Firmware update to Plan B Model 28 demonstration - external sync

video upload by Peter Grenader

Published on Jan 28, 2013 Peter Grenader·13 videos

"The following is a (rather shaky camera rendering - sorry!) video outlining improvements authored by Phil Gallo to the functionality of the external syncing of the Plan Model 28 Tap Clock in 2010. This video is in response to another video uploaded to youtube (search Model 28 Slop Clock) which highlighted the deficiencies in the initial firmware release.

A comparison was made on that initial video which successfully highlights the Model 28's syncing issues, although it did this through a comparison to a module with completely different functionality - the Analogue Solutions MC01. The MC01 is a Master Clock which divides a signal to attain musical intervals of time from that. The Model 28 however is an upscaler - it takes two input signals, determines the length of time between those two events, replicates that frequency (quarter notes) and as well calculates twice that frequency (eight notes) and three times that frequency (eight note triplets). The technicalities of these two approaches are vastly different. This is not to say that the Model 28 didn't have issues initially with syncing nor to say the MC01 is any lesser for what it does - they just do completely different things. It does point to the fact that the MC01 is not adequate to the purpose of the comparison. In all fairness to the individual who posted this first video, no module has attempted what the M28 does, before or since.

In 2010, after receiving comments that both Phil Gallo (firmware) and I (hardware) were in complete agreement with, Phil Gallo undertook the rather daunting task of effecting improvement, which he did remarkably. After extensive beta testing by Tim Stichcombe and Don Kim, the result of Phil's recoding was the firmware upgrade, which is free and can be acquired by writing me at petergrenader@gmail.com.

Over 300 M28's were produced, 40-50 of which had this upgraded firmware.

The enhancement require that the external input be inverted so it becomes low active as opposed to high active. This can be done by a multiple of options - many manufacturers produce inverters of one type of another. In short, the input signal to be synced must be inverted 180 degrees out of phase. This slight inconvenience is essential for the M28 to sync properly. The net result is not spot on perfect and outputs a very slight flam from the original signal, yet still a vast improvement over the initial release. Without going into the technicalities involved which run deep, I will say there are few people outside of Phil Gallo currently involved in the design of analog/digital modular gear who could have successfully accomplished what he did. It's remarkable.

But you be the judge, please - watch the video, contact me for the free upgrade... and have a great day."