Wednesday, 8 November 2017

Moog Mother Drums

A great little synth. Versatile.
Trying to use it as a drum .,... a bit lofi. I can see why more than one would be very handy.

A post shared by jono (@dj_jondent) on

I'm using the CVs from the Kb output to modulate the mix between VCO and noise .
The lower the CV's octave the deeper the sounding is the note.
Higher octaves trigger more noise and brighter sounds.

The ARP 2500 clocks the Moog mother 32 perfectly.

A post shared by jono (@dj_jondent) on

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

Greyscale Algorythm - Firmware 2

This module is a 1 to 8 channel step sequencer.
It can be a 1x64 step, 2x 32 step, 4x16 step or a 8x8 step sequencer.
 
The new firmware is a bit tricky to decipher initially.

There are 3 global menus
(access these menus by holding the Start/Stop button for about 450ms.)
 
1. OVERVIEW MENU (Loop/End switch)
2. MODE RESPONSE MENU (Seq/Rand switch)
3. CHAINING MENU (Gate/Trig switch)
 
Tap any of the right top white LED switches (excluding the left most Start/Stop LED switch) to change to a different menu.


 
---------------------
 
1.OVERVIEW MENU (Loop/End switch)
 The Overview menu always appears when the module is powered on.
It displays what's happening with each of the 8 channels.
 
The 1-8 LEDs flash brightly when an output voltage is high, and glow dimly when an output voltage is low. 
 
You can also mute channels from the Overview by tapping the specific channel button really quickly (just a light tap). 
 
Holding the button down for longer will allow you to see what steps are on/off for that specific channel.
To return to the Global view/menu, hold down the "Start/Stop" button.
 


 
Muted channel LEDs still flash (albeit less brightly) during playback so that you can keep track of what muted channels are doing before un-muting them. Mutes are applied on a per-segment basis, meaning that you can mute any segment within a chain while the other segments continue to play.
 
 
2.MODE RESPONSE MENU (Seq/Rand switch)
controls whether or not a channel will respond to a pulse at the Mode input jack,
 


 
3. CHAINING MENU (Gate/Trig switch).
( Switches 2, 4, and 7 have no function in this menu.)
 
Tap switch 1 for a 1x64 chain, where each of the 8 segments play in series. 

 
Tap switch 5 for a 2x32 chain.   (Switch 1 & 5 are lit)
 

 
Tap switch 3 for a 4x16 chain (switches 1,3,5,7 are lit)
 

 

tap switch 8 for an 8x8 setup, where each channel is independent (chaining is off). 

 

 
All the 8 LEDs are now lit.
 
 
Pattern Editing
You can change between channels/segments at any time, from any menu, by holding down one of the 1-8 switches for 450ms.  
you will then enter the editing mode and see the LEDs light up sequentially.
video 6
 

 

To return to the global view hold the Start/Stop button for about 450ms.

Links
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more Euro DIY builds click here:
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2017/12/diy-index.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Thursday, 2 November 2017

EHX Black Russian Big Muff

I think this Electro-harmonic Big Muff dates from around 2004.
Power was from a 9V battery only. A red LED light shows when the circuit is on.
Note the  “chicken head” style knobs 
.....and the lack of an AC power adaptor jack. 
Notice also that there are only 4 screws .. therefore it's most likely a second edition V8.
The 1st edition had 6 screws.
 
 Versions 7-8 only run on 9V DC power. The V8 was the last Big Muff ever made in Russia.
For some first editions and all second edition V8s,  the words "MADE IN RUSSIA" on the back panel was moved under the input jack.


 The resistors all look to be metal film.


The V8's used 547C transistors, and all second editions had a true bypass switch, which this has.










Links:
+KitRae
+ mods to Russian Big Muffs
 

Monday, 30 October 2017

MXR Stereo Chorus - M205

 The MXR dates from around 1983. Its very heavy.

 It's a great sounding pedal

The era of BBD based delays & chorus appears to have just been very short . Between 1976 and 1983 ?
So this comes from the very end. It appears that pedal companies all released digital  based delays in the 1980s killing the demand for the BBDs.

Uses a Reticon SAD4096.... super long delays.
 The SAD4096 is super rare. It's a general purpose 4096 bucket (2048-sample) n-channel BBD. It's useful where a long delay is required. (2ms to 250msec). The delay is controlled by the clock frequency.

The RC4558 is a texas Instruments General purpose dual Op amp.
The MCI458p is also an op amp
The SCL4013 is of course a CMOS logic chip. Dual flop flop.
The CD4013 provides an excellent clock source with their Q and -Q outputs.

Saturday, 28 October 2017

The Clifford Pier - Singapore

Located at the first floor of The Fullerton Hotel Singapore this beautiful and historic building is well worth a visit.
Built in 1933, it was a landing point for immigrants and a ferry terminal to the southern Islands like Kusu & St. Johns. It was the melting pot for the interaction of different races and cultures.

In the early days, the car park surrounding the entrance was transformed into a hawker centre. It was the meeting point for musicians, night owls, and lovebirds. Today it's still a meeting place but it's been transformed into a something very stylish.





 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click here for more travel postcards

Thursday, 26 October 2017

They'd Rather Be Right - The Forever Machine by Mark Clifton & Frank Riley

 
"Crazy Joey" and "Hide! Hide! Witch!" by Mark Clifton & Alex Apostolides. 
 

"The only way to have immortality is to free yourself of your convictions".
This is the central theme of the novel. 
It's a good idea, however I felt this wasn't convincingly argued. 
The book puts forward the notion that inflexibility in knowing you're right is the only reason you're growing old. 
 
 
I've always felt that being able to put yourself in someone elses shoes is a good way to be.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Forever Machine is a classic example of 1950's sci fi. ... I don't think its a bad novel. Sure its a bit long and at times ...you think they could have got rid of 20%  but the idea is interesting.


 The main character,



--------------------------------------------

sci Fi Index

----------------------------------------------

MXR Time delay

Picked this up on Ebay.
I am addicted to Reticon bucket brigade chips. So couldn't pass this one up.

Heavy, and built like a tank.
This one dates from around 1981 to 83.
M206/Series 2000
Serial No. 206-001729


The seller described it thus:
"This is a supremely luscious vintage analog delay. Thick, decadent delay repeats you could cut with a butter knife. Forget that Panasonic/Matsushita malarkey: Reticon did it right."  Yes !!!!



Reticon SAD4096 bucket-brigade delay chip with in'n'out running through a NE571 compander. It's socketed as are the op-amps (MCI458p)


....SCL4013BE ... CMOS chip ,,, its a dual D-type flip flop

 Built with love in beautiful Rochester