MetroModular Power 202 PSU

Some build pics of the MetroModular Power 202 PSU.
It's a eurorack power supply. Model number: MM1537 v0.1

The various voltage regulator specs are

+12V 1A

-12V 1A

+ 5V 1.5A

Justin's Power 101 board combined the PSU with the distribution board. 

Eurorack Power system 101

It's a very easy build. There are a few surface mount components, but they are 0805 and 1206.

Justin may have an new version of this by the time of posting, so check his website for updates.

Mouser 894-shhd001a3b41z

Its a DC/DC converter 18-75V in. 12V out 1.3A

The next 2 regulators are 580-OKI78SR12/1W36C

 Non-Isolated DC/DC Converters 12Vout 1.0A VSIP

Input voltage 15V to 36V

 

tHE 5v converter

OKI-78SR-5/1.5-W36-c

Input voltage 7V to 36V

 

 

 

These diodes are important to help reduce voltage spikes (flyback).

Gotta love  the choke.

580-51105C

Learn more about inductors here:

 Inductors, ferric beads, noise reduction methods, etc
 

There are 2 capacitors used in this build.

A 10uf and a 22uF ... both SMD.

The caps have a very large footprint... tricky  to solder on.

Don't forget to solder the remote

I'm using this Meanwell PSU

709-gst60a24-p1J

 

It's output is 24V DC @ 2.5 A

Input Voltage VAC:

90V AC to 264V AC

Some Links
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Eurorack Format

 1. Superbooth 2018

 2. Eurorack Power system 101

 3. Eurorack Busboard MM1521A 

Metro Modular Eurorack Power system 101 - MM1527A

Metro Modular Eurorack Power system 101
Some pics of my build.
The model number: MM1527A
This is a combined Eurorack PSU with bus board.

It will supply +12V (1A), -12V (600mA) & +5V (1A)

You will need 3 of these 12V DC/DC converters
490-VXO7812-1000

When soldering these components, I found that some needed more heat than I usually use on my soldering iron. My standard temperature is 300 degrees celsius.
My guess was that the ground was acting like a heat sink.
I consulted Justin about this and he confirmed that he used planes on all the rails except the 5V .
In addition, he used 2 oz copper which doubles the thermal conductivity.

So when building one of these boards, it's probably a good idea to use temperature controlled irons.
Keep the temp around 350 to 400 degrees, but drop the temp when soldering temperature sensitive components like capacitors.

The PSU is designed to use a DC brick 17V to 20V DC
These are commonly used in laptop PSUs

Inductors

434-SMCCN100K-02

This is the 5V DC/DC converter.
Just one is needed
Mouser : 490-VXO7805-1000

For more information see their sites:

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+ mODULAR Grid

MetroModular - Buchla Format half size panels

Metro Modular of Sydney are releasing a new series of Bucha Format half size panels

View this post on Instagram

#metromodular #buchlaformat

A post shared by jono (@dj_jondent) on Aug 14, 2019 at 5:37am PDT

For more information see their sites:

+ Metromodular Facebook
+ Metromodular Youtube
+ Metromodular website  
+ mODULAR Grid

The  2102H has replaced the rotary switches with toggle switches.

Source Of Uncertainty: A Buchla Podcast 4U

Source Of Uncertainty: A Buchla Podcast 4U

Metro Modular Boethian Wheel - Model 660 - first patch experiments

I had a chance to catch up with Justin of Metro Modular on the weekend.
He explained to me a bit about the 660 module.

There are two inputs at the base ... the Banana is CV. Tiny is audio.
At the top of the module we have the outs -- also audio & CV ( The red bananas are gate outs).

In the centre we have the wheel composed of 32 LEDs.... 8 in each quarter.

The theory is that if you put in two audio sine waves that are 90 degrees apart, like say the individual pole outs on a self oscillating VCF the MM660 will generate square waves at 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, and 32x the frequency.
These are available as gate & audio outs.
They are also summed to give a arp like effect (similar to the korg Poly-61 like sawtooth/staircase ARP).

You of course don't need to use just sine waves inputs and both inputs don't need to be in phase with each other. This is where things get interesting.

I did a quick patch using a 281r,292r, 266r, a wogglebug and a CV processor.
I didn't have an audio source so we just used the CV inputs. This was interesting as the 660 became a sound generator.

I've fed the audio outs of the 660 into the 292r - low pass gate.
I'm just using the 292r as a VC mixer

So in this patch the only sounds are from the MM660.
There is no other audio source like a VCO. The MM660's LEDs are triggered using the outputs
of two channels of the 281r function generator which are in self cycling mode. I'm just playing with the 281's envelope's attack & decay.

The wogglebug and 266r are providing CVs to simply open and close the 292 VCAs

The spinning of the LEDs indicates the relationship between the two CV inputs.

Changes in their phase or shape will move the LEDs.
At LFO speed, very little audio is generated, but at higher rates we have sound.
......................


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Boethian Wheel Module - The Consolation of Philosophy

What does Greek Philosophy have in common with the Sex Pistols and modular synthesizers?
At first glance, not a lot..... but delving into the MetroModular Boethian Wheel module it's worth considering this and the "Wheel of Fortune & of Fate"

The module takes it's name from the Roman/Greek Philosopher, Boethius (c. AD 475-525) who lived under the rule of the Ostrogothic Emperor Theodoric. Though most people won't have heard of Boethius, it was through him that translations of Aristotle survived. This alone should be enough to cement his name in history, however he is mainly remembered for one book.

His life began full of luxury and prestige. Boethius held high public office, but his life suffered a sudden reversal of fortune. He was imprisoned for the crime of treason (which he didn't commit). While awaiting the trial he wrote this book: The Consolation of Philosophy.

The book explores how evil can exist in a world with God. We today, often ask ourselves how can bad things happen to good people if there is a God? Though this link to Christianity is implied in the book, no reference to Jesus or the Church is made. Boethius doesn't ask God why this bad luck has befallen him. Instead, the book is a conversation between himself and "Lady Philosophy". They discuss the fleeting nature of wealth and fame ("no man can ever truly be secure until he has been forsaken by Fortune").

She teaches that happiness comes from within, and that virtue is all that one truly has.
On human nature, Boethius says that humans are essentially good and only when they give in to “wickedness” do they “sink to the level of being an animal.”

It's a really interesting book, written by a Christian who was also a Platonist. His morality and ethics lie within the Greek/Stoic tradition. I think this may be one of the very first "self help" books... and the fact that it was written in one year (AD 523) by a man in prison makes it all the more compelling a read.

And so what do the sex pistols have to do with Boethius?
The Sex Pistols , Joy Division, New Order , etc appear in the  2002 movie
"24 Hr People"

It's basically about Factory Records.
There is a famous quote about the Wheel of Fortune from the movie:


Dr Who ;-)
Christopher Eccleston

Some Links
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+ + Philosophy index   

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Metro Modular 2196 - Dual Phase Shifter - Build notes

These are unofficial build pics and notes for the Metro Modular phase shifter.
Please check this with the official notes when they come out.

There are two inputs.
Each takes one audio signal (above 1.7Hz) and outputs two signals that are out of phase with one another.
You could use it in conjunction with a ring modulator to get some frequency shifting.
A quadrature signal would also be useful for driving the Boethian Wheel - Model 660

The module is in 4U Buchla format.

I'll be updating this as I proceed with the build.
The MM2196 goes by the name "Roselands" which is a Sydney suburb with the same postcode.

There are 2 identical PCBs for each module. So you need to double the BOM
The BOM for each board is:
(Please check this with the official notes when they come out.)

Resistors:
10R x 1
100R x2
220R x 2
680R x 2
1.5k x 2
3.57K x 18
10k x 2
15k x 1
22k x 4
68K x 1
82K x 1
100K x4
150K x 2
25K trimmers x 4

Capacitors
220pf - ceramic x 1
470pf - ceramic x 2
4n7 - polyester x 2
47n - polyester x 2
470n - polyester x 2
100uF - electro 16V x4
1uF - electro 16v x 1

Transistors
+ 11 x Mouser No: 512-BC560CTA
BJT TO-92 PNP 
+ 11 x Mouser No: 512-BC550CBU

BJT NPN

Misc
Tiny Jacks x 11

Ps where it says 3k57 for the resistors, 3k6 are fine.
Stick with 1% for resistors on most things in this build. 

470pf and 220pf are ok as C0G (single layer ceramic) or NP0 (ultrastable or temperature compensating capacitor) ceramics, make the others polyester.
The electros can be 16V

These are the trimpots I'm using.

Standard Buchla connector to the front-Only need the +15 and Q lines.

 The transistors that I'm using are:
 bc560

bc550

Way to assemble is to put one board (with power connector) on, screw it in place between the spacers, wire it up and calibrate. The three pins (SV1) behind the power connector can be used for a 3-pin header pin/socket pair that you then solder onto the next board stacked above. Screw it in, wire it up and calibrate. You’re done.

Calibration frequencies. (Left to right) use 10hz, 100hz, 1khz and 10khz sine waves.

Some Links
+ Metromodular Facebook
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+ MM2196 "Roselands" Dual Phase Shifter
+ Comparing the Buchla 196 to the 185 (phase vs frequency shifting) 
+ All about Transistors
 

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