uncertainty

i am working on another module
this is a combination of the bunchla source of uncertainty and ian fritz's chaquo
i have used 3 of the 4 SOU pcbs, i skipped the sample & hold / integrator pcb

this module has the following functions:

quantised random voltages
stored random voltages
fluctuating random voltages / stepped output
noise source (original digital MM5837 ver and analog tranistor version selectable on panel)
quadrature sine osc
double well chaos generator

i have populated the SOU boards, just waiting for the rare MM5837 chip to arrive
and i should get my Chaquo pcb in the next few weeks

it is going to be a challenge to get all these pcbs mounted behind the 2U panel :)

buchla and haible

got some more bits rolling after the huge futurlec order arrived
ontop of this i also finished a few modules on the 808pcb and 1/2 populated my mankato vcf




im about to mock up my case for the krautrock phaser
the case will be similar in style to a moogerfooger box
here is the panel design ready to cover some alu

Some more work

On the synth design front i have finished a few more panels
and i have decided to use banana plugs for all my modulation paths
while im can't really pack the panels any more dense because of this
i feel that since banana plugs have a smaller profile they wont be as inhibiting as 1/4 cables when they are all plugged in and this will provide some reflief when using my designs
also im toying with the idea of using the serge davis clone knobs
im not sure if it is worth it yet
im having troubles finding larger format knobs to match the silver and black knobs i have
the davis clones are pimp and not too expensive and work with other backlite style knobs

so here are a few more designs.
My adapatation of the LPG w/ CV summing amps and LEDS
there is lots of hoohaa for resonance at the moment but im not really worried about resonant filters as i can do that with bulk of filters.

My dual CGS VCO, same as before just with bananas.
im not sure if i should leave my sync input as a jack.. ill have to ask some people about this



I reckon the bananas look shit hot.
I will use black, green, purple and perhaps white.
black and green will be CV in / CV out
purple and white will be triggers and gates
I am also going to get coloured switch covers in the same colours
mostly green purple and black

Im getting excited about my studio again. I have started building my xoxbox and have ordered parts for some other modules and projects. I just wish i had an income. I have to quickly finish some projects for people so i can actually get some finances in to pay for all this stuff. damn money!


So..

I present my thesis on friday, i have the presentation almost done. Still only written about 1/4 of it up, so that is a bit worrying. I have other research assignments on urban sprawl and local contamination in water ways so i think ill have to focus on them for the next few days and try get them otu of the way.

Galv Etching

SDIY is such a painful yet rewarding task. I am a bit of a gluton for punishment in anything that i percieve to be interesting, usually these types of ventures incorporate a level of technical skill that i don't have and have to learn, and somewhere through the process i find something within that i can tailor with my medoicre design skills. SDIY fits into this task perfectly. Initally i had very small idea of how electronics systems worked, today my knowledge is growing larger by the day almost to the point i think i could work as a backup tech at some little electronics shop, not bad for a year or two troubleshooting problems in my rig eh. Electronics has been a big wall to jump however i think it has been beneficial in other fascits of my life, prior to this my logical attention span was minimal, which is not very good when your university degress is effectively in maths haha. So now the inner hack-designer is working on trying to make all these new electornics toys look awesome. So now i have found another task to punish myself with, and this is galvanised etching.

Basically what im going to do is etch an alluminium sheet of specific size. The etchings will be off my synth module faceplate designs. Most etching processes involve an acid that break down any exposed surfaces. Wherever there is contact, as long as you have the appropriate acid for the metal, the acid will pull metal ions from the metal via the chemical interaction. Galv etching works in a similar fassion but with no acid. This is a good thing as i have been using ferric chloride to etch circuit boards and the first time i did it i made myself really sick for about 3 days. That shit it noxious, and not only is it dangerous, it turns everything yellow, and i mean everything. Royal pain in the ass. So with galv etching instead of an acid all we do is breakdown the ions with electronic charge. Easy. You place your plates in a water and sulphide mix, most commonly salt or a sulphide mix with a chemical relationship to your metal. You chuck the annode and cathode from a low powered PSU on either side and the charge of your sollution will have the same chemical breakdown process as with acid however only at the point of contact.
Genius. So im going to give this a go once i have finished my exams.

More info on glav etching here
http://www.greenart.info/galvetch/advan.htm
( i wasnt really specific on the details here so if you are reading thing and are keen, dont use my vague directions goto this source)

The cool thing about this is now i can use exotic metals for my faceplates and be able to have all the decals. Previously i was using rusty steel and it looked great however the only way i could mark it was with a sharpie and it just became to ghetto for me, and that is saying something.

So now while i wait for school to be finished im redesigning all of my faceplates. This is fun. Here are my first 2. Klee Sequencer and Buchla 281c.

More to come.
While re-mounting the Klee onto a new faceplate is going to be a taks and a half, i am glad i got to redesign the panel. After using it over the last few weeks i have realised that a few things on my last panel were a bit skewiff.

Oh yeah 20 more days till i present my thesis. Scary.