My Mini Moog Voyager. Click to go to my web site...

Sunday, January 30, 2011

YouTube channel

I've setup a YouTube channel for videos. Nothing yet, but check back for news.

http://www.youtube.com/user/dingebre

Life is good

So, I received the last three prototype PCBs; Voltage Follower, Ring Modulator, and Input Amp. When these have been checked out, I'll order a small production run and will call the modular part of this done!

I'm working with the Duo Phonic keyboard right now. I captured the schematic and have decided to use PCB mounted switches and pots where possible. Like the sequencer, it locks in the panel layout, but I think it will make other aspects easier in the long run.

Nyle has been playing around with the Photo MOS switches I want to use to emulate the buss keybed. He thinks they will work well. That is good news as it will make the interface between the Doepfer MTC64 and the Duo Phonic keyboard electronics easier.

Stay tuned. I'm still playing around with video/audio and will post soon.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Getting really close!

The project is getting very close to fruition. I've recently tested and now have working the VC Trigger Generator, Noise, Selective Inverter, Phase Shifter, Voltage Processing Module, and tonight, the Tuner Monitor. The Voltage Follower (slew or portamento), Ring Modulator, and Input Amplifier prototypes have shipped and should be here early next week. After that, I need to finish up some panels and then order some production PCBs.

Nyle came over last night and spent a few hours helping me go through the Selective Inverter. It is a very interesting module, and I don't quite know how to explain it. I guess because I'm still trying to understand it. It was a specialty module Nyle built for a customer and very few were every built.

Now, onto the keyboard. I'm starting with the duophonic keyboard. I've captured the schematic and will start the layout this weekend. I think I've got a way to easily use any new matrixed keybed or even a generic midi controller as an old single buss keybed.

First, Doepfer makes a DIY unit they call the MKE. It takes a Fatar matrix keybed and outputs the midi information like note on/off, velocity, etc.

Second, Doepfer also make a unit they call the MTC64. It converts midi note on/off to a TTL voltage for 64 notes. You can cascade two to get all 128 notes if  you want.

Working backward, I can use the MTC64 and feed each TTL "switch" to a solid state relay or even a reed switch relay. That relay becomes the switch for the buss. I can then build the resistor ladder down this series of relays and I got a single buss, 61 note keybed that is just waiting for midi note on/off messages. the cool thing about this system is it is now a general purpose midi to Steiner Duo-Phonic CV generator. You can plug anything which generates midi note on/off signals. Nyle saw he could plug his EVI midi out into such a controller to play his modular when he gets it built.

The next step will be to take a Fatar 61 note keybed and using the MKE, build a cool looking keyboard. In reality, I can just use my Synthesizers.com keyboard.

I'm thinking I'll build the keyboard electronics with relays and MTC64 into its own box. It will have wheels, thanks to Synthwood, for portamento and pitch bend as well as the other knobs for tuning and scale. There will be a companion panel for the modular which will connect this "module" and make the various outputs available. I'm really liking this little find I made on the Doepfer web site.

OK for now. I should have a bit of a breather from work next week. I still really want to put together some video of the modules. Nyle is offering to help make them which I think is great!

The web site has had a bunch of updates in the last month or so. Have a look.