The STP16 is an 16-step trigger/gate sequencer.
This looks like lots of fun. Machine room are based in Kyiv , Ukraine.
JonDent - Explorations in Electronics, Electronic Music, Coffee, Sci Fi, Art & Travel (but mostly electronic music)
Saturday, 24 February 2024
Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Dialing in Coffee - Dose, ratio, Grind size & The Time Factor.
If you want good tasting espresso for whatever coffee drink you're making
dialing in your coffee is absolutely crucial . The aim is to get a good brew recipe.
This post's focus is mainly on the time factor.
You need to do this whenever you have a new bag of beans.
(even if you're using the same coffee from the same roaster as last time).
Getting a good coffee is a bit like getting a good golf swing.
Repeat, repeat, repeat. Try to reduce variables. get consistency.
The main three parts to a recipe are:
1. Grind size
2. Contact Time (sour - sweet - bitter)
3. Ratio (the amt of coffee to the amt of water)
(Pressure + temperature are also impt)
My simplest coffee machine is a Breville Bambino.
I think this is a great machine to do the initial dialing in, since its simplicity
eliminates lots of variables.
The extraction temp (PID) is set to 93C.
The higher the temp, the more extraction potential.
Extraction pressure is set to 9 bars.
The higher the pressure, the more extraction potential.
(I understand the machine applies a low pressure preinfusion at the start,
and this then ramps up to 9 bars).
The only thing you can change is the amount of water (volumetric shot control).
Pressing the start button on the coffee machine is the crucial moment to measure/record.
If your coffee machine has a built in timer which activates the moment you
press the start button, that's perfect.
The Bambino doesn't have this, but my scales do.
You can also just use you phone's timer, or something like the Acaia Lunar Scales which
start timing the moment the first drop of coffee hits the glass.
Another scale to use is the Timemore black mirror.
Both these scales are OK though not perfect for measuring time, as what we really want is to
start measuring time from when the button is pressed, not when the first drip of coffee hits the cup.
A work around to fix this is just to count 6 sec (for the pre-infusion) then add whatever the scale timer reads to give you your final time.
The Contact Time is impt. As water touches the coffee and extraction occurs
the coffee extracted goes from sour, to sweet, to bitter.
All coffee extracts in this order.
I tend to use 18 gram of coffee.
I am looking for 36 gram of liquid out because I'm
working on a ratio of one to two.
I usually start with a grind size of 3 using a Vario grinder.
Method:
Use scales.
1.Start the brew.
2. stop the machine when you reach 36g,
and record how long that took.
3. The AIM is to get 36g out in about 25 secs. ... have a taste ....
4. adjust the grind size
5. repeat.
AIM for 25 to 30 seconds..... that's roughly The Sweet Spot for most people
If at 25 seconds you get over 36 grams you should make it finer.
If at 25 seconds you get under 36 grams you should make it coarser.
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Adjusting the shot volume for the ‘1-Cup’ button:
1) Begin by grinding your coffee beans, tamping, and trimming the dose.
2) Next, press and hold both the '1-Cup' and the '2-Cup' buttons simultaneously. After a couple of seconds, both buttons will flash.
3) Use scales to measure the coffee.
Place the scale on the drip tray with a glass & set to zero.
4) Press the ‘1-Cup’ button to start your extraction
& start the timer at the same time.
5) Once you’ve reached your desired weight,
press the ‘1-Cup’ button again to stop extraction & stop the timer.
Your desired shot volume is now saved to the ‘1-Cup’ button.
These steps can be repeated for the ‘2-Cup’ button as well.
Now that you have dialed this coffee using the bambino, try the same grind settings on another coffee machine. See if you can duplicate the taste.
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Dose
How much coffee do you start with?
Some things to keep in mind:
The more coffee you start with, the more work you need to do.
A better coffee grinder will make it easier to extract the coffee.
Better quality espresso machines will also make extraction easier.
The basket determines the correct dose that you should be using.
Remember that old school Italian baskets are probably only designed for 14-15g,
not the modern 20 to 22 g we are used to today.
The coffee itself will determine the dose.
Generally, the darker the roast, the less work you need to do to extract the coffee.
Thus, use a higher dose with a darker coffee.
Lighter roasts are more work to extract, thus use a smaller dose.
Time the shots.
Once you are in the ball park, tweak the dose.
Remember: The more coffee, the slower the flow.
Ratio
How much espresso do we get at the end?
A shorter shot, or lower ratio, is going to have a more concentrated taste, meaning the mouthfeel will be thick and heavy. On the other hand, a longer shot or ratio will lead to a more 'watery mouthfeel' as the shot will include more water.
1:1 (ristretto)
1:2 (Normale - standard Italian espresso)
1: 3 (Lungo)
Grind size.
When you first dial in always start coarser than you need.
Then go finer, and finer.
Don't start too fine or you may get false results.
--------------------------------------------------------
If I'm using a single dose basket I'll usually need a coarser grind (than a standard double shot basket).
I love these baskets as I can make more coffees per day.
My initial aim:
11g in
22g out
2g/sec flow rate (44 secs)
Taste & adjust to suit your preference
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Coffee index. Click here :
Tuesday, 20 February 2024
Mun - Build notes - NLC Vocoder - part 1
These are my build notes for the nonlinear circuits Mun module.
tHIS eurorack 22HP module is a 10 channel vocoder based on the Syntovox 222
The word Vocoder is a combination of two words.
Voice + Code = Vocoder
Vocoded signals were essentially a form of data compression for voice.
Links
+ Wiki
+ BOM
The module is more easily understood if you divide it into 3 sections : Voice, Carrier & noise
a synth level input (+/- 5V).
The Carrier section has a synth level input only.
The Carrier input expects a +/-5V synth level signal. One tip - the
vocoder output is only as good as the carrier signal, so mix a few
signals together via phasers, filters or wave-folders to get interesting
sounds……or drum hits are fun too.
Noise:
This is a transistor based noise source with pots for level and colour (white/pink).
The noise signal is mixed with the carrier signal on channels 9 and 10.
The level pot determines how dominant it is.
This is simpler than voiced/unvoiced switching seen on some vocoders but I found
it sounds good and like having the option of patching the envelope inputs so the noise turns
on a lot more frequently than it should. Of course, you can turn the level pot down to 0
and have no noise too.
It basically works this way:
You plug in your mic a one end where you voice is converted into control voltages.
(in this case CV envelopes, that exit from the envelope out jacks).
Those CVs are plugged into the envelope in jacks (of the carrier section).
They are used to control the synth plugged into the carrier input.
The filter and envelope outputs can be used without affecting the main
vocoder operations. Patching into Envelope In, disconnects the
internally generated envelope. A 0-5V signal is expected.
It's the title of a Neubla Award nominated novelette which originally appeared in Galaxy Magazine, October 1965.
The story can also be found in the collections The People Trap (1968), The Wonderful World of Robert Sheckley (1979), The Collected Short Fiction of Robert Sheckley: Book Three (1991), The Masque of Mañana (2005) and Store of the Worlds: The Stories of Robert Sheckley (2012).
The name of this module "Mun" comes from this novelette.
It's a unique novel as it explores communication & specifically linguistics in science fiction.
Basically, the Alien society's language mutates so fast that a Earth linguist attempting exploitative First Contact is barely able to keep up and retires defeated when the latest iteration reduces the entire language to inflections and stresses of a single syllable: "Mun, mun, mun-mun." ......................Quite an appropriate name for a vocoder.
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"Mun," said Erum, shaking his hand enthusiastically.
"Same to you, kid," Jackson said. He had no idea what the word meant. Nor did he care. He had plenty of other Naian words to choose among, and he had the determination to force matters to a conclusion
"Mun!" said the mayor.
"Thanks, pop," said Jackson.
"Mun!" declared the other officials.
"Glad you all feel that way," said Jackson. He turned to Erum. "Well, let's get it over with, okay?"
"Mun-mun-mun," Erum replied. "Mun, mun-mun."
Jackson stared at him for several seconds. "Erum, baby, just exactly what are you trying to say to me?"
"Mun, mun, mun," Erum stated firmly. "Mun, mun mun mun. Mun mun." He paused, and in a somewhat nervous voice asked the mayor: "Mun, mun?" (pp. 64-65)
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There are lots of caps and resistors ... Its a big build.
Though parts are all pretty common ... nothing rare.
TL072 or TL082 x 16 Soic Tayda: A-1139... cheaper from mouser
TL074 or TL084 x15 tayda A-1137 or A-1140 ..... cheaper from Tayda
BC857 10 tayda A-1345
BC847 3 Tayda A-1339
LL4148 24 sod-80 Tayda: A-1213
5V1 zener 20 Tayda A-6014 (5V6 but ok).... order these
LM13700M or V13700M x5 Mouser Part No 926-LM13700MX/NOPB
or
V13700M at synthcube (cheaper)
i USED
Mouser Part No 926-LM13700MX/NOPB
I've run out of op-amps.
To be continued when they arrive................... mun, Mun, munmun MUN
MFF
MFF- MFF Capital Investments Ltd
Useful Links & Sources
- Track the latest financial statements and metrics on Simply Wall St.
- View current pricing, valuation, and market data on Yahoo Finance.
- Read official corporate reports and announcements directly via MFF Capital Investments.
.......................................
ASX:MFF has delivered strong returns over the last 5 years, with the share price gaining approximately 78%. The company operates a very clean balance sheet with effectively no debt, maintains consistent double-digit Return on Equity (ROE), and consistently grows its fully franked dividends. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Financial Highlights
- Profit & Earnings: The company has seen solid multi-year earnings growth, averaging around 35.4% per year over the last 5 years. While recent interim results showed a temporary year-over-year profit and revenue drop due to market fluctuations, overall medium-term profitability remains highly robust. [1, 2, 3]
- Debt: MFF has successfully de-risked its balance sheet over the last few years. Total debt has been reduced to a negligible amount, effectively bringing the debt-to-equity ratio to \(0\%\). [1]
- Return on Equity (ROE): The company historically generates strong capital efficiency, with ROE frequently tracking between 10.33% and 21.6% depending on the fiscal year's global market performance. [1, 2]
- Dividends: MFF is favored by income investors and has maintained an impressive track record of increasing its annual fully franked dividend every year since 2018. The compound annual growth rate for its dividend sits at around 27%. [1]
..................
Over the last 10 years, the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio for MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF) has fluctuated significantly, ranging from roughly 3.5x to over 16.5x, with a current trailing twelve-month (TTM) P/E ratio sitting between 11.4x and 11.8x. Because MFF is a Listed Investment Company (LIC), its earnings consist primarily of volatile investment gains and losses, which heavily distorts its historical P/E ratios year-over-year. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Historical P/E Ratio Overview
| Year | Approximate P/E Ratio | Market Context / Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Current (2026) | 11.7x | Steady performance, portfolio values normalizing. |
| 2025 | 6.1x | Surge in investment income suppressed the multiple. |
| 2024 | 4.8x | High reported earnings from global market rallies. |
| 2023 | 5.4x | Strong recovery gains post-2022 market bottom. |
| 2022 | 16.5x | Tech sell-offs reduced investment income, spiking the P/E. |
| 2021 | 6.8x | Post-COVID liquidity rally drove massive portfolio gains. |
| 2020 | 9.2x | COVID-19 crash lowered asset prices and earnings evenly. |
| 2019 | 5.5x | Exceptional global equity returns lowered the static P/E. |
| 2018 | 7.1x | Steady bull market earnings from core U.S. holdings. |
| 2017 | 14.2x | Lower portfolio turnover minimized realized accounting gains. |
| 2016 | 3.8x | Outsized investment gains temporarily deflated the ratio. |
3 Key Considerations for Analyzing MFF's P/E
- Accounting Distortions: MFF must report unrealized fluctuations in its stock portfolio as statutory net profit under IFRS rules. When global markets boom, MFF's "earnings" skyrocket, making the P/E ratio look deceptively low (e.g., 2024–2025). [1]
- Better Valuation Alternative: For LICs like MFF, investors generally disregard the P/E ratio. Instead, track the Net Tangible Assets (NTA) per share relative to the stock price to see if it trades at a premium or discount.
- Current Standing: At its current multiple of ~11.7x, MFF trades at a steep discount relative to the broader Australian Capital Markets industry average of ~18.9x. [1]
......................
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