Analogue Synths: difference between GATE and TRIGGER

Talk about anything here
Post Reply
User avatar
Andy Keys
Posts: 1843
Joined: 13:44, 7 August 2007
Location: UK

Analogue Synths: difference between GATE and TRIGGER

Post by Andy Keys »

Hi all,

Does anyone know if there is a difference between the GATE IN/OUT and the TRIGGER IN/OUT on analogue synths, or if it is there to let you use one signal to trigger notes (GATE) and the other to trigger envelopes or LFOs or whatever (TRIGGER)?

Originally, I thought they were just different names for the same signal, but some synths seem to have both.

Cheers
Andy
Synthtron
Posts: 690
Joined: 16:24, 26 November 2011
Location: USA-East Coast
Contact:

Re: Analogue Synths: difference between GATE and TRIGGER

Post by Synthtron »

I used to have a Moog Voyager several years ago so for give me if I am not 100% on this but I believe on it the triggers were used for output voltages to trigger other devices and the Gate for incoming triggers. You are right on most modern gear Gates and triggers are basically the same from what I understand.
Synthtron
Posts: 690
Joined: 16:24, 26 November 2011
Location: USA-East Coast
Contact:

Re: Analogue Synths: difference between GATE and TRIGGER

Post by Synthtron »

No wait I think that had an input for pitch on the Moog Voyager. I had an old school and used a Kenton MIDI to CV converter so that is what I was trying to remember.
User avatar
Synth Guru
Posts: 134
Joined: 19:43, 11 July 2015
Contact:

Re: Analogue Synths: difference between GATE and TRIGGER

Post by Synth Guru »

Andy Keys wrote:Hi all,

Does anyone know if there is a difference between the GATE IN/OUT and the TRIGGER IN/OUT on analogue synths, or if it is there to let you use one signal to trigger notes (GATE) and the other to trigger envelopes or LFOs or whatever (TRIGGER)?

Originally, I thought they were just different names for the same signal, but some synths seem to have both.

Cheers
Andy
Here you go:

http://www.synthesizers.com/gates.html

Hope it helps.
User avatar
Andy Keys
Posts: 1843
Joined: 13:44, 7 August 2007
Location: UK

Re: Analogue Synths: difference between GATE and TRIGGER

Post by Andy Keys »

Thanks, all. That page was useful, Synth Guru.
The beast in question has all three sets of jacks, so some experimenting is in order.

Image
Synthtron
Posts: 690
Joined: 16:24, 26 November 2011
Location: USA-East Coast
Contact:

Re: Analogue Synths: difference between GATE and TRIGGER

Post by Synthtron »

Is that my favorite jack (MIDI) on the left?
What is the instrument?
User avatar
Andy Keys
Posts: 1843
Joined: 13:44, 7 August 2007
Location: UK

Re: Analogue Synths: difference between GATE and TRIGGER

Post by Andy Keys »

It is a MIDI jack, yes. I bought a Korg ARP Odyssey :)
Synthtron
Posts: 690
Joined: 16:24, 26 November 2011
Location: USA-East Coast
Contact:

Re: Analogue Synths: difference between GATE and TRIGGER

Post by Synthtron »

Cool!
nickster
Posts: 36
Joined: 23:29, 3 August 2015

Re: Analogue Synths: difference between GATE and TRIGGER

Post by nickster »

You have probably worked it out by now but Arps used a combination of Trig and Gate in order to open the envelopes correctly. They also need a 10v signal compared to many modern analogues which need 5v. That means that the Arps need a boosted signal. If you are considering using cv to trigger your Odyssey make sure your sending at least a 10v signal. Or you have the convenience of a MIDI input which will save you a reasonable amount of head scratching.
User avatar
phm78
Posts: 21
Joined: 13:06, 25 December 2015
Location: Paris, France

Re: Analogue Synths: difference between GATE and TRIGGER

Post by phm78 »

A trigger is a pulse that occurs at the start of a key press on a keyboard.
A gate stays on for the duration of the key press on a keyboard.

Usually, the trigger is used to start the envelope
Post Reply