Wednesday, 5 June 2019

New Sound Waves - Live EMS Synthi Performance - Papz

Saturday June 1, 2019


Some pics and a video of a  the
EMS Synthi performance of  Constantin Papageorgiadis


Constantin is well known for his expertise in all things EMS.
His website is Portabellabz, 




Monday, 3 June 2019

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
+ Metromodular Youtube
+ Metromodular website   

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

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My Metromodular Index Page
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266e notes

This page is mostly about the buchla 266e SOU or source of incertainity.
It's part of the 200e system that came out in about 2004/5.
It's based on the earlier 266 & 265. These are certainity among Don's iconic modules.
Along with the 281 & 292. I think all buchla systems need at least these 3 modules. 
On the surface the 266e looks simple. Just some noise and 3 flavors or random.
However, if you explore you will be amply rewarded.

There are 4 sections:
1. Noise
2. Fluctuating Random Voltages
3. Quantized Random Voltages 
4. Stored Random Voltages

1. Noise:
 We have 3 flavours: Normal, high pass and low pass filtered.

 
-3 db/octave (brown)
Flat (pink)
+3 db/octave (white)


2. Fluctuating Random Voltages.
This section provides two (channel A & B) continuously changing, unquantized,low speed random voltages.

 
We have 2 inputs and 2 outputs
The black banana inputs are for voltage control of bandwidth (ie: speed at which these voltages change).
These changes range between 0.05Hz to 50Hz.
The range of random available is huge : "barely perceptible movement to rapid fluctuation.".

3. Quantized Random Voltages (QRV).
Here we have two independent quantized random voltages (channels C & D) that share some parameters (no. of states & their distribution). 

The random voltages change upon receiving pulses so you can trigger them on time
and control their distribution over a curve.
In the 200e series, trigger pulses are +10V. 
The knob sets the number of random states: between 2 to 24.
There is also a CV input for this parameter. It can be found in the Stored Random Voltages section
Their distribution (curve) is set with the grey switch. This is a statistical distribution of randomness.
A flat distribution means that all states are equally likely, so extreme voltages are just as likely as small ones. The 'bell' curve concentrates voltages in the centre, resulting in a 'tighter' sounding range. 

4. Stored Random Voltages (SRV).
In this section, voltages are not quantized.

The module must be triggered with a +10V pulse. The random voltages will change upon receiving more pulses. The orange bananas are for pulse inputs

The black bananas are CV inputs.
Skew biases the randomness toward one extreme or the other.
Number  sets the number of random states: between 2 to 24.
This is linked to the above  "Quantized Random Voltages" section.
Degree varies the amount of randomness.
Chaos alters the distribution from just a little uncertain (narrow band) to total chaos (wide band). 

If all controls are in their zero position, you can realize classic S/H with a signal patched into the Skew CV input & trigger pulses into the orange bananas.

A very detailed description of the functions of the random voltages and their application can be found in Allen Strange's excellent book "Electronic music - systems, techniques and controls" from page 82

It's interesting to see how the source of uncertainity developed and evolved.
From the humble 165 to the mighty 266e.


EMS 256 Sequencer

Who doesn't like seeing nixies



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The EMS 256 sequencer

"Everything sounds better with a Nixie readout" 
(Gwaidan)

EMS Index

This is the index for all EMS stuff

Synthi AKS
+ Papz Repair
+ Papz - NSWaves
+ Synthi AKS performance (Papz) - New Sound Waves 
+ The Envelope Generator 
+ The Battle Patch 
+ Tweaking the filter 
+ Synthi meets Arturia Beatstep 
+ Synthi patch with Justin

Synthi AKS Manual

Synthi E
 
Synthi 100
+ Synthi 100 Live Melbourne Australia


VCS3


Racks
+ Pitch to Voltage converter

256 sequencer
+ Nixie readout 



Synthi patches with Justin

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Patch 2


The old malpin used a very similar matrix to the synthi






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Patch 3


Patch 4




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EMS Synthi Repair pics

 Some pics of the restoration of a Synthi AKS

 ....

I had the pleasure of meeting Constantin Papageorgiadis on holidays from Belgium.
Also known affectionately as Papz. His website is Portabellabz


My synthi has some rather unusual mods which was was trying to identify

 The KS - Keyboard Sequencer.
It's in better condition than I expected, though the keybed is rather worn.






These are old caps and trimmer pots. The Synthi is an ex-NIN synthesizer.
My friends want me to try these on ebay. ... :-)
Maybe

Constantin also knows quite a bit about the Buchla 208
I was lucky to have him look at one of mine.

Testing the VCS3 card for the 208