Cluster Matrix Mixer - NLC build notes.

These are my build notes for the NonLinearCircuit Cluster Matrix mixer module.
It's 42Hp Eurorack format. The mixer has 8 ins & 4 outs.
 

Lots and lots of SMD here so be warned. This could take a while to put together :-)

Andrew's build notes are here.
http://www.sdiy.org/pinky/data/CLUSTER%20guide%20&%20%20BOM.pdf

The NLC blog has some pics that might be useful.
http://nonlinearcircuits.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/cv-controlled-matrix-mixer.html

Some NLC words of wisdom.

#musicalteslacoil

A post shared by jono (@dj_jondent) on Dec 27, 2016 at 11:24pm PST

Back to the build.
My PCB is version 2.
So only two mods need to be made. Check out Andrew's build notes for more details.

A trace needs to be cut where the yellow line is.
I've also circled it in the image below.

There are 32 VCAs

It uses 16 of these  NJM13700M s:
Mouser cart 

The NJM13700M is a Transconductance Amplifier or an OTA (Operational
Transconductance Amplifiers)
It has 3 input pins (V+ & V- like in standard Op amps plus a 3rd input)

 In the above example the pins are respectively, 3, 4, & 1.

The output of an OTA is not a voltage like in a standard opamp. It's a current.
(Now I understand the Tesla vs Edison quote. It's a reference to the AC Vs DC battle). 
The gain of the OTA is controlled by this 3rd input pin.
 It seems that Andrew has used these 16 Dual OTAs to build the 32 VCAs.

If I'm reading this circuit correctly The TL074 acts as the current to voltage converter.
The output of the OTA feeds into the regular Op-amp which has its feedback loop.
This effectively has infinite input impedance.
Since the original input of the OTA is inverting, the final output of the TL074 is non inverted.

 I like to get all the IC's on first.

 Then the rest of the passive components.

 These are the mods needed for rev2 PCBs.

Pots first. These are all B100k.

Jacks next.

The first mod wire broke and removed some of the PCB trace.
So I reattached it further down.

Initally there was a slight hum on the top channel .... channel A.
Andrew suggested checking the channel A 470R resistors are soldered properly to ground, same or any opamp pins that should be going to ground.

I touched up Pins 3 & 4 of the 13700m VCAs. This fixed the hum.

Nice one Andrew.

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You can find more NLC builds here.

http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/non-linear-circuits-ncl-index.html

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