Analog Systems Modular

Shot via this post on the Experimentalists Anonymous forum, sent my way via Colin Raffel.

More on Analog Systems.

Aelita - New Flickr Shot

flickr by Amstrad. Another sent my way via Sameli.

Buchla 2 - New Flickr Shots

flickr by SortaLucid34. Sent my way via Sameli.

Cybersonica 06 Videos on YouTube

The video above picks up about one minute in. Title link takes you to more videos. More on the event here.

Pappas pojke - New Flickr Shot

flickr by sykossa.

Cheetah MD16 Drum Machine

Spotted on Sequencer.de.

EMS Vocoder 5000

Paul Sop sent in the following on the EMS Vocoder 5000. It is interesting how much it does sound like the cylons in Battlestar Galactica. Thanks Paul!


Shot via EMSRehberg, who still makes Synthis and some other EMS products including the EMS Vocoder 5000 which will only set you back 23,000 Euro.













"I'm all about Vocoders lately. Check it out

EMS Vocoder 5000- AND -
EMS Rehberg 5000 Page (great pic here)

Pretty cool. A few factoids:

http://www.bigbluewave.co.uk/ems_vocoder_5000.htm- It is probably the highest specified vocoder ever. 22 bands.
- Includes things like Frequency Shifters, Oscillators, etc.. It's a whole synth!
- It weighs about 20kg!

Cyclons Forum
- It may have been used on the cylons.
- From this page:

Here are some audio samples of both the EMS Vocoder 5000 and the Cylons, see if you think they sound a like and are. Some sites such as one from Ben Liebrand "claim" it's the Sennheiser but after hearing this audio from EMS I have to go with that one.

First the Cylons:

cylon.wav
cylon2.wav
cylon3.wav
cylon4.wav
cylon7.wav
cylon9.wav

EMS Vocoder 5000:

EMS5000plab1.mp3
EMS5000p2.mp3
EMS5000p3.mp3

Apparently it cost 5000 pounds in 1976. If you want one today, it would cost you 23,000 euro from:

Pricelist

I guess it wasn't in the new Battle Star Galactica's budget!"

Update via Derek Wildstar in the comments:
"Some say the Cylons used the EMS Vocoder 5000 and others say it was the Sennheiser VSM-201!! The only thing I knew for sure is that a ring-modulator was also used (I don't know if that was part of the vocoder or not) and that it was based on the voice of Colossus according to Mr. Glen A. Larson himself. Matrixsynth if you, Paul, or anyone knows for sure please post the answer here. I personally believe they used the EMS Vocoder 5000. Thanks."

Korg Polysix, Window, Cat - New Flickr Shot

flickr by
H O L L Y W O O D S T E V E.

Korg MS20 - New Flickr Shot

flickr by Ian Tindale.

MIDIsense

"MIDIsense is a simple, yet extensible sensor interface system for artists, musicians and others interested in experimenting with sensors. The MIDIsense boards provide a simple way to integrate various common sensors with existing software such as Max/MSP, Ableton Live, etc. or directly to a synthesizer/sequencer with a MIDI in jack. Interface boards are available as kits and (possibly) assembled. Graphical configuration/calibration software is written in wx/Python and is available as a MacOS X executable or source for Linux (& will be available as Windows exe very soon - its too sluggish right now to release)."

Title link takes you there. Via Synthtopia.

Update:
More on CDM.
"I’ve been working with Limor’s board since March, when she tested out the board on a group of us at Eyebeam here in New York. It’s just the thing for building your own flex sensor glove or light sensor Theremin. Here’s a quick look at why it’s cool: link"

Update:
Flickr set sent my way via Sameli: link.

Akai AX80 Get's Down And Dirty

Title link takes you to a post on HC with one gritty sample of the AX80 by Awake77. Also saved off here for posterity.

Moog Announces 2nd Annual Ether Music Festival

"Moog Music has announced the 2nd annual Ether Music Festival and Conference.

Ether Music 2006 will be held in the home of Moog Music, Asheville, NC, from Thursday, August 3rd through Sunday, August 6th.

The event will include workshops, speakers and performances by incredible thereminists such as Lydia Kavina and Wilco Botermans. Keynote Speakers are Frank Trocco and Trevor Pinch, co-authors of Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the new Moog Music factory where the theremin and other legendary Moog products are made."

Via Synthtopia.

Fijuu2

Update: Looks like the video has been pulled from YouTube. You can get it here.

Title link takes you to more on CDM.

"a rotating three-dimensional world in which visitors can sculpt glitchy and resonating sounds, represented by fluid 3D models, all using a standard PlayStation2 controller."

Synthi AVS to Synthi AKS Compared

Title link takes you to a post on Des choses et d'autres with two videos. One of the Synthi AVS and one of the Synthi AKS. The AVS sounds pretty good to me; note the mods on the Synthi AKS below.








Via deb7680 in the comments of this post:
"Matrix, this a new post on comparison between Ems Avs and Ems Synthi Aks by ores303.
Here are the modifications of the Ems :
It possesses all the modifications proposed by EMS in the 70s: - modif. on the reverb - modif. on the envellope cad that we can activate(start) a sequence by pressing on the red button - inversion of tensions: with 4 reversers, the sound is to play has to, exellent for news(short stories) sound creations –
- Synchronization 3 oscillateurs which allows to controler chaqun of them independently, this modif. allows to create sounds very complex impossible with a normal aks - modif. on the forms of waves in particular on the third to oscillateur which allows to explode the sound - finally, great pleasure, The aks is entirement CV and Gate, cad that it is completely midi via a kenton kit kind(genre) pro solo or pro on 2000."

Tidal Quad Filter

This one just popped up on AH, pictured here, next to the MFB. I can't seem to get to tidalmusic.com, so title link takes you to info on filters.muziq.be. Details pulled below. Also on sequencer.de.








Update via elmacaco on AH:
"The specs up on Matrix synth seem like they include most of the info, but
I'll add a few bits that I like.

It's a quad filter, and each filter has 4 jacks associated with it, In, Out,
CV and ENV (Gate). The ENV input is obviously for triggering the associated
AR envelope with a gate instead of using the envelope follower or audio
triggering. The input jack is actually A TRS jack, with in /out/ and
ground, which I think lets you use it on some insert jacks with just a
stereo cable. Also, with nothing plugged into filter 2's audio in jack the
signal from filter 1's in gets routed to filter 2's input. This is mirrored
for filter 3 and 4 as well.

While there are 4 filters, there are 2 LFO's, so two filters share one LFO,
and each filter has a bi polar mod amount pot. Waves are Tri, Square and
Saw.

All filters self oscillate in all modes, although BP mode has a narrower
range of self oscillation.

The filters sound great, I use them quite a lot as they have pretty much
everything you need right there. The two modes of waveshaping are great,
I've mostly used them on percussion sounds, but they have a wide range and
what I find to be a big sweet spot.

One of my favorite things on this unit is the 'punch' switch. It makes the
envelope hit harder somehow. Now this unit is optimized for fast response
since using it with a 'drumcomputer' was understood to be a common
application, but the punch switch just adds a great smack to the sound. Add
that with the waveshaper engaged and it's just bananas.

The website formerly had some pics of 2 Quad units racked side by side,
giving you 8 filters in about 5 rack units, it was a pretty sight.

Build quality is very good, the unit is solid, the pots are firmly attached
and not the wobbly kind you see more and more.

Theo Hogers is the man behind Tidal, and I ordered my unit directly from
him, his contact info is here :

Tidal Music Piksenbrink 186 NL-7544 BK Enschede tidal@home.nl FAX
+31/534765321 Phone +31/534765321 Theo Hogers"

--------------------
Details:
4x Cutoff
Controls the cutoff frequency of the filter
4x Reso
Controls the filter resonance
4x Shaper
?
4x VCF (LP/BP/HP)
Selects the filter: low-pass, band-pass or high-pass
4x Shape (1/2)
?
4x ?
?
4x Punch
?
4x Env Sense
Controls the envelope follower sensitivity
4x Env Mode
Selects an envelope mode
4x Env Attack
Controls the envelope attack time
4x Env Release
Controls the envelope release time
4x Env Depth
Controls the depth of the envelope sweeps
4x LFO Depth
Controls the depth of the LFO sweeps
2x LFO Rate
Controls the rate of the LFO
2x LFO Wave
Selects the wave-form of the LFO Various
SchneidersBuero about the Tidal Quad:
The Tidal Quad is a 4-channel filterbank with extensive control and modulation possibilities. The filter can be used in High-/ Low-/ or Bandpass with an Envelope follower for each mode. There is also an LFO for each set of 2 Channels which allows complex modulations. Additionally it offers a Waveshaper for each channel. For friends of analog distortion this unit leaves no wish open.
4x HP/BP/LP - Filtermodule
LFO Channel 1+2 (Cutoff)
LFO Channel 3+4 (Cutoff)
LFO each channel positive or negative switch
1 Waveshaper per Channel
4x Sidechain Input with Envelope Follower for Cutoff-Modulation
the Tidal Music homepage about the Tidal Quad:
The resonant filter might be the most important effect in popular music these days. However if you want to insert a filter on multiple channels of your mixer and also would like to have a lot of knobs and modulation possibilities, there was no real solution. That's why Tidal Music Electronics announces it's four channel desktop multimode filter. You can switch the four individual resonant filters between Lowpass, Bandpass and Highpass modus. Each filter can be modulated by an envelope follower, a LFO and an external CV. The envelope follower is specially designed to track percussive sounds without false triggering, a key feature when used with drumcomputers, grooveboxes or guitar.

Maximum Modulation
Each filterbank has 4 VCFs, 4 Waveshapers, 4 Envelopefollowers and 2 Low Frequency Oscillators (LFOs).
The filters are switchable between 3 modes, Lowpass, Bandpass and Highpass. The Low- and Bandpass are 24 dB and the Highpass is 12 dB/Oct.
The cutoff of each channel can be modulated by it's own Envelope follower which can be fed by a sidechain input or by the audiosignal itself. This option gives you the possibilities to create very funky filter-effects.
Each LFO modulates 2 channels and every channel has it's own depth controller which can be set positive or negative. This can be used to generate cool stereo effects.
The Waveshaper
The waveshaper is one of the components which give the filterbank it's unique sound. It actually is a wavefolder which "folds" the tops of the waveform back instead of clipping. This sounds a bit like an overdrive but also has some characteristics of Frequency Modulation.

To give you a better idea what the waveshaper actually does we'll illustrate what happens with a simple sine wave using different ratio settings for each of the two shaper modes.

EMS Synthi 100 on the Bay

That's one heck of a mod matrix.

via this auction.

Details:
Electronic Music Studios (EMS) Synthi 100 Analogue Synthesizer in pristine condition. The Synthi 100 is fitted with two patch panels with two 60x60 matrix boards, one for the signals and one for the voltages.
This is a list with the modules:

12 x Voltage Controlled Oscillator.
x Noise Generator.
3 x Ring Modulator.
4 x Voltage Controlled Low Pass Filter.
4 x Voltage Controlled High Pass Filter.
3 x Trapezoid Envelope Generator.
2 x Voltage Controlled Reverberation.
Octave Filter Bank
Slew limiter.
Envelope Follower.
Pitch to Voltage Converter.
8 x Input Amplifier.
9 x Stereo Output Amplifier.
2 x Joysticks.
2 x5 Octave Dynamic Keyboards.
3 256 Step Digital Sequencer.
Oscilloscope (not on the picture).
Frequency meter counter.

Starting Bid of 60k.

This one via Michael Tritter.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Moogprints

flickr by brian siskind.

WC Olo Garb in the Park - New Flickr Shot

flickr by polaranta. Click through more. And of course: http://www.syntezatory.prv.pl/

Yamaha CS70M

It's interesting that Yamaha had three distinct CS lines of synths. There's the CS5, CS10, CS15, and CS30 mono synths, the CS20M, CS40M, and CS70M, the CS50, CS60 and CS80 and of course the grand daddy of them all... The kick ass CS1X! - well, it actually is a fun little synth for the money. If you ever wondered what the CS70M sounded like, title link takes you there. There are a couple more shots as well. So why did Yamaha do this?

Studio 303 - 303 & 606 Movie

Title link takes you there. Mov link is at the bottom of the page.

Update via Fiercefish on AH:
"A few folk have enquired if the 606 is modded so here is how the clip was recorded.

The 606 is actually unmodded but it is going into a 4" Yamaha mono powered monitor via the mix in of the 303, the way it sounds is due to the way the mic in the Sony Clie picked it up when recording. I'd recommend miking the 606 thru a small speaker though as it can sound quite good. Also the phasey type character to the sound is due to me moving the Clie whilst recording. There was no fx or eq used either, it was literally 606-> 303 mix in, 303 out -> Yamaha powered monitor -> Sony Clie UX50 PDA mic."

Roomba MIDI Vacuum

Yep... Title link takes you to more. Via Music Thing via todbot.

Catching up with Sequencer.de

I've been wondering what happened to Moogulator's Sequencer.de as I haven't been getting any new posts on my bloglines feed. Moogulator asked me to update his link directly to sequencer.de. For some reason I didn't make the connection that the blog feed might change as well, so... I missed quite a bit. Title link takes you to Sequencer.de. Check it out. There are quite a few posts including the Dewtron synthesiser Apollo A1 + Gipsy. Gotta like that. : )

MC-202 Rack

Title link takes you to more info, shots and samples. cykong, MIDI mod.

Blue Monday on YouTube

Yep...



Click image to launch. I see a MicroKorg. Via this VSE thread.

Stylinghead Studio - New Flickr Shot

flickr by stylinghead. Title link takes you to more.

Alesis Air FX - New Flickr Shot

flickr by stephenieman.

Oberheim OB8 Demo

Title link takes you to the sample by WhinyLittleRunt on a VSE thread. I also saved it here for when the post disappears.

The Beatles Got Synth

Of course the synths take care of themselves. Via the comments of this post. Too funny.

The Korg MS10 Rebuild Project

Title link takes you there.

New XPander Sides by James R. Coplin

Via James R. Coplin on AH:
"I have been annoyed that my Xpander has to sit flat and takes up a bunch of
valuable horizontal surface in my studio. I do have extra vertical space so
I though it would be great to make some new sides for the Xpander so that it
could "stand up".

You can see the results here:

http://www.ticalun.net/Music/Xpander_up.jpg

Works perfectly! I made mine out of 1/4 sawn white oak and finished with a
Mission style / Stickley finish. The color is pretty much exact to my
original sides. The stainless screws are just temporary until the black
hardware arrives!

http://www.ticalun.net/Music/Xpander_side.jpg

Since I know people are going to ask, yes I will make these for folks and
they are super easy to install. The price is $75 plus shipping for standard
hardwood (oak, maple, etc.). If you want some funky colors, it's not a
problem but will run an additional $16 for the dye. You can see the
available color options at:

http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/TransTint.htm

The color on mine is the Dark Mission Brown. The red desk you see in the
picture is the Bright Red dye.

This is not a chump finish either, it is a traditional oil finish with hand
cut shellac and a hand oil rub out. The look and feel is silky and perfect.

I can make these out of more exotic or highly figured wood as pretty much
anything is available to me but expect about a $25 additional charge
depending on the wood you are interested in. I can also make standard
Xpander sides if you just want to spice up your Xpander or replace a beat
set on your current. The price is the same as there isn't much less wood
and most of the cost is in the labor. I can also make sides for any other
synth you would want, just get in touch with me. Thanks!

James R. Coplin"

Gameboy Advance MIDI Interface

Title link takes you to the post on hackaday. Via underface.

Apple II Synth Editors

"For some screen shots of Apple II editors for the Chroma see:

http://www.rhodeschroma.com/?id=apple"

Dave Smith Instruments Factory Tour

Click image to launch video or title link to get to same on YouTube.
Also worth checking out: Is Dave Smith a Performing Musician.

Roland TR-505 Bends

Title link takes you there.
Via GetLoFi.

The ERWIK Matrix 12 Filtermodule

Features:

2 Audio inputs
2 VCA´s adjusting the input signals (manual or with CV)
Filter "cutoff" and "Q" controllable manual or with CV
1 VCA controlling the output signal (manual or with CV)
Filtertype can be selected manual or with trigger at input "UP" & "DOWN"

Very limited edition (12 )

Software:

Switching on your system you can choose between 4 different modes.

1. No button pressed - normal function.
2. Downbutton pressed - rotating filtertable.
3. Uppbutton pressed - faster triggering/swithing filtermode.
4. Both buttons pressed- rotating filtertable as well as faster triggering/swithing filtermode.

The display gives an indication of 'r' or 't' as well as both.

Filters:

1 pole Low
2 pole Low
3 pole Low
4 pole Low
1 pole High
2 pole High
3 pole High
2 pole Band
4 pole Band
2 pole Notch
3 pole Phase
2 pole High + 1 pole Low
3 pole High + 1 pole Low
2 pole Notch + 1 pole Low
3 pole Phase + 1 pole Low

Siel Brochures

Title link takes you there.

Anthony Pateras

Title link takes you to audio.
That looks like a Synthi to me.

Yamaha Electone "Synths"

Video of the Yamaha D-80 by Mattias. I always seem to forget that some of the Yamaha Electone home organs had synth sections and with the D-80, an arpeggiator as well.

Frank who is an Electone enthusiast posted the following on AH and gave me the ok to put it up here:

"I've got the 415: image

which is probably the last of their analogue spinet organs.

Very cool machine. The solo synth on mine sounds very SY-1 or SY-2'ish. You can have pitch and/or filter mod with left-to-right wiggling of the solo section keys too. It takes a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it can be pretty expressive.

The strings, with soft attack and longer release, through the synphonic ensemble (BBD ensemble) or the rotary speaker (!) can be very pleasant.

Jeff Koepper tried mine a couple of weeks ago and got all sorts of cool un-home-organ-like things out of it.

Yamaha made a whole bunch of these kinds of miniature three manual organs with solo synths in them. Earliest is probably the DK-40, then at least there was the D-80, D-85 and 415. The D-85 and 415 seem to be nearly identical, feature wise.

The DK-40 is technologically not too distant from the earliest group of Yamaha analogue organs, and I suspect it shares similar circuitry to the YC series of organs.

Also, the DK-40 has a 'fourth' manual, in the form of a separate 'portamento' synth, which is played from a ribbon controller to the left of the solo synth keys. You can just barely see it in this image the green tabs control the portamento ribbon, which extends right in front of them.

I kid myself that the 415 is sorta like a cut down EX-1. It isn't really, but it's fun to pretend, and I don't anticipate ever owning an EX-1, for a number of reasons! :-)

Frank
Electone enthusiast"

Update via buckystoppz in the comments:
"I also have the 415 and use it to death! People are sleeping on these, I got it for $120 on eBay locally. They were about $8000 new in the early eighties."

DBX Subharmonic Synthesizer

"THE BASS IS BACK. The disco boom of the 70's was fueled by the throbbing bass beat of dbx® Subharmonic Synthesizers in discos around the world. During the 80's, patented dbx Subharmonic Synthesis was the secret weapon used by mobile DJ's and film and sound professionals to produce an impact unavailable from any other device-unique because the dbx process actually produces a new, Waveform Modeled bass note, exactly an octave below the bass in the original audio.

THE PROFESSIONAL SOLUTION. The dbx 120XP Subharmonic Synthesizer has been specially optimized by dbx engineers for the needs of audio professionals. Its two separate bands of bass synthesis provide the best combination of smoothness and control, and the independent Low Frequency Boost circuit is designed to get the most out of high-performance low frequency speaker systems.

Flexible system interfacing is achieved by providing main outputs which can be full range (including synthesis) or high frequency only, along with a separate subwoofer output with its own level control.

PUT THE BEAT BACK INTO THE MUSIC. The 120XP's patented subharmonic synthesis process actually builds the synthesized waveform using the waveshape of the original bass material. Unlike other attempts at bass synthesis, the dbx process produces smooth, musical low frequencies that don't interfere with mid and high-band information, even when maximum synthesis and boost are applied. The result is a low-end punch that people really feel, even at system levels that won't destroy sound equipment or damage hearing."

Title link takes you to the DBX page on the 120XP. These are discontinued.

Arturia Releases Analog Factory

Looks like Arturia is coming out with a preset bundle featuring it's line of soft synths. What's interesting is that you will be able to tweak common paramaters. You can see cutoff, resonance, LFO, Chorus, Delay, ENV and four "Key Paramaters" in the screen shot. There is also 8 buttons that correspond to patch memories for your tweaks. Via Sonic State News. I didn't see anything on Arturia's site as of this post.

Details:
-2000 analog synthesizers sounds that have defined the sound of modern music.
-Presets all carefully selected from the Arturia Classic Synths (minimoog V, Moog Modular V, CS-80V, ARP 2600 V, Prophet V and Prophet VS). These TAE® powered sounds offer unparalleled audio quality.
-Smart Preset Manager: fast filter the presets by Instrument, by Type (Bass, Pads, Leads…) and/or by Characteristics (hard, soft, complex, simple, short, long…).
Organize Presets view by Name, Instrument, Type, CPU usage, Favorites, or User Presets.
-Straightforward Editing, with the most essential parameters for personalizing presets: (Filter and LFO sections, 4 Key Parameters differing for each preset, Chorus & Delay mix, ADSR envelope)
-8 SNAPSHOTS buttons (quickly store up to 8 snapshots for sound comparisons, variations…)
-Integrates as a plug-in within your sequencer, on Mac and PC, or plays as a standalone software synthesizer.
-Optimization of the screen space: possibility to view the Preset Manager only, the Keyboard only, or both at the same time.
-Set to Control with the external MIDI keyboard in just a few clicks.
Up to 32 voices of polyphony, depending on the preset loaded.

Happy Birthday Bob Moog - 1979

Via Brandon Daniel.

Full page ad from a 1979 issue of Contemporary Keyboard magazine.

Happy Birthday Robert A Moog via the electro-music.com forum

Title link takes you there. Looks like the poster picked the Wendy Carlos portrait as well.

Happy Birthday, Bob Moog via CDM

Title link takes you to the post on Create Digital Music.

Thanks Bob - Mark Pulver

Couldn't think of a better day to put up another post on Mark Pulver's tattoo tribute to bob. Mark sent this in with birthday wishes to AH. If you blow it up you can see a message that reads, "Thanks Bob." Title link takes you to more. BTW, if you have anything you want to send in tribute to Bob, send it in - email link is always on the bottom right column. This will be a Moog only day.

Bob Moog Portrait by Wendy Carlos - Happy Birthday Bob

Today would have been Bob Moog's 72nd birthday. I've been waiting to put this shot up. A portrait by none other than the woman who possibly started it all, Wendy Carlos.

Happy Birthday Bob. Thanks for everything.

Caring Bridge
Moog on Wikipedia
Big Briar
Moog Music
Wendy on Wikipedia

X-Station Faders - New Flickr Shot

flickr by Daragh.

Roland System 100 - New Flickr Shots

flickr by mixdelayoutonly. Yep.... Title link takes you to more.

Hmm... Might have put this post up too soon. I subscribe to a couple of flickr feeds and got to the shot above first, so it went up and it will stay. However there are some really nice gear shots in the set as well, such as this shot of a Jupiter 6. The gear in the shots are immaculate - some of the cleanest I've seen. Title link has been updated to bring you to the start of the set.

Melbourne, Australia DIY Modular Synth Builders unite

For those of you in Australia, Ross Healy asked me to post the following. Sounds like a great idea.

"Melbourne, Australia DIY Modular Synth Builders unite

In the Spirit of the 60's Modular synth builders....

Modular Synths cost way too much for Australians to import (I know I
just bought a 5 panel Serge Modular Synth) so kits seem to be the best
option, but for a noobie to solder and build here is an idea...

This idea came from *Serge Tcherepnin and the 60's spirit.

I have a classroom in the centre of town that we could use on 1
Saturday a month to get together and build modular kits. W*e would all
buy the same board and parts ( say of a Ken Stone - Low Pass Filter) and
build it all on the same day, this would enable people with no knowledge
to be next to people with no knowledge and in the process have fun.

I am collecting names of people who are interested, I am hoping to get
10 - 15 people max interested (already have 5 people, all you need to do
is get involved in the spirit ..., pay nothing except for the Board,
parts, and your own solder etc. and come along..

Contact Ross Healy healyr@tpg.com.au and I will start to get the ball
rolling."

Juno 106 Replacement ICs

There is finally hope for the dreaded failed voice of the Roland Juno 106. Someone has cloned the chip.

Click here for the official page on the chips with more info and how to get them. They are also up for auction here.

Anyone else thinking what I'm thinking? These might be great for a DIY project or a new synth.

Details:
"The most common problem with juno-106's is one or more of the voices going dead or that keep hanging. The problem is the poorly manufactured A1QH800170 or A1QH80017A custom vcf and vca ic. Since these ic's are no longer manufactured and roland has no spares for them anymore, we are forced to scrap other 106's for spares. Which is not a good idea because every single one of these ic's will die. Therefore I did some research on those ic's.
First I designed a vca clone, that only took over the vca of the 80017A, but still used the vcf part (if that was still alive). This design was completed at the end of 2003. Numerous of these ones have been sold and installed to great succes in juno's worldwide.
After that I continued my research on this ic with the goal of designing a full clone of it. This was a particulary hard job because only little is known about the intestines of this ic: only the rough outlines which are displayed in the juno-106 service manuals and the little info that is available on the IR3109 and how it is used. It took no less then 6 restarts from scratch until I had a prototype of which I thought that it was on the right track. The bigest problem was the creation of an exponential current source that has the same error and temperature tracking as the one inside the IR3109 (of which no one knows how it was built). When this problem was solved (about nov 2004) I could start doing signal analysis on both an opened 80017A and my design to adjust gain levels so that the non-linearities (tanh) of each stage were the same(summer of 2005). After that I designed a smd prototype for further testing which surfaced more problems: strange behaviour with resonance at very high and low frequencies, which were all solved by the end of 2005. At this moment I was unable to measure nor hear any difference between the original and the clone. After that I built some more prototypes and installed these in 4 different juno's owned by different people. These have been in test for several months now and none of these people were able to tell which voice had the clone.
After that only minor changes (pcb-design)were done until the final design which is now (may 2006) for sale:

summary:
-Designed and built to the highest standard.
-No measurable nor audible difference with the original. I'm very serious about this and I'm well aware that my clone is the only one which sounds right.
-All integrated components are in mass-production by more than one manufacturer and have been available for over a decade. Thus have a proven reliability and are easy optainable(in the very unlikely event of failure).
-Used discretes are close tollerance and high quality (capacitors are the infamous panasonic stacked pps film ones)
-very high quality pcb.
-Installation is straightforward: remove the defective 80017A , replace it with my clone and re-adjust your juno as described in the service manual. (please do not ask me how to do this. I simply do not have the time to give electronics lessons. If you don't have the knowledge: consult your local synth-geek)"

Serge Modualr Synthesizer Prototype - New Flickr Set

flickr by wayneandwax. Title link takes you to more.