GateKeeper Docs
VCA and OUTPUT
Around the VOLUME potentiometer are some gain suggestions. These are based on the 4072 IN and the MULTA IN potentiometers set at their DEFAULT levels with a synth level input signal (Approximately 5 volts peak to peak.)
The WHITE LED indicates VOLUME intensity of the VCA
The GateKeeper can get extremely loud. Adjust accordingly and consider the format you are feeding into.
Lower volumes for guitar pedals. Mixers and direct connections into an audio interface use higher setting. ALWAYS monitor your inputs to make sure you are not overdriving your pre-amps. …unless you want to.
*Going directly in to our UA Apollo interface I use the SYNTH setting at about a 12 noon position. HI-Z inputs are not needed. The HI-Z inputs will increase the gain going into your mixer or interface. The GateKeeper puts out more than enough volume. That extra boost is not needed.
LIMIT
LIMIT toggle provides two modes. MORE and LESS. The center position is OFF. This is a diode limiting circuit based on a tape simulation.
MORE will limit maximum peaks to about 4.4 volts peak to peak. The point it starts to softly limit the wave form is at about 3.65 volts peak to peak. These are basically guitar pedal levels.
LESS will limit its maximum peaks to about 7.2 volts peak to peak. Starts to softly limit around 6 volts peak to peak. Good for synths and other instruments.
How much your signal is limited depends on the volume levels being fed into it. Bypass for the most dynamics.
I highly suggest using the LIMIT function while experimenting with the OSC NOISE MODEs for the first few times. Keep your levels down to avoid speaker damage. Self oscillation is a hell of a drug.
VCA
The VCA CV potentiometer will provide an attenuated CV feed into the VCA. By default the VCA CV is normalled internally to the GateKeeper’s ADSR envelope in the same way the 4072 CV and the MULTA CV are.
Inserting a CV from an external eurorack module will sever the internal CV connection and allow the new CV source to flow to the attenuation VCA CV potentiometer.
**Pro-Tip: Try turning down the VOLUME knob to a low level but NOT all the way off. Adjust the VCA potentiometer. You’ll notice the accent of the ADSR will start to shape your audio like a transient designer. This can add more bite to your tone.
***you need to be triggering the ADSR envelope with a GATE signal for this to work.