Muff's Modules & More

oldcrow · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:10 pm Post subject: The CS VCO module -- VCO153

Final assembly proceding smoothly, if a bit slower than I like:

Orbless · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:59 pm Post subject:

looks great, I'm glad this has sine output, just looking at the Oakley 1U VCO is lacking a sine wave output

oldcrow · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:17 pm Post subject:

The CS-80 has saw, pulse and sine, therefore I have saw, pulse and sine. ;)

Note, however, if you want a triangle output I provide cable pads for it on the board. I built a section of the WSC IC in discrete form which includes a rectifier (for tri) and a piece-wise linear interpolator for sine. Thus you are really getting the IG00153 (VCO-III) and IG00158 (WSC) together.

Pads are provided for all jack signals, not just waveforms, FYI.

JohnLRice · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:11 am Post subject:

Looks very cool!

cormallen · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:59 pm Post subject:

I can't believe I missed this when you first posted!

What a cool project. Any progress, and any ideas about an ETA?

Harry

oldcrow · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:05 pm Post subject:

There is a (smallish) delay in that I am not satisfied with the feel of the panel pot I chose for the fine tune control, so I am replacing them with one that responds in a manner I approve of. Otherwise, the module assembly is proceeding smoothly. I am expecting to be able to ship them around March 1st.

werock · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:55 am Post subject:

Interesting layout having the small pots for fine tune & PWM. Hard to gauge how much room there is from the photos, but it's a cunning way of getting more features in.

werock · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:56 am Post subject:

pugix · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 10:26 pm Post subject:

oldcrow · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 11:07 pm Post subject:

The side pots are originally from a panel I had Larry Hendry make for me for my CS filter EG in 2002, which is also 1U. It needed five parameters (initial level, attack time, attack peak, decay level, release level) and I did not want to go to 2U for the sake of one pot.

I carried the idea over to the CS VCO prototype I made in 2004, except I added the lin/exp FM selector switch on request not long ago.

I had Larry drill MU panels for it as well, which I will offer as an option at some point.

Crow
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3vcos · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 11:21 pm Post subject:

Interesting. So you have the pads for both through hole and surface mount resistors? Or was this pcb a conversion from thru hole to smt? Will it be available as a blank pcb?

oldcrow · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:28 pm Post subject:

I used my older TH layout and updated it with SMD/TH parts mainly due to convenience. If I sell bare boards, they'll be TH only.

MR-808 · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:42 am Post subject:

Put me down for one, maybe two, depending on cost. Do you have a waiting list? Need a deposit? Or are you doing this for Paul like the 480 & 485?

oldcrow · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 3:37 pm Post subject:

My through-hole boards for the VCO153 have arrived. I made these as a DIY option for those who were asking. There is an associated "jack board" that uses the Jack I/O header to simplify assembly as used on the SMT pre-assembled version, but point-to-point wiring pads are also provided.

Order details once I have the cart ready.

Crow
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JohnLRice · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:40 am Post subject:

Hi Scott,

What is the current status on the VCO? You mentioned in another thread you've already shipped a few? hyper

oldcrow · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:43 pm Post subject: VCO153

Hi John,

I am currently building these on a limited basis due to being busy with contract work. I can make a couple for you, however. They are $300 each.
Paypal or a check is fine. Let me know what you want to do.

Scott Rider
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diophantine · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:56 pm Post subject:

Scott,

Would you be willing to sell PCBs for this? I'd love a couple, though in MU format, not MOTM.

mecanikill · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:01 pm Post subject:

I'd be interested in a mu version if you would make one.

oldcrow · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:18 pm Post subject:

I plan to offer an MU panel variant. I just have to get the actual MU panel made.

I will be offering bare boards as soon as I get a storefront up.

Scott Rider
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oldenjon · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 3:45 pm Post subject:

Hi oldcrow.
Any word on the when the storefront will go up?

tonnu · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 3:53 pm Post subject:

i will be looking forward to mu for sure!!

synthetic · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:57 pm Post subject:

Scott, have you considered licensing your design to Studio Electronics or someone to create a polysynth based on your design? They already use your filter, right? A CS-80R would be frickin sweet...

oldcrow · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:08 pm Post subject:

I call my master plan the CSR-80. ;) I am building the last of my 5U VCOs so I can finally open the store. Working on an MU panel. And the GX1 resonator...

Crow
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JohnLRice · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:52 pm Post subject:

Sorry I haven't gotten back to you. I still want one, just been in a money crunch and trying to do too much at once. cry

tonnu · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:52 am Post subject:

any ETA on the MU? would really love one (or two, or three, or four!) lol Rockin' Banana!

Paddy's Kitchen · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject: CS

Are you taking a pre order list for the MU, if so can I be counted in?

kind regards

synthetic · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:23 pm Post subject:

oldcrow · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:59 pm Post subject:

I am using one of the last things Larry Hendry sent to me for prototyping the VCO153 in MU:

I just need to see which Metalphoto shop to use. I used to make metalphoto blanks myself way back when I bought the undeveloped stock from Kepro.

JohnLRice · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:55 pm Post subject:

MR-808 · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:02 am Post subject:

ach_gott · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:31 am Post subject:

Norman_Phay · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 7:59 am Post subject:

Crow, did I see you say that you would make PCBs available for DIY? Great to see this appear, been interested in this since the days of T-G-S.

I still have my JLH interval and octave switchers 2/3 finished. I really must get them done and panneled up.

oldcrow · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:47 am Post subject:

The bare boards are in stock on the site, he bought 8. --Crow

oldcrow · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:48 am Post subject:

Bare boards are available now:

http://cs80-com.myshopify.com/products/vco153th-pc-board

Crow
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oldenjon · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 4:44 pm Post subject:

oldcrow · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 6:49 pm Post subject:

I intend to re-order boards as needed. They will be available.

mecanikill · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:14 pm Post subject:

I can't wait for the MU version to be ready!

boothnavy · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 8:20 pm Post subject:

Are there build docs?

emdot_ambient · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 11:20 am Post subject:

Cool! Not sure I need more VCOs right now but...well, we'll see. hihi

MR-808 · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:40 pm Post subject:

Got my boards Tuesday. They look great. I especially like how you located the tempco underneath the LS318P.

Speaking of which, I read somewhere that those can be used to replace the SSM2210, so I ordered extras for the parts drawer. I got those from Trendsetter for US$4.25 each.

Thanks for the excellent work!

oldcrow · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 6:35 pm Post subject:

I provide a build doc in pdf form with each order. It has construction notes, operation notes, a bill of materials, a placement diagram and schematic.

boothnavy · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:38 pm Post subject:

oldcrow · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 3:25 pm Post subject: VCO boards built

Update on the VCO153: I have built up all the boards of the first batch and will be assembling them into their panels this weekend. After they pass final testing I'll update the inventory at my http://cs80-com.myshopify.com/ site.

Regards,

Crow
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exwel · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject:

How does it sound? Are you going to post sound clips.
Will there also be a MU version?

Thanx

nvining · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 6:04 pm Post subject:

... and to think I just ordered two CS80 VCO PCBs today. grin

Ah well, I can get both!

oldcrow · Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:14 pm Post subject:

Hey folks, here is what is up with CS VCOs to date:

Lead-time on 2 panel pots has jacked up my schedule. The "tune" control is a critical-performance part and using the available parts from vendors just won't be good enough. I ordered 250pcs straight from the factory but their delivery in still a few weeks out. The pot I chose back in January, while in plentiful supply, in the end didn't perform like I wanted. If I shipped those I know there would be user issues. Sorry for the delay, but I am not cutting this corner.

The 10-day power outage at my factory courtesy of a violent east-coast storm in July, where none of my SMT assembly line hardware could be used the entire time, really farked my production schedule. At this point in time I finally have a full run of assembled VCO and GX1BPF boards, so finishing things up now boils down to waiting on the long lead time parts.

In the interim, I've been getting things ready for the MU panel option. This panel will use the same layout as the 1U to make final assembly easier on my end.

Cheers, Crow

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oldcrow · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 6:11 pm Post subject:

Argh, manaufacturer has pushed my delivery of panel pots from 11/12 to 12/17. I am going to order a small stock of a Honeywell equivalent as this is getting silly.

The original pot spec'd for the fine tune was not good enough. Thus this debacle. More later.

boothnavy · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 9:52 pm Post subject:

bummer. no fun being at the mercy of vendors.

Any progress on the build docs for the VCO PCB?

oldcrow · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:29 pm Post subject:

Honeywell pots ordered. I have build docs, can email them on request.

Crow

oldcrow · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:23 pm Post subject:

Windfall of the week: my panel pots are here. 2 days after the 4 week lead time extension notification, I get a shipping notification. Go figure.

Of course it is just in time to be on travel for a week. But, I have the parts at last.

robotmakers · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:45 am Post subject:

Any updates?

Thanks,
Roger

oldcrow · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:08 am Post subject:

Sure, a quick update: I've solved my final logistics problem regarding the off-board panel pots and switch. I was encountering an issue with their assembly but the new headers have solved this. I will be stocking them in lots of 5 on the storefront starting March 1st (2013). The lot size will increase as the assembly flow matures.

Crow
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benjaminb · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:21 am Post subject: questions

Would you have some in-depth info on how this vco compares to the original vco's in the CS-80 ?

I have a triple living vco module from JHailbe, may he rest in peace. He explained the following about the CS osc :

The Yamaha CS-80 has linear (Hz/V) oscillators. Offset voltages are a big issue along the CV path in that synth, and must be carefully trimmed. What portion of it is left untrimmed, will result in "linear detuning". It makes a Cs-80 with its 2 VCOs per voice sound huge - the smaller ones, less so.

How does your design compare ? What kind of improvements did you make versus the original ?

The info I'm looking for might be available somewhere. If so, you can just point me to the link. Thx :-)

Also very intrested to hear sound clips... Especially polyphonic saw pads :p

tonnu · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:30 am Post subject:

oldcrow · Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:49 pm Post subject: Re: questions

My VCO153 module is a 1V/Oct unit based on my VCO153 plug-in board which I use on CS-50/60/80s for repair. The plug-in board is strictly the IG00153 (saw) VCO with no front end for exponential response, so trimming the offset voltage is done just like if it were an actual IG00153--with the M board trimmers.

Now, the module has an active summing node for CVs, and a servo amp for the exponential converter, so unless you are using the linear FM mode which affects the default current into the servo, aside from the scale trim there is nothing to trim out.

I have no polyphonic examples (yet), but I have test tones and whatnot from the original design phase at http://www.cs80.com/vco.html

--Crow
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oldcrow · Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:57 pm Post subject:

Drumdrumdrumdrum · Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 7:28 pm Post subject:

I am very interested in a couple of these in MOTM.

Do you have a payment plan? d'oh!

oldcrow · Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:03 pm Post subject:

I have a sales portal link off of http://www.cs80.com/

I put them up for sale in batches 5 or 6 at a time.

--Crow
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