Topographic Delay issues

I found a few bugs with this module (in VCV):

  1. When loading it, it will load with Seq mode active, but the menu will show that it’s in Edit mode. There’s a need to select again Seq mode to switch the modes.
  2. Looks like the CV inputs (Feedback, Modulation, Dry/Wet) are inverted, so a positive value will move the knob in the other direction.
  3. There are very audible clicks when changing presets. I’m not sure if it’s also on the hardware module like this, but it can be quite noticeable.

I’m on Windows 11

Thanks for the bug report

Strange, it loads into Edit mode on macOS, but I can confirm windows loads into Seq mode. OK I have an idea what that might be

Aha! Thanks for finding that, yes indeed the CV jacks are backwards!

Do you still have this if you turn Morph up a little bit? There should be some clicks with Morph at 0 (because that’s what Morph = 0 means), but not if it’s turned up a little. In the hardware version, and on macOS ARM in VCV, there’s no clicking when Morph is turned up.

I’m happy to help :slight_smile:

So yes, the Morph will help with the clicks, but I still get them when I’m using an external clock, and it’s set to sync.

Ah yes, with External Clock. That’s an unfortunate thing about the Tapo, using External Clock is prone to clicks (this is true on the hardware model). When either the Time division changes (Time knob/CV in Ext Clock mode), or when you change presets (which also changes the time of the loop since presets are likely to have different times), it pops into the new loop time and causes a click. This only should happen when the Sync button is red (long-hold Sync), not when it’s blue.

Generally speaking, the Tapo works best with an external clock by using the clock to quantize all the taps when you create a Tapography (this is the mode when the Sync button is blue). The “red sync” mode is best used without changing the Time knob or CV or changing presets.

Regarding the other issues, I found the causes and fixed them. They’ll be included in the next VCV and firmware releases.

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I’ve owned the original TD for years, and got some issues with the MM version. When turning the feedback up, I very easily get a distortion feedback loop (not on VCV rack computer version). I enter a tap delay with Gate/velocity from a keyboard - but can’t a tap delay longer than aprx. a bar (within the computer VCV version there’s no issues).

One thing that I can’t figure out is to choose sync mode with the delete button (MM and VCV rack). I tried to hold down the delete button for a longer period, but I’m not able to sync with a external signal and light doesn’t change to blue. Any hints ?

Hmm… I’m not seeing this but we did fix an issue on the Tapographic where the CV jacks were inverted, and this could cause it to feedback and distort easily. Are you on the latest firmware (v1.3.1)?

I’m able to make very long delays. How long is your bar? I just tested and made 10-20 seconds of delay. Are you sure you’re in “ADD” mode when you’re tapping? (it’s easy to be in INS mode by accident, which will loop after the second tap, inserting all new taps over the period set by the first two taps).

Also, can you try it using the Tap sensor instead of ext gate/velocity jacks?

You have to patch a clock into the Ext Clock jack to get it to go to “blue” sync mode. Don’t hold down the Sync button – that enables a different mode (“red” sync mode which syncs the entire tapography size to the clock). The cable you patch into the Ext Clock jack must actually have a clock signal on it. The Tapo will automatically detect pulses from a clock signal and then automatically switch into “blue” sync mode. This is the same on the hardware version as it is on the VCV and MM versions.

Thanks Dan, I will try your suggestions tonight :+1:

I’ve found that even when set completely dry, I still hear the delay unless Level is set to zero. Shouldn’t dry be dry?

Also, can we save our own Tapographies? I’m trying to follow the steps in the (module’s) manual but it’s not quite working.