[sdiy] RE: Interested in Tau Pipe Phaser / Flanger boards ?

[JAMES GALLANT]

I like it and would be interested in a PCB.

Speaking as a guy with a manufacturing background, you may want to consider 
making your pot, jack  and LED wiring points on a .100" and/or .156" 
spacing.  This will allow the builder to use a DotCom style connector scheme 
for pots, jacks and LED's should they so choose and still maintain the 
ability to solder directly to the board if that's what they want.  I wish 
that Ray Wilson had done this with his MFOS boards.   My personal preference 
would be the .156" spacing for pots and jacks (I like thicker wires and 
bigger connectors) and .100" for the LED's.

I also like your willingness to allow for different transistor pairs to be 
used.  If you can come up with a way to make the THAT Corp. THAT-300 a 
possibility, the builder will have even more options.  In addition, using 
THAT-300's can reduce the parts cost when compared to the SSM2210.  A single 
THAT-300 dual pair from Mouser is about $2 less than two SSM2210's from 
DigiKey at the piece price for DIP's.

But whatever you decide to do, I'll just be happy if you make boards 
available.

James



>From: "JH." <jhaible at debitel.net>
>To: "diy" <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>,"analog heaven" 
><analogue at hyperreal.org>,"MOTM List" <motm at yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: [motm] Interested in Tau Pipe Phaser / Flanger boards ?
>Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 22:35:34 +0200
>
>Hi,
>
>many of you may already know about this strange effect device,
>which sounds more like a flanger (some say, like a thru-zero flanger!),
>but actually is a phaser with 20 (twenty!) all pass filter stages.
>
>If you haven't heard it yet, go to
>http://www.keyboardmuseum.org/soundsheet/soundsheet.html ,
>scroll down to "The Pipe Phase Demo Record" and listen to the demo.
>
>The service manual is located here:
>http://www.musicsynthesizer.com/Diode%20Phaser/Diode%20Phaser.html
>
>I think it's quite impressive and extreme sounding, and it's closely
>related to the ARP Quadra Phaser which I've cloned some years ago:
>http://home.debitel.net/user/jhaible/additional_schemos.html
>
>And, looking for a project to further develop my pcb layout skills with
>RIMU before I start that big Vocoder, I thought the Tau Pipe would be
>a good choice.
>
>I've redesigned the original circuit, such that there are no more exotic
>components (no more obsolete dual FET), and all the circuitry that
>originally was potted in the infamous PD-10 modules, is part of the main
>circuit board in my version.
>I plan to make the layout such that you can
>*either*
>(1) use cheap CA3086 transistor arrays
>*or*
>(2) - for an ultra low noise version - SSM2210, MAT-02, LM394 (expensive! 
>20
>pairs needed!)
>*or*
>(3) use hand matched discrete transitors (unexpensive, but requires a lot 
>of
>work.)
>
>Also on the board will be the complete power supply (except the mains
>transformer),
>and you can either connect a small transformer with 2 * 18V AC secondary
>voltage,
>*or* connect a single 18V AC source such as a Wall Wart.
>
>All pots and jacks and LEDs will be connected externally with flexible 
>wires
>to allow some flexibility on the form factor (19" rack enclosure, or
>tabletop box,
>or even an oversized stomp box).
>The PCB has a rather small size for what it contains (90mm * 160mm), but
>it's probably
>too big to fit behind MOTM or other typical modular front panels.
>
>I'm currently in the process of having a first prototype made.
>I may also create a Schaeffer front panel later (haven't decided on 19" 1U
>or Tabletop
>version yet.)
>
>So, is there any interest for others to buy these PCBs, when / if the thing
>works as
>intended?
>In the past, I've mainly built on veroboard and had to turn down requests
>for pcb boards,
>or even for readily assembled modules. Now, that I've bought a layout
>software, the
>situation has slightly changed for the better :)
>
>So, if you're interested in getting a board, let me know.
>Right now, I have no idea what it will cost - keep in mind the whole 
>project
>will not
>be cheap, with all these transistor pairs!
>I won't offer complete kits. If there's enough demand, I'll sell the naked
>PCB boards,
>and publish the building information on my web site.
>
>Let me know if you're interested, to find out if it's worth the effort.
>
>JH.
>