Saturday, 5 June 2021

Happy 606 Day

 Happy 606 day to everyone.
 
 
 
I love my funky little Roland drum.
Small in stature, but big in sounds

The TR-606 Drumatrix was designed to compliment the TB 303.
Launched in 1981, it was neglected in favor of it's bigger brothers the 808 & 909.
It still sounds great, esp with the Analogue Solutions mods.

The 606 is a useful interfacing device.
In the insta video, its the master clock.
It can also be the slave, and receive DIN clock (or MIDI clock if you use a midi to din converter).

DIN sync sends 24 pulses per quarter note.
Also known as Sync24
 
This is the rear view of the DIN cable.
It looks just like a MIDI cable, but the signals it carries are different.
 
Pin 3 is the clock
Pin 2 is ground
Pin 1 is Start/stop

 The important signals are the clock & Start/stop
The clock is a pulse wave 0/+5 volt.
stop = 0 volt, start = +5 volt 

There are plenty of Midi to Din converters in the market, however conversion of
DIN to MIDI clock is more complicated.
Conversion from din to midi requires a microprocessor.  
So this might be possible using an arduino.
Currently, the only devices that can do this, that I'm aware of are:
Roland SBX10
Korg KMS30
Innerclock Systems Sync-Split2
 
The Pioneer Toraiz may also do this job, though I haven't tested this yet.
The roland TR-707s and 727s have both din and midi.  .... though its a bit weird needing to use a drum to sync a drum.
The Roland SBX-80 may be another option
 
sOME pics of the Analogue Solutions/Roland TR 606

This is it's breakout box


Friday, 4 June 2021

How I Play: Nadia Struiwigh's hardware live setup

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Korg Wavestate - editing, creating and varying wavesequences

I love my new Korg Wavestate.
I only bought it a week ago so am still getting to know it.
 

I was thing of selling my old Wavestation ??
Though I probably won't.
They each have their strengths & weaknesses.
The old wavestation can have up to 32 sound sources per note.
It's sound is just monumental.

The new wavestate (as far as I understand) is just 4 sound sources per note.
However, it has a much more flexible wave-sequencer.
This alone is I think a good enough reason for owning both.
 
The Korg WaveState uses the new Wave Sequencing 2.0 technology.
It's nothing like a conventional analog synth. 
For instance, there are no oscillators. It's all sample based.
You can't load your own samples. Instead, one makes sounds using samples from it's (huge) library.
 
A sound can consist of just 1 sample or be up to 64 samples long .
The wave-sequencer is what makes the Wavestate so special.
The way it combines multiple samples into sequences is unique. 
The old sequencer was very rigid.
The new sequencer allows users to morph and shape the parameters of each sample.
There are 7 parameters (Korg calls them lanes).
 

These lanes are Master, Pitch, Sample, Timing, Shape, Gate, step Sequencer.
 Each sample can have its own pitch, timing, envelope shape, gate, etc.
 

You can set independent step lengths & independent loop points to the 7 lanes of parameters. You can change play back directions, randomize the probability of each sample.
 
Varying these 7 parameters during a live performance is really really cool.
The 8 white MOD knobs are labeled to do exactly this (though of course they can be assigned for other duties).
 

You can use lane presets to vary your wave sequences or do the editing from scratch.
When editing each lane, you can edit individual steps or whole lanes.

If you wish to edit a particular lane, press the "Lane Preset" button.
You will see the edit page for the lane that is currently lit.
In this pic page 3 (pitch lane utility) of the Layer A, Pitch Lane pages is viewable.
 

To scroll through the different pages of Pitch Lane, use the SHIFT and PAGE +/-.
Each lane, apart from the master lane, has 3 pages. The last is always the "utility" page.
The second is the "step" page
 

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

1. Master.
When enabled, the Master Lane force-restarts all of the other Lanes 
(to step 1) after either a specified number of beats or time has elapsed. This is all dependent on the tempo.
    
Unlike the other lanes, there are no steps in this lane.
 
 
 
 
2. Timing:
This Lane controls how each step transitions or crossfades to the next Step. It also adjusts the length, speed
of each step. (Not to be confused with the gate step). 
 
If you press a specific step (in the 16 button WSEQ STEPS section), you can see the parameters for each step. 
 
 
 
The timing lane can have a completely different length to the other lanes.
To add steps for example, go to page 3 (Utility) , change to "add steps to end".

This is useful for creating rhythms or evolving sounds. The crossfade is especially useful for the latter, allowing for smooth transitions between samples.
 
3. Sample.

This Lane sets the sample played by each Step. Each step gets its own sample. 
 
If you press a specific step (in the 16 button WSEQ STEPS section), you can see the parameters for each step. 

 You can set probability of each sample in page 2
 
 
4. Pitch, 
This lane of course sets the pitch of each Step.
 
 If you press a specific step (in the 16 button WSEQ STEPS section), you can see the parameters for each step.
 
 You can set probability of each step in page 2
 
 Like the other lanes, you can have up to 64 steps, arranged in 4 banks of 16      
 
 5. Shape.
The Shape Lane creates a contour over the duration of the step. 
It can affect volume and/or the Pitch of Step Sequencer Lanes
  
If you press a specific step (in the 16 button WSEQ STEPS section), you can see the parameters for each step. 
 
 
You can see the shape of each envelope in page 2. There are lots of envelope shapes to choose. 
To choose a new envelope, go to page 2 and using the < > cursor highlight the shape name and twist the value knob.
 
 6. Gate.    

This controls how long the Step sounds, as a percentage of the duration from the Timing Lane.
 
 
 
 
 
7. Step Sequencer (Step Seq)  

This Lane generates a modulation source to control other synthesis parameters like envelopes, LFOs, etc
 
It sets a different level value on a per step basis.

 
 
If you press a specific step (in the 16 button WSEQ STEPS section), you can see the value & probability for each step.

---------------
To solo  a step for editing, press ENTER and the STEP in question.
The step button will now flash.
This is esp handy in the sample and shape lanes where you may want to play the sample over and over again.
 
 

Thursday, 3 June 2021

Korg WaveState - performance patch - jono2021c

 Some performance notes.

This uses patch 2021c
Layer A : Drums - Tabula Rasa beat
Layer B : Arpeggio - Capricorn
Layer C : Arpeggio - Auto Techno
Layer D : Pad - airdance

The bottom 4 performance MOD Knobs are set to control the AMP level (volume)
of each layer.


Roland Index

 All my Roland related links here:

Drum Machines (General)

+ Roland 100m 

Roland MKS series

Roland SH series
 
TR-606

+TB 303
       + Intro & Setting up
       + Pattern write
       + Track Write

+ TR 707 / 727 Drum
           + Roland Tr 707 - pattern play
           + Happy 707 day  
           + Happy TR-727 day
 
+ TR 8 Drum
 
+ TR 808 Drum 
           + Repairing a Roland TR-808 - Part 1 - Opening the Machine           


+ TR 909 Drum
        + Roland TR 909 Programming Tutorial - getting started
        + Roland TR 909 - How to Program
        + Roland Tr 909 - Drum Mapping & Midi triggering

+ SE-02 (Studio Electronics / Roland)
       + Filter/Amp envelope
 
+ Junos 
 
+ MX-1 Performance Mixer

+ PSU
    + BOSS PSA Psu

Misc

Wednesday, 2 June 2021

NLC Motherload for 2021

I enjoy building Nonlinear Circuit modules. 
These should keep me busy over the next year.


Lux 
Clump 
Bongo Fury 
Stooges 
Big Jobs 
Product 
LDRAMA
HELVETICA SCENARIO 
CHORAL GENERATOR 
Pills 1U 
4HP mix
BBx291 

Everything is eurorack format.


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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 
 

Roland SH-3 synthesizer

This is a early Roland SH-3 synth probably from around 1974.
 

According to Wikipedia the SH-3 used a diode filter like the EMS VCS 3.
 

The later SH-3a  uses a transistor ladder-filter and as a result can generate Moog-like sounds." The Roland SH-2000 used a similar Transistor Ladder circuit.
ARP used Moog style filters in their 2600s and Odysseys until threatened with legal action in 1976.
 
Looks like the VCO & VCF respond to voltage control.



 This is a comparison of the SH-3 vs the SH-3a
They are identical

Both these synths can do additive synthesis by mixing in up to five different waveforms.

The synths are both monophonic, having just one VCO & a noise module.
Interestingly there are two LFOs
LFO1 has a sawtooth waveform
LFO2 has a  sine & square wave with a delay slider.
The LFO's can be assigned to the VCF, VCA, or the VCO.
 
There is a Sample-and-Hold with level and sample time sliders. 

The filter is a resonant self-oscillating low-pass with frequency and resonance controls.
There were very few SH3s (estimates range from 40 up to a hundred). 
These were made before Roland changed the filter. The new version was called the SH3a. There is a lot of debate about the differences in filters between the SH3 and the SH3a
and why Roland changed the design. Some say it was due to a Moog lawsuit, though I don't think this is the case as the SH3 uses a diode lader
Maybe the engineers just didn't like the sound. 
I haven't heard a SH3a in the flesh, so can't really compare.
 
 
Interestingly, the diode filter was originally developed by EMS in order to work around a Moog patent. This diode filter is best known as the sound of the Roland TB-303.
 
Filters basically work by controlling current flow to a filter capacitor.
The diode or transistor, under the influence of a CV, controls the current flow to the capacitor.
 
The main difference between the two filters is that the Moog style, transistor filter 
design electrically isolates or buffers each pole of the filter.
The diode ladder filter however, doesn't behave this way. The poles interact electrically with each other.  This non-linear design contributes to the dirty, squelchy sound of the 303.

A excellent resource to compare filters is  Florian Anwander
 
 

Monday, 31 May 2021

Maria Island - Tasmania, Australia

 Maria Island is quite mountainous.
It's located in the Tasman Sea, off the east coast of Tasmania, Australia.
 
 The 115.5-square-kilometre island is contained within the Maria Island National Park
 
This is the jetty 
You can get here by ferry.
 
The island is a time capsule of Australia's convict past.
There are lots of old colonial buildings.

The main town was opened as a penal settlement in 1825.
 
The penal settlement was closed in 1832 and the prisoners moved to the recently established prison at Port Arthur
 
This is the Commissariat Store, Darlington.
Darlington is the only town on the island.

The island was named in 1642 by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman after Maria van Diemen (née van Aelst), wife of Anthony van Diemen, the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies in Batavia. 
 

 


The penitentiary.

These lodgings date back to the 1830s. It's where convicts slept. It gives you a chance to live how the prisoners did.
 
Each room has bunk beds & a wood-fired stove for heating and cooking.
There is no power, running water or lighting.
There are no stores and the island. You must bring your own food, water, camping gear, bikes etc. And of course take your rubbish home with you.
 
The island is so beautiful and clean.










Bishop & Clerk Walk.


At the northern end of Maria Island, you can see the twin peaks of Bishop and Clerk. These peaks resemble a bishop, wearing a mitre, being followed by a clergyman. 

You can walk to the top.

 
This walk takes you from grasslands through woodlands, forest and finally to rocky slopes before you reach the summit. Its not a difficult hike. 


 
This is the view from Bishops peak.
 






Saturday, 29 May 2021

MST MIDI to CV Converter - sYNTHROTEK - part 2

This is part two of my build of the Midi/CV converter from Synthrotek.
Part 1 is here:
 

 

The MST MiDI to CV converter has been an easy job so far.
The components are all very nicely packaged and labelled.
Documentation is great.
 
 Finishing off the resistors on the logic board.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Just watch for shorts, esp the transistor voltage regulators.
 
My mobile phone (Samsung Galaxy 9 Note) has an amazing camera. 
The resolution is superb .
I have a microscope that I used to use to look for shorts, but I just use my phone these days. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time for the control board

ATTENTION: The zener diode for the MST Midi to CV Converter MUST be the Fairchild 4.7v Zener diode. The mouser part number is 512‐1N5230B. Other 4.7v zener diodes will NOT work.




Not sure how to tell the difference between the two diodes

Luckly my phone has good magnification.
You should be able to see 41 48 printed on one of the diodes.

Resistors next
Then the Trimmer pot

USB socket & jacks first.
Once I have the panel secured to the jacks , I solder .
 
Switches next
Two of these : the push button & the toggle.
 
 Install the DIN sockets


LED last
It's bi-coloured and has 3 leads.
 
For more info about LEDs:



I usually install any ICs last.
These all go on the logic board>

tHIS first one is the PIC micro-controller (MCU).
Mine came pre-programmed. 
It's a pic18f2553. It's 8-bit.

The LT 074 is a op-amp of course.

The 6N138 is an optocoupler
 

The MCP4922 is a DAC ... a digital to analogue converter.

Nearly there...



Nice.















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