Muff's Modules & More

hpsounds · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:47 pm Post subject: Mutable Instruments - Shruthi-1

I’ve discovered the Shruthi-1 synthesizer project by reading a thread on the Anafrog forum. I’ve then checked the audio samples on Mutable Instruments and I was so impressed by the quality and personality of this little synthesizer that I’ve decided to take the plunge. But there was a unknown part on this decision : this synthesizer is only available as a SDIY kit … and I’ve never built such an electronic kit before !

But here is what I’ve built during three long evening …

More pictures of my building process here.

That is for me a nice first step into SDIY ! I just want to do more now !

Hédi K.

mckenic · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:51 pm Post subject:

Congrats!

Excellent work!
The SammichSID and Shruthi were the 1st 'real' projects I did that Im 100% happy with. Lots of little kits etc before - some worked, some not.

Now you got to move on to f(h) & 4ms kits - they are prolly easier to build but just as much fun!

thumbs up

gwaidan · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:18 pm Post subject:

Looks great-my kit should be arriving any day now (over a month overdue since the last one got damaged in transit cry

)

hpsounds · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:23 pm Post subject:

oootini · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:23 pm Post subject:

Synth DIY kits are my eurocrack. SammichSid built and waiting to be tested. I have more of these boxes than MIDI ports...

djs · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:00 pm Post subject:

The Shruthi was the first kit/diy effort I built that worked right the first time! smile

I love the sounds that come out of it.

diophantine · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:12 pm Post subject:

Nice!

These have always looked great & interesting to me! Is there much (anything?) you can do with them without MIDI control, though?

Filch · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:17 pm Post subject:

I have my Shruthi-1 as well. It's not built yet though, I've been waiting for the programmer kit to get released.

I just got it delivered last week. Now it gets put together smile

gwaidan · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:27 pm Post subject:

Cat-A-Tonic · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:29 pm Post subject:

that knobbed out version looks like the business.
I didn't even know that was possible with a Shruthi-1.
Are those knobs controlling Midi-CCs that program the synth,
or...?

whitewulfe · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:38 pm Post subject:

Filch · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:43 pm Post subject:

Filch · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:48 pm Post subject:

obscurerobot · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 11:29 pm Post subject:

mckenic · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 11:56 pm Post subject:

WOW!

I just built mine and forgot about everything else - just playing it!

That knob-box thing looks WICKED - have to read thru that thread and see if they are available!!!

Also - did NOT know that there were CV outs although Nelson did allude to it in a discussion (he might have told me but Im ditzy like that!)...

Must pay more attention to the Shruthi world!

Filch · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:46 am Post subject:

more info from the specification manual regarding CV's

Hardware and connectors

cv inputs: up to 4 CV inputs for easy experimentation with controllers. Warning: only use a signal in the 0-5V range. Deeper or high peaks in the signals might damage the Shruthi-1’s ADC.

cv outputs: up to 2 CV outputs.

whitewulfe · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:40 am Post subject:

zdarma · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:44 am Post subject:

carynrich · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:16 am Post subject:

ordering info is on page 31 of the thread. i just got an email from frank. he's got a waiting list going but all the options are available. i just placed an order for mine. here are the particulars:

Ladies and Gentleman,

to resolve my problem gettin these oldschool PCBs and your upcoming problem hiding before your Mother-in-Law for the Christmas season i decided to go the brute force way and make the PCBs myself. Now that I mastered the quirks of exposing, developing, etching, handling huge amounts of hot acids and calming down my Wife for the toxic Mess in the Kitchen I am proud to announce the unlimited run of Programmer Kits. Yes, everybody who wants one can get one.

The Shruthi XT seen here is split in two Kits:

◦Programmer Kit
◦Enclusure Kit
To build a Shruhti XT you will need both Kits + 32 10kLin Pots and Knobs to your Favour but you may as well build your own Enclosure – if so please show it here!

The Programmer Kit itself contains everything you need to do the Logic Part of a Programmer except Pots, Knobs and Enclosure: a handmade – and even worse: hand drilled – PCB, 74hc137, 74hc595, 4x4051, Square LED, R220, WireForBridges, RainbowCables with Crimped Plugs which frees you from soldering connectors, Wires for connecting your POTs, Connectors + Parts to connect it to your Shruthi. Building Instructions can be seen here . The Programmer Kit is 40€

The Enclosure Kit contains everything you need for the Enclosure seen above: all Plexi parts for the Bottom Part of the Enclosure, a readily engraved 2 Ply Acryl TopPanel, Jacks and Connectors for connecting your 1st Filter, a Power Connector + Switch, Screws and a custom Engraving for the Frontplate. Optional available are additional holes + Screws for a 2nd Filter and a 2/4 Pole Filter Switch with LED indicator for the SMR-4 Filter and a Set of Flat-Top LEDs (you probably want to resolder your DigitalBoards LEDs anyway so they stick thru the case….). Kits are available in Black, Blue with either Blue or White Body, Red with either Red or White Body, other Colors can be Custom Made. The Enclosure Kit is 125€, 2nd Filter Board is +5€, Filter Switch is +4€, Flat Top LEDS +1€

Both Kits contain changing Candy to keep your Blood Sugar at nominal Level while building.

Availability is today for the Programmer Kits, the Enclosures need a few days to be made and supply here is a bit low – but i have reordered Material.

Shipping is to your like, Germany via DPD for 6€,I recommend International uninshured via DHL with signing for 17€, other Options (Inshured, EU, Switzerland and other extraterrestial areas) available on request, by default i will always ship the cheapest way.

Order, Questions, Suggestions via eMail: daniels (ät) daniels (minus) cards (dot) de

So now you know what to do with your xMas Holidays…..

diophantine · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:30 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tips about it having CV capabilities! I hadn't noticed this the few times I'd poked around their website. I'll take another look into it.

GrobbingThistle · Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:31 pm Post subject:

I've seen the CV outs mentioned before but I haven't seen it made coear what exactly they can do. Can it output sequences or work as a primitive midi-cv or what?

smrl · Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:09 pm Post subject:

Yeah, you can assign it to anything in the modulation matrix.

The list:

lfo1, lfo2: LFO output (centered).
stpseq: Step sequencer output.
stpsq1: Step sequencer’s little brother 1: it cycles on the first 8 steps of the sequence.
stpsq2: Step sequencer’s little brother 2: it cycles on the last 8 steps of the sequence.
arp: Rhythmic gate signal, which outputs a high value when the arpeggiator or sequencer contains a note at the current step, or 0 when there is no note.
mwheel: Modulation wheel value read from the MIDI input.
afttch: Aftertouch value read from the MIDI input.
bender: Pitch-bend controller value read from the MIDI input (centered).
offset: A boring constant value. This is useful if you want to output a fixed value to one of the CV outs.
cv1, cv2, cv3, cv4: Control voltages read from the CV input pins. By default, the input pins are floating, so it’s likely that these modulation sources will sound just like noise.
cc A, cc B, cc C, cc D: Value of the Control Change 16, 17, 18 and 19.
noise: Another noise generator! Mapped to the VCA, makes for some super snares!
env1, env2: Envelopes.
velo: Note velocity.
random: A random value updated every time a new note is played.
note: Pitch of the currently played note (centered).
gate: Keyboard gate signal, null when no key is currently pressed.
audio: Digital audio signal produced by the mixer. Please note that since the modulation matrix is recomputed at 976Hz, some serious aliasing is happening here. You’re not going to do FM with this thing, most of the time it sounds like crap, but it’s something fun to experiment with!
op. 1: Operator 1.
op. 2: Operator 2.

"operators" allow you to combine 2 mod. sources with a mathematical operator.

It's great. And I managed to fit 6 1/8" jacks & protection diodes in the standard plexi enclosure. Just.

smrl · Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:14 pm Post subject:

Regarding using it as a MIDI-CV with 1v/oct note out, if that's what you are curious about - you'd have to shift it with an operator connected to an offset, and then it would still be linear, 0-5v. Gate output would be straightforward, but you'd need an exponential convertor if you wanted to say have oscillators track its pitch properly.

GrobbingThistle · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:47 pm Post subject:

Great, that was very detailed and gives me a lot of ideas. I guess I'll still need a midi-cv converter, but it looks like my 2012 performance rig is really coming together (Machinedrum UW, Shruthi-1, modular). I'm excited about how well it seems everthing is going to interface!

krz · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:47 pm Post subject:

[quote="GrobbingThistle"]I've seen the CV outs mentioned before but I haven't seen it made coear what exactly they can do. Can it output sequences or work as a primitive midi-cv or what?[/quote]

there is plenty to search for about these cv inputs aka "hack me" inputs @ http://www.mutable-instruments/forum Kenny McCormick

GrobbingThistle · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:43 pm Post subject:

So, I'm finally working my way around this thing. Got this running at the exact same time as I got a Machinedrum and an Oberheim Matrix-6 so I've been up to my eyeballs in menus and submenus and user manuals. Is there a way to share patches with the Shruthi-1? Anyone have any that they would like to share? I could use some ideas. I actually really hate working backwards from the presets -- I wish there was a way to wipe them all.

obscurerobot · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:58 pm Post subject:

neilbaldwin · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject:

Shhhhhsh! Stop talking about the good stuff. My kit is still sat in the drawer waiting to be built but I just don't have the time right now.

Really looking forward to building it though applause

GrobbingThistle · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 6:12 pm Post subject:

gwaidan · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:51 pm Post subject:

carynrich · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:10 am Post subject:

well, i finally finished the XT kit in about 2 months as it wasn't the easiest thing to build (had a short on the control board, a lot of trouble shooting). i ended up putting three filters in the box, an SMR-4, IR3109 and CEM3379. as expected, both the roland and CEM filters sound pretty good applause

just a word of caution though, you can't use the SVF board with the XT controller as the SVF needs the digital expansion port (i'm not really sure what that means seriously, i just don't get it

but it doesn't work - i found out the hard way)

the extra knobs make a world of difference, one of the main reasons why i don't use my Mopho as much.

here's some pics. white davies clones, black/white display, and orange/red LEDs. i'll swap out the black buttons with white ones soon, although i can't seem to find a white rubber knob anywhere.

obscurerobot · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:19 am Post subject:

gwaidan · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:19 am Post subject:

You can use the SVF in tandem with the programmer provided you have mechanical switches hooked up where the switch ICs would be on the SVF board so you can control the modes manually. There are markings on the PC board to help you do this.

phonodyne · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:11 am Post subject:

The new Shruthi-1 4-Pole Mission Edition looks a bit tasty:
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/04/open-shruthi-1-synth-evolves-dee p-sound-capabilities-new-4-pole-filter-ice-white-case/

I see they've stopped providing some of the more commonly available parts in the kit (there's now a saved shopping basket at Mouser or Reichelt for those), but they are supplying that rather lovely plexiglass case. I'm not familiar with the filter but it certainly seems versatile. Think this is going to be my first synth build once the kits are available.

krz · Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:05 am Post subject:

Mission. Sold out. Midipal. Sold out. Sidekick. Sold out. Got a CEM3379
Shruthi thank goodness. Kits are well
done. This co. needs to get a handle on
stocking kits cuz almost everytime I go there it's sold out. Ya gotta watch the forum like a crack addict to get in on most
things. The other drag is the dollar to Euro
exchange but that's an old hurdle. Otherwise roll your own wavetables is
great and the x/or mod possibilities are
endless... almost. ;)