Tuesday, 2 May 2023

NLC Mix - build notes

Such a simple module, but so useful..
 

A 4 hp attenuverting mixer.
The pots are 0 at centre.

I've built a few of these

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I'm using 10R resistors for the reverse voltage protection in this module, but with others I used no protection.... just a strip of wire. 
If you do accidently plug it in backwards and see the dreaded puff of smoke, the 10uF caps are the most likely component to blow.
 

100k x 8, and just one 1 k resistor

..

The op-amp is a TL-072

the pots a all linear B-100K

The pots are 0 at centre, -1x gain to the left (inverts) and
1x gain to the right. 


Thus is you are using this as a audio mixer it can be a bit tricky to find the exact centre
of the pot where its totally silent.


Pot 4 will act as a voltage offset if nothing is patched into
input 4. It can supply -5V to +5V of offset. If you do not
want any offset, leave pot 4 at midpoint, or patch your signal
into input 4.


The module will work with audio and CV signals. It is useful for creating sequences from logic modules such as the Divide and Conquer , Bools or 1/n .

Finally done.

Electric City

 
There is a new collaboration with New Sound Waves and Vitalise continuing Electronic Arts meetups in 2023!

Over the past 3 years Elk Elektronik have been running Synth Sessions mainly in Wollongong NSW.

In 2023, Ed has teamed up with the people behind New Sound Waves and Vitalise to continue running regular meets, but also to be able to join with other great initiatives work together on these events.

The Synth Sessions have evolved over this time, introducing elements of video and projection arts, tech talks from local manufacturers and more! With this in mind, we’ve chosen a new name “Electric City - Electronic Art Exploration“, incorporating a wider variety of electronic art forms.
"Electric City" will alternate between Wollongong and Sydney on the same schedule as previously - once every 2 months.

Nice !

Monday, 1 May 2023

Elektron OT Mk 1 vs Mk2

The Octatrack MII has a few more buttons than my old Mk1
Deciding if I should get a MkII ??

This may help.


I understand that the firmware is identical. The screen on the Mk1 is larger,
but the buttons on the Mk2 are better lit for club work.
Maybe the fader on the Mk2 is smoother too.?

The Record buttons: 
REC1, REC2,REC3 on the MK2 replace just 2 buttons on the MK1

The Mk 2 also has Proj, Part, AED, MIX & Arr buttons







There are 1000s of shortcuts. Here is short list of some of the basic ones.

Mk1
Mk1 Project
[FUNCTION] + [MIXER] will open the PROJECT menu.

[Cue] +[Tempo] will activate/deactivate the metronome.

Mk 1 TRACK RECORDERS AND PICKUP MACHINES
[FUNCTION] + (SETUP AB/REC1) Open recorder setup menu page 1
[FUNCTION] + (SETUP CD/REC2) Open recorder setup menu page 2

[REC] + [BANK/EDIT] will open the Audio editor.
[Track 1-8] + [Bank/Edit] will also open the Audio Editor for the respective track
You can edit the sample by pressing LFO

Press [FUNCTION] + [BANK] or [ENTER/YES] 
to open a window displaying the available edit 
commands.

To delete a file:
1. press SELECT ALL. This will select the whole file
2. press [FUNCTION] + [ ► ] to Clear the recorder buffer 
or scroll to "SELECTION to SILENCE" & YES


Mk1 - PARTS
Parts store machines (+ their settings), effects (+ their settings), 
scenes and track volumes.
[FUNCTION] + [MIDI/PART] will open the PARTS menu.
► ◄  [up], [down] Select part
[FUNCTION] + [EDIT] Part Edit popup menu
[FUNCTION] + [COPY] | [CLEAR] | [PASTE] will Copy / clear / paste parts.


Mk1 Arranger:
FUNCTION + PATTERN will enter arranger mode.
Then press [FUNCTION] + [BANK/EDIT] to open the arranger menu
[F] + [down] Insert an arrangement row
[F] + [up] Remove an arrangement row
[left] [right] ► ◄ Move the focus between the columns

MIDI
Access the MIDI mode by pressing the [MIDI] key












Mk2
[PROJ] opens the project menu.
[FUNC] + [PROJ] saves the project.

[PART] opens the part select menu
[FUNC] + [PART] to edit the current part.

[AED] opens the audio editor
[FUNC] + [AED] opens the SLICE GRID menu.

[MIX] key. Opens a menu where settings for the in- and outputs can be made. 
Tracks can also be muted and soloed here.
[FUNC] + [MIX] toggles the metronome on/off.

[ARR] key. Opens the ARRANGER menu. 
Press [FUNC] + [ARR] to toggle the ARRANGEMENT mode
on/off.

Mk2 Recording
[REC1], [REC2] keys are used for real-time sampling through the external inputs. 
[FUNC] + [REC1/2] opens the RECORDING SETUP 1/2 menus.
[FUNC] + [REC3] opens the RECORDING EDIT menu.
[REC3] key is used for real-time sampling from internal sources.


Mk2 - CUE
Pressing [CUE] + a [TRACK] key will cue the track. 
The audio of the track will then be routed to the cue outputs
[FUNC] + [CUE] reloads the active part to its saved settings.

[MIDI] activates the MIDI editing mode.
[FUNC] + [MIDI] opens the MIDI sync settings.



Friday, 14 April 2023

How do coffee expresso machines work ?

 Espresso coffee machines, also known as espresso makers or espresso machines, work by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans at high pressure to produce a concentrated, flavorful coffee beverage known as espresso. Here's a basic overview of how they work:

Water Heating: Espresso machines have a water reservoir or a direct water line connection. The water is heated to near-boiling temperature, typically around 195°F to 205°F (90°C to 96°C), depending on the machine and personal preferences.

Grinding Coffee: Espresso machines require finely-ground coffee beans. Many espresso machines have built-in grinders to grind the beans to the appropriate consistency just before brewing. However, pre-ground coffee can also be used.

Tamping: After grinding the coffee, the grounds are compacted into a puck-like shape using a device called a tamper. Proper tamping ensures even extraction and helps to create a consistent shot of espresso.

Extraction: The tamped coffee grounds are placed in a portafilter, a handle-like device with a basket at one end to hold the coffee. The portafilter is then locked into the espresso machine.

Brewing: When the machine is activated, hot pressurized water is forced through the compacted coffee grounds in the portafilter. The high pressure (typically 9 bars or higher) extracts the flavors and oils from the coffee quickly, resulting in a concentrated shot of espresso.

Crema Formation: As the pressurized water interacts with the coffee grounds, it creates a layer of foam called crema on top of the espresso. Crema adds texture and richness to the espresso and is considered a sign of a well-made shot.

Dispensing: The brewed espresso is then dispensed into a cup or shot glass.

Espresso machines can vary in complexity and features, with some offering additional options such as programmable settings, milk frothers for making drinks like cappuccinos and lattes, or even built-in grinders and automatic tampers. However, the basic principle of forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee under pressure remains the same across different types of espresso machines.

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Coffee index. Click here :

Sunday, 9 April 2023

Designing a production-ready audio compressor

This looks really cool.

...


..

The Erica's website link to the compressor is here.

I think I'll probably need to go down this rabbit hole sooner or later.
The builds are easy and very educational.

500 euro for the basic kit