What are your 5U plans for the weekend?

[Rigo]

Probably referring to huba’s post; when you edit the title in your reply, the thread pops up in your feed and in the recent posts when viewing from the main index as if that’s the title of the whole thread, not the post. “Feature”

Oops, I think I just made a mistake when making that post. My bad. Didn't realize it changes the title of the actual thread. That seems like something it definitely shouldn't do, as it'd make anyone able to change anyone else's thread title. Weird. I'll fix it.

It doesn’t change it. It’s a fake-out. Only the last post and latest posts show the wrong title. Nothing to fix now that there’s a newer post.

Unless someone quotes your post ?

[commoner]

Probably referring to huba’s post; when you edit the title in your reply, the thread pops up in your feed and in the recent posts when viewing from the main index as if that’s the title of the whole thread, not the post. “Feature”

Oops, I think I just made a mistake when making that post. My bad. Didn't realize it changes the title of the actual thread. That seems like something it definitely shouldn't do, as it'd make anyone able to change anyone else's thread title. Weird. I'll fix it.

It doesn’t change it. It’s a fake-out. Only the last post and latest posts show the wrong title. Nothing to fix now that there’s a newer post.

Unless someone quotes your post ?

Ha, fair enough.

[euphonic]

Do *not* buy cheap switches for these positions. You'll only do so once. Get name brands. I mean real old school name brands not the modern badges. I'm talking C&K, NKK, not Mountain or Taiway. <--Though the Taiway *are* being tested and just 'may' break the rule by being decent over time. Still too soon to say.

Thanks for the warning, KSS. Oakley uses APEM. So that’s what I use. And they’re not cheap. So they better be good!

And it is nice to know that Taiway may proof to be a viable alternative.

If you have a DC voltage source and some spare attenuators you can even use it as a make shift sequencer in and of itself!

A make shift sequencer…? Guess I have some reading to do, as well…

[Dr. Sketch-n-Etch]

I'm gonna start building someone a 2U MOTM-format Freak Shift.

[Moog$FooL$]

I'm gonna start building someone a 2U MOTM-format Freak Shift.

[Sideshow]

I'm gonna start building someone a 2U MOTM-format Freak Shift.

And I got started on the case the Freak Shift is gonna live in
Also got around to finish off a few modules I've had in backlog for way too long.
The TH X-4046 VCO has been living behind a kind of cardbox panel for years, so finally got around to repanel it (had the panel laying around for years as well). Kinda proud as this is one of my first modules I built when I was starting out, CNC-milled the PCB myself.
Anyway, I also had a photoshoot with my new fellas...

[cornutt]

Nice! The reflection in that first photo kind of makes it look like a Wiard 300-format panel.

[Sideshow]

Nice! The reflection in that first photo kind of makes it look like a Wiard 300-format panel.

Thanks!
Yeah, I see what you mean
Always loved the looks of the Wiard 300 system. Looks very alien like to me. Maybe one of the coolest front panel designs I’ve seen.

[Dr. Sketch-n-Etch]

I'm cooking the MOTM Freak Shift panel as I type this. Gawd, I hope it turns out alright, cuz I hate hate hate having to make Lazertran panels twice.

[Rex Coil 7]

I'm cooking the MOTM Freak Shift panel as I type this. Gawd, I hope it turns out alright, cuz I hate hate hate having to make Lazertran panels twice.

Best of luck!

[Huba-Swift]

Gonna be double checking schematics/layout for the Quad S/H module I'm working on. Probably my most dense Through Hold PCB layout so far. Has four sawtooth VCOs (not 1V/oct) as internal clock oscillators, 4 comparator/threshold circuits for inputs, 4 sample and holds, and an internal noise generator on a 1U wide PCB.

Edit: Those two ICs aren't what they say they are, that's just whatever it chose for the 3D render, those are both just LM324s.

[Dr. Sketch-n-Etch]

You call that dense?!?

Yeah, that's dense, but not that much more than I can achieve with my Excel layout tool and one-sided boards. Here's my 18-stage Dome filter board from the Freak Shift, which is my most dense board. This board is 2.1" x 4.3", and has 72 resistors, 18 film caps, 9 TL072s, and a collection of pin headers and sockets. Still not as dense as yours, though.

[Huba-Swift]

You call that dense?!?

Yeah, that's dense, but not that much more than I can achieve with my Excel layout tool and one-sided boards. Here's my 18-stage Dome filter board from the Freak Shift, which is my most dense board. This board is 2.1" x 4.3", and has 72 resistors, 18 film caps, 9 TL072s, and a collection of pin headers and sockets. Still not as dense as yours, though.
18-Stage Dome Filter.png

Very impressive to have such a dense board on a single layer. It's definitely an art. The nature of how components are intertwined, and trying to keep headers along the edge as much as possible both make a layout much harder. I definitely could not get my circuit as compact as yours on a single layer. I may redo my board layout as a dedicated panel layout, similar to how you do yours, but will order this layout for testing purposes in case I need to change anything for next layout.

Also by dense I didn't just mean components, but also in functionality. For instance, I was really happy to have found a good way of making a sawtooth VCO with only a single Op-amp! It doesn't track perfect 1V/oct, but it's more than good enough for this purpose.

Not being able to rely on assigned schematics or airwires for laying out a board must make errors a lot more likely. I'm impressed you are able to keep track of everything on more complicated builds with Excel.

[Dr. Sketch-n-Etch]

Not being able to rely on assigned schematics or airwires for laying out a board must make errors a lot more likely. I'm impressed you are able to keep track of everything on more complicated builds with Excel.

Not really. Once I've completed a layout, I just make the PCB, stuff it and test it. Usually my layouts are fine the first time, but occasionally I make a silly mistake or two. In that case, I can usually kludge the fix (break a few traces, solder in a jumper wire, move a component or two, etc) and then I just correct my layout so the next one is perfect. That's really the big advantage of doing everything yourself. PCBs are my breadboards (and they're a lot easier to do than breadboarding). As you may know, I originally developed my Excel layout tool for breadboards (inspired by a similar, but not very functional, thing on MFOS) -- I had no intention of using it for actual PCBs. However, one day I used it to lay out a circuit (an MFOS Weird Sound Generator) on one of those little credit-card-sized proto-boards, and I realized that I could do the same thing with actual PCBs. I've been doing it the same ever since -- for about 14 years now. I can lay out a fairly elaborate circuit pretty quickly now.

[Dr. Sketch-n-Etch]

My 5U plans for this weekend are to make an aluminum stooge bracket to connect a 4" x 6" PCB to a 1U panel so I can finish a Noiseless 8-Channel Interpolating Scanner, which I've built for a local fellow. However, before I do that, I've got to clean up in the garage (Sketchy Labs) so I can access my bandsaw and belt sander.

[Mutant]

I'm actually going to be bring out the 5U system for its first show tonight. It's just a house party, but it has been good practice to think through how to use it live. My biggest challenge is that I really want the flexibility of the home studio, with everything on its own mix channel, with multiple effects sends, etc.. without having to bring too much gear and spending a lot of time setting up.