Wednesday, 5 August 2015

Cuba - Manaca Iznaga estate - Sugar & Slaves

Manaca Iznaga Estate is today part of a UNESCO world heritage region called Valley de los Ingenios or Valley of the Sugar Mills.

It's part of a series of three interconnected valleys (San Luis, Santa Rosa, and Meyer ) about 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) outside of Trinidad, Cuba. Sugar was the most important industry in Cuba from the late 18th century until the late 19th century.
At it's peak there were over 30,000 slaves working on these plantations.

"To prevent the sugar from spoiling, rapid transport was necessary, and to this end a special railway line was laid down through the valley in the late 1880s, connecting the Valle de los Ingenios with Trinidad and the port at Casilda, 6 km (4 mi) from Trinidad, on the coast." (Wikipedia).

The "Iznaga Tower"

The "Iznaga Tower" was built in 1816 by the estate owner, Alejo Maria Iznaga y Borrell.
It's in a rather poor state, but we still managed to make the climb up to the top.

 These wooden stairs are 199 years old.

A view of the homestead from the tower's summit.


This bell used to be hung at the top of the tower. It was rung at the start & the end of the work day as well as the times for prayers or when the slaves escaped. It must have been a desperate existence for the slaves. I can't possibly imagine the suffering they must have endured.


Part of the sugar mill

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Tuesday, 4 August 2015

EML 300 - 301 Manual Controller

I received a email recently requesting more info & pics about the EML 300.


This is a very unusual controller. It was manufactured in the early 70s by Electronic Music Labs of Vernon, Connecticut. Made in limited quantities, it was designed to compliment the EML 200 & 400.

The Voltage Generator section is quite interesting esp considering when it was produced. It's a matrix of 16 dials that are used to program voltages. It's not a sequencer although it looks like one. I wonder if this design was the seed for the vast number of matrix sequencers we today have at our disposal.

The telephone type keyboard is really just a collection of 16 keys that trigger the corresponding voltage on the dials. The actual numbers don't correspond to anything (as far as I can tell). Maybe this was a surplus telephone touchpad ???



The VCO has 2 ranges: Audio (HI) & SubAudio (LO) with a continuously variable wave shape which shifts from triangle to square & saw.
To the left is a frequency modulation input (labelled vibrato).

The VCA section to the right of the VCO  is a simple DC (Direct Coupled) coupled affair.
It's prewired to the AD envelope generator (below) but can be modulated with more complex EG's like those found on the EML 400/4001 & EML 200.
Of course external audio (other than the built in VCO) can be patched in too.

The Sample & Hold can be triggered from the LFO or the Matrix Keyboard.
The LFO is a triangle wave.

The final section of the EML 301 is the joystick. - a simple +/- volatge on both X & Y axis.

The EML 300 controller is extremely rare. I'm not sure how many were manufactured & I haven't seen another example of one. However, there is a Brazilian company (EMW) making very similar controllers inspired by this design.
http://www.electronicmusicworks.com/synthesizers/emw-300.html

The EMW (Electronic Music Works) 300 is quite authentic. Up until the time when I finally found a EML 300 I used the EMW version successfully with my EML 200.

The matrix is now a 16 step sequencer.
And as with the vintage EML 300 each rotary knob adjusts a voltage that appears on the Voltage outputs when you press the corresponding key.

The joystick of the EML has been however replaced with a what EMW call a manual switch module.
It's basically a router with a 5V pulse out - useful for transposing pitches.


Sunday, 2 August 2015

Arturia Beatstep Pro sequencing a SH101 & D-1000

What a handy sequencer this puppy is.
The Beatstep Pro claims to be able to sequence almost everything. ... & I think Arturia might be onto something.
The Metasonix D-1000 drum isn't the easiest machine to sequence but the Beatstep Pro
handled it quite well. The D1000 is very very dirty sounding. and there are only 4 sounds:
Drum 1, 2, Snare & Cym. ..... they sound nothing like what the names suggest.

Sequencer 2 is controlling the Roland SH-101 .... one classic synth from the '80s.

The SH101 is receiving CV & Gate from the Beatstep.

Saturday, 1 August 2015

ARP 2500 sales brochure from 1971.

I came across an old ARP sales brochure from 1971.
The prices back then seemed so reasonable. :-)

$5927 for a complete system comprising 7 modules, a 3001 three voice keyboard & 2002 cabinet.
Awesome !!!!
However, after factoring in a annual inflation rate of: 4.15% (that's a total  inflation: of 522.84% over 14 years) the price comes to $34,968.10 in 2015. - That put's things into perspective

http://www.dollartimes.com/inflation/inflation.php?amount=1&year=1970



Wednesday, 29 July 2015

NLC - Buchla Style - Low Pass Gate (LPG) Build notes.

These are the build notes for the NLC (NonLinearCircuits) version of one of the classic filters of all time: the Buchla 292.
The 292 configuration consisted of 4 filters with CV control & a 3 pole toggle switch for each filter.
The  toggle switch allowed you to alternate between 3 modes: LowPass, Combination & Gate.
Gate is Buchla's name for a VCA.

Buchla still produce this filter in two forms: The 292h & the 292e (which goes by the grand title of  "Quad Dynamics Manager").

The 292e is the centre module. Notice that the toggle switches have been replaced with buttons.
 It has also gained velocity control & preset storage but is mostly the same as the earlier 292.

Here are some pics of the virgin NonLinearCircuit PCB & panel:

Andrew's build notes are here:
http://www.sdiy.org/pinky/data/WAMOD4%20lpg.pdf

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Useful Links:
1. CGS - Ken Stone's LPG
2. Buchla Tech - Verbos's excellent blog - 292c Secrets with schematics
3. Synth.NL.Blog - 292 5U build notes
4. Modular Synthesis - Build notes for Thomas White's LPG clone.
5. Doepfer A-101-2 LPG filter
6. Natural Rhythm Music - Thomas White 

The LPF filter design is a variation of the Sallen Key. Ever since professors R.P. Sallen and E.L. Key described it in 1955, the Sallen-Key low-pass filter has become one of the most widely used filters in electronic systems.
It's another form of what is known as a voltage-controlled voltage-source (VCVS) filter used to
implement a 2-pole (12 dB/octave) response.

Most VCVS use unity-gain operational amplifiers where the output voltage is the same as the input voltage.... At first glance this seems useless but the advantage is that they don't take current from the input source.
The input & output sides are in effect isolated.

The controlling element for frequency (in LP mode) and amplitude (in VCA mode) is the vactrol.
Basically a LED & photoresistor packaged in a light tight box. I reckon this is a really neat way to get voltage control over a variable resistor.

Andrew suggests experimenting with different types of vactrols. He has been using Silonex with good results. The NLC PCB is designed for a dual vactrol. Some of my earlier Buchla builds (eg the 208) use dual vactrols like the VTL5C3/2, and I have a few spare. So I'll probably use these first. Dual vactrols are actually two photo-resistors and a LED in the one package ....which is perfect as they sit in where R1 & R2 go. I might later experiment by using two single vactrols or even make my own vactrols if I feel like the challenge. There are lots of ways to tinker with this beautiful circuit.

Install IC headers & the Euro power connector first.
Then resistors & caps.
These 2 resistors (marked with and asterix) can be altered to suit your taste.
The caps marked 472 & 221 are 4.7nF & 220pF respectively..
I think MCCs (monolithic ceramic caps) are fine, others might insist on polys.

The 33k can be varied up to 51K .... It sets the Cv level.
I left it at 33k.
The 10K sets the gain of the output signal.

The switch must be mounted as close as possible to the PCB & watch the orientation (it's up/down, not left/right).


Sounds quite good ..esp the LP filter.
I reckon varying the CV level resistor is a good idea. The frequency pot is very responsive at the upper levels (8-10) , but volume drops away quite quickly below this.
I experimented with audio(log) vs linear pots and think a log frequency pot sounds better. (just my humble opinion).
I'll probably change that resistor to 51k.


It's done for now.


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Sunday, 26 July 2015

Scanimate Matrix Switch Panels

I am lucky today to have finally received two remnants of the venerable Scanimate machine.
It's part of a early analog computer that was used in animation.
From what I've read, there were only 8 made.

The Scanimate was invented by Lee Harrison III, founder of Computer Image, in Denver, Colorado in 1969. This system was used to help create the Scanimate Films, in combination with Jim Henson's puppeteering.

I understand that these cane from two that were housed at Image West in Hollywood

This is a big part of animation history.
Scanimates were used extensively on TV & film in the 70's & 80's. If you ever saw Sesame St, Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, or The Electric Company, then you saw Scanimates in action.

I don't have the whole machine. Apparently this was destroyed and only some parts were saved from "a container" on it's way to China.

But what is left are two gems.

Each case has a 8 panel patch matrix with 19 potentiometers.
The patch matrix is the same type used by ARP for the 2500 synthesizer.
Which is the original reason I bought this.
The Cherry Sliders switches are extremely hard to find.

The "Commutator" & "Axis" refer to this section of the Scanimate.
Final position, Initial position & size - refer to fig 6, above


"The Animation Aid Panel from the Scanimate. It appears to connect to the cherry switches. Notice the Patch Panel 122, a potentiometer section 123 and an oscillator control section 124.

The oscillator control section 124 includes two high frequency oscillators, numbers one and two, and three low frequency oscillators, numbers three through five. The two high frequency oscillators, approximately 90 KHz, are provided for raster bending. High frequency oscillator number one has a frequency adjustment potentiometer 125 and an amplitude adjustment potentiometer 126 for defining those parameters of the wave form. This oscillator can be phase locked." (US Patient doc)


     Links
1. Wickipedia
2.  Dave Seg's excellent Scanimate site
3.  Scanimate - Facebook Page
4.  Create Digital Motion
5.  AudioVisalizers
6.  Nick Campbell
7.  Scanimate.com
8. US Patient documents.

Saturday, 25 July 2015

Where to find components for your projects - Shopping Carts

One of the most tedious tasks when module building is sourcing components.
Months later you've forgotten where you bought that SMD resistor, or the 9mm PCB mounted pot.
So to keep frustration levels as low as possible, here is a list of where to begin the search.

I'll try to keep this page updated with manufacturer links.
Please contact me if you have some better sources.
Cheers, happy hunting,
Jono

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Resistors
SMD (Mouser)
SMD chip (Tayda)
Through Hole (Mouser)
1/4W carbon through hole (Tayda)
General fixed value -- SMD & Through hole (Element14)

Capacitors
Ceramic Disc (Mouser)
Ceramic Disc (Tayda)
Film (Mouser) 
Polyester Mylar Film (Tayda)
Tantalum  (Mouser) 
Electrolytic (Mouser)
Electrolytic (Tayda)
Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors MLCC - SMD/SMT (Mouser)
SMD ceramic chip (Tayda)
General Caps (Element14)

Capacitor Conversion Chart

Potentiometers
General (Mouser)
General (Tayda)
Sliders (great for your ARP 2600, etc)- (Mouser)
Trimmers - SMD - (Mouser)
Trimmer - Through Hole  (Mouser)
Linear Through Hole (Tayda)
Log Through Hole (Tayda)
General Pots (Element14)
General pots (Mammoth)

Semi-Conductors
Op-Amps (Mouser)
Op-Amps (Tayda)
IC (general)  (Mouser)
IC - CMOS 4000 Series (Tadya)
Diodes, Rectifiers, etc (Mouser)
Diodes - Standard (Tayda)
Diodes - Zener (Tayda)
Transistors (Mouser)
Tramsistors - General (Tayda)
Tramsistors - 2N series (Tayda)
Tramsistors - BC series (Tayda)
LEDs - Standard - Through hole. (Mouser)
LEDs (Tayda)

Lamps (incandesent lamps)
General - (Element14)

Phone connectors / Jacks
General  (Mouser)  
Buchla Tiny Jacks (Mouser)
3.5mm plugs & jacks (Tayda)
6.35mm - 1/4" plugs & jacks (Tayda)
Banana Jacks for your Serge & Buchla - Cinch & Pomona (Mouser)

Power connectors:  Buchla EDAC 587-306-50-010 (Mouser)  
Power Supplies: Linear (Mouser) 
DC power sockets & jacks (Tayda)
DC/DC converters (isolated) (Mouser)

Switches
Toggle (Mouser)
Toggle (Tayda)
Slide (Mouser)
Slide  (Tayda)
Rotary (Mouser)  
Push Button (Mouser)  
DIP (Mouser)
*** SPST, SPDT, DPDT switches demistified *****

Inductors
General (Tayda)
General - Fixed. (Mouser)

Knobs - General (Tayda)

Headers
General Pin (Tayda)
General (Mouser)

General links 

These companies should have most of what you'll ever need. 
And there is always Ebay. 

Mouser
Tayda
SmallBear
Thonk
Element14 (free postage over $45 AUD)
RS-Online
Bitsbox
Mammoth

+List of integrated circuit dimensions
+Surface Mount Nomenclature & Packaging.
+SOT (Small Outline Transistor dimensions)
+Voltage divider, LED resistor calculator 


Tuesday, 21 July 2015

NLC Neuron & Difference Rectifer - build notes

The NonLinearCircuits Neuron module is facinating and unlike any module I have come across
so far in modular synthesizers. It's not a chaos module but instead acts like a neuron which is the
core component of the brain, spinal cord & CNS.

The features that define a neuron are electrical excitability and the presence of synapses
that transmit signals to other cells. Of course the brain is made up of trillions of tiny neurons
and this module represents just one.


The NLC Neuron can be fed up to 3 inputs (eg LFO, sequencer or EG signals). It's output
can be fed to a filter or VCO  (to control pitch on the oscillator, or cutoff on a VCF) or
to more neurons for some really crazy fun.


Andrew has put up a few useful links:
1. The Neuron Panel (4U Serge format)
2. Difference Rectifier / Neuron build doc.10 Jan 2013
3. Two Neurons build doc. 8 Jan 2012
4. Difference Rectifier Data, schematics, video, etc 
5. WAMOD build notes

Muffs has a great thread too:
https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45741&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 

Schematic Source : NonLinearCircuits

Here are some pics of the virgin PCBs & face plate.
The panel is for the Eurorack version of this module. So is the PCB on the left. All pots and jacks are mounted onto this PCB. It uses two TL 072 Op Amps



The PCB on the right requites extra wiring to the jacks so is probably better suited for other formats like 4U.
It uses one TL 074 IC



I'll just be doing the Eurorack module for now, so the following pics are for Euro only.
Headers first:
Resistors, diodes next
Caps, then ICs:

Time for the 100k Linear pots (100B)

We now need ten 3.5mm jacks:
Line the up thus

Attach the faceplate & screw the jacks into place before soldering the jacks to the PCB.

After the jacks are soldered connect the grounds with scrap wire offcuts.


You're Done.


The Difference Rectifier:
There is a +ve & -ve output.


The output is the difference between the voltages of the two input signals, this difference is then split into iits positive and negative components. "what does it all mean? A one op amp, 8 resistor and 2 diodes circuit that churns out weirdness". The schematic and formula are here - http://www.sdiy.org/pinky/data/dif.html
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