Synth Tuning

(Eight x) Voice Board trimmer positions

Background Tuning instructions in the service manual are actually just fine. These are marginally easier to follow. What you need Preparations Step by Step Step 1 – Key Assigner (KLM-256) CV Connect the positive lead of your DVM (using a hook clip) to the right side of R8. Connect the DVM ground to GND at […]

Background There are no tuning instructions in the service manual. The trimmers have unusual names, so it’s not obvious what do when opening it up. Here you go: What you need Preparations Step by Step Step 1 – Keyboard CV Connect the positive lead of your DVM (using a hook clip) somewhere on the grey […]

When using a hardware tuner, you can ditch the unintuitive tuning instructions in the service manual. In my case that is a Peterson Strobostomp, but any tuner you trust can be used. Software, Apps, computers: Sometimes software tuners have trouble displaying very low, as well as high, frequencies. Often they are more sensitive to overtones, […]

The two tuning procedures (Production and Simplified methods) provided by Sequential Circuits in the Rev 2 service manual are complex, easily misinterpreted, and abstract – if you don’t have an intuitive sense of what you are doing, it’s hard to tell when you are not doing something right. It’s easy to miss a step or […]

Background When tuning the Teisco SX-400, it’s hard to know what voice you’re currently hearing. Also you need to know which trimmer to use for upper end of the keyboard, and which to use for lower end. There are no tuning instructions in the Service Manual (which by the way is not much more than […]

The tuning of a Korg PolySix is mostly a tedious process. Let’s go in-depth to make it even worse. The tuning process described here is normally not necessary, but if you have replaced some components on the Voice PCB this might be your last resort. Sources of information The PolySix Service Manual. There is some […]

Disclaimer: There may be a better way to tune the Korg Lambda. My method is a bit “hit and miss”. Still it took less than five minutes to accomplish. Background The Lambda is not a VCO->Filter->VCA synthesizer, it’s constructed lika an organ / string machine. The tuning procedure is different and often simpler on an […]

Disclaimer: I have no idea. Maybe this can be done better. But here’s my best shot. Background There is not much technical information around about this very rare synth. In order to figure out how to tune it, I had to remove the front plate which is a lot of work. This article is an […]