Mask 1 distortion from V2 on output

mrgkeys	Posted on Thu 18 May 2023, 04:00 AM Anyone else noticed distortion since upgrading to V2? Full volume gets it every time but on some programs even low volume I get static and distortion unless the output goes down to almost nothing. Driving nicely into a couple of racked 312 API vintage preamps thru some Jensen transformers. Noise is present in the headphones as well. Feels like an internal gain before the D to A maybe? I wondered if anyone else notices it. Without a numerical volume output I can't tell you where it begins but roughly half way. It did not do this before the update.
KODAMO	Posted on Fri 19 May 2023, 12:33 AM Can you record an audio example? We're not aware of anything like that. Can you try without the transformers? The MASK1's outputs are not made to drive any low impedance load. The output levels are high and can easily saturate most audio equipment at full volume, so avoid pushing it too far. We're preparing the update to V3 which brings numerical display for the volume and max polyphony to 12 voices.
mrgkeys	Posted on Fri 19 May 2023, 05:52 AM I can do so when I get back, yes, but it will be a week. It's vacation time! Sorry. I've tried a couple APIs with hi z inputs and some Cranbourne Audio preamps with hi z inputs and a Radial DI with Jensens too. It's not an output level or overdriven problem, it sounds like it's internal in what ever math is summing everything together before D-2-A. Some patches do it more than others, regardless of output volume. Sometimes subtle, but sometimes not, but always turning the main volume down cleans it up. And sometimes to almost no volume is the only thing that does it. Is it worth refreshing the STM32 for V2? Speaking of updates, those all sounds amazing! Any chance we might get the transmitting and receiving midi channels to be set apart from each other in the future? Really loving playing the Mask, it's so much fun. just mask diving is pretty diverse! It always sounds alive!
KODAMO	Posted on Fri 19 May 2023, 12:37 PM No need to refresh the firmware. When you're back, try the following : Make an init patch with only 1 osc, set it to mask 31 (sine), set its envelope level to 63, set the volume of the synth to the max. Play a single note at a time, try different notes especially bass notes. The sound should be a sine wave, without clipping. If there is distortion, it's either the analog part which have an issue, or something in your setup that creates this distortion. Some presets have built-in distortion so be aware of that too, that may be intentional 😀 Distortion is available on FX1 and also FX2. Enjoy your vacations!
mega0mega	Posted on Sat 20 May 2023, 06:13 AM Love the Mask1. I have this distortion as described as well consistently and have tried it across multiple output scenarios. I will record and send. I just updated from 1.9 to 2.0 and notice it across both versions. The distortion goes away with lower volume - and as mentioned sometimes at the lowest volume setting. It's not related to FX. Thanks for the clear description Kodamo - I tried the test with the Sine and I did notice the clipping from (I guess) 70% full volume and osc at 63. Single notes. Beyond this current issue I love the minimalist approach to the parameters - and hope whatever is added in the future contributes as greatly to the sonic variety and expression and immediacy.
KODAMO	Posted on Sat 20 May 2023, 11:51 AM Thanks for the report. We did some testing with an oscilloscope on several units and the Mask1 does not distort, however at high volume the levels are so high that it will make sound cards clip or saturate. The new firmware will display the volume value so you can see exactly where you are on the scale, the solution is simply to lower the volume on the MASK1.