in tune from C1 to C3.In fact as U can see C1 130.80hz and c3 528.50 it's just +/-5 cent.Seem a good spot for an analog synth.The problem now here in Italy it's the hot summer.....no chance to play with this synth live with other players....but what can i say...I really love this microbrute.Dunno If I can Attach here the technote they've send me.
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I just received a new microbrute, it is acting weird as you can see on my video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9CT2nXJRjc
No matter what i do to tune it, even after some time powered on, the pitch is going up and down randomly, using the basic patch arturia sent me to try…
I was wondering if i lost my mind when i heard it for the first time. My tuner didn't lie to me.
::)
The service center told me to film this, and then after seeing this video, to fine tune it !!! Excellent, please give me a third hand so i can fine tune it in real time ?!
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I am having the exact same problem as well. I've ordered a second hand Arturia Microbrute from an on-line music shop and the pitch just keeps getting out of tune - even after tuning the instrument with the screws.
Does anyone know if this is going to happen to all Microbrutes? Or is this just a specific malfunction with some units? ???
I would also like to get my hands on that "TechNote_06". I've e-mailed tech support, but nothing so far.
André
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The tech support replied my e-mail with instructions for tuning the machine with "TechNote_06". I tried to tune the machine with the screws, but the oscillator keeps changing the pitch - as if some kind of "sample&hold" modulator was modulating it. Sometimes it goes away, sometimes it comes back. I am going to return the machine and see if this happens with a new one after some use.
::)
André
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Could you share the tech note with us ?
I presume you are allowing for 10minutes vco warm up time before adjusting ?
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the main audio oscillator on my microbrute is in need of scaling calibration. it is not consistently in tune throughout its range. i wrote to arturia tech support about this within weeks of receiving it (maybe a year ago) and never heard back.
can someone please provide to me the calibration routine for the audio oscillator so i can use this for serious work? i love the synth, but really tire of re-tuning it.
thank you so much
hiltonius
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Hi,
I need Technote_6
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Weel I hope this won t be a problem at Arturia.I love this synth but the tutning it s a real pain in the ass.I know when I bought it that analog oscillator are hard to get and stay in tune but this one....it's a lottery to tune and get it in tune.Real fun to play and experiment...but if u need to follow ur band with this little devil....good luck m8s.
Here's the technote-6 to try and tune the arturia mictobrute.Several user ask about this.So I hope no one will blame me posting it.Thanks for Ur help Arturia but....tuning the Microbrute seem just a dream atm.U should post a video with a complete walktroughUsers deserve this.Otherwise I guess U all Know very well at Arturia about the tuning problem.Hence there's no solution maybe i Guess
Keep in mind about the slope and offsett hole on ur microbrute.The OFFSET it's the first hole on the left of the FINETUNE knob.The Slope it's the second hole.
Technical note 06
Version 1.0
Date 22 January 2014
MicroBrute
Oscillator Calibration
Page 1/1
Document revisions:
1.0 2014/01/22 Initial document.
Description
This note details the calibration procedure of the MicroBrute oscillator.
Disclaimer
This procedure shall be followed if and only if all of the following conditions fulfills!
· The note tracking is not accurate, i.e. the note played is shifted more than 5 cents when compared to a
reference note.
If and only if your machine fits into the above description, please apply the following method to fix it.
Make sure to fully read and understand the directives contained in the hereunder pages before processing.
Arturia shall not be responsible for any damage or problem caused by misuse of this procedure.
Equipment needed
· Digital tuner (hardware or software)
· 2mm flat screwdriver
Offset Slope
Technical note 06
Version 1.0
Date 22 January 2014
MicroBrute
Oscillator Calibration
Page 2/2
1. Warming up
Plug the power supply unit and switch the MicroBrute on.
The oscillator core being fully analog, requires a minimal warming time of 10 minutes before reliable frequency
stabilization occurs.
Do not proceed to measures or settings before the frequency is totally stable!
2. Reference note
Set the machine in the following configuration:
Press the Octave buttons until reaching the center position: green LED is lit.
Make sure the Fine Tune knob(on the back panel) is at center position.
Press the lowest key on the left of the keyboard, and hold it down.
The frequency should be a perfect C1 at 130.80 Hz (0 cent).
If it is not the case, turn the Slope trimmer to reach this value.
Release the C1 key.
Technical note 06
Version 1.0
Date 22 January 2014
MicroBrute
Oscillator Calibration
Page 3/3
3. Calibration
STEP #1
Press the upper most key on the right of the keyboard and hold it down.
Turn the Offset trimmer to reach C3 at 523.30 Hz (+/- 5 cents).
Once the correct value has been reached, release the key.
STEP #2
Press the lowest key on the left of the keyboard and hold it down.
Turn the Slope trimmer to reach C1 at 130.80 Hz (+/- 5 cents).
Once the correct value has been reached, release the key.
This is an iterative process: redo the 2 above steps until you don't need to modify the trimmers anymore!
As with the major modules of the MicroBrute, the note tracking is pure analog, therefore:
Full “0-cent accuracy” can not be achieved: +/- 5 cents tolerance generally is OK.
Expect some drift at the extremes (up to +/- 20 cents): C-3 will *not* be accurate, neither will be C5.
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Thanks for the technote06, I asked it to the support two weeks ago but they didn't answer. It seems I can't tune my microbrute :\ if I touch the offset with the screwdriver or if I push it the tune changes.. Will it help if I remove the screw and start from zero?
Another thing is that it didn't reach the stability also after an hour..
Last problem (yes, I've got lots of problems apart from my bad english): the last key (upper C) doesn't produce sound, I've tried pulling out the strip and reinsert it but it didn't sound..maybe a dirty contact?
Thanks for the patience!
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Any luck anyone??
I tried to open a support ticket.. But nothing happened when I pressed submit... Curious as to if it did anything at all.
Anyways, same problems here, think wont even get in to tune properly, flutters wildly... So cool though, wish it was more practical. Tried tech note 06 several times, updated firmware, nothing helped.
Anyone have a miracle??
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repost of VCO calibration technote if needed.
you'll need to be logged in to see it.
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thanks for the repost, I've also had the microbrute for a couple of months now (bought it new) and quite some tuning problems
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I need to do this procedure as my tuning is more than 15 cents out at +/= 2 octaves.
How do I find the fine tuning center position? There is no marking on my unit. I can guess, but I'll be out....
EDIT.
No worries. It's not that important. Now have tuned to a tolerance of +/- 3 cents across full range. Sweet.
Kinda fiddly, but not difficult.
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What is "Technnote #6?" I am having exactly this same issue. Microbrute is going wildly in and out of tune. Definitely sounds "sick."