Modular Synth Panels

Hey all,

I just built a Tau Pipe -- wowza!! The thing sounds amazing!

I updated the site w/ some pics and a panel wiring diagram, since I was
so confused in the midst of building. The module pictured was a custom
one for a DotCom portable rack.

I had a bad tantalum cap, and I know another customer had one too. I'll
ship electrolytics from now on.
I only used one LED. It really was fine.

If interested, check it out:
http://www.bridechamber.com/bridechamber.com/Tau%20Pipe.html

Cheers,
Scott Deyo
The Bridechamber
contact@...
http://www.bridechamber.com
Jealous Edison Record Kompany
http://www.jealousedison.com

thanks for posting that wiring diagram. i did make (only!) one mistake on my
own wiring and its nice to have something to compare to. building this thing
from the schematic and notes felt like an exam!

i like the parallel panel design! i wish i woulda thought of that.




--- Scott Deyo <contact@...> wrote:

> Hey all,
>
> I just built a Tau Pipe -- wowza!! The thing sounds amazing!
>
> I updated the site w/ some pics and a panel wiring diagram, since I was
> so confused in the midst of building. The module pictured was a custom
> one for a DotCom portable rack.
>
> I had a bad tantalum cap, and I know another customer had one too. I'll
> ship electrolytics from now on.
> I only used one LED. It really was fine.
>
> If interested, check it out:
> http://www.bridechamber.com/bridechamber.com/Tau%20Pipe.html
>
> Cheers,
> Scott Deyo
> The Bridechamber
> contact@...
> http://www.bridechamber.com
> Jealous Edison Record Kompany
> http://www.jealousedison.com
>
>

Well, you made one less mistake than me : )

The screws out the front aren't as noticeable as I thought, but one
does obscure the "T" on "Aux Out".
I do like the shallow footprint, though. It was easy to wire up that
way.

Scott Deyo
The Bridechamber
contact@...
http://www.bridechamber.com
Jealous Edison Record Kompany
http://www.jealousedison.com

On May 23, 2008, at 3:34 PM, loopcycle wrote:

> thanks for posting that wiring diagram. i did make (only!) one mistake
> on my
> own wiring and its nice to have something to compare to. building
> this thing
> from the schematic and notes felt like an exam!
>
> i like the parallel panel design! i wish i woulda thought of that.
>
> --- Scott Deyo <contact@...> wrote:
>
> > Hey all,
> >
> > I just built a Tau Pipe -- wowza!! The thing sounds amazing!
> >
> > I updated the site w/ some pics and a panel wiring diagram, since I
> was
> > so confused in the midst of building. The module pictured was a
> custom
> > one for a DotCom portable rack.
> >
> > I had a bad tantalum cap, and I know another customer had one too.
> I'll
> > ship electrolytics from now on.
> > I only used one LED. It really was fine.
> >
> > If interested, check it out:
> > http://www.bridechamber.com/bridechamber.com/Tau%20Pipe.html
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Scott Deyo
> > The Bridechamber
> > contact@...
> > http://www.bridechamber.com
> > Jealous Edison Record Kompany
> > http://www.jealousedison.com
> >
> >
>
>
>

I have found with the EMU gear I had that tantalums caos work great but eventually fail
and cause PUS failutres, my most expensive and heartbreaking failures/repairs. It is one
wonderful project, every modular user should have one.

>
> Hey all,
>
> I just built a Tau Pipe -- wowza!! The thing sounds amazing!
>
> I updated the site w/ some pics and a panel wiring diagram, since I was
> so confused in the midst of building. The module pictured was a custom
> one for a DotCom portable rack.
>
> I had a bad tantalum cap, and I know another customer had one too. I'll
> ship electrolytics from now on.
> I only used one LED. It really was fine.
>
> If interested, check it out:
> http://www.bridechamber.com/bridechamber.com/Tau%20Pipe.html
>
> Cheers,
> Scott Deyo
> The Bridechamber
> contact@...
> http://www.bridechamber.com
> Jealous Edison Record Kompany
> http://www.jealousedison.com
>

Indeed. Mine is a Four Voice that got shot three times! Some wires were
severed, and some power conditioning parts on one voice, but
(hopefully) that's it. Oh, and the power supply doesn't work.

Scott Deyo
The Bridechamber
contact@...
http://www.bridechamber.com
Jealous Edison Record Kompany
http://www.jealousedison.com

On May 23, 2008, at 5:53 PM, adaaxs wrote:

> I have found with the EMU gear I had that tantalums caos work great
> but eventually fail
> and cause PUS failutres, my most expensive and heartbreaking
> failures/repairs. It is one
> wonderful project, every modular user should have one.
>
> >
> > Hey all,
> >
> > I just built a Tau Pipe -- wowza!! The thing sounds amazing!
> >
> > I updated the site w/ some pics and a panel wiring diagram, since I
> was
> > so confused in the midst of building. The module pictured was a
> custom
> > one for a DotCom portable rack.
> >
> > I had a bad tantalum cap, and I know another customer had one too.
> I'll
> > ship electrolytics from now on.
> > I only used one LED. It really was fine.
> >
> > If interested, check it out:
> > http://www.bridechamber.com/bridechamber.com/Tau%20Pipe.html
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Scott Deyo
> > The Bridechamber
> > contact@...
> > http://www.bridechamber.com
> > Jealous Edison Record Kompany
> > http://www.jealousedison.com
> >
>
>
>

On 5/23/08, Scott Deyo put forth:

>Hey all,
>
>I just built a Tau Pipe -- wowza!! The thing sounds amazing!

Groovy :)

>I had a bad tantalum cap, and I know another customer had one too. I'll
>ship electrolytics from now on.

I wondering about that myself. What advantage is there to tantalum??
Is it lower inductance?? I'm planning to use the same Xicon 10uF
electrolytics used in MOTM. I've heard that when tantalum's fail
they tend to fail short, while electrolytics tend to fail "open".

>I only used one LED. It really was fine.

Oh come on now ;)

>
>
> I wondering about that myself. What advantage is there to tantalum??
> Is it lower inductance?? I'm planning to use the same Xicon 10uF
> electrolytics used in MOTM. I've heard that when tantalum's fail
> they tend to fail short, while electrolytics tend to fail "open".

Yeah, the tantalums short. Locked up my whole modular!
Thanks to Jan having just had this problem w/ a tantalum, I ciphered it
directly.

Funny (not really) -- I spent 15 minutes going over my SMD caps because
my multimeter showed the power rails connected (and at that point it
was not the tantalum). So after racking my brain and eyes, I figured it
out -- I had killed my multimeter when I was testing the AC power in my
bedroom light switch! Doh!

>
> >I only used one LED. It really was fine.
>
> Oh come on now ;)

: )

Though I do have to rely on my _ears_ to tell me when the voltage is
coming back up!

On 5/24/08, Scott Deyo put forth:

>> I wondering about that myself. What advantage is there to tantalum??
>> Is it lower inductance?? I'm planning to use the same Xicon 10uF
>> electrolytics used in MOTM. I've heard that when tantalum's fail
>> they tend to fail short, while electrolytics tend to fail "open".
>
>Yeah, the tantalums short. Locked up my whole modular!

Yikes!!

>Funny (not really) -- I spent 15 minutes going over my SMD caps
>because my multimeter showed the power rails connected (and at that
>point it was not the tantalum). So after racking my brain and eyes,
>I figured it out -- I had killed my multimeter when I was testing
>the AC power in my bedroom light switch! Doh!

I once blew a fuse in my meter trying to test a car battery.

Which SMD caps did you use?? I've never used SMD. Afaik, SMD come
in different sizes -- from incredibly tiny to having to worry about a
rogue amoeba slithering off with your parts -- although I don't know
how the naming system works. What is the largest size that will
still fit??


Also, after spending more time using the tube vca, I found the output
was not high enough to work well with other modules. So I changed the
feedback resistor of the output amp to 2.2K and added a 1K gain
resistor resulting in an output of around 8.6Vpp. This also improved
the range of sounds when using feedback (I normalled the output to
the second input using a switched jack).

>
> I once blew a fuse in my meter trying to test a car battery.

Ouch!
I used the unfused part... : (

>
> Which SMD caps did you use?? I've never used SMD. Afaik, SMD come
> in different sizes -- from incredibly tiny to having to worry about a
> rogue amoeba slithering off with your parts -- although I don't know
> how the naming system works. What is the largest size that will
> still fit??

Mouser 80-C0805C104J5R
Officially, I'd like to state that I hate SMD caps. Hate 'em!!!!!
H. A. T. E.

>
> Also, after spending more time using the tube vca, I found the output
> was not high enough to work well with other modules. So I changed the
> feedback resistor of the output amp to 2.2K and added a 1K gain
> resistor resulting in an output of around 8.6Vpp. This also improved
> the range of sounds when using feedback (I normalled the output to
> the second input using a switched jack).

Ah, very good! Now maybe I should get around to building mine! ; )

>
>

my initial feelings re SMDs are similar to Scott's... but honestly,
it's not that bad. i started soldering my Tau boards last night,
those caps are th smallest components i've worked with, and it was
still pretty painless.

plenty of tutorials on the web, but my technique: place a small blob
of solder onto one of the pads; plop the cap out of it's packaging
onto the board, sidle it over next to the blob with a toothpick; hit
the blob again with the iron to melt it, simultaniously pressing the
little bugger into the blob w/ the toothpick, then hold it there as
you remove the iron. after it's cooled, drop a blob on the other side
and you're done.

this from on old guy stupidly resisting getting bifocals. and ya
might as well get used to it, thruhole parts won't be around forever.

bbob
www.fluxmonkey.com


--- In ModularSynthPanels@yahoogroups.com, Scott Deyo <contact@...>
wrote:

>>
>> Which SMD caps did you use?? I've never used SMD. Afaik, SMD come
>> in different sizes--from incredibly tiny to having to worry about a
>> rogue amoeba slithering off with your parts--although I don't know
>> how the naming system works. What is the largest size that will
>> still fit??
>
> Mouser 80-C0805C104J5R
> Officially, I'd like to state that I hate SMD caps. Hate 'em!!!!!
> H. A. T. E.
>

Hi

Personaly I didn't bother with SMD caps, I used small ceramic caps
soldered directly to the pads.
Here is a photo :
http://yusynth.net/Modular/Commun/JH-TAU-PHASE/TP-JH-caps.jpg

Cheers

Yves

data2action a écrit :

>
>
> my initial feelings re SMDs are similar to Scott's... but honestly,
> it's not that bad. i started soldering my Tau boards last night,
> those caps are th smallest components i've worked with, and it was
> still pretty painless.
>
>

--
Yves Usson
http://yusynth.net

Nice, Yves!

We shan't go softly into that SMD night... : )

Scott Deyo
The Bridechamber
contact@...
http://www.bridechamber.com
Jealous Edison Record Kompany
http://www.jealousedison.com

On May 27, 2008, at 1:15 AM, yves usson wrote:

> Hi
>
> Personaly I didn't bother with SMD caps, I used small ceramic caps
> soldered directly to the pads.
> Here is a photo :
> http://yusynth.net/Modular/Commun/JH-TAU-PHASE/TP-JH-caps.jpg
>
> Cheers
>
> Yves
>
> data2action a écrit :
> >
> >
> > my initial feelings re SMDs are similar to Scott's... but honestly,
> > it's not that bad. i started soldering my Tau boards last night,
> > those caps are th smallest components i've worked with, and it was
> > still pretty painless.
> >
> >
>
> --
> Yves Usson
> http://yusynth.net
>
>
>

Smd parts are made for robot assembly and are not benefiting mankind's progress. The
fools don't realize that cutting down their standard parts lines in favor of them is fucking
research and inventors. The, can't build a radio at radio shack anymore either.

You can use snubbies or chip caps if the smd bypass caps are driving you insane, I'd lay
them on their sides, curl the ends for more contact area and then tack solder them
quickly,if you want insurance, use dome conductive glue over the lead and contact
(without shorting) this is the one place where you cannot lift a trace without stupid
consequences.

>
>
> >
> > I once blew a fuse in my meter trying to test a car battery.
>
> Ouch!
> I used the unfused part... : (
>
> >
> > Which SMD caps did you use?? I've never used SMD. Afaik, SMD come
> > in different sizes -- from incredibly tiny to having to worry about a
> > rogue amoeba slithering off with your parts -- although I don't know
> > how the naming system works. What is the largest size that will
> > still fit??
>
> Mouser 80-C0805C104J5R
> Officially, I'd like to state that I hate SMD caps. Hate 'em!!!!!
> H. A. T. E.
>
> >
> > Also, after spending more time using the tube vca, I found the output
> > was not high enough to work well with other modules. So I changed the
> > feedback resistor of the output amp to 2.2K and added a 1K gain
> > resistor resulting in an output of around 8.6Vpp. This also improved
> > the range of sounds when using feedback (I normalled the output to
> > the second input using a switched jack).
>
> Ah, very good! Now maybe I should get around to building mine! ; )
>
> >
> >
>