External input analog feedback

[Herbert West]

I was reading in a review that one trick of the certain synth in question was to run a line from the audio out to an fx line out to the audio input, and it would create cool analog feedback. My Octave Cat has two audio outputs, if I run the low output into the audio in and the high to my speakers, would I achieve such an effect? I wanted to ask before I go ahead and do something possibly stupid and ruin a circuit board or something, haha. Are there any other cool analog tricks of note?

[Solderman]

The only time I've ever heard of this being risky, and it certainly depends on the amount of buffering at the synth's audio input and how much current it can handle, is if you use the headphone output instead of the low Z out. It's apparently not a risk for the Minimoog, and this feedback trick appears to be rather effective for it, so ymmv.

I use this trick, albeit with a direct cable and not a mixer aux send, on the Moog Voyager and get quite a different effect than the Model D. I wouldn't say it's subtle, in fact can fatten up the sound quite alot, but it's still not the same effect. I also modified my SH-101 with a filter in, and did this with the mixer aux send, and it was rather disappointing. Here is a recording of the 101, first dry then doing the feedback. Meh.

[Stab Frenzy]

Yeah go for it!

[Sir Ruff]

I've done this with no problem. Also, send the low (or high) output into the filter in... that will give cool filter modulation. sounds.

[pflosi]

one thing i like is modulating the feedback with LFOs or EGs

[mute]

i think ive done this with every bit of gear i've ever owned that has both input and output, but usually via a mixer and aux send/return (i keep a crappy 8 chan behringer mixer around for almost just this purpose) =p