Building my Moog Preset Box *clone*...

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I'm not a company - just building stuff at home for customising my own gear...

[noddyspuncture]

I'm not a company - just building stuff at home for customising my own gear...

Sorry you totally lost me again there... it's actually a genuine system 15 which I am building a preset box for.

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A joke explained is a joke that didn't work - forget about it, cheers.

[noddyspuncture]

I just installed the preset box controller circuit board into the case and wired it up.

Next I need to check it all again using the newly connected wiring to confirm that it still works as fitting it may have disturbed it somewhat...

[SkyWriter]

Cool stuff Noddy!

Getting a 50K reverse log with a switch wasn't easy, but now I have it,

...and I thought I had troubles finding parts. :0)

Ps, interesting schematic method; lined paper for the horizontals - never thought of that!

[noddyspuncture]

Here I'm doing a dual test - testing both the preset box controller, now installed in the case and also the power switching circuit on the breadboard to check if it will actually work with the controller.

It's a copy of Bob Moog's circuit which he used on Emo's preset box and each preset card will have one on it.

Each card is applied with +12 & -6 volts which will feed this on-board circuit. The output of the switching circuit - when enabled - will then power the card and the preset controller enables and disables them depending on which button is pressed.

I'm monitoring the outputs of the circuit on my meter and switching to what would be preset 1 (green LED) which has it's control line going to the breadboard and then I am switching away to preset 11 (red LED) which will be the 'defeat' button and will basically bypass the preset box completely and make the Modular behave as there were no preset box connected.

It all seems to be working nicely, first time - which is good...

[noddyspuncture]

Making headway with the multi-connector for the lines from the preset box to the Moog. I took my time on this - over a few days - as I didn't want to mess it up... and getting connector blades out again if you make a mistake is a right pain... but I finally got it finished and it all checks out good with my continuity tester..!

Those notes I made will be needed when I wire up the 'D' connectors which plug into the backs of the cards...

[noddyspuncture]

I've neglected my Moog Modular Preset Box build recently due to some family issues but, to take my mind off things yesterday I decided to have a go at drawing out the 911 envelope generator layout. I need a third 911 for my System 15 and I'll be building this on vero-board hence the layout. I thought I'd share it should anyone else want to build one without going to the lengths of all the work needed to acid etch copper boards etc...

You can cross reference it to the schematic in the Modular service manual.

[SkyWriter]

Nice noddy! Fwiw, I've been putting 3-way timing switches on my SMT "B"911's - and all other 1meg audio taper related timing controls; 961, 911A. The 9mm rotary's end resistance is always a bit high for the fast end of the Tn dial's in the 1ms-20ms area. Still haven't much call for 100sec attack yet though... lol.

[KSS]

Nice work Tom. Thanks for sharing the layout!

I like to add a V to S-trig NPN. In parallel, as a second trig input.

[noddyspuncture]

I just modified the two 911 EG's from my System 15 ready to take the connections to the preset box.
The third EG I'll be building myself. I posted a strip-board layout earlier which I'd drawn out but since then I've found and bought an NOS original unused Moog circuit board which I shall be using instead...

[noddyspuncture]

I decided to fit the Hammond reverb tank with some extra suspension against vibrations using those little rubber isolators.

Needed to get some welding done as well - the smaller flanges will just fit into slots in an aluminium rail with the other end being secured with bolts. Also the clamp handle for pressing down on the springs will be inaccessible inside the case so I had to find a way of extending it and it will come through the System 15 rear panel and will be just accessible inside one of those recessed jack socket dishes.

Here's some photos...

[noddyspuncture]

I originally thought fitting the Hammond reverb tank into the System 15, just above the power supplies, worked without undue problems from interference and hum. It was usable but being a perfectionist I decided the very slight hum I was getting could be taken care of and reduced further.

I repositioned both power supplies on their ends and as far over to the right as possible - transformer-wise... the tank pick-up side is over to the left. Then I made a perspex cover - attaching to the supplies using a thin plastic rod which goes through the holes in the power supply heatsinks and also through the holes in those transparent sections you can see in the photos.

Next I covered the perspex cover in Mu-Metal sheet and it will also have a ground strap. It basically reduces hum/interference to zero...

[Dave Peck]

That is VERY thorough! Nice.

[noddyspuncture]

Yaaay!

So I won't need to build my 911 EG vero-board layout after all - I managed to source a NOS original Moog 911 last run circuit board...

I'll populate it whilst I'm waiting for the case to be made..!

[KSS]

Nice score!

[Neovintage]

Very nice project
Are you aware of Cornell's Emerson info and the COTK new preset module?

[Dave Peck]

How the hell do you find this stuff?

[Rex Coil 7]

How the hell do you find this stuff?

... by growin' a callous on one's ass from sitting in front of a CPU monitor for days at a time ...

[KSS]

Are you aware of Cornell's Emerson info and the COTK new preset module?

That's a great link.

Check out this twelve!? channel DIY 'vactrol' from that page. And the box that houses some similar boards in Keith's early system here. Featuring a pre-pyrotechnic Ribbon Controller!

[Neovintage]

How the hell do you find this stuff?

Tap «Keith Emerson Moog Preset» on google and look for pictures. There is a link to Cornell. Simple
Too bad I am not in the USA. Would love to check those

[Dave Peck]

How the hell do you find this stuff?

Tap «Keith Emerson Moog Preset» on google and look for pictures. There is a link to Cornell. Simple
Too bad I am not in the USA. Would love to check those

I should have been more specific - I was wondering how noddyspuncture finds things like an original unstuffed Moog 911 circuit board. And the set of ultra-rate Moog percussion synth modules that he got a while back.

[Neovintage]

Sorry. My mistake. This is indeed a good question

[boops]

What a job! Exactly the good diy spirit .UP

[noddyspuncture]

I should have been more specific - I was wondering how noddyspuncture finds things like an original unstuffed Moog 911 circuit board. And the set of ultra-rate Moog percussion synth modules that he got a while back.

They seem to find me... the 700 series modules came with the system I bought. There were other equally or even more rare items that came with it..! I received an email from a friend of Keith's back in 2013 asking if I wanted to buy a Moog Modular and was then sent some photos. It was a no-brainer.

The 911 cct board found me because I originally made some drawings and was going to build the circuit on strip board. I shared my drawings on a f/b synth group and one of the members there said he had some NOS boards. I think he may have some more if you'd like me to ask..?