Żłob Modular: New VnIcursal VCA v666 redesigned and more DIY friendly

[onurkalaycioglu]

im having a 4 year anniversary 20% off sale on all pcbs, kits, built modules, and cables all this month. use the code "zlob4year" at checkout

my site is in my signature

[onurkalaycioglu]

everything but diy parts are on sale through tomorrow.

[MARK27]

I can't believe I missed this. I am such an idiot.

From now on, no life. Only synth!

[onurkalaycioglu]

I can't believe I missed this. I am such an idiot.

From now on, no life. Only synth!

ha, dont worry im having a 20% off black friday sale next month too.


finally the original 4hp state variable filter is back!

The 2019 revision adds improved cutoff and resonance response and attenuversion to the ENV in(CV in) through the above CV pot, normal or pingable in for channel 2 in, and various jumper selectable resonance settings from clinical to chaos. and theres also a trim on the pcb to set the lowest cutoff frequency. more info is on my site.

built: $135
kit: $85
pcb/panel: $25



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I'm also excited to announce Diode Chaos.

Diode Chaos is a 3hp analog chaotic low frequency voltage generator. It is a unique module because it has never existed as an electronic music instrument until now. The module is based on a circuit from a paper called “A simple chaotic circuit with a light-emitting diode” written by Volos, Wang, Jafari, and Kapitaniak.

Diode Chaos produces 3 phases of interrelated morphing voltages including a chaotic trigger out. The range is around 30 seconds a cycle up to audio rate. The frequency is controlled by the RATE knob. Each output exhibits different behavior at different rate settings. X,Y, and Z outs like to stay in the 4vpp range although at different RATE settings the outs can reach 10vpp. The TRIG out chaotically releases 0-10v triggers although sometimes it will spit out smaller voltage peaks.

built: $80
kit:$50
pcb/panel:$20



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[AnalogAssailant]

Diode Chaos was a fun easy build. I Have two now and definitely recommend it.

[onurkalaycioglu]

Diode Chaos was a fun easy build. I Have two now and definitely recommend it.

thanks glad you like it

an update on zlob things for those interested
the problems with the entropy expander have finally been figured out(i hope), the foldiplier is getting closer to finished, and there will be a new vc fixed filter bank prototype at superbooth. also if you havent seen there are some new black pcb panel options incoming for the vnicursal(classic and soulless), skewfade, and a little later the svf.

[onurkalaycioglu]

synth diy guy did some awesome build and demo videos of the diode chaos and svf





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also black and white alternate pcb panels are available for the VnIcursal VCA($7 each) in classic(right) and soulless(left) and classic for the skew fade LFO($5 each). my site is in my signature.

[onurkalaycioglu]

I’m happy to finally announce the Entropy Expander. I know it’s taken a long time to finish, but took a while to get it just right so it works with all versions of the entropy, even the 2016 version.

you can find more info, and less blurry pics on my site...

its also worth mentioning this is the first build using resistor arrays so it speeds up the build time by quite a bit. theres also going to be an update of the entropy itself with resistor arrays that really speeds up the build. build docs coming soon..

diy kit: $45
pcb/panel:$20

here are some demo videos, more videos coming soon.

[onurkalaycioglu]

here are some more demo videos. one is by Andy Ortmann, whos a big influence on me in the chicago modular scene, and the other is a little wind emulation demo.

[Datum]

Nice! Just saw the entropy expander. Ordered.

I've really enjoyed Entropy, super useful. That and diode chaos are the heart of my rack's random. Highly recommend these modules. Plus the kits are easy to build with very clear instructions if you want to dip your toes into DIY.

[onurkalaycioglu]

Nice! Just saw the entropy expander. Ordered.

I've really enjoyed Entropy, super useful. That and diode chaos are the heart of my rack's random. Highly recommend these modules. Plus the kits are easy to build with very clear instructions if you want to dip your toes into DIY.

thats great to hear. thank you, i appreciate that.

[pyerbass]

Yes, Diode Chaos has the best idiot(me) proof documentation I ever seen! awesome module!
Can't wait for Entropy expander kits to be available somewhere in Europe

[onurkalaycioglu]

Yes, Diode Chaos has the best idiot(me) proof documentation I ever seen! awesome module!
Can't wait for Entropy expander kits to be available somewhere in Europe

ha, im glad you think so. thanks, exploding shed(in germany) should be getting the first batch of the the entropy expander kits and pcbs and 3u-shop and thonk will get them shortly after.

[maltemark]

Great to hear exploding are getting them!

[onurkalaycioglu]

Great to hear exploding are getting them!

not sure they are on their site yet, but i heard they received the package recently.

in other news..

Triple Cap Chaos is out now! C^3 Chaos is a 2hp analog, chaos based, noise oscillator, pseudo ring modulator/harmonics generator, and audio mangler Eurorack module available as

Built: $75
DIY Eurorack kit: $45
PCB and Panel: $20

It is a unique module, like the Diode Chaos, because it has never existed as a musical instrument until now. There is also no other module, to my knowledge, that can do exactly what the Triple Cap can do. The circuit(with several modifications) is based on the paper "Simple Autonomous Chaotic Circuits" by J.C. Sprott and Jessica R. Piper. As opposed to the Diode Chaos that generates control voltage this module focuses on the audio rate. 

The "Emanate" potentiometer controls the coarser overall spectrum of the chaos, from lots of activity counter clock wise up to less chaos and more of a steady oscillation. The "Width, CV ATT" potentiometer can be thought of as more of a fine control for the chaos/oscillator. When something is inserted into the "CV" in the voltage normalization from the width knob is broken and the potentiometer now acts as an attenuator for the incoming cv. The Triple Cap is not a traditional volt per octave exponential VCO, and has a sort of narrow frequency range to exploit the chaotic behavior. 

other info and specs on my site. o it also has a reversible panel so the other side is soulless with less graphics.

[onurkalaycioglu]

Continuing a series featuring local(Chicago) modular synthesists, who I admire, demoing my modules(the first video featured Andy Ortmann and the Entropy+Expander). So, this is the second demo of the series featuring Jason Soliday using the Triple Cap in stereo(X and Y panned) being modulated by audio and cv in various ways.

[appliancide]

My buddy Matt (aka PCRV/Luer) recently built the Diode Chaos and Triple Cap Chaos modules. Here's a couple of videos he made for our YouTube experimental/noise demo/build channel:





Very cool modules! It's 2020 people. Replace all of your LFOs with chaos. Buy both of these and all of the NLC and Ian Fritz chaos modules as well.

[appliancide]

I meant to post that in the eurorack section. Oops. It's bad form to post in both places right?

[MoyaMoya]

can't wait for the zlob resonant filter bank

[appliancide]

can't wait for the zlob resonant filter bank

That's an upcoming module?

[MoyaMoya]

There was an interview from a while back that mentioned a a filter bank of some sort. but im sure covid has delayed things.

I will say these Zlob diy kits are among my favorites, having built 2 SVF filters, diode chaos and Vnicursal..I cant wait to see what is next.

[onurkalaycioglu]

There was an interview from a while back that mentioned a a filter bank of some sort. but im sure covid has delayed things.

I will say these Zlob diy kits are among my favorites, having built 2 SVF filters, diode chaos and Vnicursal..I cant wait to see what is next.

thanks a lot @appliancide and matt for doing these build and demo videos.

yep the VC F^3DB(voltage controlled fixed filter feedback distortion bank) is coming soon. i actually just finished the panel and submitted all the pcb files to the fab today. it's not certain these will be the last revision of the pcbs, since it's a kind of complicated/large module, at least for me ha, coming in at 16hp. but im hoping to have it out by december or january.

covid honestly didnt directly impact the release of the module in a bad way, more impacted it because ive been really busy keeping up with orders this year. although the lead time on the led slide pots for the f3db are kind of intense, mouser quoted almost 6 months from bourns... but i found some alternatives in the mean time. also i had planned to release my wavefolder this fall but since intellijel and joranalogue released folders recently i decided to postpone and work on the filter bank and release my folder next year.

@moyamoya thanks i appreciate that, im really glad you like my builds/modules.

[onurkalaycioglu]

I’m happy to finally announce the new VnIcursal VCA version 666. The pcb has been completely redesigned for lower noise and cross talk and now uses 20 resistor arrays and 25 single resistors versus v5 which uses 90+ single resistors. This redesign really simplifies the build and speeds assembly by 30 or 40%. Other than that, the vca operates just like the old one and is the same price, but now will use all red leds going forward.

this is the v5 motherboard

and new v666

heres a drone box I set up utilizing all 6 vca channels summed together using 6 beating triangle waves with a little Diode chaos pitch modulation and vcas controlled by the skew fades. its a little quiet so it wouldnt clip.



here is another short demo featuring the VCAs "ring mod" characteristics. it's not true ring modulation since this is a 2 quadrant multiplier, but it can get similar sounds. so we have 2 triangle voices being ring modded by 2 more audio rate triangle waves with the diode chaos pitch modulating and opening the 2 VCAs. kinda reminds me of some sireny subotnick stuff.



and here are 2 more VnIcursal demos by Andy Ortmann

[MoyaMoya]

exciting! can't wait to give this one a try

Thanks for continuing to develop such great designs

[Temp_hill]

I’m happy to finally announce the new VnIcursal VCA version 666. The pcb has been completely redesigned for lower noise and cross talk and now uses 20 resistor arrays and 25 single resistors versus v5 which uses 90+ single resistors. This redesign really simplifies the build and speeds assembly by 30 or 40%. Other than that, the vca operates just like the old one and is the same price, but now will use all red leds going forward.
...

Oh jeez i was looking forward to this.
Any idea when European dealers will get a hold of the v666?