[sdiy] Few newbie question

Tue Feb 15 07:25:46 CET 2005

Yes!!!!!!! Go modular!!!!!!!!!
  I'm usually reluctant to answer newbie questions because I've only been doing this for a couple years...but here's my two cents. (responses mixed into your post)

James Petts <jpetts at gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Folks

I've built myself a FatMan and modded the crap out of it, plus
built a Theremin and a ribbon controller, but I still feel myself
restricted by what I can do with them, so I'm looking to go
modular.

>>>got a Fatman, too. Good for what it is.(also the first kit I built)

I've been taking a little look around, and rejected the Paia
9700 series, as that also seems too limiting, and I want to
move onto something a little more open-ended

So, I looked around and came up with the following candidates
for building a modular system:

1. Blacet

>>>I don't own any, but I use the waveshaper portion of the VCO circuit in all my (homebuilt)VCOs because it's such a cool feature. Modules seem high quality, ingenius, good prices. Plus they're very flexible as far as selling kits for systems that subscribe to a different form factor(HUGE PLUS).

2. MOTM

>>>Second kit I ever built (440 LP). Kits are amazingly thorough. High quality hardware and panels have pcb shield. Somewhat expensive (but NOT overpriced).

3. Oakley

>>>Unfortunately, I have no experience with Oakley. The exchange rate of the $ to GBP sucks, so they're a little too much for me. Though I would happily pay Oakley for access to schematics if that were possible.

4. Synthesizers.com

>>>I have two of their VCOs and they always make me happy. Same goes for the EG, VCA, and EnvFollower I have of theirs. Great prices (especially for what you get in return). The modules are very plain vanilla which is good and bad at the same time. Highly recommended.

5. Modcan

>>>Please... I can't afford that. I browse the webpage lustily. Such a wonderfull variety of unique modules.

I like the look of CMS, but I don't have that sort of money, plus
I want to build it myself.

So, on to the questions:

a) Is this a reasonably comprehensive list, or is there another
manufacturer I might want to consider?

>>>it's far from comprehensive, but a good start. You left out CGS (Ken Stone). I have ten modules I made and they're all great. I've found it imparative to breadboard first to exactly tailor them to my needs. Check out the schematics, buy some parts, and prove it to yourself.   There are dozens of people who make avaible their pcbs and/or full modules. Whatever you do, DON'T commit to just one manufacturer. Commit to standards such as 1V/Oct and positive going gates but don't be too strigent about it. I've had some happy accidents when combining modules with differing standards (also some unhappy ones...such is the life of an experimenter). 

Oh yeah... EFM has cheap pcbs available. Some good, some not so good. 

There's also: Cynthia (like Modcan)

Don't forget Wiard !!!!!!!!

b) Are all of these candidates up to the same level of quality,
or are any outstanding?

>>>MOTM I consider outstanding. Get rid of expensive pots and knobs and they're all in the same ballpark.

c) How much does the difference in cost make a difference to
the sound/stability/robustness of these systems?

>>>It makes a difference in robustness. Sound has little to do with money, i.e.: perfect waveshapes don't necessarily sound better than rough ones do. A filter that easily distorts is sometimes more desirable than a smooth, liquid sounding one. Noise can be a curse or blessing.

d) I'm pretty competent with a soldering iron, but don't do SMT
stuff (which I assume none of these utilise). Would anybody
care to comment on the relative merits of bare PCB versus
prepopulated boards as supplied by, say, Oakley. If there is
a significant saving to build it yourself, does that still hold when
buying 1% or .1% resistors, for example, or does it rapidly
disappear with higher spec components?

>>>I only buy pcbs. Usually I just use protoboard. You'll save a lot of money buying your own parts(kinda depends on the quantities ordered).

e) Are there any good resources on the theoretical side of
audio synthesis (I'm not afraid of maths)?
f) Are there any important questions I am missing?

Some backgorund: I'm in the US, so European stuff is pretty
expensive for me, which makes me think that MOTM might
be a good choice.

My budget is about $300-$500 a month, but I'm more interested
in getting a quality system that will last me a lifetime rather than
getting immediate gratification.

>>>Whoa !!! That's a nice budget. If you want to build everything yourself then: MOTM, Blacet, CGS would be good.

If you want preassembled then: MOTM, Blacet, Synthesizers.com, Wiard, Modcan.

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm looking not to make mistakes,
and I'm sure you are all pretty enthusiastic about analgue synths,
so I'm hoping you'll be able to assist me.

Thanks

James

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