Odyessey Problems

[Stopp,Gene]

My rule of thumb - try to have the power supply be able to provide twice
the current that you plan to draw. Or something like that.

I'd like to comment on the Odyssey patch-point question: the Odyssey's
internal circuitry is quite modularized in the first place, so tapping
off or inserting patch points should be very straightforward. It very
much follows what most of us would consider to be standardized
synthesizer input/output techniques. In fact, it was created so long ago
that it probably helped establish those standards! I have never even
considered adding patch points to an Odyssey, because there is not much
you can't do with it in the stock configuration. The multiple slider
input attenuator format with the slide switch to choose the modulation
sources for each circuit section allows a huge amount of flexibility for
such a simple machine, without having to resort to patch cords. The ARP
guys deserve a lot of credit for creating a synthesizer with such a high
cheap-hardware-to-feature ratio. Either a flash of brilliance, or a
happy fluke.

Of course this means that the Odyssey does not need any patch points to
work within itself. Patch points do make sense if you want to make the
circuit sections available as part of a larger system, as you intend. If
you want to tap off an output from a module, just add a wire to the
output and maybe add a series 1K protection resistor. If you want to add
an input to a module, just add another input resistor to the existing
summing node. If you want to disconnect the internal circuit sections
from each other, then you will need to cut traces. It should be pretty
easy as long as you have schematics. I think you'd need to wire onto the
big circuit boards rather than the little backplane, however - that
backplane pretty much only provides interconnection between the big
circuit boards. The individual circuit sections on the same big board
are interconnected on the board.

 - Gene

 ----------
From: media at mail1.nai.net
To: David Salter; National 542 2402; Synth DIY
Subject: Re: Odyessey Problems
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 1998 11:05PM


>The documentation states that the +15v is restricted to 180mA and the
>-15V to 150mA. Would it be a problem if I powered the unit with a psu
>of a higher rating? I may eventually want to power of modules from the
>supply, i.e. an ASM-1 pcb I got from Gene ages ago but have not even
>started yet.

You can use a supply with a higher current rating, but you should use a
PSU
with the same identical voltage.  In order to determine if a PSU can
power
an ASM-1 as well, find out how much current each side of an ASM-1 draws
(Sean Costello et al just posted a bunch of websites from ASM builders)
and
then add those numbers to the numbers for the ARP.  If the sums are less
than the rated output, then you can power both with the PSU.

>secondly the unit is a fine instrument in its present configuration,
>but I would like to have jack points, probably switched ala 2600 so I
>can use it with my Doepfer A100.
>My question is can I just cut tracks and wireup the sockets or should
>I need to do something that will protect inputs to the Odyessey and
>ensure that there is sufficient signal/ attenuation at the outputs.

I've never owned an ARP, but there was this tech who was offering to
install these patch points for a reasonable fee.  I heard it was quite
popular.  I don't have his name or address, but I'm sure if you searched
the AH archives you could find out more about it.

PEACE OUT :)
MARK

 . . . still waiting for the Arizona Capacitor Catalog