The 2020 Show Us Your DIY Builds Thread!

[sduck]

This one. I put some space saver mismatched knobs on the rotary switches just so I could show it off. They actually work pretty well. I'm not really happy with any of these knobs, they may all change sometime in the future.

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[gnsk]

NLC "Delay No More 3"
* 18hp -> 10hp repackt
* For troubleshooting, tried to build each parts in module as module.

thanks andrewF!

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[Grumble]

Just finished my percussion modules, the sequencer needs some programming still.
The modules are designed and built by myself (very proud )

[Dr. Sketch-n-Etch]

I built a Quad Function Generator based on the Intellijel Quadra + Expander (which was based on the Buchla 281) into a 5U module. I used a Panel Board to eliminate panel wiring and a Translator Board to connect the Panel Board to the Circuit Board without having to compromise the layout of either one. Here is the finished module:

15_Finished_QPG.jpeg

And here is a couple of pictures of the board stack (every board has circuitry on it -- the main Circuit Board has all of the Quadra circuitry, the Translator Board in the middle has all of the Expander circuitry, and the Panel Board has circuitry for the Quadrature Mode switches -- on the Intellijel unit, these are 4PDT switches, but here I opted for SPDT switches and DG333s):

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8_Board_Stack_2.jpeg

I'm actually considering offering these for sale on Modular Grid. What do y'all think of that?

[latrohexus]

baby's first active module:

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a 1:3 mult based on Skull and Circuits, with a bit of boost on the bipolar LED's channel to help lower level signals light it up. next, amplifying offsetting attenuverters and a stereo headphone amp. eventually some VCAs, LFOs, etc, and if I can't fix my ESQ1 I may turn its filter chips into modules too

[elmegil]

I'm actually considering offering these for sale on Modular Grid. What do y'all think of that?

It's freaking gorgeous, but I doubt it'd be within my budget

[andrewF]

NLC "Delay No More 3"
* 18hp -> 10hp repackt
* For troubleshooting, tried to build each parts in module as module.

thanks andrewF!

delaynomore-vorne.jpg
delaynomore-dorsal.jpg

Very very nice!!!

[romain]

I built a Quad Function Generator based on the Intellijel Quadra + Expander

Very neat job ! well done

[Schlumpfhut]

I'm actually considering offering these for sale on Modular Grid. What do y'all think of that?

Consider me to be the first buyer of that AWESOME project.
That is exactly what i am looking for to set up self-generating patches

[luchog]

I'm actually considering offering these for sale on Modular Grid. What do y'all think of that?

It's freaking gorgeous, but I doubt it'd be within my budget

Not into 5U myself, but if I was I would definitely be interested.

[Dr. Sketch-n-Etch]

I'm actually considering offering these for sale on Modular Grid. What do y'all think of that?

It's freaking gorgeous, but I doubt it'd be within my budget

Well, I'm thinking $500 US. An Intellijel Quadra + Expander can (still?) be had at Analogue Haven for $430 US, and this is a handmade labour of love that takes a person (or two?) quite a few hours of painstaking labour to realize and is easily serviced if required because all the parts are through-hole and all the ICs are socketed, etc. You should know that, at that price, the dudes making these things are making roughly minimum wage (that's me and possibly a friend).

Of course, if someone wants one of these, but doesn't like my baked-on Lazertran panels, then I'd be happy to order the basic white-on-black MOTM-style panels from Front Panel Express or whatever. I also have a buddy here in Vancouver (a pretty well-known experimental composer, as it turns out) who has the capability to do laser engraving, and I'll be experimenting with lasering the black layer off of painted aluminum. Also, he can do silkscreening, so that's another option -- thinking of powder coating and silkscreening like Modcan.

However, for now, the panels are baked-on Lazertran. What I could do is sell the units with these panels and then offer replacement panels to anyone who wants one at cost. If I order anything, it will have to be in bulk, and that will depend on getting at least a few orders up front.

[elmegil]

Oh yeah Dave, I don't mean to say anything about the fair value of the module!

I just mean I don't generally have $500 or more to drop on a module. If I *did* I'd be lining up for it though.

[GrantB]

More 500? WTF is wrong with me? I should really get back to building Serge panels.

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[Schlumpfhut]

I'm actually considering offering these for sale on Modular Grid. What do y'all think of that?

It's freaking gorgeous, but I doubt it'd be within my budget

Well, I'm thinking $500 US. An Intellijel Quadra + Expander can (still?) be had at Analogue Haven for $430 US, and this is a handmade labour of love that takes a person (or two?) quite a few hours of painstaking labour to realize and is easily serviced if required because all the parts are through-hole and all the ICs are socketed, etc. You should know that, at that price, the dudes making these things are making roughly minimum wage (that's me and possibly a friend).

Of course, if someone wants one of these, but doesn't like my baked-on Lazertran panels, then I'd be happy to order the basic white-on-black MOTM-style panels from Front Panel Express or whatever. I also have a buddy here in Vancouver (a pretty well-known experimental composer, as it turns out) who has the capability to do laser engraving, and I'll be experimenting with lasering the black layer off of painted aluminum. Also, he can do silkscreening, so that's another option -- thinking of powder coating and silkscreening like Modcan.

However, for now, the panels are baked-on Lazertran. What I could do is sell the units with these panels and then offer replacement panels to anyone who wants one at cost. If I order anything, it will have to be in bulk, and that will depend on getting at least a few orders up front.

Since i would prefer the "classic" white-on-black i would take you up on that option. And 500$ is in my opinion not much for that kind of build
You could also provide an fpe-file (maybe for a small fee) so that folks who want a different panel can order it themselves and replace the original one.

[djs]

More 500? WTF is wrong with me? I should really get back to building Serge panels.

I really like seeing your 500 series pics, so please keep posting

Question- can you give a rough guess as to how much each of those modules cost you to build? Not including the 500 series chassis itself.

[GrantB]

More 500? WTF is wrong with me? I should really get back to building Serge panels.

I really like seeing your 500 series pics, so please keep posting

Question- can you give a rough guess as to how much each of those modules cost you to build? Not including the 500 series chassis itself.

The prices on the CAPI and AML websites are for the complete kit, around $300 for a module. For the CAPI modules you will need to add about $20-$40 for one or two op amp kits depending on the module. So not "cheap" but when API modules go for $850-$1150 it looks like a bargain.

[gslug]

A "sort of" build: A replacement power supply for my long dead Yamaha SPX-1000.

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Unfortunately I made the holes for the switch bracket too small, and didn't leave room for decently sized heatsinks on the regulators. Rather more unfortunately, the PSU wasn't the only thing dead on the SPX - there's a short from 5V to ground on the main board. I really should have tested it on a bench power supply first!

[Dr. Sketch-n-Etch]

Today I finished laying out the next module in my series of "improve the layouts for existing designs in 5U to eliminate panel wiring and stooge brackets" modules.

Here are the graphics for the Dr. Octature cascaded 4-pole filter. I'm gonna try to build it over the next two evenings.

Panel from FPD:

5UDocOcFPD.png

Circuit Board:

5UDocOcCircuit.png

Panel Board:

5UDocOcPanel.png

Translator Board:

5UDocOcTranslator.png

Note how the Translator Board is flipped horizontally relative to the Panel Board, but not flipped relative to the Circuit Board -- this is because the Panel and Translator Boards are stacked back-to-back. Also, the Panel+Translator are screwed together through three mounting holes, whereas the Translator+Circuit are screwed together by four holes at the corners. Screwing these boards together is not strictly necessary, as they will stay firmly plugged into each other, but I like the extra insurance of spacing hardware.

All of the PCBs are 4" x 5.4", so will fit comfortably behind a 3U panel (5.25" x 8.75"). They will clear all of the jacks (hence the corner notch out of the Panel Board, which is meant to accommodate the IN 1, IN 2, 1V/OCT and FM 1 jacks. I will put all 16 jacks and the 8 indicator LEDs on a separate Jack Board which will ride slightly above the Panel Board. The wired connection between the Jack Board and the Panel Board will be the only wires in the module. This is simply because the Switchcraft 112APCX jacks I plan to use are too deep to include on the Panel Board.

[GrantB]

Built something with vactrols this time! (more 500)

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[indigoid]

So quite some time ago I was perusing Ian Fritz's lovely website and noticed the Wavolver. Elby sells PCB+panel kits for these but IIRC it was too deep for almost any of my cases, so I decided to make my own. The panel layout is a little weird because it's all stuffed into one ~16hp through-hole board parallel with the panel, but it works, and it's not cramped. I didn't have any 4.7V zeners on hand so tried some 5.1V instead. It seems like a very angry waveshaper. I like it a lot! I will get some 4.7V zeners and see what happens...

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[gnsk]

Sampler<->Filter-Feedback

* based on Bastl, CasperElectronic's "OMSynth Project 3"
* ISD1820 x2, one for sampler, the other for filter with feedback
* sampling from mic, audio-in, or filter-out.
* sample-out -> filter-in normalized
* filter-out -> sample-in toggle switch : without audio-in or, mic-in, filter w/ feedback itself can be sampled.
* vactrols for CV
* 6HP

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[indigoid]

I am in awe of your deadbug skills. Cool! I have the Noise Reap sampler built using the same chip. Lo-fi but a lot of fun. Your take on it looks much more complete.

(have you heard of this amazing new circuit board technology that has been invented recently? It's like taking a photo of all your wires and then telling your computer to print it out!)

[BadPixel]

Been hibernating from building a coupe of months so feels great to be burning through the backlog again

Nothing fancy but anyways. Some Multimode VCF's, the Swamp and BBD Delay/Flanger from Erica, Horstronic's Joystick and a neat little 2x2 Matrix Mixer from Kymatica. The BBD needs some troubleshooting though. LFO and dry audio works, but there's something off with the actual delay/flanger part

[indigoid]

Pittsburgh Modular shared the schematic for their discontinued sequencer, which was more or less the classic CD4017-based Baby10. I felt like trying an SMD layout and so made one of these. I had some Alps 8-way rotary switches + knobs left over from ordering Turing Machine parts, and Tom Whitwell of Music Thing had shared his Eagle part for the switch, so I used it to replace Pittsburgh's 4/6/8-way selector. One opamp in the Pittsburgh schematic isn't used, so I added a comparator, figuring it might be useful when using two or more of these sequencers together.

When I'm sure everything is definitely working, the Eagle and Gerber files will be up on Github.

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[J3RK]

More 500? WTF is wrong with me? I should really get back to building Serge panels.
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These are gorgeous! I love the knobs.