#397

Hello everyone. This will be my first post here. After quite a binge of Whimsical modules I’ve gotten my hands on a Just Friends. As usual, the different approach is quite a breath of fresh air. But I do have a question, regarding the manual and what it says about the FM input:

With no input, FM becomes a detune amount – To ensure the accuracy of the INTONE control, set FM to 12:00

I don’t seem manage to see a difference regardless of the position of the FM knob when no input is present. Latest firmware installed.

#398

Mine is also very slight—this is likely because the “detune” is coming from the ambient, not-precisely 0V voltage present at the jack with nothing plugged in. My impression is that this is not something expressly controlled for, so some units will see more effect of this than others. Of course, you can always explicitly recover this functionality by patching some constant voltage into the fm input.

All of that said, one way to double-check the effect on your unit is to try sound/cycle mode, listen to identity and one other output, set intone someplace where you can hear two distinct tones, and then move fm from noon to fully CCW. the pitch from identity should remain constant, but the pitch from the other output will change very slightly.

#399

Can’t really manage to see a difference even after following your instructions or by plugging in a constant voltage. Should I do a calibration or has this feature (is it?) been removed (remedied?) in later firmware versions?

LE: I can replicate the “offset in the FM input” by going into shape mode where the input is DC coupled.
LE2: I can however detune lfos if the FM input has nothing plugged in and FM knob is set towards intone, but it takes multiple cycles to see them go out of phase.
LE3: FM does quite a lot of stuff unpatched in Floom mode so this must be a firmware thing? Also, my JF seems to also have one of those three way switches :smiley:

#400

Im having trouble finding mention of it but I’m sure I read in this thread somewhere…
(for example) I’m in shape/cycle with Intone and FM/intone set to 12 oclock and I’d expect all the cycles to be in sync right? I’m sure I was doing this recently and getting six synced pulses but I just can’t find a sweet spot anymore. I’ve done the factory reset.
Anyone have any clues.’
I should say that I have some JF.TR running but I can hear them distinctly from what I’m trying to do. Is it possible that these won’t let the other cycles fall into sync?

#401

I gave this patch a shot tonight, and I’m in love. Thanks @n-So for the video push! Will also be spending a bunch of time with this.

#402

it’s possible that your cycles are in sync but out of phase. an easy way to correct that is to send a physical trigger into 6n and see if things line up from there

1 Like
#403

Will my JF benefit as much as I suspect from another one to keep her company?

#404

I have two and I find it very useful to use them in conjunction, often with one as a sound source of another as a modulator. I certainly haven’t explored all the ways to use them together yet either.

Also I would consider reflecting on the reasons to refer to an inanimate object with female pronouns.

1 Like
#405

Just Friends, like a ship, will take you new places :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

2 Likes
#406

Thanks for the advice.

regarding the pronoun, it was intentional. time and again I have observed the use of the male pronoun to refer to equipment in forums like MW and GS. I’m well aware of the misogynistic connections historically - and still, persistently - made between women and inanimate objects. Language, being one of the major fronts where this cutural moment is unfolding, is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate and agree upon. I can understand why you suggested I reconsider my reference, but I do believe that in this context it is no bad thing to welcome more of the female into this overwhelmingly male dominated environment wherever possible. And given that you had no idea of my gender identity, your response struck me as somewhat smug and moralising. This kind of virtue signalling does more to shame and provoke anger than to cultivate mutual understanding and stimulating exchanges.

3 Likes
#408

I worded my thoughts as neutrally as I could because I know that encouraging someone to reconsider their viewpoint on the internet is a situation primed for conflict, hence “consider reflecting on” rather than “you should”; but I’m aware I could be interpreted as moralising.

I also did not assume your gender identity in making my statement because it is possible that someone identifying other than the majority gender can put forth potentially discriminatory ideas regarding gender.

Finally, I don’t believe continuing a historically misogynistic practice is an effective or justifiable way to included gender minorities into this community. Here’s where my opinions will stop in an effort to not derail this thread further.

8 Likes
#409

For what it’s worth, “majority gender” to mean “men” without context is, like, factually disputable.

Calling Just Friends “she” seems like small potatoes when it comes to making lines and other synth-y places on the internet more welcoming for women and nonbinary people, hence my flippant comment above. You make a decent argument for not doing so, though.

10 Likes
#410

Agreed 100%, I was referring to music gear forums specifically which I have observed to be majority male. Still aware I could be wrong in that assumption. Thank you.

Edit: reflecting on my posts is reminding me of the proverb… “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Apologies to all for the distraction.

2 Likes
#411

that is the best kind of disputable! :slight_smile:

Yes! I have two, and wholeheartedly recommend it. JF is far and away my most used module. :slight_smile:

2 Likes
#412

I dream of a 6U 84HP system that is made up entirely of Just Friends…and maybe a few VCAs

6 Likes
#413

I have two and it can definitely be fun, thought no more magical than when paired with another modulation/audio source. Self-patching JF is delightful however and worth exploring, both at Sound and Shape rates.

Given JF’s many modes and ways of being, it’s probable that a non-binary pronoun might be a more appropriate choice.

3 Likes
#414

I’d be curious to pair a Just Friends with the new Tides

1 Like
#415

Can you share some video examples of self patching that you like?

#416

Let me explore a bit. It had been a while, and I have memory of coming up with good self-patched JF sounds, but everything I’m coming up with right now sounds like vacuuming up wet gravel through a very long PVC pipe. Which has its own charms! But not what I imagined.

3 Likes
#417

Same here! I’m considering a third jf or the new tides.