Do you recognise this?

v-un-v · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 7:53 am Post subject: Do you recognise this?

Well I'm into the second week of quitting smoking, and my anti-smoking councilor turns up with a CO detecting machine in an all to familiar case.

Alan McKerchar you have been rumbled!!

As a matter of fact, I knew who these cases were made by a few weeks ago when I did a search on 'Plastic case' on Google. They are made by a company called 'Hofbauer'. I've included my hand here to let you all get an idea of the size we are talking about here. Sure you can buy other sizes, but this one's dead cute! I'm gonna get the transparent one- just watch this space!

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ladislaobiro · Joined: Mar 24, 2005 Posts: 105 Location: Italy

slabman · Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 102 Location: UK

Well done for tracking down the case - it's tiny! I'd also like to know how Alan McKerchar constructed the keyboard in his lovely Sound Lab Keyboard Version - is it a membrane keyboard? Capacitance touch keyboard? Come on Alan - don't keep me in suspense!

Macaba · Joined: Jul 13, 2005 Posts: 160 Location: UK

Now, as I advocate the freedom of information, here's how you guys can get one:

They sell them on Farnell, which has a UK division at http://uk.farnell.com

Simply Search: Hofbauer

And its the 'Technobag' Range.

There are different sizes and colours. I think I shall be getting one of these. Very Happy

v-un-v

Albut · Joined: Apr 09, 2005 Posts: 14 Location: England

Hi all,

The keyboard on my Sound Lab is a home made membrane type, but it is not 100% reliable. It does work but not very playable.I don`t have the time to work on the design to improve it so I won`t be using it. Also the keyboard circuit uses a bit too much current for battery use.

The Technobag case is also available fro RS Components.

slabman · Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 102 Location: UK

Thanks for the heads up on the keyboard. I had hoped it was a touch jobbie - I don't know why these keyboards fascinate me so. I think it must be that I was introduced to a Synthi AKS at a young and impressionable age! Oh well...

I wonder if this keyboard would be overkill for a Soundlab - http://www.cyndustries.com/synapse/synapse.cfm?pc=39&folder=jan1977&pic=26
Could end up looking like a Buchla Music Easel! Otherwise I like someone's suggestion of building one with a PAIA ribbon controller.

Actually, I think the true joy of the SoundLab is that it's small and simple (in a good way) enough that one can think 'how do I turn this little beast into an instrument?' and every builder has their own notion.

It's truly the cigar-box guitar of synths!

v-un-v · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 4:32 pm Post subject:

It may well be worth looking for the schematics for the EDP Wasp keyboard. It worked in a similar way.

What about a stylophone type keyboard? That could work too.

As for the Buchla Music Easel, it was my fave synthi (that and the VCS3!:) )

slabman · Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 102 Location: UK

v-un-v - the stylus kbd is a great idea - a SoundLab with one of those might look something like this picture from Julian Bunn's great Minisonic page- [img]http://pcbunn.cacr.cal tech.edu/jjb/Synthesizers/Minisonic2/Minisonic1.gif[/img]. I think it's coming together in my mind! The Wasp keyboard is also a good thought, but tricky - they actually used a top-octave generator chip (now unobtainable) with phase-locked loop trackers as 'VCOs'. There's a Wasp clone kit being developed at http://www.elby-designs.com but sadly without kbd. This little doo-hickey from Ken Stones CGS site would also make a great little mechanical kbd for a SoundLab, maybe with buttons for keys, - http://www.cgs.synth.net/modules/cgs10_pedal.html.

v-un-v · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:23 am Post subject:

hmm- I don't remember my wasp having a top octave generator chip in it? I once met the guy who designed it. Chris Hugget. Aparently the wasp worked more like a 'theremin' and was close-proximity based.

slabman · Joined: Sep 01, 2005 Posts: 102 Location: UK

v-un-v - you're right about the proximity - it's a capacitance touch keyboard. That feeds a multiplexer that selects notes from a top octave generator and passes them to phase-locked loop trackers. It's pretty complicated but I guess it doesn't need much setup so good for mass production. Schemos at http://www.elby-designs.com/wasp/.