anyone in here ever built their own modular synth modules?

[rjd2]

just curious. there is a huge wealth of electronics knowledge on here, much more than the average "vintage synth" site, so im curious if there are any experienced folks in here on the matter.

any modular enthusiasts/DIY'ers?

[inverseroom]

I've built a lot of the Blacet kits, and done a few mods, but nothing from scratch. The MFOS site is getting pretty great though....it's only a matter of time for me!

[rjd2]

cool, thanks.


im considering putting together a dotcom-based system, with the intent of hoping to eventually mod some circuit boards (arp, korg, etc) to work as modules, and wondering where i should eventually direct all my insistent pestering of how/what/why/where, cause im sure i will be full of questions once i pull the trigger.

[The Scum]

Get thee hither to the Synth DIY mail list. It's where a number of the big guns hang out...some rather experienced EEs hang out there, focusing mostly on symths.

http://dropmix.xs4all.nl/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy

[earl parameter]

yes, i'll even be spitting out some personal designs in modular format soon but i'm all frac

this is thee goldmine of diy synth building, i post as para over there

http://www.electro-music.com/forum/inde ... 28f760b7c3


steven

[inverseroom]

Those electro-music people are ace. My bandmate and I have played at the festival two years running...a really friendly bunch.

[rjd2]

killer-thanks guys! im getting excited about this-just realized those bullshit arp omni's have a 4075 filter. with some dead synth units and some modular faceplates this could get fun....

maybe someday i'll graduate to some REAL engineering from scratch like you serious guys.....

[earl parameter]

here is a pretty full list of diy sites that will help a lot. http://www.electro-music.com/forum/view ... 299eb5f53c


some bigger then others, like http://www.cgs.synth.net/ /// http://www.uni-bonn.de/~uzs159/ /// http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/ /// http://www.blacet.com/



there are pretty good odds that someone has a pcb and all the info you need to build just about anything you want. if not then ask in the forum to see if anyone is interested or willing to do it for or with you. there are a lot designs offered straight through the board by members and you can watch the design progress over time. they can also almost always help you mod or fix anything.

i guess i should have pointed this place out to you sooner rj, seems like you are always repairing something


this is a good place to get your feet wet too http://experimentalistsanonymous.com/board/ colin is a great guy



steven

[Knights Who Say Neve]

The MFOS boards are a good place to start, I just built a few of those. The only problems I had was with Mouser back-ordering some of the parts and with my stupid DIY panel ideas. The boards themselves are well-documented and have had lots of people building them so they are pretty refined and they'll work if you build them right. Can't say that for every project out there in Internet land. Good docs are the key and most amateurs don't document sufficently. Watch out for that.

[rjd2]

so let me ask you:

you did a MFOS module with one of those panels. they look great, i think im gonna be ordering some. however, id love to to a real silk screen print on them. how hard do you think that would be?

[Knights Who Say Neve]

so let me ask you:

you did a MFOS module with one of those panels. they look great, i think im gonna be ordering some. however, id love to to a real silk screen print on them. how hard do you think that would be?

Actually I made my own panels out of Lexan. So I can't help you there.

[earl parameter]

Front Panel Express http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/


i've never used them myself but most people do. they have a free program you can download to layout and order the panels with.

let me put screening this way. i own a small screen shop and i've never printed my own panels. a single screen, setup, cleanup and time would exceed $50 each. it only makes sense if you do large runs.

i use this stuff http://papilio.com/inkjet%20waterproof% ... media.html


steven

[winky dinglehoffer]

Panels are my least favorite part of module building. Cutting, drilling, getting everything labeled--always takes me forever & never works as well as I'd like. However, I've recently been experimenting with using a laser printer to print to label backing paper, then spritzing the panel with 3M Super 77 & burnishing the design onto the panel(not my clever idea--someone else's that I borrowed). That technique, when combined with this little utility:

http://stiftsbogtrykkeriet.dk/~mcs/Scale.html

can make you some decent looking front panels with pretty modest skills.

[rjd2]

thanks guys, this is all great info.

the pre-made panels for $30 at MFOS look like a great deal. (i'd be willing to pay an extra 20-30/piece to have a silkscreened panel, but not an option).

so crashsick, you print out those labels, and adhere to your faceplate, and then exacto knife out the holes? which sticker are you using on there-it looks like there are a ton of options, id rather just take your advised one than to try a bunch of them, you know?

im gonna do my local rounds this week and try to score some synths to scavenge boards out of-already got a korg poly61 that i want to do an EG/VCF module out of.

[earl parameter]

i use this one, the waterproof vinyl. i don't have a color laser so i just use the inkjet. then i cut out whatever and coat it with a spray lacquer to keep it from being scratched. its not perfect but if you aren't really aggressive with it should last forever

http://papilio.com/inkjet%20waterproof% ... media.html

they have clear stuff too http://papilio.com/inkjet%20glossy%20cl ... media.html



i use this method on all of my work

http://thesquarewaveparade.com/custom.html



steven