PLAN B analog blog

Plan B returns in '08!  

We'll be showing a few new things, not as many as in previous years,
but the line is more mature now and that's to be expected.  We'll
hoping to have the new case, and two modules which I haven't decided
if we're going to take them into production as of yet.  It depends on
the feedback I get at the show:

One is a super-quiet headphone pre which uses the infamous 5532 Opamp. 

The other is this thing called a Wave Splicer which lets to merge two
completely different waveshapes together. It senses the  zero-crossing of input A and let's you dial (or VC) when the transition to the second input occurs.  But it always resets to the first input at the beginning of each wave cycle.  You could have a saw going in one and a square from the same VCO in the other, and the splice setting would determine when in the single cycle it would switch between the two.  This combo would allow for a saw you could PWM.  Infinite combinations would make for some interesting timbres. 

Two VCOs at different pitches is another that sounds great, especially sub-octs. Again - once a wave begins, it will switch to a second input and then back to the first before the next cycle starts again. It will give the four output M15 six completely unique waveform combinations: sine/tri, sine/saw, sine/square, tri/saw, tri/square and saw/square.  

The upside of doing it as a module as opposed to just adding that functionality into the VCO to begin with is some of these sound more interesting than others and as an outboard it gives you the potential to morph from other sources, not just the parent VCO.

Both the Headphone Pre and the Wave Splicer are 4HP.

- P

We're going to try to get it in at about $1200 for the model with mult
panels on top and blank panels on bottom strips.  Don't hold me to
this, but this is what I'm shooting for.  For 5 1/2 EUro rows, this is
 not bad.

There are some improvements in power management in this case over
others in the Euro range: 

1) Crowbar suited for the job.  These power supplies, while fused,
will fold back before the fuse goes.  Feel free to connect your
modules incorrectly all day long and leave your fuse pack at home
while you do.  In most instances the power system will turn itself off
long before the slo-blow trips.


2) Totally isolated power systems for control and audio modules. Two
supplies:  one for audio modules, one for control voltage modules. To
integrate them the powerbuss has two offset rows. One marked for each
type.  If you keep to those rules and not connect audio modules to the
wrong buss, you'll be rewarded by a much cleaner audio output. 
Modules which generate electrically noisy signals such as trigger
generators, LFOs, EGs and anything with LEDs in it are the culprits. 
Keeping them to their own power supply it really helps. if you connect
modules to the wrong buss it won't blow anything up, but it will
degrade the audio.

3) All of the buss returns (grounds) go straight to the supply --> NO
DAISY-CHAINING.  Having four lines across the bussboard for +/-12, +5
and ground to each power connector, or daisy chaining the power via
wires as Serge does things is a temptation, but creates a ground mess.
 Basically any module generating grass will infiltrate it's way into
all the others.  Ground connections going directly to the supply cuts
down that interference. From a long view this may seem like smoke and
mirrors - I mean, if they all go to the return, then they are all
still shorted together, what's the difference in how that occurs?

BIG difference.

4)  Rear accessibility.  Each row of these cases will have access hole
off the back so one can feed lines into boats if they care to.  We
have a number of midi controllable modules on the horizon.  Midi
cables on faceplates are bulky.  mounting them on the back of the PCBs
and using the rear access holes to route in a midi cable makes much
more sense to me.

> Both the Headphone Pre and the Wave Splicer are 4HP.

Wonderful news! 15A, 23 and those new modules... 4HP is the new 8HP ;)

Is there an estimate price 'range' for the case? I should start saving  
up now!

~Danny

This case you mention has me interested...

Will it be actual Plan B modules in a case i.e seperate modules or all
modules behind 1 big facepalte?
,,,,or can we expect a Buchla music easle :-)

Man that is all excellent news, I'll just have to live with my flying  
rail (no back) for a few more months then ;)

~Danny

On Dec 20, 2007, at 11:23 AM, (i think you can figure that out) wrote:

> We're going to try to get it in at about $1200 for the model with mult
> panels on top and blank panels on bottom strips.  Don't hold me to
> this, but this is what I'm shooting for.  For 5 1/2 EUro rows, this is
> not bad.
>
> There are some improvements in power management in this case over
> others in the Euro range:
>
> 1) Crowbar suited for the job.  These power supplies, while fused,
> will fold back before the fuse goes.  Feel free to connect your
> modules incorrectly all day long and leave your fuse pack at home
> while you do.  In most instances the power system will turn itself off
> long before the slo-blow trips.
>
>
> 2) Totally isolated power systems for control and audio modules. Two
> supplies:  one for audio modules, one for control voltage modules. To
> integrate them the powerbuss has two offset rows. One marked for each
> type.  If you keep to those rules and not connect audio modules to the
> wrong buss, you'll be rewarded by a much cleaner audio output.
> Modules which generate electrically noisy signals such as trigger
> generators, LFOs, EGs and anything with LEDs in it are the culprits.
> Keeping them to their own power supply it really helps. if you connect
> modules to the wrong buss it won't blow anything up, but it will
> degrade the audio.
>
> 3) All of the buss returns (grounds) go straight to the supply --> NO
> DAISY-CHAINING.  Having four lines across the bussboard for +/-12, +5
> and ground to each power connector, or daisy chaining the power via
> wires as Serge does things is a temptation, but creates a ground mess.
> Basically any module generating grass will infiltrate it's way into
> all the others.  Ground connections going directly to the supply cuts
> down that interference. From a long view this may seem like smoke and
> mirrors - I mean, if they all go to the return, then they are all
> still shorted together, what's the difference in how that occurs?
>
> BIG difference.
>
> 4)  Rear accessibility.  Each row of these cases will have access hole
> off the back so one can feed lines into boats if they care to.  We
> have a number of midi controllable modules on the horizon.  Midi
> cables on faceplates are bulky.  mounting them on the back of the PCBs
> and using the rear access holes to route in a midi cable makes much
> more sense to me.
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Daniel Ornelas
danny@anadeji.com

These use Euro regular rails. Not designed for one big faceplate type
of deal.

About the Easel - talk to uncle Donny about that one :))))

Seriously, I'd love to do something like that.  Can hardly keep up
with the crap on our table as it is though.

- P




--- In PLAN_B_analog_blog@yahoogroups.com, "cray5656" <amni56@...> wrote:

>
> This case you mention has me interested...
> 
> Will it be actual Plan B modules in a case i.e seperate modules or all
> modules behind 1 big facepalte?
> ,,,,or can we expect a Buchla music easle :-)
>