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Roland Tr 808 repair - Part 2 - replacing the switches

September 4, 2020, 4:49 pm
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How to open up the TR-808 .....continued from the last post:
Repairing a Roland TR-808 - Part 1

Now that you have opened up the beast you'll need to unplug the board from its various connectors.

 You can just make out 4 of them here.
The connectors are 40 years old & probably brittle ... take care.

The other 2 are tucked at the rear ... They plug into the PCB connecting the inputs & outputs.

Next you need to separate the main PCB from the front panel.
It's held in place with the remaining screws (11) & the nuts/washers for the pots & rotary switches.




(Mine was missing lots of nuts/washers.... I reckon they would have been once present).

These screws circled in green are the ones that are left
Remove the central screw last, and the PCB should just pop out.

If you look at the PCB carefully, you can see it's actually two boards joined just right to the last of 5 central switches


The Main board apart from housing things like the cPU & RAM, also has some of the voice circuits:
Snare, Claps, Maracas, Hi Tom/Conga, Mid Tom/Conga, Lo Tom/Conga, Bass Drum, Claves/Rimshot.

The Voicing Board has the circuits for the Cowbell, Cymbal, Open Hat, Closed Hat,
Mixer, & master Volume.

Now it's time to remove the step switch board

That volume pot (extreme right) is definitely not original.
I'll replace it one day! At the moment, it's working fine ... I prefer to let sleeping dogs lie
 iT'S held in place with 7 screws. They sit on standoffs.


Careful you don't break the ribbon cable
The FFC - flat flexible cable.

Admire those ICs


The 4011 is a 2 input NAND gate.
The 4051 is a multiplexer -- a digitally controlled switch

The 4 ICs on the top (D444C) are the memory.
I think they are 4K SRAM chips ???

This D650C is the CPU. It's the brain of the 808
You can also find a similar CPU the TR 606 (the 606 uses a D650C 128)
They are super rare . It's a 4 bit microcontroller
The UPD650C-085 is a special custom Roland (version 0.85) chip. Itmanages 11 analog channels with individual gain mix.
The voice board generates 16 analog percussions which 8 of them are circuit-shared.

The felt shades help to keep dust out.
There were originally shades on the toggle switches, rotary switches and all the pots I think ,
but mine are mostly gone ;-(
Next time I open this I must remember to put new ones in.

Notice The JRC 4558 (Japan Radio Corporation) in the bottom of the pic -- they are dual Op-amps.
These are everywhere on this board

The HD 14584 B  is a Hex Schmitt trigger


The AN6912 is a quad comparator


4013B - Dual type D flip/flop
4001 - Quad 2 input NOR gate
14584BP - Hex Schmitt trigger


The new board is on top.
Its a Technology Transplant board.

 The colours, esp the white buttons are slightly different.
Maybe the passing of time has faded  the white switches

Screw in your new step board & reassemble the machine


The PCB should slot into the front panel.


Plug the connectors.


That green cable is the ground.


hOPEFULLY  it works




Roland Links

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

+ TR 707 Drum
          +Roland Tr 707 - Drum Mapping & Midi triggering
           + Roland Tr 707 Drum - Basic programming
           + Pioneer Squid - Midi Mapping a Roland TR 707

+ 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)
       + Transposing sequences with the keyboard 
       + Filter/Amp envelope
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Happy 909 Day

September 9, 2020, 3:05 am
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Happy 909 day.
I love this machine almost as much as my 808.



As if inventing the TR 808 wasn't enough. Initially, the 808 was a flop so Roland thought they had better try something new. Little did they know that the 808 was simply way ahead of everyone else and in time would be viewed as a work of art.

So Roland followed with the TR 909. Their second classic.
Probably the engineers thought the public wanted a drum machine to sound like a real drum.


Unlike the 808 which was a pure analog machine, the 909 used samples for some of its sounds.
The 909 also has midi :-)

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

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Ancillary Justice, Ancillary Mercy & Ancillary Sword - Ann Leckie

September 16, 2020, 3:25 pm
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I just finished reading the Imperial Radch Trilogy. Highly recommended. 

The first book, Ancillary Justice won the Hugo, the Nebula, the BSFA, the Arthur C Clarke and the Locus awards. I don't think any Science Fiction novel has won as many awards.
It's definitely not your basic level Sci-Fi. It will challenge you.
The series is made up of 3 books: Ancillary Justice, followed by Ancillary Sword and Ancillary Mercy.


A friend of mine is going to start reading this and I though a brief summary would help her.

The beginning of Ancillary Justice is very confusing and it's possible this will discourage many readers.
But if you can get your head through the first 2 chapters you will probably love this series.

After finally putting the final book down, I think one of Ann Leckie's main aims was to explore AI (Artificial Intelligence). The main character is an AI. She is a ship, a soldier, a human, and a computer ... all in one.
The opening chapters don't explain this and I had to read quite a bit till I was able to process this info.
I was questioning what human intelligence is and is a AI less important.
Are they in fact of equal value?
Should we be afraid of AI?
Maybe in the future AI can be see as a partner to human intelligence. 
Is artificial intelligence part of our evolution? 


The true first editions are all soft cover / paperbacks.

This is I understand the first hardcover version.

There was a Limited lettered edition which sold for $250 USD
(Lettered: 52 signed copies, bound in leather, housed in a custom traycase and sold out pre-publication)
 
There was also a Limited edition  version that had a price of $50USD
(Each volume is signed by the author and numbered out of 500)

Burton, MI, Subterranean Press, 2015







SPOILER ALERT 

  ................ don't read past this if you are worried about spoiling the story


The story is set thousands of years in the future.
The names of the three books, Justice, Mercy & Sword are also the names of the 3 classes
of space warships that feature in the Radch universe.
Ancillaries are the solders which "man" these warships.
"Man" is probably not the right word to use as most of the characters are gender neutral.
and the main character calls everyone she, regardless of whether they are male or female... but that's another story.
 
Each warship has its own compliment of hundreds to thousands of Ancillary troops
(the number of solders depends on the type of warship).
These troops are essentially captured enemy human solders from past battles who's minds and identity are wiped and reprogrammed with the ship's AI (artificial intelligence). You can think of each ship and it's ancillary troops as one and the same organism....as sentient beings. To top it off, the AI's have emotions.

The main character "Breq" also goes by the names One Esk 19, and Justice of Toren.
She is an ancilliary.
She is the last remaining fragment of the AI of the troopcarrier "Justice of Toren". This AI is trapped in a ancillary human body when the mother warship is destroyed.
The first book covers the events of how she takes revenge on the person who destroyed her warship
(Anaander Mianaai).
It's really her quest for justice, so the name of the book is apt.
 

Human's are present in this universe, and they live in harmony with AI's.  Actually the human ruler is evil, and the AI's are on the side of good. The suggestion is that artificial consciousness is not to be feared and is as relevant as human consciousness. AI may even come to the rescue of humanity.

Breq struggles to reconcile this as her humanity starts to reassert itself. She is after all an AI inside a human body.

The portrayal of gender is also fascinating since the main characters are essentially computers that don't see the need, nor understand gender. The novel makes the case that gender is irrelevant. It's interesting that to the computers, the default gender is female.

The concept of Justice is of course explored and I think found to be quite fluid and abstract.

The main conflict starts when the ruler Anaander Mianaai has a fight with herself.
This sounds confusing, until you realize what the ruler is.
Anaander Mianaai has been cloning herself for the last 3000 years. So she never dies and can in effect
rule forever. To make matters more interesting, she clones herself thousands of times, so a clone of her can be on every planet and station of significance. Some of these clones develop new personalities (as you'd expect over thousands of years) and set up a rival govt.

The story is basically one of two beings disagreeing about the nature of Justice.
Thinkers from Plato to Shakesphere have asked this very question.

Sci Fi Links

+  Asimov's (Isaac) Foundation
+ Asimov  - I, Robot -  - novels & Magazines
+ Dune - The Chronological order of the novels
+ Dune Universe Timeline

+ Hugo Awards Best Sci Fi novels of the 1950's
+ Hugo Awards Best sci fi novels of the 1960's
+ Hugo Awards Best Sci Fi novels of the 1970's
+ Hugo Awards Best Sci Fi Novels of the 1980's
+ Hugo Awards Best Sci Fi novels of the 1990's
+ Hugo awards Best sci fi novel of the 2000's (2000 - 2009)
+ Hugo Awards Best Sci Fi novels for the decade 2010-2019

+ Nebula Best Sci Fi Novel awards 1960s
 
+ Star Wars 
+ vorkoisgan saga reading order - Lois McMaster Bujold

These are the hard cover versions

+ Subterranean Press
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Erica Synths Syntrx - battle patch

September 16, 2020, 3:54 pm
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ARP 2500 - The 1027 sequencer

September 18, 2020, 4:20 pm
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The ARP 1027 sequencer

It's the 50th anniversary of this magical synth. So I'm exploing the different modules. A sequencer is one of the essential components of any modular synthesizer. The ARP 2500 is no exception

Also called the Clocked Sequential Control Module, this is essentially three 10 step sequencers, though you can set it to be any number of steps (between 2-10) you wish.
If you wish to get more than 10 steps, use a sequential switch.

It's quite a large module occupying 2 units.
There are 3 rows of pots providing three sets of CVs  for each step.
The sequencer has an internal clock so can step along automatically.
When run fast at switching rates in the audio spectrum, the 1027 can generate sound in the form of very complex wave forms.



The 3 voltage outputs are labeled A, B, & C.

The Clock
The illuminated ON & OFF switches can start & stop the clock and thus the sequencer.
Set the switch to "Trig" .
You can also start & stop the clock with external pulses that are imputed to the ON & OFF inputs.



The pot labeled "Pulse Repetition Frequency" controls the speed of the internal clock.
It can be run at very low or high frequencies. ... between
20 pulses/minute to 400 pulses/second.
The clock speed can also be controlled with an external CV via the "VC trig" input.


The sequencer produces a 10V gate pulse every time it makes a step.
The pulse width can be varied between 5% to 95%.
The width can be adjusted either manually or with a control voltage.




VC Width & VC Freq.
Apply control voltages here to have external control.
The Clock Out is also a source of 10V pulses,
You can use this to clock external gear.

Pulses applied to the ON or OFF inputs will start & stop the clock.

 
Input Sensitivity :  "ON", "OFF", inputs are +8 volts.
                            VC Width & VC Freq inputs are 0-10 volts 


If the clock is turned off, you can manually step and reset the sequencer with the pink Step/reset buttons.
You may also do the same thing with external CV .... 10V pulses applied to the "S" and "R" inputs.
If you are trying to clock the sequencer from an external source such as another sequencer
plug 10V pulses into the "S" input.


Finally, notice the ten "POSITION GATES" outputs.
A 10V pulse is outputted at each ... corresponds to the current step the sequencer is on.
If you wish to change the 10 step sequence to 8, connect the 9th gate out into the "R" input.
If you wished the sequencer to count to 5, and then reset, connect the 6th gate to R.



View this post on Instagram

#arp2500 #mixsequencer #arp #synthesizer

A post shared by jono (@dj_jondent) on


To skip a step, connect the position gate output(s) to the "S".
The sequencer will then skip those positions.

There are cable jacks at the back of the 1027 module to connect with other modules such as:
1028 - Sequencer slave
1026 - Preset Voltage
1050 - Sequential mixer
 
 

 

Electrical Specifications
Output Impedances : 1Kohm all outputs
Output Position Gates : 0 to +10V.
Input Impedances : 100Kohms minimum , all inputs
Input Sensitivity : "S", "R", "ON", "OFF", inputs are +8 volts
                           VC Width & VC Freq inputs are 0-10 volts
Pulse repetition frequency (without external control):
                         20 pulses/minute to 400 pulses/second.
 Power requirements: +15 V @ 150ma, regulated to +/-0.1%
                                 -15 V @ 75ma, regulated to +/-0.1%
                                 +12 to 15V @ 100ma, unregulated for the lamps.


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How to Program a Roland TR-808 - Quick start guide

September 19, 2020, 5:30 pm
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Roland TR 808 - Quick Start

The 808 is a pretty basic machine that isn't too complicated to program, though it has a few odd quirks that are good to know. Before, you write any new patterns, it's important to clear the old ones.

How to clear old patterns 




1. Turn on with the top left power switch
2. Turn the MODE knob all the way to the left, to "Pattern Clear".
3. Choose which memory location you wish to erase by pressing one of the
    16 step buttons.
4. The "Basic Variation" switch needs to be in the AB position.
5. Press the Red "Pattern Clear" Button

yOU will see the AB LEDs flash really fast



 


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

How to program a simple pattern (1st Part rhythms)

 
 
 
 
 
1. Clear any existing patterns (See above)
2. Turn the MODE knob to the "first part"
3. The LED should be blinking in time with the tempo.
    (If it's not blinking, check the sync switch at the back of the 808.
     It should be set to internal sync)
4. set the Basic variation to A. The A LED will light up.
5. Hit START.
   The LED should be running across the 16 steps
6. Set the scale (I mostly use the 3rd row which is 4/4 time)
 
 7. Use the "instrument select" rotary switch to choose your instrument.

8. Program your beats by pressing the step buttons (step mode) or the TAP button
   (Tap mode)

9. If you flick the Basic variation to B you can program the steps 17 to 32.
   The B LED will light up. (Keep the MODE Knob on "first Part")
   Setting the variation to A/B will play steps 1 to 32.


 

I generally use pre-scale 3 which is a standard 4/4.
If you want to go double time, use pre-scale 4
 
 
 
 
 
 

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

How to Play existing patterns


Now that you have programmed lots of patterns, this is how you play them back. You can jump from one pattern to another.

1. Turn on with the top left power switch
2. Turn the MODE knob all the way to the left, to "MANUAL PLAY".
3. Choose which rhythm you wish to play by pressing one of the
    16 step buttons.
4. You will notice that the LED above the step button will flash.
5. The "Basic Variation" switch has 3 modes (A, B, and A/B) which gives you a total of 32 sixteen step patterns.
5a. Set the Basic variation to A. The A LED will flash.
6. Adjust tempo
7. Press the START/STOP Button

8. If you set the variation to B, steps 17 to 32 will play.
    Setting the variation to A/B will play steps 1 to 32.

9. Pressing a new step button will tell the 808 to play the rhythm stored in that memory slot.
 

aLWAYS check the sync switch at the back 
The 808 in this pic is the master, and is sending DinSync (clock info) to a TB 303.




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

The Second Part

I don't use this very often, but it's good to know what it does.
The 808 allows you to program a total of 32 different patterns (16x2). 
Each memory has a 1st & second part that can be used for even more rhythm patterns.   

This second part is used to allow for rhythms other than 16 or 32 steps.
Use it if want 12 steps, or 18 or 24 steps. 
It allows you add the difference that you are missing from the first part to the second part.
For example, if you want to make a 24 step pattern, you can make the 1st part 16 steps long and
the second part, 8 steps long. Or you can make the 1st and second part 12 steps.

Below is an example of how to use the second part. 
 
This is how you add a second part to an existing 1st part.
 
1. Program your 1st part rhythm as shown above.
2. While it it playing turn the program knob to "second part".
3.  Hold the red button down & press the last step you wish the 2nd part to have.
    eg to add an extra 8 steps to your existing 16 step pattern, press the 
    8th step button. You now have a 24 step pattern.
4. When you that step button you will instantly hear the tempo 
    of your existing pattern change (it's slower).
5. Add your extra beats as above.
6. While the drum is playing you can add new sounds to each part 
    by switching the program knob between the two parts

   If the mode selector is on the 2nd part, then the LEDs will indicate
   the 2nd part only.
   If the mode selector is on the 1st part, then the LEDs will indicate 
   the 1st part only.

7. Press the START/STOP button when programming is finished.
 

How to program two 12 step patterns

 ie 12 steps in part A & 12 in part B

1. Choose a free Memory slot (steps 1 - 16)
2. Set mode to Pattern Clear. (set Basic Variation to A/B). 
    Clear patterns as above.
3. Set the Basic variation to A. The A LED will flash.
4. Set Mode to 1st Part Pattern Write
5. Press Start. 
    (The sequencer must be running for this to work).
6. set PreScale to 4

7. Press CLEAR  + step 12
    You can add some drum beats if you wish for the 1st part, or leave it empty for now.
8. Set Mode to 2nd Part Pattern Write
   (the LEDs for each step will go off)
9. Press CLEAR + STEP12
 
 
 

9a. Program some drumbeats for the second part.
   You have now set up a 24 step pattern and the flow of LEDs will change from the 1st part
   to the second part. (Note, the number of steps in the 1st & second parts don't need to be the same).
10. Set the mode selector to Part 1 to program new beats or exit that part if there are existing beats present.
    Likewise for part 2

   If the mode selector is on the 2nd part, then the LEDs will indicate the 2nd part only.
   If the mode selector is on the 1st part, then the LEDs will indicate the 1st part only.
11. Press the START/STOP button when programming is finished.

After you have done all this put the 808 into pattern play mode.
Now you can jump between  patterns in real time.


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

I/F Variation Switch


I/F Variation = Intro or Fill-in Variation A or B
This performs the same function as the BASIC VARIATION switch, except it is only used for INTROs and FILL INs and relates to the last four white STEP buttons.
Intros and fill ins are additional rhythms separate from your basic rhythms. You add an intro at the beginning of your main rhythm, and a fill-ins between different basic rhythms.

 

 

 

 

 


The step buttons 1 to 16 are divided into two groups:
a) BASIC RHYTHMS (buttons numbered 1 to 12)
b) INTROS / FILL INs 
   (white buttons numbered 1 to 4)



 

 

 

 

 


Drum-fills will play automatically. This is based on the 'AUTOFILL-IN' knob selection.
The AutoFill-In knob can be set to 16, 12, 8, 4 and 2.
The selected "White Pattern" will automatically play every 16 or 8 or 4 measures etc
If the AUTOFILL-IN is set to 'Manual ' then the 'TAP" button will function as a 'FILL-IN' trigger... but only while the unit is playing.


You can turn the Intro/fill function on and off by pressing the TAP button.
When you first turn the mode to "play" you will see two LEDs lit:
a) One from the 1 -12 group  (flashing LED)
b) one from the 1 - 4 group (solid LED)
Pressing the start button will play the rhythm as standard.
BUT
If you press the TAP button first, the 1-4 LED will start to flash.
Now press the START button and the selected intro rhythm will play before the basic rhythm.
To disable this function just press the TAP button again, and the LED will stop flashing.


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


Setting the Pre-Scale.

Pre scale is the number of steps for each beat.
The prescale must always be chosen to match the minimum division of the note to be used in the rhythm pattern.
 
Matching the pre-scale on each of the recorded rhythms is really important. Though the switch may not change, each track can still run at different tempos. This was the case when I bought this drum second hand, all those years ago... I couldn't understand why each rhythm played at a different speed.
 

If you are playing a pattern and decide to change the pres-cale switch, don't forget to also press the red Pres-cale button.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Example 1
To program a rhythm in 3/4 time.... uses a 12 step measure and the number 3 Pre Scale.

1. STOP the Rhythm
2. Set MODE to PATTERN CLEAR
3. Press a BASIC rhythm button (1 to 12)
    The LED should light up but not flash.
4. Set the Basic Variation switch to A
5. Press CLEAR button
6. Set MODE to PATTERN WRITE 1st PART
7. press START/STOP button
8. Set the Pre Scale selector switch to #3
9. Hold the CLEAR button down & press switch 12 at the same time.
10. Release the CLEAR button
 You have just set a 12 step pattern using a #3 Pre Scale.

Example 2: (basic 4/4 beat)
Create a 16 step pattern using the #3 pre scale 

1. Clear the memory as above (in A/B mode)
2. Set variation to A
3. Set MODE to PATTERN WRITE 1st PART
4. press START button
5. Set the Pre Scale selector switch to #3
6. Hold the CLEAR button down & press switch 16 at the same time.
7. Release the CLEAR button


Example 3.
You can change the time signature of existing rhythms without erasing them.
1. STOP the Rhythm
2. Select a BASIC rhythm button (1 to 12) to edit
    The LED should light up but not flash.
3. Set the Basic Variation switch to A
4. Set MODE to PATTERN WRITE 1st PART
5. press START button
    Your rhythm will play.
6. Set the Pre Scale selector switch to #3 (for example)
7. Hold the CLEAR button down & press switch one of the step switches (1 - 16)
   at the same time.
8. Release the CLEAR button

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

Composing the Rhythm Track


Play/Compose/Track Clear

There is memory for 12 Rhythm Tracks .
It's labeled in orange and uses the instrument select dial.

This is how we sequence a entire performance.
It's done live.
 
1. STOP the Rhythm pattern.
2. Set the MODE to COMPOSE
3. You will see a Step LED flash. 
4. Set the instrument select to #1
    (to compose in bank 1)
5. Press TRACK CLEAR
6. Set both variation switches to A
7. Press START. 
    While in this mode every change of rhythm 
    patterns will be memorized.
8. Play your desired patterns in whatever order you wish.
9. Press STOP
    The exact time you press STOP is critical .... it must be exactly when the measure ends.
10. Set the MODE to PLAY to listen to your performance.
 
Each of the 12 tracks will memorize up to 64 measures.
These can be used separately or together for a max of 768 measures (12x64)

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

It's important to note that both Variation switches are "play" function only.
The 808 doesn't memorise the setting of either switch.
When the drum plays rhythm #5, you can control if part A, part B or part AB is finally played.
I think this is a pretty neat performance feature.
 
+ TR 808 Drum links
           + Repairing a Roland TR-808 - Part 1 - Opening the Machine           
           + Roland Drum Machine Timeline

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Arp 2500 - 50th anniversary virtual symposium

September 26, 2020, 12:35 am
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 Wow 50 years


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Looks good
Here is the event link in Facebook
 
Sep 27 at 2 AM UTC+10 – Sep 27 at 4:30 AM UTC+10
Australian Eastern Standard Time is 10 hours ahead of Universal Time Coordinated.
 
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Makenoise 0-coast/0-control - Patches 2

September 27, 2020, 4:23 am
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The 0-Control is a very flexible controller.
I love it. Responsive, tactile & beautiful to behold.
It's good to remember these voltages when you're patching it into a modular
It can be clocked really easily. any rising edge trigger/gate above 2V.
The Clock Output is complex : it contains both internal and external clocks, and is affected by the Time parameter. You can of course use both internal & external clocks simultaneously to create really complex rhythms.
The Clock out consists of 0/8V gates.
 
The reset is unusual as it resets to the last touched plate (not the 1st step). 
 
 
1.

  Master clock : clock 0-coast.
  Time controlling multiply .
 
If the speed knob is fully to the left, then the time knobs will have little effect on tempo/speed.  
(but it seems to add  tiny bit of slide between notes ???)
This frees up CVs from "time" to control other parameters such as "multiply"

The strength knobs effect the envelope ... 
(left = 0 strength, fully right = full strength)




2.
Rather than using the dynamic envelope out of the 0contrl, use the dynamic gate.
 
The 0-control's 2nd envelope has more controls allowing  for greater variety of envelope shapes.






2a

 
Connect strength to either  (not both) normal gate or dynamic gate

I prefer using the normal gate since it triggers env 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.


Random controls direction.

Random can also be used with overtones, etc









4.



Square wave triggers envelope 1 , which modulates the balance (0-coast mixer)

The "strength" modulates "time" of envelope 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5a

Balance
Time modulates balance 
or
Dynamic envelope modulates balance
 
Of course, balance can be modulated by random, EG 1 , etc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5b. 

Balance #2
A variation of patch 5a
Using the mixer to blend between random and the dynamic envelope.
With a stackable cable you could also add in CVs from the O-control's time section. 

Or you could modulate overtones/MLTPL on the O-coast
with CV from the 0-ctrl or random, Envelope 1 or 2.
So many options 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6. Direction

The 8 gate outputs are really useful.
Use them to trigger envelopes, clock other sequencers,
 change sequencer directions (use a stacking cable)



7. adding rests


The main strength knob needs to just be open enough to let 8V in.
This eg adds rests on step 2 & 6.











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Make Noise - 0-control / 0-coast Patches 3

October 3, 2020, 4:28 am
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 This is a continuation from patches 1 & 2

10. 


Strength to control ratcheting.
Interupt is on. 
Start the sequencer.

Use the O-control's inverter .. this  inverts the voltage making it speed up
as we press harder.
The inverter's LED should glow red when you touch a plate.
The 0-ctrls main time knob sets the number of ratchets.

Thanks to MakeNoise for their great videos

 

 


11. Overtones & envelop 1 control (of Time)


Strength is modulating overtones
Time is modulating MLTPL
Pressure is modulating Time ( of envelope1)
Set this envelope to self cycle


 

 

 

 

12. Subharmonics & analog quantizers

These are harmonics having frequencies below a fundamental frequency
You can think of them like suboscillators that play one or more octaves below the main oscillator.
This allows you to play notes in various frequency divisions

Connect the square output of the oscillator to the slope trigger.
Pitch modulates time.
(You can also modulate time with "strength"& "Time")
The EG 1 settings are impt. 
Rise (attack) @ 12 o'clock. 
Fall (decay) fully left. 
Exponential curve.

The big main pitch knob is @ 12 o'clock

Balance knob fully left

He describes it as an analog quantizer.


Of course you can use both envelopes
for double the fun.

Make sure the settings are exponential, a fastish attack, and decay is zero.

You can transpose the sequence by plugging a keyboard into the 1v/oct input of the 0-coast.









Thanks again to loopop for this patch
Creating a subharmonic oscillator.

The idea is to clock the 0 ctrl at audio rates by plugging an external oscillator.
You can use any square wave oscillator.
 
 We are using the dynamic gate outputs. They are modulated with "strength"

Turning these strength knobs up and down will change harmonics

Experiment with the Gate out/reset
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This is another patch which will work also.
 
















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Pemberton WA - Fire Lookout Climbing Trees

October 3, 2020, 4:28 am
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 We in New South Wales are looked out of Western Australia until this virus is done.

So I can only dream for the moment.

I visited Pemberton many years ago. It's famous for it's great wine and super tall trees.
The climate is fairly cool, making it suitable for growing Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay grapes.
 

A series of fire lookouts were constructed in the top of a few very tall Karri trees during the 1930s and 1940s. These lookouts were a way of spotting fires in the tall Karri forest.  
....
 

Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree in the Warren National Park is a 15 minute drive from the Pemberton township, and off the Old Vasse Road. The Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree lookout was first pegged in 1988 as part of Australia’s bicentennial celebrations. 

...

At 75m above the ground, it is the tallest with a 360-degree view of old growth Karri forest.
 
 Karri trees live to about 350 years old
 
 They reach their full height after about 75 years. The three fire lookout trees are likely over 250 years.
 

--



All the trees are now pegged with metal pegs which are easier to grip. They are regularly checked for any faults. 



No one has died climbing the trees, however two people have suffered heart attacks. I find this incredible. It's a credit to whoever manages the park. If you are planning to do this climb beware that there is only one path of pegs going up and down. So you need to be patient and careful of climbers going in the opposite direction.
 

 
The Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree has 165 pegs.
 
It's a long way down. ;-)
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ARP 2500 - 1005 ModAMP Module - Ring Mods vs VCAs

October 3, 2020, 4:35 am
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The 1005 is a really interesting module.


 At first glance it seems simple... a ring-modulator (Balanced Modulator) connected to a VCA (Unbalanced Modulator). Actually ARP (and Tonus) often combined different components which would usually
be separated, into a single module. A good example is the filtamp 1006 -- it's a filter+VCA.

 The interesting bit about this module is how the two parts interact with one another, how you can control them and how they modulate the modulating VCOs ... but more about that later.

First, a brief description of Ring Modulators & VCAs.

Ring modulators & VCAs are of course related.
Both modules accept two signals and both multiply them together, but in different ways.
VCAs are also called Unbalanced Modulators & Amplitude Modulators.
Ring Modulators are also called Balanced Modulators.

VCAs


A VCA lets a signal pass. How that signal is passed is however controlled by the second signal (The control voltage).


Basically, it's multiplying the input signal by the modulation signal.
If the modulation strength (CV) is at full voltage, all the input signal will get through. In effect, the signal is multiplied by 1. (There is a switch to change the slope of the VCA between exponential & linear).

If CV = 0, out = 0.  That is, there is silence when there is no CV.

An important point to remember with a VCA is that the (audio) input signal can be bipolar (+ve & -ve), but the CV can only be +ve. (Any -ve modulation signals are ignored).
So it won't let any audio through if the modulation signal is zero or -ve.
(Because of this, most VCAs have added a DC offset at the modulation input which inverts any -ve voltages to +ve.)  

VCAs are classified as 2 quadrant multipliers because they handle bipolar signals on the audio input but allow only +ve multiplication. 


 
Ring Modulators (Balanced Modulators)

It's basically an electronic multiplier. 
If there are 2 input signals, A & B, the output is the product.
A x B = output.
Actually, in the case of the ARP 1005 module, the output is really (A x B) / 10 .
This is to protect the synthesizer from overloads, where the product of A and B is greater than +/- 10V
 
In general, Ring Modulators differ from standard VCAs in that they allow both negative & positive multiplication of signals.

You may ask the question "where did the ring modulator get it's name?"


In the early days, the modules used diode rings to change the polarity of the modulation & carrier signals.
Most modern modules have done away with this old technology


So the ring modulator is just a VCA with a special bipolar (+/- ve) input.
Because of the difference , the Ring Modulator is also called a four quadrant multiplier

Convention, states that the audio input ("A" in the ARP 2500) is called the carrier & the modulating / multiplying input ("B" in the ARP 2500) is called the modulator.

The Modulator can be activated or disengaged from the audio signal by pushing the UNMOD/MOD buttons. You can also use gates & triggers to do this. 

The obvious modules to supply gates are the 1027 sequencer, or a pulse from a LFO/Oscillator.  However, the slow random CV outputs of the 1016 Random Voltage Generator  can also trigger these switches. The "internal clock out" of the ARP 2600 (Sample & Hold section) also works.

 
MOD = audio signals A & B modulate one another.
UNMOD = Audio signals are passed through the modulator unaffected.

The ring mod section of the 1005 possibly uses a potted module: the 4014 sub module (I'll check this one day).
This sub-module was used in the 2600.
Here is part of the schematic:


With a RingM you can create a wide range of new frequencies that have no relationship to either of the original inputs A or B. Inharmonic overtones can be produced. This brings us to the lower half of the module.


The 1005, in addition to the ring mod & VCA, contains additional circuits that produce two sets of "Inharmonic Preset Control Voltages". They are named CVa & CVb. 
 
These can be fed back to the two VCOs (which are supplying the inputted audio signals A & B) to detune them a preset amount when the ModAMP  is switched from its "Unmod" to its "Mod" function.

The preset detuning of the oscillators permits control over any apparent key change which could result from the modulation of the two signals, A & B.
 
 
 
The manual suggests using 1004 & 1023 VCOs.
The difference voltage (Va - Vb) controls the frequency ratio of CVa to CVb
The average voltage (Va + Vb)/2 controls the tuning of CVa to CVb

The output of the ring modulator is always passed through the VCA.
I understand that the VCA used in the 1005 is identical to the 1006 Filtamp. 

Electrical Specifications

 

Balanced MoD section:
Output : V out = (INa x INb)/10 +/- 1.0%
Audio Inputs : +/- 10V max (100 Kohms impedance)

VCA section:
(input attenuators fully clockwise)
Vout = (Vin x Vcontrol)/10, Linear Mode.
Vout = Vin10 (Vcontrol-10)/2. Exponential Mode.
Control input Impedance = 100 K

Power requirements: 
+/- 15 V @ 35 ma, regulated to +/-0.1 % 
+ 12 V to +15 V @ 20 ma, unregulated.


ARP was planning to make the 1035 Triple Modulator.

I have never seen one of these.
It offered balanced modulation without voltage controlled amplifiers.
The 1035 contained three balanced modulators and six microphone pre-amplifiers.

The inputs and outputs appear at the top and bottom of the module. For each ring modulator there are two audio inputs & one audio output. It looks like you can also plug in low level external instruments like mics and guitars.. you can select the gain (High: x 100 or low : x10).

A switch labelled "AC,DC" selects either AC or DC coupling for each of the 6 inputs. So you should be able to process control voltages as well as audio. I reckon (though of course I haven't tried this) you could mix audio with LFOs.. possibly creating a tremolo.

 The Mod/Mix switches
Mod = Normal Ring mod operation
Mix = simple 2 channel mixer  
These 3 switches allows a simple way to switch between a Ring Modulator or Mixer operation on the two input signals.
In the Mod setting, it can also be used as a VCA when one input is audio, and the other is a CV.

The 3 overload lamps indicate voltages over +/- 10V at the outputs of the modulators. If they are lit, the signals are most likely distorted & clipping... you should thus either reduce the amplitude of the inputs or reduce the gain of the amps.

 
 
 
 
It's interesting to compare the 1035
 and the ring modulator of the ARP 2600.
They both have preamps, DC / AC coupling etc.

 

Links

+ ARP index
+ The ARP 2500 & the 1005 MODAMP module
+ Guitar fool
+ TTSH (ARP 2600 clone) build notes - Ring Modulator

PS: Please let me know if there are any mistakes or errors.
Cheers Jono
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Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers - The Design Museum

October 9, 2020, 1:31 am
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 If you're in London, don't miss this:

 


Hope the exhibition comes to Australia one day.
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Online 808 . 303 emulation from Roland.

October 9, 2020, 1:47 am
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ARP 2500 - 1026 Preset Voltage Module

October 10, 2020, 3:20 pm
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The 1026 is a rare module. I think only a few were produced and Ive never seen a original
though there are a few reproductions around.
Probably the year of production of the originals was about 1970 ???  
 


There are 16 preset voltages : 2 rows of control voltages 
each holding 8 individual CV values.
You set their value with the pots.
You trigger the CVs by pushing the associated momentary button
or with a 10V gate. (at lines 1 to 8).
The output voltages appear at lines 9 & 10.
Pretty simple.
The manual suggests using the 1027 sequencer or 1050 Mix-sequencer.
There is a socket at the rear of the unit to connect to a 1027 or 1050.
 
Specs:
Output voltages: 0 to +10V
Output impedances: 1K ohms
Input impedances : 100 K ohms
Power requirements: +/- 15V @ 20ma , regulated to +/-0.1%

 
 
 
 
 
 

It reminds me very much of the Serge programmer.
I have of course, rotated the pic to illustrate my idea.
I wonder which module came first?

The programmer has evolved into many forms today.
Think Makenoise pressure points & 0-control 
or Synthwerks 4x4












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Elk Electronics DIY Workshop - Elmyra Synth

October 10, 2020, 3:51 pm
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Some pics from yesterdays DIY electronics workshop.
 
We started with a beginners synth build  : The Elmyra by Neutral Labs.
 

The workshop was held in Wollongong , NSW, Australia.
 

...
 
Youtube : full kit build
 



 

 
 
  The Elmyra uses a Teensy microcontroller.
 

Thanks to everyone who attended.
Such a satisfying day.
We all left with a fully functioning synth that we built ourselves.
 

..

The next Electronic Music workshop will be held in November in Wollongong ... 
Sat Nov 21st.
Address: Shop 266 Crown St, Wollongong NSW 2500
It will probably cover modular synthesizers .. focusing on Eurorack

Thanks for organising this workshop Ed.
We all had a great time.

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Allinaire - Hacking into Max for Live Video Device

October 16, 2020, 7:05 pm
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Allinaire latest track. He told me the video was produced using a 'hacked' or modified existing Max for live video device (details to follow). Learning by experimenting with existing Max devices is a valid way of learning. Whereas other prefer to start from scratch Allinaire dives right in and stands on the shoulders of experienced programers. He calls it 'Circuit bending existing code'!

 

;;;;; 

Allinaire - youtube channel


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EMS Synthi-E - Trapezoidal Envelope Generator

October 17, 2020, 6:19 pm
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 Playing around with the Synthi-E's envelope shaper.


It's an unusual beast.
 

We are all used to a 4 stage ADSR style of envelope.
EMS however used the Trapezoidal Envelope.
This also has 4 stages. They are Attack, ON, Decay, Off.
 
The Synthi AKS uses knobs to adjust the 4 stages, and can be set to
"manual" or "free run" triggering.
The Synthi E is much simplier. 
Attack & decay are set using the rise & fall sliders.
On /off are determined by the gate length.

Connecting a gate to the second black input form the bottom  (bipolar "?") will make it behave as if it were an LFO. 
The envelope starts on both the rise & fall of the gate ... I think this is the equivalent "free run mode".

The gate itself is interesting ... it's a short to ground.
Touching a cable with your bare fingers will produce the required gate.
This is essentially an S-trig. 
Manufacturers like (vintage) Korg & Moog use S-trigs.
BTW, I don't recommend plugging anything into your synthi which is not from EMS.
The filter, is in self oscillation mode.
  

 
About the patch:
I'm using a square wave to trigger the EG.... which is opening /closing the VCA.
The filter is in self oscillation mode.
 
If you still want to trigger the Synthi' gate with eurorack, you will probably need a V-trig to S-trig converter. I haven't tested this myself. These synthi's are rare and expensive so be careful if you plan to try this.
 
 

Analogue Solutions used to produce a Eurorack version of the Trapezoidal Generator.


 Links

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Article 0

October 18, 2020, 6:48 pm
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 Part One of the shootout between the Erica Synths Syntrx and an original Synthi AKS.

Simple patches are compared highlighting a single Oscillator, FM, RingMod, Filter, Reverb & Noise.

This video simply compares Sound and Timbre, not the functionality, extras or differences in the Matrix implementation. (Part Two will look at a Putney VCS3 and some more complex patches).

Thanks to Allinaire for the use of his new Syntrx.
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EMS Synthi E - VCO sequenced with a Korg SQ-1

October 25, 2020, 3:39 am
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 The Synthi E is quite a rare synth.
I think there are only about 200 of them around.
I understand, the year of production was 1975. Designed by Tim Orr 
(Tim also designed the EMS Vocoder 5000, worked for AKAI & designed the Powertran Trancedent 2000)

The Synthi-E was produced as an educational tool and appears very simple at first glance.
Just one filter, EG, Oscillator, LFO, noise, inverter, VCA and mixer.
 

Apparently, "a complete teaching course has been built round it allowing teachers and students to learn the techniques and background of electronic music and its production". 
When I first bought this I didn't have a keyboard and the ribbon controllers were not functioning very well.
I'm sure there was a manual however it alludes me (as do the schematics).
 
 
Patching doesn't use a matrix. Just very simple cables. 
I only had a limited supply of the original cables, but discovered that 2mm banana cables also worked just fine. They have the added advantage that they are stackable.
 
 
From  what I can decipher from the internet, the general signal level at the patch nodes is  3V P-P.
This however, seems to vary quite a bit depending on which module you are talking about.
It should be safe however to patch 2Vp-p voltages. (I don't have any definitive data regarding this so do so at your own risk).
The Korg SQ-1 is ideal for this.
You can limit the voltage range to 1V, 2V and 5V/oct.
I found the 2V setting provides a good range of pitches 
 
 
Remember to also set the SQ1 to Negative (S-trig) gate.

You will need to ground the sequencer with the synthi. The scope output is prefect for this.
The sleeve is ground.



Here are the specs of the VCO:
Total frequency coverage: 1 Hz to 10KHz.
 
There are 3 waveforms available: Sine,Tri, Rectangle.
All three waveforms are accessible simultaneously and can also be
used as modulation sources.
Sine wave distortion: 5% THD (TYP)
Triangle symmetry (rise and fall): 3% at 1 KHz.
Rectangular wave mark space ratio voltage control range: 0 to 100%.
Two CV inputs: Width & Frequency
Interestingly, the frequency CV input has two flavors .. 1/2 and 2.
There is a trimmer to fine tune the V/Oct scaling.

Deviation of voltage control of frequency from ideal exponential law
Over musical range 100Hz—2KHz: .8% (B.S.L.)
Over audio range 10Hz — 10KHz: 1.7% (B.S.L.) 
General short term stability. Drift at 1 KHz: 2% per hour.
 

I really like the sound of the filter... squelchy ... almost acid like.



Instagram post


View this post on Instagram

#emssynthi #ems #synthie #synthi-e #synthesizer

A post shared by jono (@dj_jondent) on

 

If there are any mistakes, errors or omissions, do let me know.

Cheers J

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Testing out a MFOS Sound Lab Mini Banana Synth - Elk Electronics

October 28, 2020, 10:02 pm
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 Thanks to Ed for testing out one of my old Banana Synths.
 
It's a MFOS Sound Labs Mini Synth.
I've had this for a decade at least and it still sounds great. 
 
Some pics 



This test is preparation for a future synth lecture & workshop teaching basic Modular Synthesizer concepts 
The class will be held on the 21st November at Elk Electronics (Crown St, Wollongong. NSW, AUSTRALIA)
 
We will also be using many other synths in the demo including Eurorack. 
 
This will be great for you if you are new to synths and would like to find out how the various components fit together. For more experienced synth users, it would be great to have you share your experience - maybe you have a synth you would like to bring along.
 
You are very welcome to bring along a synthesizer that you would be happy to have on display or demonstrate during the Session. We just ask that you please let us know what you are bringing so that we can coordinate these things.

 
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