An Analog Synthesizer for the 21st Century

Keysandslots · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:34 am Post subject:

Thanks. The email message was waiting for me when I got home, no problems after that. I am clueless when it comes to this DIY stuff but I figured this book was too good an investment to pass up. Maybe someday I'll be able to afford either the time to figure it out myself or the money to hire someone to build it.

Randy

StephenGiles · Joined: Apr 17, 2006 Posts: 507 Location: England

Thomas, we are currently on holiday in Spain on the Costa Blanca. I read the book yesterday morning whilst my wife did her daily sun bathing - absolutely superb stuff! It's great to be in proper summer weather - currently 30C after our terrible summer in the UK.

THeff · Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 2:13 pm Post subject: Thomas Henry Stuff!

All,

Here are some recent additions to my synth from the Thomas Henry family. They are very well behaved and get along well with the other modules. Laughing

THANKS THOMAS! Very Happy

Regards,

Tim

Thomas Henry · Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:45 pm Post subject:

Hi all,

Thomas Henry · Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject: Re: Thomas Henry Stuff!

Hi again,

THeff

philpeery · Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: new jersey, usa

Hi all,

Great stuff Tim! Glad to see some of these circuits get put behind panels! Nice job!

I have been trying to get a single sided pcb design done for both the lfo and a dual vca from the AS21C book. Has anyone made any progress on this? I plan on sharing my designs, but it might be a while. Too many projects, not enough time...!

Regards,
Phil

numbernone · Joined: Aug 16, 2006 Posts: 477 Location: new york city

I have a few layouts done from the book. I am not a self etch type, so I have thus far used Express PCB, its the only small run service I have found for my personal stuff. The only catch is the predetermined and small board size (3.8" x 2.5"), which has made it very fun trying to cram it all on there! I usually end up with lots of vertical resistors and ugly stuff like that. I need to fine tooth them one last time before ordering, but I have finished the LM 13700 VCO. The ADSR is so compact I have managed to fit 3 of them on a single tiny board, this is very exciting as i want TONS of EGs. I did a take on Tom Bugs XR layout some months ago, this is a killer VCO! The LFO will be next, but it is certainly intimidating. Then the VC noise, and then...

I will gladly share any of my layouts once they are tested, the big caveat being that these are bare bones boards, no silkscreen, soldermask etc. And all of my part placement/wiring is done with a pencil on old fashioned paper Embarassed

Im sure Magic Smoke will come thru with the goods for lots of these, but that will require time, and most of us want it NOW.

I love laying out PCBs, its like creating and solving a maze puzzle all at the same time.

23isgood · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:55 pm Post subject:

Very nice job Tim! Man you are on fire building all these SDIY projects. I was impressed enough with your Klee. Once every year, I go through a building frenzy, and build a bunch of stuff. I build three TH XRVCO's like this. This year I built a drum box. You can see it in the AH bay area pics.

pete

THeff · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks Phil, numberone, and Pete.

Building stuff on perfboard works well for me if I am only building one of something. It allows me to test new circuits quickly and make changes if necessary. I have also made lots of PCBs over the years using internet and magazine art work, and Eagle CAD for my own designs. I think you can't beat the prices for PCB supplies from Circuit Specialists.

Pete, you are right I have been on quite a SDIY building spree this year. I find that building stuff like this is a great escape for me and provides a lot of satisfaction that I am doing something useful with my time. My biggest problem right now is that my synth cabinet is full. I really need to add another tier to the top. I am embarrassed to tell you how big it already is. I will just say that I wouldn't want it to fall on me! Laughing

Regards,

Tim

philpeery · Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: new jersey, usa

Tim,

Pics! We must ave pics! Of the whole she-bang!

Phil

THeff · Last edited by THeff on Wed Sep 19, 2007 2:54 pm; edited 1 time in total

OK Phil, You asked for it!

Actually I needed an excuse to take some recent photos of my setup, so I took these tonight. The synth case is made from artifical woodgrain shelving boards as suggested on the Synth Dot Com web sight. The horizontal boards are 48", so you can see why I wouldn't want it to fall on me. Shocked

Regards,

Tim

Adam-V · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:34 pm Post subject:

That's a really sweet set-up Tim.

Cheers,
Adam-V

philpeery · Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 137 Location: new jersey, usa

Tim,

Thanks for posting the pics! I really like the midibox stuff, and the modular gear, well I can only say I am envious! You have more modules in your group waiting to go into a cabinet than I have in my entire synth! It would be cool to hear some music from this! I'm going to have to do a LOT of soldering to catch up!

Thanks again!
Phil

THeff · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:20 pm Post subject:

Thanks Adam & Phil,

I have been working with electronic music on and off for a number years. Recently though I have really made an effort to put together a lot of the missing pieces that I was curious about. I now want to concentrate more on the music part and less on the building. The Klee sequencer has really opened a new door to creativity...thanks to Scott Stites. The TH books have come along at a perfect time as well to provide some sophisticated designs that are still beautifully simple. SDIY is great!

Tim

Adam-V · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:33 pm Post subject:

Tim Servo

Hi Guys and Gals,

Someone has asked me what the stability and tracking of the LM VCO is like. Anyone here have some experience with that VCO? I would assume that the short-term stability would be pretty good (especially if built with a tempco), but I don't have any first hand experience with the LM.

Tim (are you experienced?) Servo

Scott Stites · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 2:53 pm Post subject:

Dang, Tim (THeff that is) you are on fire. I've never seen anybody crank out the perfboard that you can. I'm perpetually amazed at that.

And not that Tim Servo isn't on fire either, he's smokin', man, smokin' Very Happy

I had the LMVCO on breadboard last summer, and, I gotta tell you it was quite stable even on breadboard. It's really a sweet VCO, and one that didn't get enough time before the BB real estate agent showed up to reposses the space.

I'll be returning to it.....

flight · Joined: Sep 26, 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Seattle

I just downloaded the book and am quite impressed. The title, however, is a bit misleading. I was hoping that one of the design points in this book would be to use available ICs, instead of relying on long-obsolete components.

Please don't get me wrong, I am deeply appreciative for Thomas Henry and all he has done, yet many newcomers (like myself) are being discouraged by the lack of specialized components that are either completely evaporating or rapidly accelerating in cost.

~flight

fluxmonkey · Joined: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 708 Location: cleve

Scott Stites · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 7:31 pm Post subject:

flight.

The only IC I know of that has been discontinued would be the CA3080 in the Mega LFO (and it was still in production when Thomas designed that one just a couple of years ago). Even that one can be easily obtained, especially here in the States. If you'd like, I could name you any number of run-of-the-mill supply houses here that could provide you each and every part in that synth.

What parts strike you as being long obsolete?

Cheers,
Scott