SergeModular

(2nd try... Seems like Yahoo didn't want to deliver my message. Maybe because of all the links? Or is each message premoderated here?)

Hello there, group!
I shall make it no secret: I'm in the process of building my own
modular, and I'm looking for Serge schematics, which are apparently
hard to come by. So in case anyone is interested, in this post I'll be
listing the small amount of schematics I've found publicly on the
internetz. Hopefully, it will help or inspire other DIYers on the
list. If in some weird way I've missed some schematic that's out
there, please tell me so. :)

<http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/SergeModular/files/schematics/>
This group's file archive has schematics for the touch controlled
keyboard and the analog shift register. The TKB, as most people here
probably know, is a capacitive keyboard and step sequencer. The ASR is
a 3-stage analog delay.

<http://urekarm.tripod.com/synth/download.html>
These are Marjan Urekar's schematics for the triple waveshaper,
sequential pulse source, lin/log VCA and ring modulator. I'm not too
sure that this is the Serge ring mod I'm used to, with voltage
controllable ring/VCA type control, but a modded schematic by Marjam
himself from the VCA.

<http://www.cgs.synth.net/modules/index.html>
CGS has a few designs which are Serge clones and Serge inspired.
* CGS29 Wave Multiplier
* CGS34 Analog Shift Register (again!)
* CGS48 VCO (Not Serge, but inspired by it)
* CGS52 Simple Wave Folder (inspired)
* CGS59 Programmer/Sequencer (inspired)
* CGS75 Voltage Controlled Slope
* CGS76 Serge 1973 Envelope Generator
* CGS77 Serge 1973 Voltage Controlled Filter (Not the variable Q,
unfortunately...)
* CGS114 Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator (The original design of
the above, but the schematic has errors. Still useful. :) )
* CGS116 Serge Extended ADSR Envelope Generator

<http://www.cgs.synth.net/synth/serge/negative_slew.html>
<http://www.cgs.synth.net/synth/serge/tws.html>
Ken also has a schematic of the '73 negative slew and the classical TWS.

<http://www.timstinchcombe.co.uk/synth/vcs/vcs.html>
Tim Stinchcombe also has a page explaining the inner workings of the
VCS, which should be of interest to anyone wanting to build it.

<http://houshu.at.webry.info/200710/article_1.html>
This is a rarer one. It's a Japanese page with, what is ostensibly the
schematic of the 1970s original VCO, which didn't have 1V/oct
tracking, and made no secret about that fact. Probably not to
interesting to build, but a nice gem for posterity.

<http://www.jhaible.de/jh_wavefolder.html>
Another page mentioning the Serge wave multiplier. Not claiming to be
a clone, but similar in character.

Anything else?

--
/Ove

Blog: <http://blog.gg8.se/>

"Here is Evergreen City. Evergreen is the color of green forever."

While I appreciate all interest in Vintage Serge stuff, I can't help but think about the ethics of posting schematics on the Internet without at least asking Serge's permission. There are those of us who would gladly make existing schematics available to the unwashed masses *only if* Serge himself gave his blessing. Otherwise, it's a no-go in my book.

While I don't want to speak for Serge himself, when I saw him a few years back, there was some concern expressed on his part of the sense of 'lack of concern for the original designer'. Have you grappled with this question yet? I'm not trying to get all in-your-face about this, though as a friend of Serge's I would like to see the proper respect paid. He put his entire life work into this venture for many years and lived like a pauper. Are we 'entitled' to his work just because we are all connected via this Interweb thingy?

The Analog Shift Register is a no-brainer, as Serge gave his blessing for those schematics to be published back in the late 70's. I personally don't know any of the ethical considerations present on any of the other schematics that you point to. I would however highly encourage you to 'do it right' and contact the man directly.

We can discuss this more if you care to email me offlist.

In friendship and goodwill,

Stephen

Stephen, I agree with you in general but please note that the original post refers to them as things "I've found publicly on the internetz." I'm pretty sure I've seen all of them before and that the original poster is not letting anything out of the bag so to speak.

> This group's file archive has schematics for the touch controlled
> keyboard

Note that this is an early version, so missing a few features.
No pressure out, for example.

> <http://urekarm.tripod.com/synth/download.html>
> These are Marjan Urekar's schematics for the

These are first generation Serge modules dating back
to 1972. The VCA and ring mod were replaces around
1980 but the TWS carried on almost unchanged...

> <http://www.cgs.synth.net/modules/index.html>
> CGS has a few designs which are Serge clones and Serge inspired.

I believe Ken has cleared this with Serge, so no ethical issues with
buying his boards.

> <http://houshu.at.webry.info/200710/article_1.html>
> This is a rarer one. It's a Japanese page with, the 1970s original

VCO

I think this was the first module Serge replaced - presumably because
of it's poor range and tracking compared with other modules of the
time.
It's clever, but I'm not sure many people would want to build one.


There was also a Programmer and a Touch Responsive Keyboard
published in Synapse magazine. The programmer was the
predecessor of the TKB - and the schematic differs from the
production model - while I'm not aware of the TRK was ever
produced. Synapse is available on the Cyndustries site.


Steve

On 2 May 2011 21:49, evetsterueb <synth@...> wrote:

The modules you listed are already a great starting point for Serge DIY. Have you tried building them? I have used perf and breadboard to make a Negative Slope and the original VCO. Between the sources you listed is enough to keep you busy building a three-panel system. And IMO the 1st generation Serge stuff is vastly underrated.

And as noted, CGS/Bananalogue are Serge-sanctioned DIY projects if you prefer a PCB approach.