[sdiy] Real-world Eurorack signal chain advice...

[Justin Owen]

From: Barry Klein [Barry.L.Klein at wdc.com]
Received: 14.09.2010 22:05:39
To: Harry Bissell
Cc: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Real-world Eurorack signal chain advice...

>Yeah, a good example of design for cost.
But back to the original question - with such modules
as spring reverbs, analog delays, multi-stage phasers - 
design for low noise or design for high level?

I spent a couple of days walking round in circles on this. Build for a hot signal but have low-level inputs falling short of full bandwidth or build for an average/low signal but have hot inputs getting their heads and feet chopped off?

Then of course it's only a small jump to asking esoteric crap like where does the waveshaper end and the modulation/signal conditioning start? All part of the same module? Two, three different modules?

If I bought this module as it stands right now (or as it did before last nights session) I'd get decent use out of it - but to really exploit it I'd have to get control over the amplification, attenuation and biasing of the modulation inputs. That means buying it in or building it in.

The signal path is actually pretty simple and I'm not looking for pure reproduction in and out. I'm more concerned with control and flexibility than I am about noise.

Once I got my head round that - building it in was suddenly a good option again. Build for the widest possible number of inputs and build in the ability to condition them so the module can be used to it's best potential.

FWIW - the current design will (should...) accept a 20V PP signal - AC or DC. An attenuation/gain stage will raise a 2.5V PP signal to 10V PP or drop a 20V PP signal down to 10V PP. I added an LED peak indicator so you know when you're at optimum. From there I can push and pull things where I need them and anyone using it also has the option to completely ignore and or abuse any of those settings as they wish.

So there you go. Thanks for the sounding board.

J