PLAN B analog blog

While I may have described the Salamander (SMS) power supply system as  
overkill, it was only so in the cost / weight department. In the  
stability department it is really terrific. I have never used a more  
stable analog synth. The combination of system wide coarse regulation,  
local +/- 15V regulation, and system wide clean & dirty ground really  
made for a clean power supply. As I think I mentioned before, once a  
module was tuned, it could be swapped into another system, and retain  
its tuning, because of the local regulation.

That said, I love the way the supply works in my 200e. The fact that  
the switchers are hidden under the buss board of the middle boat, and  
that the switchers use the aluminum case as a heat sink is really  
clever. It makes the system really light, too. I love that the 200e  
takes DC input, also. I have visions of playing the 200e in a field  
somewhere with a solar panel.

I have no experience in running all-analog VCOs on this power supply,  
but I bet it would work fine. Buchla is meticulous about this stuff. I  
may find out when Cyndustries ships their ZOe.

The historic, perceived, problems with using switchers for analog  
systems fall into two main areas: radiated RF and ground noise. The  
ground noise issue, if it even exists with modern switchers, could be  
taken care of with an appropriate bypass cap / power distribution  
scheme. If the RF radiation thing was a problem with modern switchers,  
it would show up in the 200e, I think (and it doesn't.) The spacing is  
really tight between the switching supplies and the modules in the  
middle boat.

–C

On Apr 22, 2008, at 9:36 AM, (i think you can figure that out) wrote:
> The cases which are under development now include a rack system and
> two desktop chassis, one single and one double width. I suppose they
> could be used on the road but it would require an outer shell.
> Possibly when these are released we will address mobile solutions.
>
> Presently we are working on the power system. There is a lot of
> banter about the ills of using switching power supplies for powering
> synthesizers, and while all of the instances which come up in these
> discussions are just, none of them make the case that it's bad
> technology, just that is can be troublesome wen not handled correctly.
> What I'm saying is I'm not convinced by any means. I would really
> like to use switching supplies. They're much more efficient, they
> save the user and the planet energy, they're lighter and they take
> much less space. This is where we are with the cases.
>
> Even though Buchla's e is largely digital, there is a lot of audio  
> circuitry and he is running this system on a switcher. If Don is  
> willing to take this risk so am I.
>
> Chris Muir...you have inside experience with Salamander, do you have  
> any feelings on this?
>
> - P
>
> --- In PLAN_B_analog_blog@yahoogroups.com, "Igor Medeiros"
> <igormpc@...> wrote:
> >
> > this topic really makes me want to hear more about the new cases...
> > 3 types, just big university systems ?
> > or any small enough to travel with / play live ?
> >
> > or some motivity news?
> >
> http://launch.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/PLAN_B_analog_blog/photos/view/abc9?b=7
> >
> > :)
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 2:12 AM, mritenburg <mritenburg@...> wrote:
> >
> > > I'm looking at it right now and I see: Mini Milton + ELF LFO + ELF
> > > ADSR + Heisenberg + 3x VCO + Dual LPG + Headphone Pre = a good  
> chunk
> > > of the features of the 208. You would need to add reverb, balanced
> > > modulation, mic pre, inverter, patch saving, and (of course) a  
> touch
> > > controller. From the looks of the new modules, it looks possible  
> to
> > > have a uniquely Plan-b instrument with more feature than an  
> easel in
> > > a similar portable package.
> > >
> > > Matt
> > >
> > > --- In
> PLAN_B_analog_blog@yahoogroups.com<PLAN_B_analog_blog 
> %40yahoogroups.com>,
> > > amnesia <amni56@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Now if you can make a Music Easel you would clean up...sooooo  
> much
> > > > demand for something like this :-)
> > > >
>

Chris Muir
cbm@well.com	
http://www.xfade.com