Showing posts with label NonLinear Circuits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NonLinear Circuits. Show all posts

Friday, 12 June 2015

ARP 2500 & NLC

Wow - Andrew F of Nonlinear Circuits is restoring this baby.

It's another ARP2500. There are now three of these babies in Australia (as far as I know).
These pics were taken in Japan.

Here is the link to his blog about its restoration.
http://arp2500.blogspot.com.au/
Have fun Andrew.

Some close ups:
 The modules from left to right are:
1023  x 2 - Dual Voltage Controlled Oscillator
1004-T - Voltage Controlled Oscillator
1047 - Multimode Filter/Resonator
1006 x 2 - Filtamp
1046 - Quad Exponential Envelope Generator
1016 - Dual Noise/Random Voltage Source
1045 x 2 - Voltage Controlled Voice
1036 - Dual Sample & Hold/Random Voltage Generator.
1027 - Ten-Position Sequencer
1050 - Mix/Sequencer
1002 - Power Supply.

Notice the ribbon controller...It's a Moog 1150.

Side cabinet 1.
The modules are (from left to right):
1023 - Dual Voltage Controlled Oscillator.
      (It has had 2 switches and 2 pots added to the panel.
       Neither of the switches were wired to anything.)
      More info and pics of this module can be seen here
1006 - Filtamp
1033 - Dual Delayed Exponential Envelope Generator
1027 - Sequencer:
1050 - Mix/Sequencer
1002 - Power Supply.

Side Cabinet 2:
The modules from left to right are:
1004-T - Voltage Controlled Oscillator
1047 x 2 - Multimode Filter/Resonator
1004-P - Voltage Controlled Oscillator
1005 - Modamp
1046 - Quad Exponential Envelope Generator
1002 - PSU

The 1004 VCO comes in two varieties, the T & the P.
The 1004T is the same as the 1004P, except the P also has inverted waveforms.

This is a mystery at the moment. It's obviously a home brew 2500 addition (as if the current system wasn't already big enough). Andrew is currently working out what these modules do.
Some of the DIY modules are just a panel with no PCB behind. So the question is what to
do with the empty spaces?? Maybe add some NLC modules???

So far he has identified (from right to left):
1.  Reverb (extreme right) - the one with the big black dial.
2. Matrix mixer ??
3. DIY modules #4 - dunno - so far a mystery (3rd from the right)
4. Fixed Bandpass Filter (4th from the right)
5.  Clock (5th from the right) - this one uses numitrons -- how cool is that :-)

I love this old skool technology.
Numitron tubes are like Nixies, but instead of the ten number-shaped filaments in each Nixie, Numitrons use eight tiny incandescent filaments arranged in seven to make the number plus a decimal point. When a current is passed through the filaments you want lit up they literally light up just like a light bulb.  
Nixies use high voltages, but Numitrons generally use low volatges.

I'll update this as Andrew unravels the truth.

Finally, on it's way to Australia

Saturday, 14 March 2015

Non Linear Circuits - NLC - Index

My build notes, videos & posts for my NLC Eurorack & Serge modules are all over this blog.
They are sometimes hard to find. So I thought it would be good to put them into some sort of order.
Thus this index:

ARP 2500   

1. Introduction ARP 2500 & NLC
2. The official NLC blog covering the 2500 restoration
    The DIY modules 
         +DIY modules #1 - reverb
         + DIY modules #2 - clock 
         +DIY modules #3 - fixed bandpass filters
         +DIY modules #4 - dunno 
         +DIY modules #5 - matrix mixer?
    The 2500 modules tests & restoration   
         +1023 dual VCO 
         +1006 Filt/Amp 
         +1027 sequencer 
         +tanties be gone! 
         +1033 Dual Envelope Generator 
         +Mix sequencer module 1050 
         +Side cab power supply 
         +Waveforms from the 1004-T oscillator 
         +Signals from the 1036 S&H/random voltage 
         +1047 Multimode filter 
         +1016 dual noise / random voltage generator 
         +1046 Quad EG
         +1005 Modamp
         + Power Supply

4U Format - Serge/Buchla.
1.  NonLinearCircuits - panel 7 & 8 installation (Vox & Drum)
2.  A visit to Non Linear Circuits - Perth, Western Australia
3.  Harmonic Oscillator (262v) & NLC 4x4 Binary Logic
4.  NonLinearCircuits 6 panel portable case
5.  The Boolean Serge
6.  NonLinearCircuits 8-Bit cipher
7.  NLC Sequencer 1 & Buchla 262v - Verbos Harmonic Generator. 
8.  Non Linear Circuits meets Buchla
9.  Cellular Automata & Music
10. The Warren Burt Serge/Driscoll Synthesizer
11. The NonLinearCircuits Synth Project
12. Power (PSU)
13. NLC Binbudda 1 & 3 sequencers with Kilpatrick Phenol
14. Kilpatrick Phenol & NLC Divine CMOS
15. The αρπ Filter (alpha-rho-pi) with a kilpatrick Phenol
16. Dual Drum - NLC - Build notes
17. Buchla 265 - Sauce of Unce

3U Format - Eurorack.

4.  Jerkoff Chaos module - Build notes
5.  Neuron & Difference Rectifier - Build notes
6.  Low Pass Gate - Filter/VCA - Buchla Style - Build Notes
7.  ADSR 312 (Aires inspired Envelope Generator) - Build Notes
8.  4SEQ - Sequencer build notes
9.  Timbre (Buchla inspired wavefolder) - Build Notes
10. DP Filter - (Opto-isolator ladder design) - Build notes
11. 4SEQ -Piston Honda & VC303 - video & notes
12. Bools - slew - quad logic - build notes
14. Vactrol PiLL - Build notes
15. Hyper Wein Chaos - Build notes
16. The CellF Project - Human Neurons + Synth
17. Delay no more - Build notes
18. Two LFOs - Build notes
19. Collude - envelope follower and very very high gain amplifier (from 2x to 20x) 
      - Build notes
20. 1050 sequencer - Muff notes
28. Doof Drum - Build notes
29. BaDum Tiss Drum - Build notes
30. Squid Axon - 4 stage analog shift register - Build notes
32. 1050 Mixer Sequencer - Build notes
33. Cluster Matrix Mixer - Build notes
34. Multiband distortion - build notes
35. PSU - NLC large board - build notes
36. PSU - NLC small board - build notes
38. Plague of Demons - thru zero VCO - build notes
39. Router - like the Serge bi-directional router - build notes
40. 8-bit cipher - Buchla SOU - random Cv & gates - build notes
41. Feague - 4 pole filter and Quadrature oscillator - build notes
42. Wagernumb -  build notes
       + Frequency Tracker + Frequency / Clock divider - down to 1/4096 + VCO
       + Random or Burst generator
43. RingPull/Ringmods/Rimples - ring modulator with a phase locked loop 
      - build notes (prototype 5)
44. Divine CMOS - CV & Audio divider & mixer -build notes
45. Giant B0N0 - noise module - build notes
46. NULL-A - mini synth - 2VCOs, 2 filters, etc - Build notes
47. Numberwang - gate generator - pattern generator - Build notes
48. Envelope Follower - build notes
49. CEM3340 VCO - build notes
50. Brain Custard - build notes (Chaotic Audio Oscillator version)
51. CellF Action - build notes
52. Sly Grogan - build notes (Envelope Generator)
53. Divide and Conquer - build notes
54. ARSEq - build notes (sequencer / envelope generator)
57. Eurorack power distroboard (with noise reduction caps)
59. Bong0 - Bongo - Drum / VCO build notes
60. Hyperchaos Deluxe - CV & gate generator
61. Resonate - Korg 3100 Resonator - build notes
62. Splosh - CV & audio mixer/generator - build notes
63. CellF Voice - build notes
64. Dual Timbre - build notes (Timbre & Timbre)
65. Statues - multiplexor/multiplexer - build notes
66. Dual LPG - build notes
67. hYPSTER - Ian Fritz' hyperchaos module - build notes
68. Mouge Mixer/VCA- build notes
69. SPASM - LDR controlled jerk chaos module - build notes
         Part 2
72. Balter - a delay -- for gates
74. GENiE - audio distortion / manglier / effects processor - build notes
75. It's 555 - resonator & drone source - version V (eurorack SMD)
77. Dispersion Delay - build notes (part 1)
         +Dual LFO/VCO - part 2
79. Mobius Pill - Build notes (PLL Chaotic VCO/filter)- part 1
            VCAs - part 2 - build notes
             Bongo Fury - Part 2 - Build
89. Big Jobs - Build notes   - chaotic signal generator PLL            
           NLC Product - build notes 2
95. Intimacy - build notes part 1
           Poultry in Motion - build part 3 (COMPLETION)
101. Frolic - NLC Build notes - part 1 
         NLC Fourier module DIY-- part 2

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For more information check out these NLC sites.
+Old (2019) NLC Blog: NonLinearCircuits 
+ New NLC Blog 2020 +
+ Facebook
+ NLC Builders Group on Facebook 
+ Youtube Channel
+ NLC Website 
+ NLC Data Page - contains BOMs & Build info

+ NLC list of modules.  - loosely sorted into primary purpose
+ NLC Wicki
+ ModularGrid
+ NLC Mouser carts 
+ GitHub - VCV Rack ports of Nonlinear Circuits modules ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

+List of integrated circuit dimensions
+Surface Mount Nomenclature & Packaging.
+SOT (Small Outline Transistor dimensions)
+Voltage divider, LED resistor calculator 
+SMD / SMT resistor code
+Desoldering tips - Belltone

Friday, 13 March 2015

Super Sloth & Chaos - NonLinearCircuits - Build notes

A nice and easy build today.
The NLC Sloth/Chaos is a really cool module to have.
I have one in Serge format but it's equally useful for my Eurorack gear.
I can best describe this as a very slow LFO. Cycles can last between 15 secs
& 15 minutes. Andrew has two versions.: Slow or Super Slow. I'll probably
build both, but this page will be for the Super Slow Version.

Three-toed-sloth (Bradypus variegatus), Lake Gatun, Republic of Panama

Here is a link to Andrew's NLC website where you can purchase these Sloth PCBs.
His main website is here.
And his blog.
Muffs Thread.
The Build notes & BOM for the Sloth are here.
2nd muffs thread.

First some pics of the virgin panel & PCB:

.IC and Power headers first:

Resistors & Caps next.

The components for the Sloth & Super Sloth are different. 
For the Super-Sloth version, C3, C4 & C5 must be bipolar/non-polarized 10uF capacitors. 
For the standard Sloth these can be regular 1uF(not-electrolytic)(4.5mm spacing) caps.

The LED is also not your standard one. It's a 2 pin bipolar to show positive & negative voltages.

The two huge caps used are C1 & C2 - 1000uF electrolytic (polarized) / 35V
The 3 smaller caps are for C3,C4 & C5. They are 10uF/50V - NonPolarized.


LED next
The LED must be a two pin bipolar type to show positive and negative going voltage.
It's one colour when the voltage is +ve & another when in the -ve zone.


The final piece is to pick the LED resistor. It's marked RL on the PCB. Andrew suggests values in the range 330R to 10K

The 330R seemed too bright for my LED and 10k too dim.
Experimenting with a few different values of the LED resistor.
I finally went with a 1K resistor.

The LED is a 2 pin bipolar. It will change colour to show positive & negative voltages.

------------------
I was really amazed how the sloth does go to sleep.
At times it is inactive or an hour and you can be forgiven for thinking its not working.
Then suddenly things happen.

So decided to build a standard Sloth today.
This uses 100uf caps for c1 & c2
 The LED resistor is 560 ohms.
 C3,C4 & C5 are  regular1uf non electrolytic.(You can prob try using surface mount here).
 C6 & C7 are surface mount.10uF (16V)

Works a treat :-)

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Click here to return to the NLC Build Index:
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/non-linear-circuits-ncl-index.html

Wednesday, 11 March 2015

NonLinear Circuits - Dual OTA VCO - Build notes.

I was listening to a friend's NLC VCO the other day.
I loved it so much that I have decided to record the build of one.
What makes this particular  VCO so special is that it uses a slightly
different type of operational amplifier.
It's called a OTA or Operational transconductance amplifier.
Here is Andrew's blog relating to this VCO 
And his build notes & BOM.
This build is for the Eurorack version of the module.

 What the OTA  shares with your common Op-Amp is:
1. a single output.
2. They both have inverting & non-inverting inputs.
3. They both have power lines (V+ & V-)

What makes the OTA different is that it has 2 extra inputs (Ibias & Iabc)
and it's output is a current not a voltage.
So, to put it another way, a OTA is a voltage to current amplifier.

The OTA used in this module is a LM13700
"The  LM13700 consists of 2 current controlled OTAs each with differential inputs.
Linearizing diodes are provided at the inputs to reduce distortion."

There are loads of circuits that use the LM13700 in VCO, filters, Amps.
Here is the classic Triangular/Square Wave VCO:

Back to the NLC build. First instal all headers.

Resistors first.


Caps then Trannies.
There are two BC 547s & 557s which need to be in thermal contact.

Two 1K tempco resistors go over the transistor pairs. These are on back order along with the 20k trimpots, etc.
-------------------------------------------------
23/06/2015
Finally resuming the build.
Instal the 20k trimpots and the tyco/Tempco resistors.

The Tycos & trannies need to be hugging one another.:-) Nice & tight.

My panel is only partly drilled.
So I'll install the two fine pots on the top first & the bottom jacks.
Make sure everything lines up.


Next the rest of the pots. By the way, they are all 100k linear (100K B).
The orientation of the jacks is different between bottom & top rows.
The bottom row of jacks have their ground tabs pointing downwards, 
the top row have their ground tabs pointing upwards. 
 
 
 You should be able to see the round holes on the pcb where you can solder a 
bit of wire (offcut lead) from the ground tab of the jack to the pcb


Right, we are almost there.
ICs & power cable in.


Looks & sounds great!



Extra Links relating to OTAs in Modulat Synths:
1. ElectroMusic.com
2. MuffWiggler
3.  A OTA based VCF - Scott Stites
4.  Youtube
5.  DIY stompboxes
6. DIY stompboxes 2

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Click here to return to the NLC Build Index:
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/non-linear-circuits-ncl-index.html

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

TKB build (The Human comparator kit) - Build Part 2

TKB build (The Human comparator kit) - Build Part 2 

***Click here for the Index of the TKB Build ***

I though that before I start building the Human Comparator's TKB kit it would be fun to see what a vintage TKB looks like. I just happen to have one.
This was built by my friend Warren Burt in the late 70's / Early 80's.
And it still works.


The first TKBs also appeared in kit form.
Here are the build instructions care of Ken Stone:
http://www.serge.synth.net/documents/kit/tkb.html

The particular TKB was restored in 2013 by Andrew F of Non-Linear Circuits.



 





OK, now it's time to begin my own build of this Serge classic 
J
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***TKB - Build Index ***
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