JonDent
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A blog about Explorations in Electronic Music, Art & Travel (but mostly electronic music). Here you will find information about vintage & modern synths, electronic music, DJing & production.
JonDent
1w ago
These are my build notes for the circuit benders clone of the Roland/- Boss Dr 55 drum.
The clone is called the CB-55.
The original is a really simple and great sounding machine. It's definitely a classic.
I think where it falls short is it's limited sequencer, and that its tricky to sync to external gear.
I loved the first DR-55 I bought so much, that I purchased a second one with the intention to mod it.
But I just couldn't vandalize it .
Mods to overcome this are out there but I think its a shame to need to mod vintage gear.
These relics are getting harder to find as the ..read more
JonDent
1M ago
These are my build notes for the nonlinear circuits LDRama module.
tHIS eurorack 28HP light sensor module was designed upon suggestions from Alex Brunori.
The idea is to play a video (or skype or whatever is the newest thing) fullscreen on your phone and place the phone on the LDR array. The module will generate CVs in response to what is happening in your video.
links
+ wiki
+ BOM
I think this is a pretty neat idea.
It is designed to suit a typical 5x2 inch screen, larger screens work fine tho some info around the edges is lost. Ideally the module will sit flat, if ..read more
JonDent
1M ago
These are my build notes for the nonlinear circuits "stochaos" module.
It's a 8hp eurorack.
STOCHAOS...... It's a random rhythm pattern generator or sequencer which produces gates and control voltages
There are just two inputs ; IN & RST
Everything else is an output
Links
+ Wiki
+ BOM..
+ CD4028 BCD to Decimal converter
+ Flip Flops - an introduction
+ CMOS & Lunetta synths
This is a decent sized build using 2 PCBs
Start with the ICs and transistors.
The module uses a lot of cmos
CD4070 x2....... XOR
CD4040 x2 .... clock ..read more
JonDent
1M ago
Some notes on how to upload a hex file using AVRdude.
AVRdude is a program to upload or download to on-chip memories of Microchips AVR suit of Microcontrollers.
Ill use a
Olimex AVR-ISP-MKII
Here is the user manual
https://www.olimex.com/Products/AVR/Programmers/AVR-ISP-MK2/resources/AVR-ISP-MK2.pdf
Links
https://youtu.be/zawk99QQMVc
You can also use something like this:
or this:
https://core-electronics.com.au/tiny-avr-programmer.html
Here we are using a 6-pin TPI
The interface is typically used for programming tinyAVR.
&nbs ..read more
JonDent
1M ago
These are my build notes for the Nonlinear Circuits "Beat Freqs" module
Its eurorack format.
The BEAT FREQS has gates ... lots of gates .... use it as a chaotic gate sequencer/event generator.
Its great for driving drums
This module is based on an earlier one:
82. Beat Freq - build notes - part 1
Beat Frequency - NLC - Build notes - part 2
The original had CV inputs, pots and an XNOR output.
This new "improved" version gets 12 extra gate outputs and a lot more flashing LEDs.
Links
+Wiki
+BOM
The idea is to feed ..read more
JonDent
1M ago
These are my build notes for the Nonlinear Circuits CMOSC module
Its a eurorack format module.
CMOSC is an updated version of the
4U CMOSC (CMOS drone Oscillator).
Each module has 6 oscillators; the frequency of each
oscillator can be set with the pots. Feeding a signal to
input will decide which oscillator signal will appear at the output. If the signal is low, oscillator A is heard, if the
signal is high oscillator B is heard.
This module gets very interesting when the outputs of each oscillator pair are fed into other pairs, which are themselves controlled ..read more
JonDent
1M ago
The STP16 is an 16-step trigger/gate sequencer.
This looks like lots of fun. Machine room are based in Kyiv , Ukraine.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by MachineRoom (@machineroom.ua)
Website
Instagram ..read more
JonDent
1M ago
Micro-controllers are everywhere these days.
In the synth world especially. So its good to know a bit about them and some basic programming concepts.
This link is useful for a brief intro into the different types of microcontrollers:
+ Microcontroller Index Page
The pic above is a specific AVR microcontroller.
AVR microcontrollers are manufactured by Atmel. They are very common & have several advantages over other types of microcontroller.
Some mostly used AVR microcontrollers are:-
ATmega8 microcontroller
ATme ..read more
JonDent
1M ago
This is part 2 of my build of the Westlicht performer eurorack sequencer.
Part 1 is here:
+Westlicht Performer part 1 - build notes
These are the official build notes:
https://westlicht.github.io/performer/build/
BOM - google
---------------------
TL1105SPF160Q
37 of these e switches
SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 SW5 SW6 SW7
SW9 SW10 SW11 SW12 SW13 SW14 SW15 SW16 SW17 SW18
SW20 SW21 SW22 SW23 SW24 SW25 SW26 SW27 SW28 SW29 SW30 SW31 SW32 SW33 SW34 SW35 SW36 SW37 SW38
switch 8 & 19 are the optical switches
These switch caps are a tight fit.
Line them up carefully then solder ..read more
JonDent
2M ago
These are my build notes for the nonlinear circuits Mun module.
tHIS eurorack 22HP module is a 10 channel vocoder based on the Syntovox 222
The word Vocoder is a combination of two words.
Voice + Code = Vocoder
Vocoded signals were essentially a form of data compression for voice.
Links
+ Wiki
+ BOM
+ A bit about vocoders
The module is more easily understood if you divide it into 3 sections : Voice, Carrier & noise
For the Voice section, there is a TRS/mono 6.35mm input for mics, a stereo/mono 3.5mm input for line level sources (like a tape/CD player or phone with ..read more