"As panasonic stopped making slide potentiometers a few years ago, the remaining stock of the ones that fit in the Juno-106 is now depleted and none of the available replicas are good enough according to my standards, I designed a new fader kit for the Juno-106. I added some LEDs (you can never have enough of those) to the mix and their brightness follows the position of faders.
The Unobtainium 4-position fader (custom made by Alps) is also included and will be available in non-led version. Most if it will be pre-wired to make installation easier and is designed as such (full analog design, separate power lines, hysteresis and separate reference for the HPF) to not interfere with the Juno's very sensitive readout of the faders. Fully operational protype is there. Some minor design changes need to be done for another prototype run and then it will go into production.
"Added PWM in and attenuation. V-trig gate in and V/Oct CV in. Outs for VCO 1's Triangle, Saw and Pulse and VCO 2's Saw, Square/Pulse and Ring. Extra ext. audio input and finally a VCO sync switch. Mod available through exfade. kogz23@yahoo.com"
"About a year ago, Atomic Shadow (Rod Mitchell) contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in doing a 5U version of the RF Nomad voltage-controlled shortwave receiver module. He then pointed me to his music, and I was blown away. The RF Nomad would be a perfect fit, and so a single one-off prototype of the RF Nomad was hand-made into a 5U format, and christened "RF Nomad: Atomic Shadow Edition."
That module now resides in the Command Center, and is part of Atomic Shadow's secret lair.
( RF Nomad: Atomic Shadow Edition, operated by its namesake, in the Command Center. )
The RF Nomad: Atomic Shadow Edition (RFN:ASE) is going to be made into a short production run, the number of which is to be determined by interest expressed on the Evaton Technologies 5U signup form. If you are interested in purchasing the RFN:ASE when it becomes available, or you know someone who might be interested, please have them sign up. http://www.evatontechnologies.com/5u-signup
Current Status
At present, several things are under development - An adapter board is being designed to allow a Eurorack version of the RF Nomad printed circuit board to be used in 5U format. This will be a high quality PCB with both Dot Com and MOTM power connectors available, and circuitry to correct the voltage levels as required by the Eurorack circuit. (This is how the original prototype was made, and has been in service at Atomic Shadow's Command Center for the past year.)
Also, a mechanical dimensioned drawing of the faceplate is underway, to be fabricated using the popular Metalphoto™ process. Artwork will be very similar to that shown in the attached photo of the prototype, and will include the "Atomic Shadow Edition" logo at the top of the panel!
The original prototype RFN:ASE used genuine vintage 1970's knobs. While I have located a possible source for those exact knobs, the lead times are horrible. I have found some similar knobs which are readily available and are also quite attractive.
Here is that similar knob, shown installed on a Synthesizers.com Q109, for scale:
A test bench is needed in order to perform final QA testing on the RFN:ASE, and so this little beauty was constructed this weekend. Note the empty slot, reserved for the RF Nomad: Atomic Shadow Edition!
Availability and Pricing
The RF Nomad: Atomic Shadow is expected to be available this winter. Pricing is yet TBD, but as a ballpark, probably around $250-275, depending on final costs.
In addition to the module, a length of antenna coax cable will be included, and a small, but high quality receiving antenna. The antenna connection will be made via a standard SO-239 socket on the front of the module, which means that the RFN:ASE will be compatible with commerically-available shortwave / ham radio receiving antennas and accessories.
Update: RF Nomad Testing 1,2,3... by Atomic Shadow:
"This track was composed entirely from sounds generated by the RF Nomad module from Evaton Technologies. EQ, reverb and delay were added during mixing. The RF Nomad is a voltage controlled shortwave radio module. The tuning frequency can be swept with an LFO or other voltage sources to produce unique textures. Many thanks to Russ Hoffman for agreeing to produce this (so far), one of a kind, MU sized version." previously posted here.
"En este album se ven las modificaciones que le realicé a un Korg Volca Beats, en primer lugar se realizó el Snare Fix que consiste en agregar el famoso "Missing c78 capacitor" lo cual le quita ese espantoso sonido a distorsion que trae de fabrica y lo remplaza por un dulce y calido snare analogico como corresponde :) y en segundo lugar se perforó el gabinete plastico y se le agregó un conector hembra para utilizar el MIDI Out. De esa manera se puede manejar otras cajas de ritmos (Obviamente en channel 10 MIDI). Gracias Ivan Herman, Saludos!"
Googlish:
"In this album the changes you made to a Korg Volca Beats, first the Snare Fix comprising adding the famous "Missing C78 capacitor" which takes away that awful sound distortion that brings factory was made and what are replaced by a sweet and warm analog snare accordingly :) and secondly the plastic cabinet was drilled and added a female to use the MIDI Out connector. That way you can manage other drum machines (Obviously MIDI channel 10). Thanks Ivan Herman, Greetings!"
"The Juno-66 is an upgrade for Roland Juno-6 and Juno-60 synthesizers. It turns your Juno into a powerful Juno-66 synthesizer with midi and a lot of additional features.
• Midi in- and output. Can output key presses, arpeggiator, Powerarp and chord memory.
• Additional play modes: Polyphonic, Duophonic, Two Monophonic modes, Chord Memory and Polychord. The Mono- and Duophonic modes feature adjustable fatness
• Portamento for all play modes with adjustable speed and behaviour
• Powerarp: A powerful sequencer that includes breaks and note lengths and can be triggered by the arp clock, trigger, midi clock or midi trigger. Features various direction, transpose and random modes.
• Two additional filter LFOs: A triangular LFO with a frequency of up to 8kHz and a S/H style LFO with various clock sources.
• Detuning. Turns your Juno into an organic analogue synth.
• Alternative tunings: Select from a range of non-equal tempered tunings.
• Midi filter, pitch bend, arp and portamento control.
• Settings via an internal configuration menu or external midi controller.
• Extra features accessible using the existing Juno controls
• Comes with sticker overlays and all necessary parts"
Update:
"Some features in more detail
PLAY MODES
The Juno-66 adds additional play modes to the existing 6-voice polyphonic mode.
The Duophonic mode layers 3 oscillators for each voice and slightly detunes them. The result is a fatter sound, often called supersaw or supersquare. The amount of fatness can be adjusted.
The two Monophonic modes layer all six oscillators to create an even thicker sound. The fatness is adjustable. You can also select between two envelope retrigger behaviours.
Chord Memory lets you define a chord of your choice with up to six notes. You can then play and transpose it using the keyboard.
Polychord lets you assign an individual chord to each key of the keyboard. You can play the chords using the keyboard.
j66sticker1-450
POWERARP
The Powerarp is a built in sequencer. A new sequence can be quickly entered and can also include breaks and different note lengths. The sequencer can then be triggered by various clock sources. The sequence can be transposed using the keyboard and shifted forth and back in time.
Forward, backward, forward-backward and three different random modes can be selected and the sequence automatically transposed over two octaves.
An external trigger, the internal arp clock, midi note trigger and midi clock are possible trigger sources. A divider for the midi clock can be set and adjusted in real time without losing sync.
PORTAMENTO
A polyphonic portamento that works in all play modes including chord memory and Polychord!
You can adjust the speed and two preset speeds are directly accessible via a switch on the synth.
The portamento is linear on a musical scale and you can select between constant time or constant speed behaviour.
A special algorithm makes sure that even in Polychord mode the portamento sounds natural."
"The box plugs into the Sub-D connection socket on the back of the synth and allows connections to be made to the synths parameters via control voltage. This allows interactions with other synths and soundmodules, for example the Arturia Microbrute's patchbay or a Eurorack modular synth. As well as the CV inputs and outputs the box also includes independent audio outs for the two oscillators and a dedicated noise output.
The patchbay offers many of the same functions as the official modular dock and although it omits a few (For example external audio cannot be routed through the filter with this patchbay) it does offer LFO and envelope outputs which the official modular dock does not.
The patchbay is handmade using high quality components and has been thoroughly tested. It is sold as new but does have a few light scratches on the case which occurred during construction. They are very faint and only show up in bright light.
The patchbay comes with the necessary connection cable built in.
PLEASE NOTE this is a listing for the PATCHBAY ONLY. You need to buy the Vermona Mono Lancet separately."
This one made the rounds during NAMM but I initially skipped it as it is not directly synth related. It may however be of interest to synth DIYers. The following is the press release from KORG.
"KORG INC and Noritake Co., Limited are proud to announce the successful development of the ground breaking technology, Nutube, a new miniaturized and high performance tube. In cooperation with Noritake Itron Corporation, KORG INC. has developed the Nutube to offer incredible reliability and efficiency while still generating the same rich harmonics which vacuum tubes are known for. The Nutube 6P1 featuring this innovation will be on display at the Korg USA Winter NAMM Booth.
KORG has used vacuum tubes for many years in products such as VOX-branded guitar amps and effect units, KORG-branded dance/DJ products such as the electribe MX/SX and keyboards such as the SV-1. Vacuum tubes have played a major role in shaping the sound of VOX and KORG products, and have been a crucial element in their distinctive character.
As with previous vacuum tubes, this newly-developed Nutube is structured with an anode, grid, and filament, and operates as a complete triode tube, generating the same rich harmonics that are distinctive of conventional vacuum tubes. By applying technology from Noritake Co., Limited's vacuum fluorescent displays, the structure of the vacuum tube has been modified, dramatically reducing its size and allowing it to consume less power. Production is carried out at the cutting-edge Japanese production facility of Noritake Itron, a subsidiary of Noritake Co., Limited., significantly raising the product quality in comparison to previous vacuum tubes by boasting the following features:
Power Consumption:
Miniaturization dramatically reduces power consumption, allowing the Nutube to operate using less than 2% of power required by conventional vacuum tubes and making it easy to power the unit on batteries.
Compact.:
The Nutube occupies less than 30% of the volume of a conventional vacuum tube. Its small size and low thermal output allows it to be easily mounted directly on a high-density circuit board without using a socket
High reliability and long life.:
The unique design and state of the art Japanese production facility ensures the Nutubes are built to the highest standard and offer up to 30,000 hours of continuous operating life. The high reliability means that it can be attached directly to the circuit board with confidence knowing that it will not need to be replaced regularly like a 12AX7.
About Nutube 6P1
"As an electronic component, a vacuum tube has the disadvantages of being larger than a transistor, having a shorter lifespan, and a higher power consumption, and although many people like the sound of a vacuum tube, historically they have been more difficult to deal with,” stated Fumio Mieda, KORG INC’s longstanding developer who was involved in numerous KORG synthesizers including the MS-20 which appeared in 1978. “The Nutube sets us free from these many limitations, making it possible for us to think about using it in new products,” added Mieda.
Most manufacturers stopped producing vacuum tubes in the 1970s and there haven’t been any notable advances in the field during the past fifty years. However, thanks to the Nutube 6P1, it is now easier to obtain a vacuum tube sound when amplifying musical instruments and other audio signals.
Noritake Itron Corporation, a group company of Noritake Co., Limited, pioneers of vacuum florescent displays says “By creating a miniaturized and high performance replacement for traditional vacuum tubes, Noritake Co. Limited expects products using the Nutube will create a renewed appreciation for the inherent qualities of vacuum tubes amongst users.”
The Nutube 6P1, currently being developed, takes advantage of KORG's experience in musical instrument production, and is tuned for optimal effect to generate rich harmonics when used with a musical instrument. Products using the Nutube are currently under development, with announcements expected during 2015. (Patent applied for.)"
"The Waldorf Microwave XT DSP expansion board has the same functionality as the original out-of-production board. It adds 2 DSPs and memory to the original Waldorf instruments. This increases the polyphony from 10 to 30! Installation is extremely simple. No soldering necessary. It comes with mounting hardware.
Note: This only works with original Microwave XT instruments with version 3 board. Version 1 and 2 Microwave XT boards do not have expansion ports. The version of XT mainboard is shown after you finish booting the XT/XTk by pressing the Global (Utility) button (six clicks in) until you get to the system sub-menu. If the lower left of the display reads "Board #3" you can upgrade your XT. If it says "Board 1" or "Board 2" then the XT is not expandable. Please perform this basic check to avoid any disappointment. Also your XT/XTk must be updated to OS 2.29 (or newer) before connecting the expansion."
via Encore:
"We are shipping the XT expansion now - It is tested and working $399 plus shipping, Limited QTY so act fast before we run out!!!
"This is a demo of an addon module for the Korg Polysix and the Korg Poly61. The addon establishes a trigger input, which triggers the played voices of the synth if an external trigger signal is provided. If no cable is inserted in the trigger input, the synth will behave normally.
This is still a prototype, and the final version will look a little bit different.The addon module will be available as kit and as complete module.
To add the module to the Polysix/Poly61 good skills in desoldering chips are required. It is easily possible to remove the kit and to bring the synth back to the original state.
If you are interested in the module, please visit http://fa.utfs.org/diy/korgpolysix/. As soon as I will have the final version, I will announce it there."
Update: the following are some other projects by Florian Anwander:
Modifications for the Jupiter 6:
* adoption of the signal level to the resonance
* linear FM for the Crossmodulation
* Filter-FM http://fa.utfs.org/diy/rolandjp6/
(I can put the sound examples to soundcloud, so you can include them easier)
A very simple addition of a LED to the voicecards of Yamaha CS50/60/80, which makes it much easier to tune the synth. http://fa.utfs.org/diy/yamaha_cs60/
"The Werkstatt der Pfähler (Werkstatt the Impaler) is a Moog Werkstatt-Ø1 that has been cut up and extensively modified. There is a huge beast inside these little synths that can only be accessed through modifying.
There are 2 versions available: Standard and Full. The Standard version is perfect for incorporating into an existing Eurorack modular system. Most of the header patch points have been brought to the rear of the unit to 3.5mm Jacks. Most importantly, the EG can be triggered by an external gate. This is not possible without modification.
The Full version takes the standard and brings it to a stand-alone powerhouse! In addition to the CV In’s and Out’s at the rear, buffers are added to all CV Out’s (these are circuits that keep critical voltages, like the raw VCO waveforms from sagging when used to drive external gear). The CV Out’s are wired to TRS jacks, giving a total of 8 individual outputs. A MIDI 2 CV (MINICV) converter is added to drive the VCO and EG. Additionally, the CV & Gate generated by the MIDI 2 CV is brought to 2 jacks, so when the Werkstatt is not in use, it can be used to drive other analog gear that does not have MIDI, but does have CV & Gate In’s. A mixer is added to give volume control over the Werkstatt VCO and External Audio. Additionally, the VCF is wired to the Audio In jack, so when nothing is plugged into the jack, the Audio In volume knob will send the VCF back into itself for some intense filter overdrive! A 2nd glide circuit is added in line with the VCO CV In. The Werkstatt Glide potentiometer is removed and replaced with a dual gang potentiometer. This way one knob can control both the Werkstatt glide and the external pitch glide. The VCO Wave selector switch is removed and a mixer circuit is added so the 2 waveforms can be continuously blended from one to the other. Lastly, there is a Fine Tune knob added.
Both mods come with high quality Lexan Overlays by SynthGraphics (similar to the ones used on production Moogs), and all mods are backed by a 1 year warranty.*"
