Fred,
Many thanks for sharing those interesting insights with the rest of
the MOTM group. The module list looks great.
I'm a relative newcomer to MOTM (my 2nd order of modules is on it's
way) and I have to say this stuff is pretty exciting. I can remember
back when I was a teenager I had the opportunity to put together a
few heathkits, a hobby which was more than I could afford at the
time. (Alas, I'm a softhead now.) I also vividly remember the
modular synth my uncle had. (Everyone has a crazy uncle - this was
mine.) I didn't get to visit him much, and I was NEVER allowed in
this one room in the basement. But one time when I was around 10 he
took me into that room, and I about lost it. The room was dimly lit,
and against one wall was this obelisk with knobs and jacks, some kid
of sci-fi device I thought. It looked gigantic at the time (but I
think it was just a Moog 15). He let me play with that thing for
hours. I felt like a wild scientist creating all those sounds, with
patch cords hanging everywhere, those knobs and lights, and it left a
major impression on me. I think this is why I've gravitated toward
this MOTM hobby. And at this point, it's looking more like an
obsession. (Crazy uncle, eh?)
GeorgeK
--- In motm@y..., Fred Becker <mach25@i...> wrote:
> Greetings MOTMers. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area we have a
modular
> synth club called Modularities, and last Saturday held our fifth
> meeting. Since Paul was there and gave a report on projected
modules, I
> thought you all would like to read about our meeting. So here are
the
> actual notes I sent to our club members--
>
> MODULARITIES MEETING FIVE
>
> We had our fifth Modularities group meeting at Andy's place on
Saturday,
> Feb 10, 2001. Most of the group made it there this time too. We
> had: Paul Schreiber, Andy Miller, Fred Becker, David DuChamp,
Celeste H.,
> Doug Pearson, Rob Johnson and newcomer Brian Kaczynski. Unable to
attend
> were: Chris MacDonald, Paul Brousseau, Seth Redmore, Graham
Hunter, Robert
> Rich, and John Blacet.
>
> An interesting meeting of the minds occurred when Brian and Paul
found out
> they both had worked at Maxim and were designers interested in
> synths. Brian had worked there before Paul, and left soon after
Paul
> arrived. So by chance, they did not meet while there together, but
instead
> first met at our Modularities meeting.
>
> SHOW AND TELL
>
> Brian brought a custom surface-mount technology demo synth board
"module"
> which was a "Dual Frequency Multiplier." Using phase-locked loops,
it
> created a tuned series of overtones as a main oscillator was swept
> manually. With lots of controls over feedback and so on, with
about six
> knobs, lots of interesting sounds were obtained. Physically it
looked like
> a copper board with paths cut for traces and components surface-
mounted
> right to the board, supplied by a large aluminum-cased power supply
sitting
> next to it.
>
> Meanwhile Celeste brought a cool Futuretro 777 and an Evenfall rack
> synth. Rob brought his Synton Syrinx synth module. Andy had his
large and
> growing MOTM system fired up and making sound. Doug brought his
SKB-racked
> MOTM gear. Fred brought a Raymond Scott CD to show everyone about
this
> synth pioneer.
>
> PAUL'S MOTM REPORT
>
> Next Paul gave a status on ambitious plans for MOTM this year, and
results
> from the recent NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants)
convention,
> where Paul had a booth for MOTM. While he spoke, we were treated
to the
> demo CD created solely on MOTM by Robert Rich. Paul featured this
> continuously at his NAMM booth as well. Paul also handed out
copies of the
> new MOTM glossy brochure. For those not there, you can ask Paul
for a copy
> of this brochure. So here is a summary of what Paul has coming:
>
> 1. MOTM 101, Noise / Sample & Hold--due in three weeks.
>
> 2. Power expansion board with connectors--has gone to PCB
manufacturer.
>
> 3. MOTM 130, Dual VCA With Pan and Fade--The schematics are done.
Due in
> six weeks. This will replace the 110. There are 42 110's left.
This will
> be a large kit with lots of parts, 84 resistors. Parts will come
sequenced
> on tape, for kit versions. It has nine jacks, six pots. It
features
> simultaneous exponential and linear controls for modulation "for
> weirdness." With exponential modulation, attacks are jumpier and
fades are
> quieter. It also features a "link in/out" bus for daisy-chaining
> VCA's. This works like an insert in a mixer. With four modules,
there can
> thus be eight VCA's in parallel.
>
> 4. Mixer, 6 to 1 and dual 3-1. This will be a 2U panel. Use it
for audio
> or CV mixing. It has input levels, one master gain. If used in
split
> mode, the master gain applies to the second three.
>
> 5. and/ or 6. and 7. Oberheim SEM OR Triple Pre-Amp / Envelope
> Follower--This will be up to us users to decide which Paul does
first. The
> Triple Pre-Amp will feature one bass/guitar level input and two
synth level
> inputs. This device with the Envelope Follower (separate module)
will
> allow hooking guitars, etc. up to MOTM. The Oberheim SEM will
feature the
> exact same Oberheim state variable filter.
>
> 8. Micro VCO--A 1U VCO is in the pipeline.
>
> Next Paul outlined a whole series of modules that utilize PIC
> microcontrollers (a small 16 MHz processor)--
>
> 9. VC Pulse Divider--The prototype has 17 jacks, a 2U module. It
features
> 2-11 and 16 divisors, all available at once, as well as a variable
2-31,
> 1.5-31.5 division--set by CV. It has a display which shows what is
being
> divided. It is used for driving sequences with weird clock
rations. The
> maximum input frequency is 13 kHz.
>
> 10. Midi Clock & Timing Extractor--It is put into the Pulse
Divider for a
> clock function. It may also extract MIDI program change
information.
>
> 11. VC Phase Shifter--in early stage--It will allow switching the
filter
> notches to peaks or to flat via CV. It will be a 4U module or
possibly a
> standard rackmount, depending on our votes.
>
> Other items in work--
>
> 12. Moog Filter--requires a resonance pot which is an inverse log
pot--not
> standard.
>
> 13. Mini Sequencer--conceptual stage, 5U, 2 x 8.
>
> 14. 3 Into 1 Pedal Input Switcher--conceptual stage
>
> 15. and 16. In addition Paul has the 820 Lag Processor and 910
multiples
> already out for sale. So there is much coming out this year.
>
> Paul also outlined his NAMM booth and experience. He lucked into a
prime
> hall spot, in the huge convention. His booth was constantly
occupied by
> visitors each day. He shared space with Tony Karavudo of Encore
and Eric
> Barbour with his tube synths. Robert Rich lent his large MOTM
system in a
> cabinet, and also Paul had a walnut case MOTM shipped down, and an
> SKB-mounted system sent over from Walt Disney Imagineering. Since
the hall
> was very noisy, Paul used headphones to allow visitors to get a
good listen
> to the MOTM. He has some sales coming in already from the NAMM.
>
> MAKING NOISE
>
> After Paul spoke, we played with synths. We hooked Brian's Dual
Frequency
> Multiplier into an MOTM filter setup. We also talked about kit
building
> and some of the features of MOTM construction. Then the meeting
> adjourned. So let's have ideas for our next meeting.
>
> Fred