Klovoblog

HW Synth project Chapter 1.5

Ok.... The S.com cab is now black and has a VCO, midi controller and an AC power interface... No VCF, EG etc yet, but it CAN make some pulse modulating madness!

This mp.3 is the S.com VCO playing a simple midi file from the Mac while I move the PWM knob a bit. I patched the output into Live 4 and added a little octive delay.
Synth.comPWM.mp3

HW Synth project Chapter 1.4

The Arrick Robotics 22 space econocab with pwr supply and wiring harness has arrived. Wow! Very nice power supply! Much nicer than I expected.

It took us quite a while to unpack! Lot's of bubblewrap wooden endcaps, and fiberboard protectors!

I don't have any VCO's yet so I'll just use the cat with the power supply for now.. (just kidding...).

HW Synth project Chapter 1.3

Almost all of the resistors have been mounted on the Sound Lab PCB.

HW Synth project Chapter 1.2

The Sound Lab PCB is now at the house of Klovous!
That was mighty fast shipping!
Thank you Ray Wilson!

HW Synth project Chapter 1.1

I have dug out all of my PCB tools.
I still need a cheap oscilloscope.
A 20MHz scope would do fine... Time to go pawn shopping..

HW Synth project Chapter 1.

I have started working on a couple of new Simi-DIY hardware synth projects and some folks that I have been discussing synth building with say that I should document this project(s) evolution here to use as a referance..... Hmmm....Ok..

Disclaimer.... I'm new at DIY modular synthesizer building and this plan is in it's Genesis -evolving as I learn more, so all of you know-it-all folks (it's amazing what some of you know) cut me some slack. :)

This is what I have settled on at the moment.....

Synth project plan #1 will be based around Arrick Robotics' (The Synthisizers.com Co.) VCOs and Filters with some DIY effect/wave-shaping-bla-bla modules -some my own design, some circuit-bent stuff (don't you conservative synth dudes worry.. I don't plan to put a speak&spell in the synth.com cabinet) as well as a combination of designs other (-smarter-than-me-) people have made available.
After looking at the current stock from a few different Modular synth companies, I find that the synth.com systems vintage Moogy look/sound is quite attractive. Lots of analog Mojo! Also the module's height is the same as MOTM's stuff (same height as the old Moog modules).. The only bad thing about the synth.com and the MOTM stuff for me is that both companies are based here in Texas.. Hell... MOTM is almost walking distance from my home.... This means that I have to shell out for Tax and that can get pricy considering the mammoth system that I/we/you could end up with... Unfortunately, the DIY route is also not tax free if I order stuff from Mouser (the place that has everything).

This is what is coming to me from Synth.com....
If any of you Synth Gurus think I would bennefit with/without somthing let me know..

1 - 22 space econocab with Pwr Supply and wiring harness. This should arrive any time now...
1 - Q104 midi interface..
1 - Q124 Multiples module
1 - Q105 Slew limiter
3 - Q106 VCO Modules
1 - Q112 Mixer Module
2 - Q109 ADSR
1 - Q107 Filter
1 - Q125 Signal processor
1 - Q110 Wh/Pink Noise generator
1 - Q108 amp Module

This stuff will come in trickles and I don't plan to finish any of the DIY modules until project #2 is finished, so this will take time.. Things would speed up If I win the lotto.... Well maybe not....

Synth project plan #2 will be a small synth based around Ray Wilson's "Soundlab" design with a few modifications. I plan to use this synth as source for sampling clips into samplers and sequencers like Intakt and Ableton Live, so it's focus is not going be how well it performs with a controller but rather the interesting sounds it makes. The Sample and hold is the first mod that I want to do. I also plan to add some circuit bent effects as well...
I bet this thing will get along well with my Vox Tonelab.... I should be getting Ray Wilson's pre-etched PCB in the mail anytime now..

Hmmm.... Ok that's a lot... Let's see how all this pans out.... Stay tuned for more synth blah-blah...

Old Tek 555

This is an old Tektronics oscilloscope that Erotus gave me.

Thanks Erotus!!

It was last calibrated in 1984. I'm guessing that it was made in the early 60's. As you can see in the photos, it has plenty of tubes, no PCBs, huge caps and resisters. Open leads flying all over the place! I would hate to be the moth that flies into this thing! Got to love those pre-PCB component brackets that make part replacement easy... Just as long as you unplug first... Zap!! Hehe....