[sdiy] Thinking Modular

[Oakley Sound]

Start small. Then add to it as needs dictate.

Your first thing is the case. This too should probably be expandable. So 
start with a small rack based set-up. Its cheap and its expandable. 
Thoman make a 5U high single 19" rack rail case for £30. This would be 
very suitable for the larger 5U high formats like my own stuff and MOTM.

The second thing is the power supply. Again don't get the biggest you 
can buy, start small. A 1A one is perfectly adequate for most start up 
systems. If the system grows then simply add more power supplies rather 
than buying a bigger supply for the whole modular.

For modules - in order of construction I would recommend:

One VCO, One VCF, One LFO, One ADSR and a couple of VCAs. An interface 
of some sort if you are using midi.

You can make music with this. Its basically a patched out SH-101 et al.

Then add to this as you see fit. An extra VCO, a noise source and extra 
LFO, an extra ADSR and so on. Don't forget VCAs since these allow 
voltage control of modulation depths and resonance of some filter designs.

Finally, its not the components or the PCBs that will cost a lot of 
money, its the panels, pots, knobs, sockets and other hardware.

Tony

www.oakleysound.com