Some pics of the Gieskes video synth to LZX adapters I'm building.
They plug in here:
Links:
Muffs - cortex with 3ins
LZX
Muffs - discrete RGB output signals
......to be continued.
Showing posts with label DIY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DIY. Show all posts
Monday, 31 October 2016
Thursday, 27 October 2016
NLC BaDum TISS - drum module
These are my build notes for the nonlinearcircuits Badum TISS.
Badum Tisss is a snare/hi hat eurorack module.
it mixes the sound from a VCO & noise circuit into a ring modulator.
it mixes the sound from a VCO & noise circuit into a ring modulator.
The VCO is triggered with an envelope follower.
This EF also triggers a VCA further down the circuit.
Check out Andrews build notes for further info.
http://www.sdiy.org/pinky/data/BadumTisss%20build%20&%20BOM.pdf
Sneaky Nuts??? s this a reference to Angry Boys?
Anyway, where did the name Ba Dum Tiss originate ?
The Urban Dictionary defines badum tish as
"an onomatopeia for a drum technique normally accompanying the conclusion of a cheesy joke or a comedy pratfall (where someone is made to look like an idiot by their own devising - such as falling on a banana skin they earlier discarded). It consists of two fast rimshots and a splash cymbal - producing the sound "badum tish".
Firstly, get those pesky SMD ICs out of the way:
Rest of SMD next.
Sneaky Nuts??? s this a reference to Angry Boys?
Anyway, where did the name Ba Dum Tiss originate ?
The Urban Dictionary defines badum tish as
"an onomatopeia for a drum technique normally accompanying the conclusion of a cheesy joke or a comedy pratfall (where someone is made to look like an idiot by their own devising - such as falling on a banana skin they earlier discarded). It consists of two fast rimshots and a splash cymbal - producing the sound "badum tish".
Firstly, get those pesky SMD ICs out of the way:
Rest of SMD next.
Just 2 transistors:
one BC847 NPN (marked by the "n") & one BC 857 PNP (identified on the PCB by the "p")
Now for the through hole stuff.
I had to drill an extra hole in the panel to accommodate the LED
Sounds Great!
Thanks Andrew.
one BC847 NPN (marked by the "n") & one BC 857 PNP (identified on the PCB by the "p")
Now for the through hole stuff.
I had to drill an extra hole in the panel to accommodate the LED
Sounds Great!
Thanks Andrew.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can find more NLC builds here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, 25 October 2016
NLC Doof Drum Module - Build notes
These are my build notes for the Nonlinearcircuits Doof drum module.
It's Eurorack format.
This is a very different circuit from the 808 & 909 clones doing the rounds today.
Can't believe I would ever tire of those sounds but its great to have something different.
This circuit uses a trimmed down NLC dual OTA VCO and the VCA from the NLC matrix mixer
(a future build).
I built the OTA VCO over a year ago.
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/nonlinear-circuits-dual-ota-vco-build.html
That VCO used a OTA or Operational transconductance amplifier.
The topology is common enough in many drum synths: Trigger circuit, envelope follower, VCO, VCA.
Get started with some tanning. It's the Aussie way.
Firstly the virgin PCBs & faceplate:
First get those !Cs in.
Now the rest of the SMDs
I'm using a 10K on the RL ... LED resistor
Stuff in the through hole stuff:
pOTS & jacks next.
Now the LED. Get the orientation right. The anode is the long lead.
initial tests:
Initially, with a headphone, I found the volume very low and the LED didn't light up.
The LED resistor I used was a 10K. This is for super bright LEDs.
I swapped it for a 1K and noticed a sudden increase in volume & that the LED lit up.
I decided to do another swap. This time for a 510 R.
Much much better !!!
Very loud and the LED lights up nicely thanks.
:-)
-------------------------------
Andrew F suggested that in order to get a bigger output, I change the 220k next to the TL072
He has taken it to 4M7 ...which is way OTT, ....bounces off the power rails.
Maybe a more sensible range would be between 1M5 & 2M2.
For the moment I'm really happy with the standard Doof module.
Other mods include
1. CV control of decay instead of freq... see build & BOM pdf
http://www.sdiy.org/pinky/ data/Doof_Build&BOM_vers1.pdf
2. replacing the 10nF capacitor on the input with a link to
Links:
1. NLC Build Notes
2. Muffs : adjusting output level of the Doof
3. NLC blog spot
It's Eurorack format.
This is a very different circuit from the 808 & 909 clones doing the rounds today.
Can't believe I would ever tire of those sounds but its great to have something different.
This circuit uses a trimmed down NLC dual OTA VCO and the VCA from the NLC matrix mixer
(a future build).
I built the OTA VCO over a year ago.
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/nonlinear-circuits-dual-ota-vco-build.html
That VCO used a OTA or Operational transconductance amplifier.
The topology is common enough in many drum synths: Trigger circuit, envelope follower, VCO, VCA.
Get started with some tanning. It's the Aussie way.
Firstly the virgin PCBs & faceplate:
First get those !Cs in.
Now the rest of the SMDs
I'm using a 10K on the RL ... LED resistor
Stuff in the through hole stuff:
pOTS & jacks next.
Now the LED. Get the orientation right. The anode is the long lead.
initial tests:
Initially, with a headphone, I found the volume very low and the LED didn't light up.
The LED resistor I used was a 10K. This is for super bright LEDs.
I swapped it for a 1K and noticed a sudden increase in volume & that the LED lit up.
I decided to do another swap. This time for a 510 R.
Much much better !!!
Very loud and the LED lights up nicely thanks.
:-)
-------------------------------
Andrew F suggested that in order to get a bigger output, I change the 220k next to the TL072
He has taken it to 4M7 ...which is way OTT, ....bounces off the power rails.
Maybe a more sensible range would be between 1M5 & 2M2.
For the moment I'm really happy with the standard Doof module.
Other mods include
1. CV control of decay instead of freq... see build & BOM pdf
http://www.sdiy.org/pinky/
2. replacing the 10nF capacitor on the input with a link to
create 808 style extended drum hits with gates rather than triggers.
Links:
1. NLC Build Notes
2. Muffs : adjusting output level of the Doof
3. NLC blog spot
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can find more NLC builds here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, 20 October 2016
All about JFETS - matching for synthesizers
This is a very good introductory video on JFETs - junction field effect transistors.
JFETs can be either N or P channel.
The channel conducts current moving from the source to the drain.
A voltage at the gate increases the channel resistance and reduces the drain source current.
Therefore, the FET can be used as an amplifier or a switch.
This is an excellent device.....Peak Atlas DCA Pro.
The bits about JFETS are around 7mins & the PC applications are at 14:20.
We often
want to use a JFET as a variable resistor, particularly in phasers.
The problem with JFETs is that it is much harder to make consistent JFETs than to make consistent bipolar devices. Therefore matching them is important.
These are screen shots taken of the readouts from my Atlas Pro of one of the JFETS.
Try to match the curves for each JFET along with as many other specs as possible.
I tested twelve J112s.
measuring VGSoff, Idss, VGSon in that order.
These were the results:
1. Vsg (off) = -2.97V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.04V
2. Vsg (off) = -3.14V
Idss = 0.50V
Vsg (on) = -2.04V
3. Vsg (off) = -2.98V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.05V
4. Vsg (off) = -2.71V
Idss = 0.54v
Vsg (on) = -1.80V
5. Vsg (off) = -2.99V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.06V
6. Vsg (off) = -2.68V
Idss = 0.55v
Vsg (on) = -1.77
7. Vsg (off) = -3.60
Idss = 0.46v
Vsg (on) = -2.63
8. Vsg (off) = -2.90
Idss = 0.53v
Vsg (on) = -1.98
9. Vsg (off) = -2.66
Idss = 0.55v
Vsg (on) = -1.76
10. Vsg (off) = -2.89
Idss = 0.53v
Vsg (on) = -1.97V
11. Vsg (off) = -3.17
Idss = 0.50v
Vsg (on) = -2.24
12. Vsg (off) = -3.15
Idss = 0.50v
Vsg (on) = -2.22V
A huge variation in results from just twelve J112s
I'll go with 1 & 3
1. Vsg (off) = -2.97V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.04V
3. Vsg (off) = -2.98V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.05V
Links:
1. Stompville
2. Learning about electronics
3. Geofex
4. Edn.com
JFETs can be either N or P channel.
The channel conducts current moving from the source to the drain.
A voltage at the gate increases the channel resistance and reduces the drain source current.
Therefore, the FET can be used as an amplifier or a switch.
This is an excellent device.....Peak Atlas DCA Pro.
The bits about JFETS are around 7mins & the PC applications are at 14:20.
The problem with JFETs is that it is much harder to make consistent JFETs than to make consistent bipolar devices. Therefore matching them is important.
These are screen shots taken of the readouts from my Atlas Pro of one of the JFETS.
Try to match the curves for each JFET along with as many other specs as possible.

measuring VGSoff, Idss, VGSon in that order.
These were the results:
1. Vsg (off) = -2.97V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.04V
2. Vsg (off) = -3.14V
Idss = 0.50V
Vsg (on) = -2.04V
3. Vsg (off) = -2.98V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.05V
4. Vsg (off) = -2.71V
Idss = 0.54v
Vsg (on) = -1.80V
5. Vsg (off) = -2.99V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.06V
6. Vsg (off) = -2.68V
Idss = 0.55v
Vsg (on) = -1.77
7. Vsg (off) = -3.60
Idss = 0.46v
Vsg (on) = -2.63
8. Vsg (off) = -2.90
Idss = 0.53v
Vsg (on) = -1.98
9. Vsg (off) = -2.66
Idss = 0.55v
Vsg (on) = -1.76
10. Vsg (off) = -2.89
Idss = 0.53v
Vsg (on) = -1.97V
11. Vsg (off) = -3.17
Idss = 0.50v
Vsg (on) = -2.24
12. Vsg (off) = -3.15
Idss = 0.50v
Vsg (on) = -2.22V
A huge variation in results from just twelve J112s
I'll go with 1 & 3
1. Vsg (off) = -2.97V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.04V
3. Vsg (off) = -2.98V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.05V
Links:
1. Stompville
2. Learning about electronics
3. Geofex
4. Edn.com
Sunday, 16 October 2016
Tokyo Akihabara Radio Center
This is where you can see some old school electronics.
.... the stuff that rebuilt Japan after WWII.
Akihabara ‘electric town’ is famous for tiny retailers selling radios and electronic parts at cut-rate prices under the Sobu line tracks.
It's a shade of what it used to be in the 50's & 60s but some of those "tiny hole in the wall" shops are still here, crammed together. It's worth a visit just for the historical aspect.
DIY old school with parts in open boxes and plastic containers.
Analog, digital, LEDS, knobs, jacks, resistors, capacitors, etc etc... the way it used to be before
the internet came along and killed off the little shops.
Most of thehe electronic shops that used to crowd both sides of this street have been displaced by game centres and animation shops. It’s also a great place to treasure hunt for old games.
Akihabara is centered around Akihabara Station, located on the JR Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, and Chuo Local lines. Take the "Akihabara Electric Town" exit. (ラジオセンター), 1-14-2 Soto-Kanda.
By subway : travel to Akihabara Station by the Hibiya line (H15), or Suehirocho Station by the Ginza line (G14).
.... the stuff that rebuilt Japan after WWII.
Akihabara ‘electric town’ is famous for tiny retailers selling radios and electronic parts at cut-rate prices under the Sobu line tracks.
It's a shade of what it used to be in the 50's & 60s but some of those "tiny hole in the wall" shops are still here, crammed together. It's worth a visit just for the historical aspect.
DIY old school with parts in open boxes and plastic containers.
Analog, digital, LEDS, knobs, jacks, resistors, capacitors, etc etc... the way it used to be before
the internet came along and killed off the little shops.
Most of thehe electronic shops that used to crowd both sides of this street have been displaced by game centres and animation shops. It’s also a great place to treasure hunt for old games.
Akihabara is centered around Akihabara Station, located on the JR Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, and Chuo Local lines. Take the "Akihabara Electric Town" exit. (ラジオセンター), 1-14-2 Soto-Kanda.
By subway : travel to Akihabara Station by the Hibiya line (H15), or Suehirocho Station by the Ginza line (G14).
AKB48
For more travel pics:
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/travel-postcards-index-my-travel.html
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
NLC Phase/Flange 329 - Build Notes
These are my build notes for the Nonlinearcircuits eurorack version of the Aries 329 Phase Flange.
"Circuit is based on the Aries 329 phase/Flange, which is not the same as but shares some similarities with the Arp Quadra phaser and the Tau pipe Phaser. This version is nearly all smd and uses BCM847 matched transistors."
The old Aries brochure:
Andrew supplied this board with the matched 847s already soldered onto the PCB.
It's important to match the FETs as closely as possible. In my batch of 12 the results varied greatly.
I tested for VGSoff, Idss, VGSon in that order.
If you can get VGSoff very close and Idss in the ballpark, you should be ok.
You can see my full test results here:
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/all-about-jfets-matching-for.html
1. Vsg (off) = -2.97V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.04V
3. Vsg (off) = -2.98V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.05V
Main components are in.
Now its time for the jacks, switches & pots.
This is what the final module looks like:
Calibration is very important.
When I first turned the phaser on I was confronted with a loud continuous screech.
Adjustment of the trimpots eliminated this problem.
The main one is the 50K pot near the phase jack.
It also controls the amt of clipping at the outputs. A lot depends on the FETs chosen
Check out Andrew's NLC build notes for further info regarding calibration.
Links:
1. Muffs
2. NLC Blog
3. NLC Build notes
4. NLC Blog 2
5. Retrosynth Ads blog
6. Original aries schematics for the phase-flanger
7. Muffs - NLC 2016 modules
"Circuit is based on the Aries 329 phase/Flange, which is not the same as but shares some similarities with the Arp Quadra phaser and the Tau pipe Phaser. This version is nearly all smd and uses BCM847 matched transistors."
The old Aries brochure:
Some pics of the NLC panel & virgin PCBs
Andrew supplied this board with the matched 847s already soldered onto the PCB.
Some NLC words of wisdom.
Eat your Makeup is a short film by filmmaker John Waters starring Divine, Mary Vivian Pearce, David Lochary, and Maelcum Soul. (1968)
First solder the ICs.
Install the rest of the SMDs
It's time for the JFETs
JFETs can be either N or P channel.
The BOM specifies either a J108 or J 112. Both are N-channel.
The module needs two of these matched FETs.
G= gate, S= source, D= drain.
A voltage at the gate controls the channel resistance (between the S & D).
Andrew reckons that you do not need to match them to 1μV. Just buy a
batch of at least 10 or so and find the 2 closest to each other. Maybe
with in a few mV is okay. ??
I purchased a batch of J112s from Mouser and tested them using my Atlas DCA Pro.
Its a wonderful device which will make your job so much easier.
I tested for VGSoff, Idss, VGSon in that order.
If you can get VGSoff very close and Idss in the ballpark, you should be ok.
You can see my full test results here:
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/all-about-jfets-matching-for.html
There was a huge variation in results from just twelve J112s.
Maybe I'll get a batch of 20 to 30 next time to get closer matches
Today I'll go with 1 & 31. Vsg (off) = -2.97V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.04V
3. Vsg (off) = -2.98V
Idss = 0.51v
Vsg (on) = -2.05V
Main components are in.
Now its time for the jacks, switches & pots.
This is what the final module looks like:
Calibration is very important.
When I first turned the phaser on I was confronted with a loud continuous screech.
Adjustment of the trimpots eliminated this problem.
The main one is the 50K pot near the phase jack.
It also controls the amt of clipping at the outputs. A lot depends on the FETs chosen
Check out Andrew's NLC build notes for further info regarding calibration.
Links:
1. Muffs
2. NLC Blog
3. NLC Build notes
4. NLC Blog 2
5. Retrosynth Ads blog
6. Original aries schematics for the phase-flanger
7. Muffs - NLC 2016 modules
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