MU single width VCO Ideas

megaohm · Post by **megaohm** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 2:50 pm

dslocum wrote:
Paul,

That's what I was trying to show in the diagram a few posts ago. The buss would be Oakley's 3 pin pinout and internally bussed. Did I miss something in what you said?

Not at all. I just missed reading the whole thread before I opened my mouth!

What is the Oakley 3 pin pinout? I have some of these normalizing options as part of my CdS module. I only did a small run of these so I can change them for the next run if necessary.
Let's talk about this and come to an agreement we could use as a standard.
It will save us builders some trouble and the user base will be spared any PITA.

robotmakers · Post by **robotmakers** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 4:46 pm

Just putting in my 2 cents as owner of 921 A/Bs. It's nice to have the A module to allow for simultaneous tuning and pulse width control of all oscillators. How about an optional "master" module that would perform the cv normalization function and allow simultaneous pwm of all oscs, or maybe some other functions? The big untapped frontier in modular synth development is how to get all these modules to work together for efficient use. As far back as the '60s, they were already trying to allow presets. Since then? Oops - am in danger of thread hijacking.

Just wanted to mention that Doug is a great guy. He sent me a few Moog edge connector contacts for free. I'm normalizing stuff -apropo of my comments above!

Cheers,
Roger

robotmakers · Post by **robotmakers** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:06 pm

Some more ideas, some of which touch on Doug's other thread about live use of modulars - based on the idea of a VCO master module for a group of several VCOs

- single set of 2 or 3 cv inputs summed for all (single space) VCO's in the group
- single pwm input/control
- sync on/off master switch to sync all vco's
- mixed output of all vco's, with on/off/-6db switches for each VCO
- octave up/ down switch for each VCO
- detune knob, which adds an adjustable random offset to each VCO tuning
- switchable choice of waveform for the mix output

The idea is to provide a single point of control for multiple redundant functions, and avoid the need for multiples and for repatching, in order to facilitate live performance.

Synthbuilder · Post by **Synthbuilder** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:11 am

megaohm wrote:What is the Oakley 3 pin pinout?

0.1" Molex header (you could use MTA)

Pin 1 CV
Pin 2 NC - but actually connected to ground on the power distribution board.
Pin 3 Gate

Only pins 1 and 3 are actually connected in the connecting cable. The middle pin is left empty.

The modules that use the Oakley Buss are:

VCO, VCO-Controller, midiDAC, ADSR/VCA

More information in the Dizzy Builder's Guide.

http://www.oakleysound.com/dizzy.htm

Tony

suitandtieguy · Post by **suitandtieguy** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:47 am

the SDF and P-L/LPF both have a 5-pin MTA100 header on the back where pins 1-4 are 1v/oct CV and pin 5 is ground.

the dual gate delay had a connector on it as well, but that module is deprecated and i don't even remember the pinout. i'm going to do something different on my EG.

dslocum · Post by **dslocum** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 3:24 pm

Given that the single width VCO will probably materialize in the not too distant future...

...What features would you kind folks desire in a oscillator driver? Single width, I'll assume.

dslocum · Post by **dslocum** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:06 pm

Here's an updated VCO based on some feedback, and my first blush VCO Driver layout - open to comments. What do you guys think?

"SLAVE" controls up to 3 VCO octaves and the LEDs show the "beat" rate. Everything else should be obvious.

fac · Post by **fac** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:59 pm

What does the tune range switch on the osc driver do?

I'm definitely buying at least 2 VCO's, but I'm not sure I need the driver (most of my sounds use only 1 or 2 VCO's), though it would be nice to add some normalization and reduce cable clutter.

impaledfaith · Post by **impaledfaith** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 2:27 pm

i am definitely interested in the redesigned version of this module. having a ZO sine out is important to me.

i plan on buying at least one, but probably two of these as soon as cash allows. great design Doug!

dslocum · Post by **dslocum** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:49 pm

fac wrote:What does the tune range switch on the osc driver do?

The range switch is the scale of the Master Tune pot. Up is wide range (several octaves end to end) and Down is low range with semitones over the range. The Moog 901A had this too.

The Driver module would be most useful in live performances - kinda like the Minimoog controls on steroids. At least that's _MY_ wet dream.

darwingrosse · Post by **darwingrosse** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:59 am

I wonder if it wouldn't be helpful to Doug if we did a bit of hand-raising over our purchase possibilities for these modules. I would soft-commit to 2 VCO's immediately, 1 more eventually, and an eventual purchase of the Driver module. My most pressing need is for more VCO in my portable cabinet, but the driver module would probably suit long-term expansion.

Of course, my music tends to sound more like a street fight between patch cords than, um, music, so the Driver is more of a want than a need.

fac · Post by **fac** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:23 pm

I'm also planning to buy two SSL VCO's around May-June, or when they're available, and possible a third one further down the road. I will very likely add a Tap Tempo LFO to my VCO's order.

If I add another cabinet further down the road, I'd like to add the osc driver, the JJP Samplecorder, and maybe a second Digital Delay, but that might not happen sooner than 2013.

essex sound lab · Post by **essex sound lab** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:45 pm

I would buy three sets (where one set = Driver + 3VCOs). Maybe four.

doctorvague · Post by **doctorvague** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 1:51 pm

essex sound lab wrote:I would buy three sets (where one set = Driver + 3VCOs). Maybe four.

You go boy - in multiple voices!

impaledfaith · Post by **impaledfaith** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:09 pm

i would like to think that i would be able to grab at least one sometime this summer.

dslocum · Post by **dslocum** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:00 pm

impaledfaith wrote:having a ZO sine out is important to me.

Forgive my ignorance, but what do you mean by "ZO sine" ?

dslocum · Post by **dslocum** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:10 pm

darwingrosse wrote:I wonder if it wouldn't be helpful to Doug if we did a bit of hand-raising over our purchase possibilities for these modules. I would soft-commit to 2 VCO's immediately, 1 more eventually, and an eventual purchase of the Driver module. My most pressing need is for more VCO in my portable cabinet, but the driver module would probably suit long-term expansion.

Of course, my music tends to sound more like a street fight between patch cords than, um, music, so the Driver is more of a want than a need.

Thanks Darwin. That's excatly the kind of feedback I'm trying to elicit from the good folks here.

From a "front panel" view, I think the VCO is pretty much a done-deal, except that I'll be exchanging the SINE and WAVE outputs.

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE more input on the Driver module, because the features of one affect the other. Therefore I can't commit to a VCO design without knowing what I'll need from a Driver module behind the panel.

Comments on how you might use a VCO Driver are very important right about now. Anyone see a studio need? Live performance need? Other?

dslocum · Post by **dslocum** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:11 pm

essex sound lab wrote:I would buy three sets (where one set = Driver + 3VCOs). Maybe four.

You know I'll be holding you to that!

impaledfaith · Post by **impaledfaith** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:12 pm

dslocum wrote:
impaledfaith wrote:having a ZO sine out is important to me.
Forgive my ignorance, but what do you mean by "ZO sine" ?

oops, i did not properly punctuate my comment.

i have a Zeroscillator, so a sine out (to modulate the ZO) is important to me.

dslocum · Post by **dslocum** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:44 pm

impaledfaith wrote:
dslocum wrote:
impaledfaith wrote:having a ZO sine out is important to me.
Forgive my ignorance, but what do you mean by "ZO sine" ?
oops, i did not properly punctuate my comment.

i have a Zeroscillator, so a sine out (to modulate the ZO) is important to me.

Kinda what I thought you meant, but I too, can spell "ASS U ME"

Be sure to enlighten me with your VCO comments.

dslocum · Post by **dslocum** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:11 pm

Who would prefer an Octave range switch vs Coarse Freq pot?
(Realize octave switching will add a few $$ to the build)

I'd like to get a FINAL (I mean really FINAL) design so I can start making these.

Opinions?

Christopher W. · Post by **Christopher W.** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:37 pm

I'd prefer an Octave switch over a Coarse knob. It's not a do-or-die thing for me though, so long as the coarse isn't too "touchy".

fac · Post by **fac** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:45 pm

Well, I have six Q106 and they have octave selectors, so just for variation I would say I'd prefer the Coarse knob. I do realize that tuning two oscillators one octave apart or so may be a bit harder, but what the hell, that's why I bought a digital tuner.

Bryan B · Post by **Bryan B** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:07 pm

It think the coolest feature ever on a "driver" module would be a CV spread input that could detune based on the input CV. That would take multiple oscillators from hard sync (no beating) to massively detuned robot powering down kind of funk.

That being said, I don't know if I would ditch my Dotcom Oscillators for something new. It would take a lot for me to switch, although the smaller footprint is already a great concept.

AnalogBastard · Post by **AnalogBastard** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:49 pm

Switches

pots... Either way I plan on getting some of these when they are ready

MOD WIGGLER

MOD WIGGLER

MU single width VCO Ideas

Oscillator Driver Features