I have these chips. What can I do?

[Fenris]

Hi All

Well I successfully built my wsg from unkle krunkles vero plan. Having had some fun with the finished item I asked what I should try next, so here I am

I understand the basic ideas being bandied around but seriously lack a bit of understanding as to how you go about plugging this into that to create the other. I am not a noob to electronics but am used to following schematics not 'free wiring'.

I have in my box of bits these chips;

1 40106
1 741
1 4017
2 555
1 TL084

So what can I do with these to start a lunetta type gadget?

the 40106 I understand as far as what I have done so far with the wsg.
the 741 is an op amp....... I have made a pre amp from one
the 4017 is a counter.......... made an led chaser light with one
the 555 a versatile timer........used with the above and for a servo tester
the TL084 can be used like the 40106......... not used one yet

But how do put some or all of these together to make something interesting and expandable? Thoughts, schematics and general and general advice please. I am still plowing through this whole section but need steering and enlightenment

regards

Fenris

[RF]

Hi Fenris!
Glad to have you here!

Well - With what you have you can make a decent start. Keep reading through the posts in the Lunetta Forum - and read through the experiments we've all gone through in the last year or so - there is LOTS of information to be had.

As for me with your chip stash - I might make a series of clocks with the 40106, an R/2R ladder with the 741, and a VCO with the 555.
You can make good sounds with that and all of it will be useful as you continue to add to your project.

Look in the oscillators section and you'll find many examples using the 40106. I use that chip lots for clocks.
I recently posted a simple schematic for a VCO using the 40106 - I've been messing with it on the breadboard for a few days now. I like it.

The 741 could be used in an R/2R ladder circuit - I use that circuit a lot. Think of it as a simple Digital to Analog converter. I use it to create voltages for a VCO from various clock pulses or logic states from other chips. The diagrams for that are here, too....

The 555 can also be made into a VCO - I posted a design from EDN magazine that uses an opamp along with it. It makes a decent VCO that way - but there are probably easier ways...
I think what I posted used a TLO72 or TL071, but the TL084 would work. Two issues with it though - bi-polar supply is needed...and it uses 0 to -10 volts for the control voltage, so you would have to make an inverter with the other part of that op-amp to feed the VCO. Maybe a tad complex for a Lunetta....

The 4017 - well there are a few circuits that use that for clock dividers, sub-oscillators - and along with some other chips for various CV generators.

Really - just jump in and build something - the 40106's are a good starting point. It'll make more sense as you go along.

Good luck!

bruce

[Fenris]

Thanks for the info I am indeed still reading and reading and reading I will have a go and see what transpires. My first project though is to build a stand alone LM386 amplifier. The idea being that it will be a 'module' that I can plug into the breadboard where it will pickup the AF and power.

So much to do so little time!!!!!!!!!!!!

regards

Fenris

[Lofi Ninja]

I would make a Baby10 sequencer with the 4017 - Has CV and gate out. I would make an oscillator with the 555 to control the sequencer.
Then make an VCO with the 40106. Plug sequencer in to VCO and voila, noise.. And then theres probably some gates left on the 40106 for some extra stuff.. Filter maybe or LFO to modulate 555 on pin 5 to make the sequencing interesting...

[Fenris]

OK I get that. Found the schematics for the baby 10. I can do a 555 oscillator with dual pots to control speed and duration. I need to look up the terms CV and gates as I am not quite understanding how it pieces together

regards

Fenris

[andrewF]

[Fenris]

Hi AndrewF

My little brain had almost come up with the right idea for them thanks for clarifying. One of the main problems I'm finding is getting to the information that would help me.

Theres so much going on the search function brings up every nuance of a search phrase. I had 15 tabs open last night and although all the info is useful it may not be directly relevant to me.

Can you point me to any posts threads that are most relevant to what Lofi ninja said;

[Lofi Ninja]

40106 VCO http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-33937.html

Uses two gates so you have 4 left for something else.. I would go with a Lowpass filter

LP filter http://thesquarewaveparade.com/brdlayot.html
Scroll about halfway down.
Experiment with component values.

Ok 3 gates left..

Maybe another VCO..

Remember if you don't use all gates to tie unused inputs to gnd...

[RF]

[Fenris]

Hi There

I'm still reading Looked at your site RF Very nice! I havve bookmarked some others as well for reference and ordered a couple ogf the following to what I have now. My LM386 Amp works fine so thats ready to use with whatever I manage to build. I have a large piece of veroboard coming as well and a bag of 100 LED's.

4046B MICROPOWER PHASE LOCKED LOOP
4017B DECADE COUNTER/DRIVER
4011B QUAD 2 INPUT NAND GATE

My breadboards ready to rumble but I'm still wobbling about what to do
Part of the problem is understanding some of the syntax of the schematics used because it's slightly different to what I'm used to following. Still, back to the reading ..........

Slightly off topic heres a schematic of a design I modified and amalgamated. Basically the original circuit was a stand alone voice modulator. Thats the lower right section of the circuit. The amplifier on the original was a simple LM386. I simply spliced and replaced it with a single TDA2003 based circuit. This is the new version with a bridged amp for greater watts. The upper circuit is a sound to light unit which is based on the velleman MK114 kit but with the extraneous bits removed. I etched my own PCB for it, only took 2 attempts to iron on the toner pattern It's used for Dalek voices which is my other interest. Full size DIY prop!
This is by way of a show and tell I guess. This is what I can do with known quantities. As I hinted before 'free thinking' electronics is not natural to me. I have a basic understanding can put things together from 'plans' but little else. Though I have been adding caps to my WSG in parallel to the existing ones I get that........and if I added resistors in parallel to the existing I know it would change the sounds again or if I just swapped them out for other values. But thats about it.


On topic: The 7555/555 & 4066 combo could be useful in a lunetta? maybe

regards

Fenris

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[RF]

Looks like nice work, fenris. Thanks for the 'show and tell'

I was thinking that maybe you need to narrow down or define what your goal is with the next project. I'm a little confused as to what you are after, anyway.

Do you want a noisemaker or more of a musical instrument? Do you want it to be expandable or an all in one self contained unit? Patch cords or fixed wiring? Do you want something you can easily 'tame' or would you prefer more uncertainty?
Are you really interested in Lunetta type circuits or more into something thats ready to make sounds?

The impression I get from people looking at my Lunetta type boxes is that it takes a certain type of person to 'get it' - and then some instruction for them to be able to make sounds with it.

My 4 year old neighbor kid can play with a WSG and be thrilled.
I can give the pre-patched soundlab to a 10 year old and they'll enjoy it.
A technically inclined teenager can have fun with the modular.
But it takes more of an 'uber-geek' to do much interesting with the Lunetta.

Any of this make any sense?

bruce

[Fenris]

Hi RF

well the lunetta idea intrigues me. Simplicity of the individual parts which brought together make something greater than the sum of it's parts.

Noise and music are pretty close but I would lean towards something more melodious but making interesting sounds is up there.

Patch cables for me I think. The freedom of experimentation they give is obvious. Probably tame (easy to learn and understand) I tend to learn backwards so once I get what I'm doing I can experiment from there.

Modular! I get most fun out of building small projects. Building something that works is great and if I can continue to expand it further all the better.

Your 40106 circuit where you have paired up 2 off the inverters Is interesting. I can see that it would harmonise. CV's I am getting the drift of. Apply such an possibly variable voltage to the relevant input of, say a 40106 input and you can effect the 'pitch' depending on the CV level. I get this from looking the sequencer schematic.

I'm not an uber geek (I think) but once up and running I am likely to get into playing around and experimenting.

Regards

Fenris

[slacker]

Sounds like you're starting to get the idea. I think the whole Lunetta thing can be a bit tricky to grasp at first partly because there isn't any one set design or even really a formula to follow, every one is different.

As a start I'd say build a bunch of oscillators using a 40106, because you're probably going to want those where ever your machine goes after that. Then basically read most of the posts in this forum and buy a bunch of chips, fortunately they're pretty cheap. Get yourself a breadboard and experiment with things. That's basically what I do, try things out for a few weeks and if I like them they get built into the machine.

[Fenris]

Hi Slacker

I've prepped my breadboard, made a 386 amp and need too sort out a PSU as my battery has been nicked! Close to starting in earnest now. I have indeed spent much time reading lots and lots of posts

It seem that it breaks down, loosely, as follows;

IC's that make the sounds
IC's that alter the sounds
IC's that mix the sounds
IC's that synchronise separate sound sources
IC's that play the sounds in sequences
and probably a lot of IC's doing things I haven't even discovered yet

It's sure to be fun.

regards

Fenris

[Fenris]

Well I have a LM386 Amp module made. Unfortunately I had a bit of a kerfuffle with the volume pot and whilst refitting it caused more problems and it looks like I have damaged it. Still, pressing in the right place proves the amp works great. Also made a passive ring mod which is for another totally separate project but if it works I will knock up another to use with the Lunetta.

I have managed to try the ring mod out My cheapo MP3 Player with Lady gaga on it (please don't ask) and the WSG and the Amp at the output. It works!!!!!!!!!! very interesting effect I can't wait to get my Wein Bridge Oscillator up and running with it.

regards

Fenris